Shulchan Arukh 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 (

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

21 07, 2026

Playing Live Music During Three Weeks for Hospital Patient

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

QUESTION

I am doing a unit of CPE at a hospital this summer, and a Jewish patient (knowledgeable, but not Orthodox) asked if I could play some music on the guitar for him. Since we are currently in the Three Weeks, I am not sure how to proceed, though I am inclined to oblige. Does the patient’s request, and my desire to optimally perform the mitzvah of bikkur cholim, outweigh the prohibition on music? Does my background as a professional musician matter
here, even though this is not a paid gig? How about

21 07, 2026

Kohen with Physical Disabilities Performing Birkat Kohanim

July 21st, 2026|Birkat Kohanim/Duchening, Kohanim, Orach Chayim, Tefillah|

QUESTION

A kohen who suffered a stroke several years ago and currently has injuries affecting his right arm and leg is staying temporarily at a rehabilitation facility that serves assisted-living, nursing-care, and independent-living residents. He has been attending the facility’s minyan for the past couple of weeks and would like to duchen—recite the priestly blessing—on Yom Tov. He has continued to duchen at his regular synagogue since his stroke.

How do we determine whether a community is considered “accustomed to” a kohen with a mum—a physical blemish or impairment? In this case, he

19 07, 2026

Resuming Kriyat Shema After Long Interruption for Security Emergency

July 19th, 2026|Orach Chayim, Shacharit, Mincha and Ma'ariv, Shema and Shemoneh Esrei, Shulchan Arukh, Tefillah|

QUESTION

While davening on military duty, I was called away to deal with a security situation in the middle of tefillah. I finished Shema while putting away my tefillin. About an hour and a half later I became available to finish my tefillah.

Where should I resume?

The beginning of Birkhot Kriyat Shema
The beginning of Shema
Emet v’Yatziv
The Amidah

What is the guidance for future situations like this?

ANSWER

This is

14 07, 2026

Repurposing Men’s Section as Women’s Section in Shul

July 14th, 2026|Mechitza, Orach Chayim, Synagogue, Tefillah, Women|

QUESTION

Is there any halakhic issue with reconfiguring a synagogue’s davening space so that part of what was previously the men’s section is now designated as the women’s section, while the former women’s section is no longer regularly used for davening? Alternatively, may the men’s and women’s sections be treated as flexible spaces, with their respective sizes adjusted according to immediate need?

For context, the former women’s section was always explicitly designated as a multi-purpose space rather than exclusively as a place for davening.

ANSWER

This is an issue that has come up in

14 07, 2026

Counting Visitors for Minyan Without Investigating Jewish Status

July 14th, 2026|Minyan, Non-Jews and Other Religions, Orach Chayim, Status, Tefillah|

QUESTION

In a tourist town with only one synagogue, many visitors — both Jewish and non-Jewish — may attend services. Is there an obligation to ascertain the Jewish status of visitors before counting them toward a minyan? Or does the general principle apply that, absent specific grounds for doubt, one may rely on a person’s statement that he is Jewish without investigating further?

ANSWER

The general principle applies. The fact that non-Jewish visitors also attend services does not change this. If a person says that he is Jewish, he may be counted for a minyan. Without specific grounds for doubt (leidat ha-safek) regarding

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