Moadim Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

23 08, 2026

Yom Kippur Selichot and Vidui Without a Minyan

August 23rd, 2026|Minyan, Orach Chayim, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Shulchan Arukh, Synagogue|

QUESTION

What should a congregation do if it does not have a minyan for Yom Kippur services, particularly regarding the Selichot and Vidui normally recited during Chazarat HaShatz?

ANSWER

Without a minyan, you cannot do Chazarat HaShatz. However, each person should recite Vidui as part of the silent Amidah. There is also no problem with reciting an additional Vidui together after the Amidah.

The Selichot may also be recited without a minyan, but the Yud-Gimel Middot HaRachamim (Thirteen Attributes of Mercy) cannot be said in their regular way without a minyan. Rather, they should be read with trope (

23 08, 2026

Nursing Mother Drinking on Yom Kippur

August 23rd, 2026|Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Women|

QUESTION

A woman who is nursing a seven-week-old baby feels that it will be difficult for her to fast while drinking with shiurim (measured intervals). What is the ruling?

ANSWER

First, I would ask whether it would be manageable to drink at intervals of 30 seconds, within the range of opinions for kedei shetiyat revi’it (the time it takes to drink a revi’it;

16 08, 2026

Woman Making Her Own Berakhot When Hearing Shofar From Her Husband

August 16th, 2026|Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Women|

QUESTION

If I blow shofar just for my wife later in the day, should she make both berakhot herself and I just blow?

ANSWER

Correct – she should make the berkahot. See the Rema (SA OH 589:6):

אף על פי שנשים פטורות יכולות לתקוע וכן אחר שיצא כבר יכול לתקוע להוציאן אבל אין מברכות ולא יברכו להן: הגה והמנהג שהנשים מברכות על מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא ע”כ גם כאן מברכות לעצמן אבל אחרים לא יברכו להן אם כבר יצאו

16 08, 2026

Repeating Shofar Berakhah After Already Being Yotzei

August 16th, 2026|Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Women|

QUESTION

If someone blows shofar for another person before the main communal shofar blowing and is already yotzei the mitzvah, can he recite the berakhah again when blowing for the congregation later?

ANSWER

Yes. See the Rema (SA OH 585:2) and MB there (585:5):

קודם שיתקע, יברך “לשמוע קול שופר” ויברך “שהחיינו”.
הגה: ואין חילוק בין אם יברך לעצמו, או שכבר יצא ומברך להוציא אחרים, אפילו הכי מברך התוקע שתי ברכות הנזכרות
Before one blows one makes the blessing “to hear the sound of the shofar” and makes the blessing “shehecheyanu.” Rema: And there is no distinction

16 08, 2026

Blowing Shofar for Children’s Activity Before Main Service

August 16th, 2026|Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur|

QUESTION

Can a ba’al tokea (shofar blower) blow shofar for a children’s activity before the official blowing for the congregation? If so, should he recite a berachah? Does it matter if there are parents or teachers in the room who would also be hearing the shofar?

ANSWER

Yes, he may blow shofar for the children’s activity. If he is blowing kosher tekiot, then he and the others present are yotzei (fulfill their obligation), and he should certainly make the berachah. Even if he is not doing a full set of kosher tekiot, he can still make the berachah
because of chinukh – the mitzvah

31 07, 2026

Earliest Time for Reciting Selichot

July 31st, 2026|Moadim, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Tefillah|

QUESTION

What is the earliest time that we can begin saying Selichot? Is there a ma’alah (advantage) to beginning twenty minutes before chatzot so that the final Yud-Gimmel Middot (Thirteen Attributes of Mercy) are recited after chatzot?

ANSWER

The original practice for Selichot is to rise early, before alot ha-shachar (dawn), and recite Selichot during the ashmoret (the final watch of the night;

22 07, 2026

Ending Tisha B’Av Fast Early During International Flight

July 22nd, 2026|Moadim, Orach Chayim, Tisha B'Av - 3 Weeks|

QUESTION

A congregant booked tickets for their family (six people) from South Africa to Chicago on Tisha B’Av. Due to the time zones, the travel would result in a 36-hour fast: the fast starts around 5:00 pm South Africa time, the flight leaves at 10:00 pm, they land in Chicago a little after noon, and the fast ends in Chicago at about 9:00 pm. This would make an effective 36-hour fast. The family cannot afford to change the flights due to large change fees. Is there a position to rely on that they could end their fast 25 hours after they

21 07, 2026

Sunscreen and Ointment on Tisha b’Av

July 21st, 2026|Orach Chayim, Tisha B'Av - 3 Weeks|

QUESTION

May a woman apply sunscreen on Tisha b’Av (she is not photosensitive)? May she apply antibiotic ointment or Vaseline to a rash when it flares up to reduce itchiness?

ANSWER

Ointment applied to a rash is definitely permitted.

21 07, 2026

Laundering Borrowed Linens During Nine Days for Respect of Grandmother

July 21st, 2026|Family, Orach Chayim, Tisha B'Av - 3 Weeks|

QUESTION

A student borrowed linens from her grandparents in Jerusalem to use at her midrasha over the summer. She is flying back to the US and wants to wash the linens before she leaves. This would be before Shabbat of the week in which Tisha B’Av falls.

Her grandparents are currently in the US and would not use the sheets until well after Tisha B’Av. If the granddaughter does not wash the linens now, however, her elderly grandmother will have to wash them when she returns to Israel, during shavua shechal bo (the week in which Tisha B’Av

21 07, 2026

Making a Siyum on Mishnayot with Artscroll Commentary During Nine Days

July 21st, 2026|Orach Chayim, Talmud Torah, Tisha B'Av - 3 Weeks|

QUESTION

Does completing a masechet of Mishnayot with the Artscroll commentary constitute a significant enough accomplishment for a 14-year-old to make a siyum and eat meat during the Nine Days? May he recite the hadran and special kaddish?

ANSWER

If it was a meaningful accomplishment and took ongoing time and investment, then yes.

See Iggrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:157:

בדבר אם יש להחשיב סעודת מצוה לפטור הבכורים מהתענית ערב פסח ולאכול בשר מר”ח אב עד התענית גם כשמסיימין בחבורה שלומדים מקרא בעיון …אבל מ”מ נראה

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