1) Many fruits and vegetables (e.g. cherries, apples, tomatoes etc.) often have their stems attached to them when purchased, and are only removed by the consumer before being consumed.
The status of these stems in regards to Borer is similar to the pits, and would depend on the Machlokes between the Mishna Berura and the Chazon Ish which we described earlier.
Thus, according to the Mishna Berura the stems may be removed when the fruits are being held in the hand during the eating, and may even be permitted when not being held if being done immediately before eating.
According to the Chazon Ish, however, it is prohibited to remove the stem, rather the stem should be held in one hand, and the fruit pulled away (or bit away) from the stem for consumption.
2) Individual grapes may only be removed from on the cluster immediately before eating them but may not be removed and prepared before that time.
If a cluster of grapes contains in it some grapes that are spoiled or less fresh than the rest, they may not be removed from the cluster. Only the good grapes may be removed, and even those, only immediately prior to eating.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
If someone who davens Ashkenaz is davening for the Amud in a Sefard Minyon [or vice versa] , what Nusach does he use for his own silent Shmoneh Esrei?
Answer:
This is a very much discussed question amongst the contemporary Poskim.
Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal was of the opinion that he must daven the quiet Shemona esrei the same Nusach as the Tzibbur, as he held that the quiet Shemona Esrei is recited by the Shatz as a preparation for the next Shemona esrei he will be saying out loud, thus it has to be davened in the same nusach. (See Igros Moshe Vol. 2 Siman 29 and Vol. 4 Siman 33)
However, many Poskim do not accept Rav Moshe's reasoning, as they posit that today that we daven from a Siddur, there is no need to prepare, and they pasken that the silent Shemona esre should be davened in whatever Nusach the Shatz personally davens. Only the loud Shemona esrei needs to be in the Nusach of the Tzibbur. (This is the opinion of the Minchas Yitzchok Vol. 6 Siman 31:3, Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach zatzal in Halichos Shlomo Page 68 as well as the opinion of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Shlita quoted in Shu" t Avnei Yashfe Vol. 1 Siman14:8, as well as many other Poskim including the Shoel U'Meishiv, the Netziv, Ohr L'Tzion, Rav Ovadia Yoseph Shlita etc.)
Also, according to Rav Moshe Zatzal's reasoning, it should be said that at Maariv where there is no Chazaras HaShatz he agrees that the shatz should daven his own personal nusach.
For Halacha L'Ma'aseh please consult your Rav.
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME. THANK YOU AND TIZKEH L'MITZVOS!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk For Today:
For years, a rabbi from Israel has been stopping by and asking for money to run his yeshiva and I gave him what was possible, certainly more than I can now.
He called before Shabbos to ask if he could come over on Sunday. He thanked me profusely when I gave him the money and said he would say a prayer for me. I insisted it should be for my friend who was in the hospital with a dangerous infection following knee replacement surgery. He spent a minute belting out a prayer in Hebrew so furiously that I could not understand a single word.
The next morning I went to the hospital and there was a discharge order for my friend as her insurance had run out. It would be impossible to bring her home and I couldn't care for her at home.
I mentioned to a new nurse that I couldn't even get her up the stairs, that we live on the second floor. Her eyes lit up like a firecracker at midnight, "That would be an illegal discharge, I'll take care of this."
That nurse detailed the chart and the discharge order was reversed. This was the first day this nurse had "floated" from the critical care unit to standard patients on the ground floor. She had previously been hired as a discharge planner and knew what the hospital could legally do or not do. Less than one day after giving tzedakah, we had a miracle in the form of a nurse who had never "floated" out of her job in critical care before but was there that one day.
Financial kindness to a rabbi and his students can bring a literal miracle.
Important Numbers
