29 Nov

TO CELEBRATE OR NOT?

Dear Editor:

I would like to share with your readers the opinion of HaGaon HaRav Avigdor Miller z”tl regarding what our attitude should be towards the gentile holiday of Thanksgiving.

 “Our attitude is the same as it is towards any other gentile religious festival. Because that’s what Thanksgiving is. Even though the government authorities accept Thanksgiving as a legal holiday, nevertheless, it is a religious holiday. If you would bother to look into the Encyclopedias, where the kosher gentiles are speaking, you would become aware of this. In the Encyclopedias the kosher gentiles are speaking and you can accept their testimony. The gentiles themselves say that Thanksgiving is a religious holiday. And therefore it is assur for a Jew to do anything that would distinguish this day from any other. And to eat turkey, in my humble opinion, would be avizraihu d’avodah zarah and is ya’harog v’al ya’avor. A person should do anything rather than participate in celebrating Thanksgiving because it’s like celebrating any other gentile religious day.”

Michael

Editor’s Note: That is Rabbi Miller’s opinion. There are dissenting opinions. Rabbi Steinfeld has written about this topic in the past. You can look at our archives for more on the topic.

PERMITTED OR PROHIBITED

Dear Editor:

Is one permitted to use a scooper for chopped liver or a melon ball scooper for melon? What about a zig zag knife for fruit on Shabbos?

Editor’s Note: I would ask you if the reason you are using these utensils is because you want a special shape. If so, then it would be forbidden. However, if you don’t have a special thought process then it would be permitted.

FASTING ON WEDDING DAY REVISITED

Dear Editor:

Another Nafka Mina between the two reasons for fasting, which I think is brought in poskim, if the wedding is after tzais ha’cochavim like in the winter they can eat after tzais if it’s a forgiveness for sins because they completed their fast day.

Betzalel

Editor’s Note: That is true. Thanks for sharing.

FASTING ON WEDDING DAY REVISTED

Dear Editor:

Sorry to disagree with the Betzel HaChochma (though he was a humongous Talmud Chacham.) Regardless, a messenger can’t take the place of the physical person, just like shaking the Lulav or listening to Shofar or eating matza may not be done by someone else. Therefore fasting is impossible for another person to do for you. 

Sorry to disagree. The Torah is beautiful, but does not hold water. Thanks and keep on writing and have a great Shabbat.

Editor’s Note: We know that there are 70 ways of learning the Torah and not everyone has to agree. When Rabbi Steinfeld writes an article, it is not psak halacha, it is meant to stimulate thought.

Rabbi Steinfeld responds: The same way that one may be a shaliach to make kiddushin, that shaliach would have the requirement to fast on behalf of the one he is acting for.

THE POWER OF TEFILLAH REVISTED

Dear Editor:

Shalom Uvracha,

Where are the Chazon Ish and Reb Moshe that you mentioned about whether tefilla is b’dei shamayim or b’dei adam?

Thank you.

Dovid Sukenik

Rabbi Steinfeld responds: The Chazon Ish is at the end of the volume Orach Chaim Moed , the last hashmata. Igros Moshe Orach Chaim, chelek daled, siman mem, seif koton yud gimmel.

SONEI MATANOS YICHYE REVISTED

Dear Editor:

Shalom Aleichem. In your Halachic drasha you said Pharoh’s matanos were from Hashem, because he passed the test. According to Rashi and Rambam going to war with the Melochim was also a test. Why did he refuse? Beside, Pharoh could also have said, he made Avraham rich? Hoping to hear from you.

Thank you.

1. Aryeh

Editor’s Note: It seems that Pharoh owed it to Avraham for wronging him so he would not be able to say he made Avraham rich but the King of S’dom did nothing wrong to Avraham. The test of the fighting the kings was from Hashem but the test of having Sara abducted was via man. That is why he accepted it.

FIRES IN ISRAEL

Dear Editor:

I read with great pain about the fires raging in Israel. Our heart goes out to our brothers in Eretz Yisroel. One thing I can’t understand. Why are there Mondaymorning quarterback rabbis telling us why the fires started? Some have said because of Chilul Shabbos etc. Now is not the time, when Eretz Yisroel is raging with fire, to criticize K’lal Yisroel. We need to unite. Not divide.

Moshe S.

Editor’s Note: I think the topic of Shabbos is so important and so essential for Judaism that maybe the rabbis should speak about it and cannot even speak about it enough. The wine a mechalel Shabbos “befarhesya” touches becomes yayin nesech, any food that he cooks is bishul akum etc..