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Halacha can and should guide all aspects of your life. Whether you have questions about daily or Shabbath rituals, the holidays, customs vs. religious law, or anything else, Rav Bar-Hayim is a true haham who can assist. Please contact Rav Bar-Hayim at harav@machonshilo.org.
 

• Must a Kohen nowadays make sure to take a haircut at least once every 30 days?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

  Such a requirement does not exist so long
  as the Beit HaMikdash is not standing.

  See Rambam, Hilchot Biat HaMikdash,
  Chapter 1, Halacha 11

  http://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/8301.htm

  87,50% of 8 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• What bracha should I make upon putting on my tzitzit katan?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

  One should make the bracha "lehitatef betzitzit"
  upon putting on one's tzitzit katan. One should also
   make the same bracha upon putting on one's tallit.

  The bracha "al mitzvat tzitzit" does not appear in the
  gemara and therefore the only correct bracha to use
  whenever putting on either a tzitzit katan or talit
  is "lehitatef betzitzit".

  90,00% of 10 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• If I put on tefillin more than once on a given day should I say the brachot on them each time?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

  The Talmud Yerushalmi says that one should say the brachot on only the first time one puts on tefillin on during a given day. The logic behind this is that tefillin is a mitzvah incumbent upon a Jewish adult male during the entire day, dependent upon the circumstances. Therefore, the first time one makes the brachot they apply towards the entire day.

  Indeed, the Talmud Bavli indicates that one should make the brachot on tefillin each time one puts on tefillin during the course of the day. This indeed is also a legitimate approach.

  100,00% of 5 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Should I say the bracha on tzizit each time I put them on during the course of the day?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  If one takes off one's tzizit for more than just a few moments then one should indeed again say the bracha on tzizit before putting them on again.

  100,00% of 5 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Should I wear tzitzit at night as well as during the day?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  Yes, the mitzvah of tzitzit applies at night as well.

  100,00% of 6 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Isn't Machon Shilo treading potentially dangerous territory by promoting new minhagim\customs?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

   

  All of  my teachings , and those of Beth HaWaadh,
   are firmly rooted in the authentic teachings of Hazal.
  With certain systematic exceptions, we generally follow
  the Halakhic rulings and methodology of Rambam and
   Gra, to mention but two giants of Torah.
  All minhaghim began at a certain point in time.
  In Eretz Yisrael, there is no valid reason to follow
  the minhaghim of Morocco or Poland.
  It is not only mutar, but imperative, to develop
  minhagim for Am Yisrael in its homeland, and what
  better way than turning to the sources of our forefathers
  who walked these hills before us, such as
  the Talmud Yerushalmi?
  
  Be patient. In 100 years, and perhaps much sooner,
  Selihoth Nusah Polin will be a thing of the past, having
  been replaced by liturgy written in EY for Jews in EY.
  We have only begun.

  
  Kol Tuv,

  
  David Bar-Hayim

  100,00% of 10 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Is Seudah Shlishith on Shabbath obligatory?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  Seudah Shlishith is indeed just as obligatory as the
  other two seudoth. One should have lechem mishne
  (two loaves of bread).

  100,00% of 9 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Must I wash my hands before Mincha or Arvith?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

   

  One should wash one's hands with a kli (cup)  and
  say the bracha "al netilath yadayim" before saying the
  tefilloth of Arvith,Mincha or Shacharith,
  (See Rambam, Hilchoth Tefillah, Chapter 4 and Hilchoth Brachoth, Chapter 6)
  One must be careful that there has been no "hesech hadaath" from one's hands between the time of the netillah and the tefillah.

  90,00% of 10 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• May one use an electric razor?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

  One may use an electric razor only on those parts of the face
   specified in the Talmud. A trimmer may be used
  on all parts of one's face.

  85,71% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Is Melave Malka obligatory?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  Melave Malka is obligatory. One must say HaMotzi.
  Bediavad, one can eat mezonoth.

  87,50% of 8 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Must I wash mayim aharonim before I say birkath hamazon?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

  Yes, one should wash with a cup as one does before
   eating bread. Upon washing one's hands before mayim
  aharonim one should say the bracha "asher kideshanu
  be' mitzvotav vetzivanu al rechitzath yadayim", which is in
  accordance with the opinion of the Raavad, who mentions
  this view in the name of ancient geonic sources.
  It seems very likely that the Raavad's view reflects
  the practice that was current in Eretz Yisrael.

  91,67% of 12 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• How many times must I pour water over each hand with a cup before eating bread or before Tefillah?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  Once on each hand. One should pour a reviith
  on each hand. A reviith is 80 cc (two-thirds of a cup.)

  90,00% of 10 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• May I ingest a health pill/capsule which contains an ingredient(s) (e.g.oil) from a non-kosher fish?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  Yes, one may take such a pill if one swallows it with water
   without chewing and thereby derives no pleasure from it
  as one would from food which one chews first, as opposed
  to merely swallowing. (Rambam, Hilchoth Yesodei HaTorah, Chapter 5) 

  100,00% of 13 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• What bracha do I make on cookies made out of 100% whole rye flour?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

  According to the Talmud Yerushalmi and the Rambam
  (Hilchoth Bikkurim, Chapter 6, halacha 1 & Hilchoth Hametz Umaatzah,
  Chapter 5, halacha 1) rye is not one of the chamesheth haminim
  (the five grains)  and is therefore considered to be a kitnith (legume).
  The Rambam differs from Rashi on this point.

  Since rye is a kitnith one says the bracha "shehakol nihiye bidvaro"
  and as a bracha acharonah one says "borei nefashoth".
  (Rambam, Hilchoth Brachoth, Chapter 3, halacha 10.)

  100,00% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Should I say the bracha "shehecheyanu" upon purchasing a new article of clothing?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

   

  During the Talmud buying  new articles of clothing
  in general was a source of great happiness. Nowadays,
  it would only be correct to make the bracha "shehecheyanu"
  upon purchasing a particularly high-quality article article of clothing.

  100,00% of 5 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Can I neuter my dog?
   

   

  Written by Webmaster
  

  I am afraid I know of no heter to neuter your dog.
   This issur is explicit in the Tora (Vayikra 22:24), and includes
   all animals as well as humans, see Rambam MT, Issure Bi'a 16:7 (or 16:10 in Vilna edition). The punishment for so doing, in normal times, is malkuth (a lashing). Although dogs
  may seem to suffer when other dogs are in heat, this is the way of the
  world as HASHEM has created it. We cannot consider the normal
  behavior of dogs to be tzsa'ar ba'le hayim.

  92,31% of 13 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• What is the halacha concerning joining and participating with non-Jewish courts?
   

   

  Written by Webmaster
  It is permissible in Chutz laAretz - dina demalkhutha dina.
  See TB Nedharim 28a, Gittin 10b etc. Keep in mind too that
  gentiles are required to establish a court system: see MT, Hilkhoth Melakhim,
  Chapter 9. The exception would be when two Jews have
  a legal wrangle. They are both hayavim to turn to a
  proper beth din. If one refuses, he can receive permission
  from the beth din to turn to a gentile court.

  85,71% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Are there any halachic considerations that should be considered when I change my last name?
   

   

  Written by Webmaster
  

  The concept of a last name is non-Jewish in origin. It came into being about
  220 years ago, when European governments decided to enforce
  the use of last names. Jews were always called so-and-so
  the son of so-and-so and/or so-and-so from such-and-such a place.

  One possibility is to choose a name which is somehow connected
  to your ancestry. Regarding Gittin (bills of divorce) we find that the
  husband and wife must be referred to by their name and the place of
  their residence, e.g. Shim’on of Jerusalem, Hedhwa of Rehovoth etc.
  See Mishna Gittin 8:4 (or 8:5; in Talmudh Bavli 80a). If this is not done,
  the get is invalid. (See Mishne Tora of Rambam, Gittin, 3:15 [or 3:13]).

  The Maharal zs”l explains that a person’s place of residence is considered
  an integral part of that person, because a person must exist somewhere.
  Thus that “place” is part of his or her being. It is also due to the fact that
  every person has a place where he or she belongs and fits in and feels at
  home (see Derekh Hayim of the Maharal on Avoth 3:4).

  Based on the above I would suggest you consider a name that
  is somehow associated with your place of residence (or a place where
  you would like to reside in the future). I do not feel that this decision
  requires approaching a reputed mekubal (kabbalist).

  72,73% of 11 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Before I leave work to daven Mincha I first do netillath yadayim with a bracha. On my way to the shul I take a short-cut which involves my leaning with my hands on an outside concrete surface. Does touching that surface mean that the netillah which I did
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  So long as any dust which goes on your hands is easily
  removable without the need to wash them then the netillah
  which was done is is still effective. One should simply wipe off
  whatever dust may be on one's hands and continue
  onwards towards davening.

  100,00% of 5 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• Someone once told me of a rabbi who claimed that since man and wife are really one unit that it is permissible for them to speak lashon hara with one another. Is this true?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  

  Man and wife must also fulfill the halachoth which prohibit 
  lashon hara when speaking to one another.

  100,00% of 13 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• How much is a k'zayit of bread?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  One third of a slice of bread.

  100,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful
• I am writing a diary which will be seen by others. May it contain lashon hara against a relative of mine?
   

   

  Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
  No , the fact that one is writing a perosnal history does not
  entitle you under ordinary circumstances to include lashon hara
  against a relative.

  100,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Must a Kohen nowadays make sure to take a haircut at least once every 30 days?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

Such a requirement does not exist so long
as the Beit HaMikdash is not standing.

See Rambam, Hilchot Biat HaMikdash,
Chapter 1, Halacha 11

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/8301.htm

87,50% of 8 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

What bracha should I make upon putting on my tzitzit katan?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

One should make the bracha "lehitatef betzitzit"
upon putting on one's tzitzit katan. One should also
 make the same bracha upon putting on one's tallit.

The bracha "al mitzvat tzitzit" does not appear in the
gemara and therefore the only correct bracha to use
whenever putting on either a tzitzit katan or talit
is "lehitatef betzitzit".

90,00% of 10 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

If I put on tefillin more than once on a given day should I say the brachot on them each time?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

The Talmud Yerushalmi says that one should say the brachot on only the first time one puts on tefillin on during a given day. The logic behind this is that tefillin is a mitzvah incumbent upon a Jewish adult male during the entire day, dependent upon the circumstances. Therefore, the first time one makes the brachot they apply towards the entire day.

Indeed, the Talmud Bavli indicates that one should make the brachot on tefillin each time one puts on tefillin during the course of the day. This indeed is also a legitimate approach.

100,00% of 5 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Should I say the bracha on tzizit each time I put them on during the course of the day?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
If one takes off one's tzizit for more than just a few moments then one should indeed again say the bracha on tzizit before putting them on again.

100,00% of 5 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Should I wear tzitzit at night as well as during the day?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
Yes, the mitzvah of tzitzit applies at night as well.

100,00% of 6 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Isn't Machon Shilo treading potentially dangerous territory by promoting new minhagim\customs?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

 

All of  my teachings , and those of Beth HaWaadh,
 are firmly rooted in the authentic teachings of Hazal.
With certain systematic exceptions, we generally follow
the Halakhic rulings and methodology of Rambam and
 Gra, to mention but two giants of Torah.
All minhaghim began at a certain point in time.
In Eretz Yisrael, there is no valid reason to follow
the minhaghim of Morocco or Poland.
It is not only mutar, but imperative, to develop
minhagim for Am Yisrael in its homeland, and what
better way than turning to the sources of our forefathers
who walked these hills before us, such as
the Talmud Yerushalmi?

Be patient. In 100 years, and perhaps much sooner,
Selihoth Nusah Polin will be a thing of the past, having
been replaced by liturgy written in EY for Jews in EY.
We have only begun.

Kol Tuv,

David Bar-Hayim

100,00% of 10 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Is Seudah Shlishith on Shabbath obligatory?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
Seudah Shlishith is indeed just as obligatory as the
other two seudoth. One should have lechem mishne
(two loaves of bread).

100,00% of 9 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Must I wash my hands before Mincha or Arvith?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

 

One should wash one's hands with a kli (cup)  and
say the bracha "al netilath yadayim" before saying the
tefilloth of Arvith,Mincha or Shacharith,
(See Rambam, Hilchoth Tefillah, Chapter 4 and Hilchoth Brachoth, Chapter 6)
One must be careful that there has been no "hesech hadaath" from one's hands between the time of the netillah and the tefillah.

90,00% of 10 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

May one use an electric razor?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

One may use an electric razor only on those parts of the face
 specified in the Talmud. A trimmer may be used
on all parts of one's face.

85,71% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Is Melave Malka obligatory?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
Melave Malka is obligatory. One must say HaMotzi.
Bediavad, one can eat mezonoth.

87,50% of 8 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Must I wash mayim aharonim before I say birkath hamazon?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

Yes, one should wash with a cup as one does before
 eating bread. Upon washing one's hands before mayim
aharonim one should say the bracha "asher kideshanu
be' mitzvotav vetzivanu al rechitzath yadayim", which is in
accordance with the opinion of the Raavad, who mentions
this view in the name of ancient geonic sources.
It seems very likely that the Raavad's view reflects
the practice that was current in Eretz Yisrael.

91,67% of 12 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

How many times must I pour water over each hand with a cup before eating bread or before Tefillah?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
Once on each hand. One should pour a reviith
on each hand. A reviith is 80 cc (two-thirds of a cup.)

90,00% of 10 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

May I ingest a health pill/capsule which contains an ingredient(s) (e.g.oil) from a non-kosher fish?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
Yes, one may take such a pill if one swallows it with water
 without chewing and thereby derives no pleasure from it
as one would from food which one chews first, as opposed
to merely swallowing. (Rambam, Hilchoth Yesodei HaTorah, Chapter 5) 

100,00% of 13 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

What bracha do I make on cookies made out of 100% whole rye flour?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

According to the Talmud Yerushalmi and the Rambam
(Hilchoth Bikkurim, Chapter 6, halacha 1 & Hilchoth Hametz Umaatzah,
Chapter 5, halacha 1) rye is not one of the chamesheth haminim
(the five grains)  and is therefore considered to be a kitnith (legume).
The Rambam differs from Rashi on this point.

Since rye is a kitnith one says the bracha "shehakol nihiye bidvaro"
and as a bracha acharonah one says "borei nefashoth".
(Rambam, Hilchoth Brachoth, Chapter 3, halacha 10.)

100,00% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Should I say the bracha "shehecheyanu" upon purchasing a new article of clothing?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

 

During the Talmud buying  new articles of clothing
in general was a source of great happiness. Nowadays,
it would only be correct to make the bracha "shehecheyanu"
upon purchasing a particularly high-quality article article of clothing.

100,00% of 5 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Can I neuter my dog?

 

 

Written by Webmaster

I am afraid I know of no heter to neuter your dog.
 This issur is explicit in the Tora (Vayikra 22:24), and includes
 all animals as well as humans, see Rambam MT, Issure Bi'a 16:7 (or 16:10 in Vilna edition). The punishment for so doing, in normal times, is malkuth (a lashing). Although dogs
may seem to suffer when other dogs are in heat, this is the way of the
world as HASHEM has created it. We cannot consider the normal
behavior of dogs to be tzsa'ar ba'le hayim.

92,31% of 13 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

What is the halacha concerning joining and participating with non-Jewish courts?

 

 

Written by Webmaster
It is permissible in Chutz laAretz - dina demalkhutha dina.
See TB Nedharim 28a, Gittin 10b etc. Keep in mind too that
gentiles are required to establish a court system: see MT, Hilkhoth Melakhim,
Chapter 9. The exception would be when two Jews have
a legal wrangle. They are both hayavim to turn to a
proper beth din. If one refuses, he can receive permission
from the beth din to turn to a gentile court.

85,71% of 7 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Are there any halachic considerations that should be considered when I change my last name?

 

 

Written by Webmaster

The concept of a last name is non-Jewish in origin. It came into being about
220 years ago, when European governments decided to enforce
the use of last names. Jews were always called so-and-so
the son of so-and-so and/or so-and-so from such-and-such a place.

One possibility is to choose a name which is somehow connected
to your ancestry. Regarding Gittin (bills of divorce) we find that the
husband and wife must be referred to by their name and the place of
their residence, e.g. Shim’on of Jerusalem, Hedhwa of Rehovoth etc.
See Mishna Gittin 8:4 (or 8:5; in Talmudh Bavli 80a). If this is not done,
the get is invalid. (See Mishne Tora of Rambam, Gittin, 3:15 [or 3:13]).

The Maharal zs”l explains that a person’s place of residence is considered
an integral part of that person, because a person must exist somewhere.
Thus that “place” is part of his or her being. It is also due to the fact that
every person has a place where he or she belongs and fits in and feels at
home (see Derekh Hayim of the Maharal on Avoth 3:4).

Based on the above I would suggest you consider a name that
is somehow associated with your place of residence (or a place where
you would like to reside in the future). I do not feel that this decision
requires approaching a reputed mekubal (kabbalist).

72,73% of 11 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Before I leave work to daven Mincha I first do netillath yadayim with a bracha. On my way to the shul I take a short-cut which involves my leaning with my hands on an outside concrete surface. Does touching that surface mean that the netillah which I did

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
So long as any dust which goes on your hands is easily
removable without the need to wash them then the netillah
which was done is is still effective. One should simply wipe off
whatever dust may be on one's hands and continue
onwards towards davening.

100,00% of 5 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

Someone once told me of a rabbi who claimed that since man and wife are really one unit that it is permissible for them to speak lashon hara with one another. Is this true?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

Man and wife must also fulfill the halachoth which prohibit 
lashon hara when speaking to one another.

100,00% of 13 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

How much is a k'zayit of bread?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
One third of a slice of bread.

100,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful

I am writing a diary which will be seen by others. May it contain lashon hara against a relative of mine?

 

 

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
No , the fact that one is writing a perosnal history does not
entitle you under ordinary circumstances to include lashon hara
against a relative.

100,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful,  I found this FAQ   useful   not useful