Rosh Yeshiva Responds
Rabbi Linzer answers halakhic questions from rabbis and community members

12 12, 2020

Lighting Chanukah Candles in Public Without a Shul

December 12th, 2020|Berakhot, Chanukah, Orach Chayim|

QUESTION

Baltimore, MD

We are building a 16 foot menorah in the shul parking lot in front of the shul. I was told it is potentially a problem to say the berakhot. My thought was that since it’s the shul lighting, and berakhot are recited at shul lightings, that the parking lot is considered part of the shul.

ANSWER

Yes – I think that that is a very creative solution to the debate in the poskim about doing it berabim without the shul context. One way of framing this debate

12 12, 2020

Pirsumei Nisah over Zoom

December 12th, 2020|Chanukah, Orach Chayim|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

Can I light with a berakhah in the shul following Havdalah on Motza’ei Shabbat without anyone else present (we have been saying Mincha/Ma’ariv at Shekiah on Shabbat since June)? Does someone on Zoom or phone count for Pirsumei Nisah (if lighting at home late at night with nobody else awake or home)? Does witnessing lighting over Zoom count for anything? Can one say “She’Asah Nisim” when witnessing a menorah on Zoom?

ANSWER

The answer depends on (a) is it considered to satisfy the shul approach if there is