Moadim Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

Switching Pesach China Dishes Not Used for 12 Months from Meat to Dairy

28 03, 2023

Switching Pesach China Dishes Not Used for 12 Months from Meat to Dairy

March 28th, 2023|Hechsher Keilim, Orach Chayim, Pesach|

QUESTION

Jerusalem, IL

A family that uses their (flieshig) grandparent’s Pesach china has gone vegetarian. They would like to turn the china dairy. Obviously, they haven’t been used since last Pesach. Any room for to allow this?

ANSWER

Yes they can. They should kasher through iruy and – when it comes to the tureen and serving dishes and possibly the soup bowls (see below), they should ideally wait 12 months from last fleishig use, which means the Pesach after this. The reason to allow this is:

1. We are only going from fleishig to milkhig, so what is balua (absorbed) is taam heter (permissible flavour) […]

Using Pet Food That is Less Than 50% Chametz on Pesach

28 03, 2023

Using Pet Food That is Less Than 50% Chametz on Pesach

March 28th, 2023|Orach Chayim, Pesach|

QUESTION

Denver, CO

Rabbi Linzer, what is your view on using pet food on Pesach that is ta’arovet chametz – less than 50% percent grain – instead of trying to find grain free pet food? This is important to dog owners who find it difficult to switch foods. I understand that the hesitancy on this is whether or not dog food can be classified as nifsal mei’achilat adam (not fit for human consumption). It seems to me that even though it may […]

28 03, 2023

Kashering a Dutch Oven for Pesach Used for Both Cooking and Baking

March 28th, 2023|Hechsher Keilim, Orach Chayim, Pesach|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

Kashering question— this Dutch Oven is used as a pot, but also upside down to make bread. How should it be kashered for Pesach? Do we follow it’s majority usage (רוב תשמישו) as a pot, and therefore require hagalah? Or do we do libun for the smaller piece since it’s it used for baking but only a lid for bishul?

ANSWER

I have a hard time considering this rov tashmisho. I don’t think that rov tashmisho is measured by 51%. If using […]

Tevilat Keilim on Yom Tov for Use on Yom Tov

22 02, 2023

Tevilat Keilim on Yom Tov for Use on Yom Tov

February 22nd, 2023|Tevilat Keilim, Yom Tov|

QUESTION

What is the Rosh Yeshiva’s position on toiveling keilim (immersing dishes) on Yom Tov?

ANSWER

Although I’m curious about the specific circumstances (e.g. where are you going to be tovel it? Why couldn’t you do it beforehand?), I think it is fine. See Shulchan Arukh OC 323:7 where the Shulchan Arukh rules that m’ikar ha’din (according to the basic halakha) that it is permitted, and Rema implicitly agrees. While in Darkhei Moshe he rules that it is forbidden, and many Ashkenazi Achronim are strict […]

22 02, 2023

Adjusting an Electronic Keypad Oven or Stove on Yom Tov

February 22nd, 2023|Moadim, Orach Chayim, Technology, Uncategorized, Yom Tov|

QUESTION

Rabbi Linzer, can one raise the heat on an electronic pad-entry oven or stove on Yom Tov? I will be leaving the burner on, but just want to know if I can then raise or lower the heat.

ANSWER

I have addressed adjusting the heat on an electric stove top, which is very similar to this question.

There are two issues here […]

9 02, 2023

Adjusting the Temperature on an Electric Countertop Burner on Yom Tov

February 9th, 2023|Electricity, Orach Chayim, Technology, Uvda D'Chol, Yom Tov|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

If I have an electric countertop burner that I put on a timer for yom tov, can I adjust the heat setting while the burner is on? Does it matter if I’m turning the heat up when the burner is already on or down when it’s already off (there’s a light that says if it’s currently heating or not)?

Do you have general guidelines on interacting with electronic devices on Shabbat/Yom Tov?

ANSWER

There are two issues here – havarah/mekhabeh (igniting/extinguishing), and use of electronics.

1. Regarding […]

16 01, 2023

Eating on Ta’anit Bechorot After a Women’s Siyum Masechet

January 16th, 2023|Orach Chayim, Pesach, Ta'anit Bechorot, Talmud Torah, Women's Torah Learning|

QUESTION

PARIS, FRANCE

Kvod Ha-Rav,
I teach Gmara (Psachim) to a group of women. We plan to make a siyum that we would like to set Erev Pesach. Can the men who will attend consider this siyum as ‘סיום בכורות’ (the siyum of the firstborn) instead of fasting ?

ANSWER
Yes. Women making a siyum on learning equally warrants a seudat mitzvah.

13 01, 2023

Public Hanukkah Candle-lightings

January 13th, 2023|Berakhot, Candle lighting, Chanukah, Moadim, Orach Chayim|

QUESTION

CHICAGO, IL

What is the most appropriate way to handle public Hanukkah candle-lighting, that is not in a shul, and that does not fulfill anyone’s obligation? Should we participate in Chabad public lightings? Should we have lightings at a shul Hanukkah party?

ANSWER

I agree with the assumption of your question – that the practice to light in shul with a brakaha is itself a chiddush, and ein lecha bo ela chidusho (i.e. the ruling here cannot be extended to other cases) (not to mention that it might also have greater weight because it is dumya d’beit HaMikdash – analogized to the Beit HaMikdash). […]

3 06, 2022

Starting Shavuot Early – Day 1 and Day 2

June 3rd, 2022|Shavuot|

Starting Shavuot Early – Day 1 and Day 2

Rabbi Dov Linzer

Denver, CO.

Question

In previous years, a number of families in my shul have asked me about making Shavuot early so that they can have the seudah at a reasonable time, and so that the small children to participate in the se’udat Yom Tov. The general practice is to not accept Shavuot until Tzeit, and I have told them they cannot do so, but it did create some serious difficulties for them.

This year, this is also relevant to us as a community – at least from the hakhanah perspective. We […]

Starting Seder Earlier

31 03, 2022

Starting Seder Earlier

March 31st, 2022|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Marriage and Family, Orach Chayim, Pesach, Uncategorized|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

What is the earliest time for the first cup for the start of the seder?

ANSWER

I would definitely follow the Gra (Biur HaGra on SA OH 261:2; MB ad. loc., no. 23) here and start as early as 14 minutes after sunset.

The only reason not to start earlier than tzeit is the Terumat HaDeshen (137) – then paskened by the Shulchan Aruch OC 472:1 – who holds that just as matzah can only be at (full) […]

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