Prayer and Religious Articles
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Double Torah Portions
Why (as in the case of Matot/Maasei) are two Torah portions read on the same Shabbat? There are more Torah portions than there are Saturdays to read them on, in most years. As a result, portions are often combined. There…
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Synagogue Membership Dues
There are members of our congregation on fixed incomes who simply have no money. I suggested that they be able to pay their membership in installments, or have them reduced, possibly waved in light of their circumstances. I must present…
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Praying for Recovery
Is there one prayer or many prayers that are said for someone who is seriously ill? Someone I know is in serious condition in the hospital. What prayer can I say to help the healing begin? First of all, let…
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Grace After Meals – who wrote it?
Who composed the four main sections of the Birkat Ha’Mazon (Grace After Meals), and when where they composed? The first three are attributed to Moses – although, clearly, they could not have been composed by him in their current format…
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The Power of Prayer
Who determines who is righteous? If only God determines this, then will there ever be anybody who will fall in this category? Is there anybody who is completely righteous? Let’s say there are people like this, which prayers are heard?…
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Psalms at Night
Is there a time of day that Tehillim (Psalms) should be recited? Is there a time of day that Tehillim should NOT be recited? According to the Zohar, Psalms should only be recited during the daytime or after midnight. Thus,…
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The “Yad” for the Torah Scroll
Why do we use a Yad when reading Torah? In general, why is it prohibited to touch the torah directly? Thank you You have actually answered your first question by asking your second question. A Yad is used in order…
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Seeing Eye Dog in the Shul
If a blind person travels by dog is he alowed to take the dog inside the shul? This question was once posed to the great sage Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ob”m and he answered that it is permitted. Rabbi Yimiyahu Benyowitz