Rephael Cattan

 We are continuing in siman 23, discussing the halachos of bal tosif. The Chayei Adam writes that if one wears both Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam tefillin due to the safeik of which opinion is the correct way to fulfill the mitzvah, its is not bal tosif, because the person is wearing both in order to […]

 We are beginning siman 23, regarding the concept of bal tosif and bal tigra. The Chayei Adam writes that it is assur to add to the mitzvos. There are two pesukim which teach us this issur, one says lo sosif and one says lo sosifu. We will need to discuss why there are two pesukim

We are continuing in siman 22, discussing the concept of asei docheh lo saasei. We learned that asei docheh lo saasei only applies when the asei is fulfilled and the lo saasei is transgressed simultaneously. This is known as be’idna in the language of the Gemara. The Chayei Adam suggests a chiddush. We know that

 We are beginning siman 22, regarding the concept of asei docheh lo saasei. Before we begin, we must realize that a person should not pasken shailos of this nature by themselves, but we will learn some of the general principles behind the concept.   The Chayei Adam introduces a rule about how to approach conflicts between

 We are continuing in siman 21, discussing the halachos of geniza. A final question we need to discuss is whether it is muttar to place an item in geniza which is not fully balah, worn out. The language of the Shulchan Aruch when discussing geniza refers to a Sefer Torah which is balah, which we

 We are continuing in siman 21, discussing the halachos of geniza. Today, we will discuss the halachos of geniza for tashmishei mitzvah. It is clear from the Gemara that tashmishei kedusha require geniza, either in earthenware or in a lower form. However, tashmishei mitzvah do not require geniza. Nevertheless, they should not be discarded in

  We are continuing in siman 21, discussing the halachos of geniza. Sometimes, an announcement will be put up with a pasuk on it, such as an announcement that a certain person is mechalel Shabbos so business should not be done with them, an announcement that it is assur to smoke on Yom Tov, or

 We are continuing in siman 21, discussing the halachos of geniza. A question is discussed regarding a person who writes divrei Torah on a blackboard or whiteboard and wishes to erase it for the purpose of writing other divrei Torah, or for the purpose of a secular subject. Rav Yitzchok Elchonon Spektor ztl writes in

 We are continuing in siman 21, discussing the halachos of geniza and tashmishei kedusha. Today, we will discuss printed seforim and quoted pesukim.   When Moshe received the Torah, Torah Shebaal Peh was oral, so the question of geniza was fairly irrelevant. There was a concept of a megillas sesorim, that if a talmid learned from

 We are continuing in siman 21, discussing the halachos of shaimos. Yesterday, we learned that the source of this halacha is the issur to destroy any of the seven names of Hashem. We can now understand why these halachos are referred to as shaimos, because they have to do with proper kavod to the sheim

We are continuing in siman 21, regarding the concept of ma’alin bakodesh. Today, we will discuss the halachos of genizah. In Parshas Re’eh, the Torah tells us that Klal Yisroel has a mitzvas asei to destroy any avodah zarah they find in Eretz Yisroel, break their mizbeichos, cut down their asheiros, etc,  to the point

 We are continuing in siman 21, regarding the concept of ma’alin bakodesh. We will continue to discuss situations of misusing tashmishei kedusha.  In siman 154, the Mishnah Berurah writes that it is assur to use a sefer to block the sun. However, there is an argument that it is muttar to place a one sefer

We are continuing in siman 21, regarding the concept of ma’alin bakodesh. Today, we will discuss situations of misusing tashmishei kedusha. The issur of ma’alin bakodesh does not only refer to changing an item’s designation, but to using the item in a less kadosh manner. For example, using an aron kodesh to store other items

 We are continuing in siman 21, regarding the concept of ma’alin bakodesh. Yesterday, we learned about the kedusha of an aron kodesh, and today the Chayei Adam continues with an interesting question. The Chayei Adam discusses a case where a beis tahara was right near the shul, and there was a hole in the wall

 We are continuing in siman 21, discussing the concept of ma’alin bakodesh. The Chayei Adam writes that due to the concept of ma’alin bakodesh, an aron kodesh cannot be used for anything other than Sifrei Torah. Sifrei Neviim, other seforim and tzedakah cannot be placed inside.  However, the Chayei Adam writes that the minhag appears

 We are continuing in siman 21, disucssing the concept of ma’alin bakodesh and selling items of kedusha. Today, we will discuss the concept of selling a shul.   We know that historically, shuls have been sold, sometimes even to churches, when the neighborhood changed or for other reasons. According to what we have learned, it is