Rosh Yeshiva Responds
Rabbi Linzer answers halakhic questions from rabbis and community members
If a rabbi forgets to count Sefirat HaOmer for an entire day, may he continue counting with a berakhah?
This question arises more often than one might expect. At times, even rabbis forget and miss a day. The standard halakhah is that one who misses a full day of counting the Omer continues counting without a berakhah (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 489:8;
Someone will be home on the night of the 14th, but will then travel the next morning to the place where he will be staying for Pesach.
For his own home — since he will be there at the time of bedikat chametz — should he perform a full bedikat chametz with a berakhah?
And what about the next day, when he arrives at his Pesach location — does he make a berakhah on the bedikah there? Does it make a difference whether he arrives before or after the time of biur chametz?
A member of my shul wants to donate food to a food pantry that will be picking up during Chol HaMoed. Can they be mafkir (declare ownerless) the food and leave it on their porch for pick up before Pesach? My concern is that no one will know about the hefker (ownerless) status of the food—so does that really count as hefker?
I think that’s fine.
It is true that hefker cannot be done ba’lev (without any outward expression) (see Ran, Pesachim 1a, ד״ה ומהו), since devarim she’ba’lev einam devarim (unexpressed intentions are not legally significant). Nevertheless, taking
One of the local Reform shuls here runs a wonderful food pantry. They partner with a local organization and mainly serve non-Jews.
Our communities are very connected, and people from our shul volunteer there and donate food items. Can people donate chametz there before Pesach? I reached out to their Rabbi, but I’m not even sure what we would require, if anything. (Meaning does the shul own the chametz?)
Also, no one has asked me this, but I was curious: Can one volunteer there over Pesach?
The question is, as you note, who really owns the food in the food pantry.
Can the Rosh Yeshivah’s clarify his position regarding induction stovetops? Having read/watched his views on cooking with it on Yom tov and regarding its status vis a vis bishul akum, would it be correct that the same burner could be used for both meat and dairy?
If so:
A. Would this be permitted even on the same day?
B. If there are spills, would one be required to wipe the surface between uses, or would that simply be recommended as a best practice?
As well, regarding Pesach, would the induction surface not require kashering, but
Rav Linzer, If one is using egg matzah for lechem mishnah for Shabbat/Erev Pesach, can it be eaten after the point that one can no longer eat chameitz? Also, does one need to avoid putting egg matzah in hot soup (keli shelishi) on Shabbat Erev Pesach, if it’s in Pesach keilim?
(NOTE – All discussions of egg matzah here that are a problem only for Ashkenazim are egg matzahs that have
QUESTION
What is the earliest time for the first cup for the start of the seder?
ANSWER
It is common during the summertime to bring in Shabbat early and to make kiddush and have our Friday night meal before it gets dark. This is based on the principle of tosefet Shabbat, extending the sanctity of Shabbat into the day before. However, when it comes to Pesach, many Rishonim rule that matzah may not be eaten before it is full nightfall (tzeit hakokhavim) because of a number of verses that state that matzah and the korban pesach (Pesach
The above video is about koshering during the year. When it comes to Pesach, there is a chumrah to kasher countertops, regardless (see SA OH 451:20). This should be followed when possible, however if there is concern that damage will result, one need not follow this chumrah.
Can this be kashered for Pesach? Griddle for making pancakes used with batter.
In general, we rule that chameitz, even during the rest of the year, is considered to be איסורא בלע, and when absorbed directly via the fire requires libun chamor (Shulchan Arukh OC 451:4). That is normally defined at about 700 degrees. I imagine that that is not possible here and that a blow torch or the like would destroy it.
There are, however, poskim who rule that libun chamor is the same as the hottest temperature the object got to. According to this you
Rosh Yeshiva Responds
Rabbi Dov Linzer will be answering shailas from YCT rabbis and community members on video each week.
