יום שבת, י״ג חשוון תשפ״זSaturday, October 24, 2026
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Rabbi Yaakov Klass, rav of Congregation K’hal Bnei Matisyahu in Flatbush, Brooklyn, is chairman of the presidium of the Rabbinical Alliance of America and Torah Editor of The Jewish Press. He can be contacted at yklass@jewishpress.com or Rabbi@igud.us.
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Dear Rabbi Klass, I have read in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch that an individual praying without a minyan does not recite the Selichot written in Aramaic. What is the reason? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, NY
Full Or ‘Abridged’ Hallel ‘One Is Obligated To Recite The Hallel’ (Sukkah 48a)
In a previous issue, reader Leonard Ziegler referred to a Daf Yomi Highlights column (January 15, 2021) that explained how Yitzchak was able to bless Yaakov by saying: “May Hashem grant you the blessings of Avraham” (even though one is forbidden from using a parent’s first name) because “Avraham” itself is a “respectful title.”
Obstructing A Lulav, Sukkah Or Shofar “Beautification is Not an Interposition” (Sukkah 37a)
Your explanation would explain why it was proper for him to use the name Avraham (presumably one is not permitted to call a grandparent by a first name just as one is forbidden to call a parent by his first name) but it seems Yitzchak is no more a respectful title any than other name, so how did Yaakov use his father’s first name twice? Leonard Ziegler Via email
A Grafted Esrog “Passul When Missing Even a Tiny Bit” (Sukkah 34b)
Dear Rabbi Klass: I hope this finds you well. In a recent Daf Yomi Highlights column (JP 1-15-21), you explain that Yitzchak was able to bless Yaakov by saying: “May Hashem grant you the blessings of Avraham” even though one is forbidden from using a parent’s first name, since the name Avraham itself is a “respectful title.” But this raises the question: How could Yaakov say to Yosef: “The G-d before whom my fathers Avraham and Yitzchak walked... bless the lads ... and may my name be declared upon them, and the names of my forefathers Avraham and Yitzchak.” (Bereishis 48:15-16). Your explanation would explain why it was proper for him to use the name Avraham (presumably one is not permitted to call a grandparent by a first name just as one is forbidden to call a parent by his first name) but it seems Yitzchak is no more a respectful title than other name, so how could Yaakov use his father’s first name twice? Leonard Ziegler Via email
The Flighty Customer ‘Scribes Who Write Torah Scrolls And Mezuzos …Are Exempt From Kerias Shema And Prayer…’ (Sukkah 26a)
Dear Rabbi Klass, I hope this finds you well. In a recent Daf Yomi Highlights column (1-15-21), you explain that Yitzchak was permitted to bless Yaakov by saying: “May Hashem grant you the blessings of Avraham” even though one is forbidden from using a parent’s first name, since the name Avraham itself is a “respectful title.” But this raises the question: How could Yaakov say to Yosef: “The G-d before whom my fathers Avraham and Yitzchak walked... bless the lads ... and may my name be declared upon them, and the names of my forefathers, Avraham and Yitzchak.” (Genesis 48:15-16). Your explanation would explain why it was proper for him to use the name Avraham (presumably one is not permitted to call a grandparent by a first name just as one is forbidden to call a parent by his first name) but it seems Yitzchak is no more a respectful title than any other name, so how did Yaakov use his father’s first name twice? Leonard Ziegler Via email
It’s All About The Clouds ‘Have You Seen My Slave, Tabi, Who Is A Scholar…’ (Sukkah 20b)
Question: I came to the cemetery, only to find that a stone has never been placed over a close relative who died a year and a half ago. I spoke to the children and they tell me they will get to it when they have time. They seem to think that this is not a matter of any importance. I know that each rushed to take their share of the yerusha that was left them. I’m sure that in the will there is a set aside of money as well as a directive to place a monument. Please help me set them straight with sources that will prove their being obligated to erect a monument over their parent’s grave. I have another related question; while I was there I also noticed one or two monuments that were quite dilapidated. Should they and may they be replaced? Name withheld by request
What Constitutes Schach? “Schach Boards” (Sukkah 14a)
Question: I was taught that due to our mourning on Tisha B’av, we are not allowed to learn or discuss Torah. Since Torah causes us joy, we are forbidden to lessen our mourning with its study. While I understand why we read from Kinot and Eicha, how do we justify reading from the Torah at Shacharit and at Mincha? A further question, do these halachot apply to an individual during his/her seven days of mourning? Menachem Via email
The Face of Holiness “Inscribed on the Tzitz HaZahav” (Sukkah 5a)
Question: I came to the cemetery, only to find that a stone has never been placed over a close relative who died a year and a half ago. I spoke to the children and they tell me they will get to it when they have time. They seem to think that this is not a matter of any importance. I know that each rushed to take their share of the yerusha that was left them. I’m sure that in the will there is a set aside of money as well as a directive to place a monument. Please help me set them straight with sources that will prove their being obligated to erect a monument over their parent’s grave. I have another related question; while I was there I also noticed one or two monuments that were quite dilapidated. Should they and may they be replaced? Name withheld by request Via email
All For The Boss ‘Praiseworthy Is One Whose Transgression Is Forgiven, Whose Sins Are Covered’ (Yoma 86b)
Question: I came to the cemetery, only to find that a stone has never been placed over a close relative who died a year and a half ago. I spoke to the children and they tell me they will get to it when they have time. They seem to think that this is not a matter of any importance... Please help me set them straight with sources that will prove their being obligated to erect a monument over their parent’s grave. Name withheld by request
Question: Before leaving a mourner who is sitting shiva, one says, “HaMakom yenachem et’chem betoch she’ar aveilei Tziyon ViYerushalayim – May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. What is the source of this pasuk? Zelig Aronson Via email
Point Of Ingestion “The size of an egg to satisfy… of a big date to recover…” (Yoma 79b)
Worming Out Of This One! “On the hem they made pomegranates…twisted scarlet wool” (Yoma 71b)
Question: Where I live, in a small out of town community, we have only one Orthodox synagogue, but the bimah is in the front on the stage with the Aron HaKodesh. My question: May one daven in a synagogue in which the bimah is not in the center? Y.S. Via email
To Be or Not To Be “Appointed…Designated From The Previous Day” (Yoma 66b)
Question: Should one stand or sit for the Ashrei recited after Keriat haTorah, and is the answer to this question affected by the requirement to show kavod, or respect, to the Torah scroll, which is being wrapped up as Ashrei begins? Anonymous
The New And The Old “…The Kohen Gadol Due To His Fatigue…” (Yoma 56b)
Question: Should one stand or sit for the Ashrei recited after Keriat haTorah, and is the answer to this question affected by the requirement to show kavod, or respect, to the Torah scroll, which is being wrapped up as Ashrei begins? Anonymous
A Line Of Demarcation ‘Until He Came…Between the Two Curtains’ (Yoma 51b)
Question: Should one stand or sit for the Ashrei recited after Keriat haTorah, and is the answer to this question affected by the requirement to show kavod, or respect, to the Torah scroll, which is being wrapped up as Ashrei begins? Anonymous
Where Angels Dare Not Tread ‘There Shall Be No Man In The Tent Of Meeting’ (Yoma 43b)
Question: The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch states that a person should first put on his right shoe, then his left one, then tie the laces of the left shoe, then tie the laces of the right shoe. He explains that the right side always comes first except in the case of tying, which is why tefillin are wrapped on our left arms. My question is: Since we wrap tefillin with our right hand, couldn’t one argue that there is no exception to the rule and we should tie our right shoe first? Y. Malinsky
In One’s Grasp ‘Ein Ma’avirin Al Hamitzvos’ (Yoma 33a)
Question: Many people are accustomed to staying awake Shavuot night and learning Torah. Is this recommended even at the expense of having proper kavanah at Shachris the next morning? Wouldn’t it be far better to get a good night’s rest and then learn with more fervor the next day? No Name Please
Question: Is it true that one can fulfill the mitzvah of reciting Keri’at Shema merely by saying its first verse? Ariel Schwartz
Chapter And Verse? ‘Has The Time For Slaughter Arrived?’ (Yoma 28a)
Of Kings And Scholars ‘He Forgave the Honor Due Him’ (Yoma 22b)
Question: If on the evening of the 33rd day of the Omer, a person mentions that it’s Lag BaOmer (e.g., “It’s Lag BaOmer, let’s dance!”), has he technically counted sefirah with his statement so that he can’t count more formally later with a berachah? M. Goldblum Miami Beach, FL
Which Way? ‘All One’s Turns Shall Be To The Right’ (Yoma 15b)
Question: Why do some people eat matzah on Pesach Sheni? Harry Koenig
Removing Mezuzos When The Lease Is Up ‘For Therein Was A Residence For The High Priest’ (Yoma 10a)
Question: Why do some people eat matzah on Pesach Sheni? Harry Koenig
Giving Tzedakah At Night ‘Rabbi Chinena’s Mitzvah Performance’ (Shekalim 22a)
Question: What if one forgot to count Sefirah Thursday night and didn’t remember until Friday eve after accepting Shabbat early? May he count at that point before it turns dark and then continue saying the berachah for the Omer the next evening? Pesach Bernstein
A Cake Walk ‘Through It the Water Trickled Out’ (Shekalim 17a)
Question: Why do we read Shir HaShirim on the Shabbat of Passover? Also, why don’t we recite a blessing before reading it as we do before reading Megillat Esther? Menachem
Pristine Exemplar ‘Let Him Fill His Mouth With Water’ (Shekalim 9a)
Question: My family custom is not to don tefillin on Chol HaMo’ed. What should I do if I come to a shul where it’s the custom to don tefillin on these days? M. Jakobowitz
In Our Days ‘We Do Not Seize a Surety From Children’ (Shekalim 3b)
Question: Since Erev Pesach is on Shabbos this year, when does one burn the chametz? Also, can you discuss some of the other Pesach laws unique to Erev Pesach that falls on Shabbos? M. Aronowitz
A Case Of Mistaken Identity ‘And Two Cooked Foods’ (Pesachim 114a)
Question: Since Erev Pesach is on Shabbos this year, when does one burn the chametz? Also, can you discuss some of the other Pesach laws unique to Erev Pesach that falls on Shabbos? M. Aronowitz
An Expression Unique In Shas ‘I Am Neither Wise…’ (Pesachim 105b)
Question: I would like to know why there are four special readings of the Torah from the beginning of Adar until Pesach. Also, why do we call each of those four Shabbatot by a special name? Finally, when did the practice of reading a parshah every week start? Celia Gluck
Question: I would like to know why there are four special readings of the Torah from the beginning of Adar until Pesach. Also, why do we call each of those four Shabbatot by a special name? Finally, when did the practice of reading a parshah every week start? Celia Gluck
Hashem's House Is No Different (Pesachim 94a)
Question: Is one allowed to use an electric slow cooker (such as a Crock-Pot) that fits into another pot for the purpose of maintaining hot food on Shabbos? M. Goldblum
Hashem’s House Is No Different “Everything Except ‘Leave’” (Pesachim 86b)
Question: Is one allowed to use an electric slow cooker (such as a Crock-Pot) that fits into another pot for the purpose of maintaining hot food on Shabbos? M. Goldblum
Location! Location! ‘On and Off His Forehead’ (Pesachim 77a)
Question: Is one allowed to use an electric slow cooker (such as a Crock-Pot) that fits into another pot for the purpose of maintaining hot food on Shabbos? M. Goldblum
Against The Tide? ‘How Do We Roast the Paschal Sacrifice?’ (Pesachim 74a)
On days that we recite Hallel, why do we do so before Keri'at HaTorah? Shouldn’t the Torah reading come first based on the rule that whenever two matters face us, we do the more frequent one first (tadir v’she’eino tadir, tadir kodem)? Menachem
Blood On His Hands! ‘It’s Praiseworthy for the Sons of Aaron That They Walk in Blood…’ (Pesachim 65b)
On days that we recite Hallel, why do we do so before Keriat HaTorah? Shouldn’t the Torah reading come first based on the rule that whenever two matters face us, we do the more frequent one first (tadir v’she’eino tadir, tadir kodem)? Menachem
Mazal Tov! ‘They Recited Shema Yisrael’ (Pesachim 56a)
On those days that we recite Hallel, why do we do so before Keriat HaTorah? Shouldn’t the Torah reading come first based on the rule that whenever two matters face us, we do the more frequent one first (tadir v’she’eino tadir, tadir kodem)? Menachem
Are We There Yet? “I Don’t Work on Yom Tov [Sheni]” (Pesachim 52a)
Question: Is one permitted to use an electric hot water urn controlled by a Shabbos clock to boil water on Shabbat? Yisrael W.
Spoiled And Rotten? ‘A Loaf Went Moldy’ (Pesachim 45b)
Question: Is one permitted to boil water in an electric hot water urn on Shabbos if the urn is controlled by a Shabbos clock? Yisrael W.
October 23, 2026 
