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# 3654 The Scale of Things
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Q. Is it permissible to keep a mechanical (non-digital) food scale next to the table on the Seder night to measure the appropriate amounts of Matzah and Maror for all those present?
A. Shulchan Aruch 306: 7 rules that our Sages forbade measuring or weighing anything on Shabbos or Yom Tov, for these acts resemble the weekday actions of merchants conducting business. However, one can generally do so for the purposes of a Mitzva (Shabbos 126b). For instance, one may measure a Mikveh on Shabbos in order to ascertain whether or not it is lacking water.
Poskim therefore write that it is permissible in need to weigh Matzo and Maror on Yom Tov or Shabbos (when the Seder night coincides with Shabbos). Chazon Ovadia- Shabbat, Volume 6, page 26 and others. The above applies only to a mechanical scale, not a digital one.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion as explained by Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a is that all measurements and weighing should be done before Shabbos and Yom Tov.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised
by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu
Shlit'a
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Posted 4/20/2022 10:46 PM |
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# 3653 Stands to Reason
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(See question 3652 above) Q. A housewife during the busy serving of the Sedder drank one of the four cups of wine while she was standing did she comply or does she have to drink another cup?
A. Although Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 472: 4) and other Poskim rule that women do not have to recline while drinking the four Kossos of wine, they maintain that they should be at least seating down while drinking them.
Mishna Berura (422: 28) quotes Shibulei Haleket that although Hallel is required to be recited usually while standing, during the Sedder night it is read while seating, since the night requires that we should behave in the ways of free people and released slaves.
Kovetz Halochos (21: 11) quotes Horav Shmuel Kamentzky's Shlit'a opinion that after the fact, if a woman drank a Kos while standing, she does not have to repeat.
However, Horav Dovid Pam's and Horav Aharon Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that she should drink another cup.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised
by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu
Shlit'a
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Posted 4/20/2022 10:45 PM |
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# 3652 Decline to Recline?
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Q. If a woman at the Sedder chooses to recline while eating Matza or drinking the four cups as mendo, can she do so?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 472: 4) and other Poskim rule that although women do not have to recline while drinking the four Kossos of wine or eating Matza, if they are considered women of importance they should do so.
Remah (ibid.) adds that even if they are of the essence and honorable the tradition for them is not to lean, since they rely on the opinion of the Rabiah that times have changed and no women recline at all in our days. Mishna Berura's opinion (12, 13) is similar.
Kovetz Halochos (21: 11) quotes Horav Shmuel Kamentzky's Shlit'a opinion that they are allowed to recline if they choose to. Horav Aharon Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised
by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu
Shlit'a
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Posted 4/20/2022 4:00 PM |
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# 3651 Have A Gut'n Moed
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Q. This morning first day Chol Hamoed (Pesach) by mistake I davened for Shacharis the Yom Tov Shemone Ezrei. I was told that I have to repeat and say the weekday one and add Yaale Veyovo. I wonder why is that so? After all Chol Hamoed is also a part of Yom Tov as we explicitly repeatedly mention in Yaaleh Veyovo and Mussaf? Besides I have been in Chasidisshe shuln and they great each other with a Gut Yom Tov also in Chol Hamoed?
A. Mishna Berura (490: 5) indeed rules that Chol Hamoed is not called Yom Tov and that is why one has to repeat the Amida in such a case. He also mentions that one should not recite at the end of Birchas Hamazon the Horachamon dedicated to Yom Tov.
Although, in principle and in the meaning and symbolism of the day, Chol Hamoed may be seen as a part of the Yom Tov, in Halacha it is not.
(It isalso a fact that the common greeting that people use on Chol Hamoed is not 'Gut Yom Tov' but rather a 'Gut'n Moed'
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Posted 4/18/2022 9:56 PM |
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# 3650 Something to Lean On
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Q. If one is sitting in a regular chair that does not have armrests, how can then reclining be done at the Seder?
A. Horav Shlomo Millers Shlit'a opinion is that, if one can't recline on a neighboring chair, he may sit a bit sideways in his chair. so the back will be at an angle and he will be able to lean on his left side on it.
The Rov also permits to lean with his left hand on the table. (See similar ruling in Kovetz Halochos 21: 7)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:24 PM |
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# 3649 Tzedaka Matza?
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Q. Due to the very high price of Matza this year some Tzedaka institutions offer subsidized Matza for the ones in need that can't afford them. If one was offered by a friend some leftovers that he bought at a special discount, can he accepted them or is that morally wrong? If he did accept them what should he now do?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that it is not correct to use Tzedaka subsidies when one does not need them. If he accepted the Matzos, he should try to compensate the institution for the difference in price.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:22 PM |
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# 3648 It's In Our Hands
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Q. The reason given for the need of Urchatz or washing hands at the beginning of the Seder is to be able to eat the Karpas that are wet vegetables soaked in salt water, and thus require Netilat Yadaim (Shulchan Aruch O.H. 158: 4).
This is hard to understand since in our days we eat the potatoes and radishes etc. only with forks or spoons and since we don't touch them, there should not be a need for washing?
A. On question 941 we wrote: Although any food that you recite the Ha’adamah blessing on it and is not suitable for maror, is in principle fit for karpas use, the Arizal (Shaar Hakavonos – Pesach, drush 6) exhorts the use of the vegetable named Karpas, to maintain the importance and meaning of the minhagim instituted by our sages. (see also Kaf Hachaim 473: 49, Haggada Moadim Uzmanim p. 46.)
Rashi (Sukkah 39b) says that Karpas could be translated as cress (Artscroll translation) which is similar to parsley. However, he heard (from his rabbis) that Karpas is translated as Apio. Rashi seems to prefer the first interpretation. Yerushalmi (Shviis 9:1) and many Poskim (Mogen Avrohom 473: 4 et. al.) also mention the name “petrosilia,” (Petrishke or petrushil in Yidish) which is parsley (perejil in Spanish)
However, Chasam Sofer 132 quoting his teacher Rabbi Nosson Adler asserts that the Apio vegetable quoted by Rashi, is celery (corresponds to the modern Spanish translation.) An anecdote relates that the Chasam Sofer in year 5545 spent an early Pesach with his Rebbi in Vienna, that year the rivers and ground were still frozen. He paid an exorbitant price for some very hard to find greenhouse grown celery leafs. (Moriah. Shvat 5750: p. 227 – An acronym quoted in his name for Apio is E-l Poel Yeshuos Ato).
Machazit HaShekel (473:4) in name of medical books, and Beis Sheorim 213 concur that Karpas is celery. Halichos Shlomo writes that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach when he was younger ate celery and in his later years had cucumber as Karpas.
Jastrow and modern Hebrew dictionaries translate Karpas as parsley, some mention also celery.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that if indeed the parsley ur celery leafs were thoroughly cleaned, inspected and found insect free, one can use them for Karpas and recite Ha’adama"
Indeed if one uses radishes or potatoes as Karpas, likely he will use cutlery to soak them and eat them. However, celery or parsley can be soaked and eaten by hand, and thus requires Netilas Yodaim. (Some Poskim mention the use of scallions).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:19 PM |
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# 3647 Accounting for Taste
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Q. For one that has the option, of eating oat Matzos or the regular wheat Matzos, and he likes the flavor of the oat matzos, can he eat them just as regular wheat Matzos?
A. Horav Shlomo Millers Shlit'a opinion is that for one who does not need to eat oat Matzos (due to health requirements), the wheat matzos are preferred.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:14 PM |
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# 3646 Melted Matza
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Q. Have a Happy Yom Tov Rabbi. If my aged father has difficulty in eating Matza, and he has to make it soft by soaking it in water.
A. On question 3100 regarding a similar case we wrote: "The Rov added that if the Matza is to be dampened with water to make it softer and more digestible, it should maintain its Tzuras Hapas or its basic form and structure.” If it dissolved in the water and one is actually drinking the matza instead of eating it, one does not comply
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If one needs to drink some water while eating the Matza, the water should be taken when there is no Matza in the mouth, between the bites. See Arzei Halvanan (108) that this was indeed the costume of Horav Moshe Feinstein Zt'l in his old age.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:11 PM |
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# 3645 Up to Date
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Q. What date should someone write on the sell of Chometz when it was done after the Shekia (sunset)?
Should one use the non Jewish date?
A. In principle the commonly used document for the sale of Chometz is just a letter nominating the Rabbi to be an agent to sell one's Chometz as described in it. Even without a date, it would be valid.
However, Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that when the date written was before the actual date of the signing, or Sh'tar Mukdam, it is better.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:09 PM |
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# 3644 Cut Out the Uncut?
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Q. Shalom, Can I bring a Jewish guest to a Pesach Seder if he never had a Bris?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that it is permitted specially if the purpose is Kiruv. However, he should not eat the Afikomen that represents the Korban Pesach since it was not eaten by the uncircumcised.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:07 PM |
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# 3643 Call In Sick
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Q. See question above. Does one have to actually wait until one gets sick in order to consume medicine made of Kitniyos, or can one take it as a preventive means to avoid getting ill.
A. Horav Shlomo Millers Shlit'a opinion is that one should take it once the ill feelings begin.
Please double check if the pill you need can be obtained from other non Kitniyos sources.
See question 3122 on one who has to take pills during Pesach that contain Kitniyos, if one may preferably place his pill on a glass with water and then just swallow the pill with the water, and by lifting his head and ingesting it directly to his throat. We answered that it may not help at all.
When I consulted again the Rov Shlit'a and questioned why one should be stringent on preventive medical Kitniyos that have been totally changed from their original natural form and now even animals would not eat them. Therefore they should be permitted as many Poskim rule (See Piskei Teshuvos 442: 5), especially in this case when the likely symptoms are so severe, the Rov replied, that another Rov can rule to be lenient.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:04 PM |
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# 3642 Know Your Beans
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Q. I'm sensitive to carbohydrates including sugar. One year, when I ate all the matzoh and drank all the Grapevine juice, I got so sick that I couldn't make it through the seder. I have since learned that I can dilute the grape juice and eat less matzoh but don't feel well afterwards.
There is a health product that I take during the year that is made of white kidney beans that neutralizes the reaction. It is gluten free made, in a vegetable based capsule with vegetarian magnesium stearate and silica, and those are the only ingredients. I know that as an Ashkenazi Jew, I am not supposed to eat kitniyos but I imagine that for health reasons it could be permitted, providing the other ingredients are okay. Is that correct and can I take this product over Pesach?
A. Mishna Berura (453: 7) permits eating Kitniyos for the ill (See also Chayye Adam (127: 7).
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 1:01 PM |
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# 3641 Lean Times?
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Q. What is the source for reclining while eating the Seder anyway?
A. Rambam (Chometz Umatza 7: 6,7) writes that since our Sages teach us that in every generation one has to see himself as if he actually has been saved from Mitzrayim, therefore our sages instituted that one should recline as only free men do. See similar ruling in Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 472: 2).
Some Poskim argue that reclining at meals does not apply in our days, as we don't eat anymore in that fashion (Avi Hoezri 525 quoted by Tur 472). However most Poskim maintain that reclining still applies and one should follow the tradition.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 12:57 PM |
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# 3640 A Cut About the Rest
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Q. Rabbi. at my age I'm uncomfortable reclining can I drink the Kosos (wine cups) and eat the Matza without?
A. Horav Shlomo Millers Shlit'a opinion is that one does not have to recline if that is truly uncomfortable. However is one can do at least a bit and rest, one should try to follow the millenary tradition. (See next question).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/15/2022 12:54 PM |
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# 3639 Call it a Roll?
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Q. I work on a Shemurah Matza factory and we use a hand metal roller to punch the holes in the flattened dough round pieces. We recently acquired a new one. Does it need Tevila?
What happens if it wasn't done, does that affect the matzos?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller' Shlit'a opinion is that since the roller does not touch the food when it is ready to eat,it does require tevila but without a brocho. If that wasn't done yet, the matzos after the fact can still be used.
See similar ruling on sefer Tevilas Kelim.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/10/2022 5:54 PM |
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# 3638 Alone and Happy?
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Q. I will be traveling at very early hours on Erev Pesach and likely be davening Shacharis on the road. I'm a Bechor, can I just make a Siyum by myself on a Gemara I learned and eat then?
A. See question 531 that Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a ruled that if you learned the whole tractate you can join a siyum via telephone. See also similar answer in regard to zooming into a Siyum. Indeed, it is also permitted to do a Siyum all alone and eat.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/7/2022 10:39 PM |
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# 3637 Searched and Saved?
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Q. We thank Hashem for saving us from a recent accident that severely damaged our car. The car was removed by authorities into an impound car crash area and our insurance company is taking care of it. Since we have children it is likely that there is chometz inside, as in other years, but we don't really have access to the vehicle. What should we do regarding the Bedika and Biur Chometz in the vehicle?
A. As mentioned in the question above the best way to deal with the damaged vehicle is to sell it in an early sell.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/7/2022 10:36 PM |
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# 3636 An Early Sale
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Q. Dear Rov; One that has a basement or a garage one does not want to clean for Pesach and it will be closed completely, does he have to sell in a Mechira Mukdemes (Selling it to a Gentile, the day before Erev Pesach)?
A. Mishna Berura (436: 32) quotes different opinions. Mekor Chaim and Chayei Adam maintain that if they will only be sold on Erev Pesach in the morning, they have to be searched for chametz on the night before as is done with the rest of the house.
However Binyan Olam (20) asserts that no Bedika is needed as the fact that it will be sold tomorrow is in itself tantamount to keeping the chometz one finds until tomorrow to be burned, or the chometz one still want to consume until tomorrow morning, Mishna Berura also quotes that the Chassam Soffer (131) and Eishel Avrohom are lenient. He adds that he should specify that not only he sells that area, but also any chometz therein. He also adds that it is preferable to do an early sell on the thirteen of Nissan.
Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a also advises to do an early sell. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch
Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/7/2022 10:33 PM |
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# 3635 Travel First Aid Kit
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Q. Given the very high number of flight cancellations and delays in our days, if our family has to travel by plane on Erev Pesach, should we take matzos and maror and other Seder items with us in case we get stranded?
A. Our Rabbonim insist that one should not travel at all on Erev Pesach this days if there is a reasonable risk of being stranded in an airport or an unknown hotel. Any travel should be done with ample time before or totally avoided.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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Posted 4/7/2022 10:30 PM |
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Important Numbers
