Author: R Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer

Avodah

• [Torah Musings] Pidyon Shevuyim for Someone Guilty
  Micha Berger: [Torah Musings] Pidyon Shevuyim for Someone Guilty: RGS posted this this morning. https://www.torahmusings.com/2021/10/pidyon-shevuyim-for-someone-guilty/ Torah Musings Pidyon Shevuyim for Someone Guilty Posted by: Gil Student Oct 22, 21 ... I. Exorbitant Ransoms ... II. Reasonable Ransoms ... III. […]
• Shabbos Umbrella
  Akiva Miller: Shabbos Umbrella: . R' Micha Berger asked: [...] I did not read that entire article. But your point is certainly among the several factors why those poskim did NOT sanction this umbrella for Shabbos use. Your concerns appear on the last page, in the paragraph beginning "nireh". […]
• understanding tosafot
  Micha Berger: understanding tosafot: [...] ... because one gave up, rather than because of lack of ability ... [...] If I were to learn daf yomi, it would likely be Gemara-Rashi-Meiri. Both are presenting local peshat, rather than trying to figure out how this text relates to other sources. […]
• No apologies, just a kiss
  Micha Berger: No apologies, just a kiss: [...] One can also be mochel a debt. So, when I davening, I think it more as pardoning, preventing the consequences of the action. And mechilah alone treats sin a bit economically; I forgive the wrong and don't expect recompense. Whereas I thought selichah is more like forgiveness, […]
• When Was the Zohar Written
  Micha Berger: When Was the Zohar Written: [...] According to R Yaaqov Emden, the central thesis of his Mispachas Sefarim, the Zohar was wrotten by Rashbi, but it had accumulated other material over the centuries. He notes misquotes of Tanakh, a mention of the Crusades (there weren't even Muslims yet in R Shimon's day) [2:32a] […]
• slichot time
  Zev Sero: slichot time: [...] Not necessarily. According to kabala, it is *assur* to say selichos before midnight.
• slichot time
  Micha Berger: slichot time: [...] The word "issur" is halakhah-speak. Either it is assur according to halakhah, or else there is a minhag based on Qabbalah not to say selichos before midnight. Tir'u baTov! -Micha
• Q. If a food was cooked before Shabbos, may it be reheated on Shabbos?
  Prof. L. Levine: Q. If a food was cooked before Shabbos, may it be reheated on Shabbos?: [...] A. There is a well-known Talmudic dictum that “ain bishul achar bishul” (there is no cooking after cooking, and cooked food may be reheated). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 318:4) limits this precept to dry foods which are […]
• What's All This About People With Good Hair?
  Jay F. Shachter: What's All This About People With Good Hair?: [...] I don't think that people with good hair should automatically be considered to be the officers of the community. Now, it is true that in order to become a navi, you must be, in addition to other qualifications, rich, and physically impressive, […]
• slichot time
  Zev Sero: slichot time: [...] Not true. Kabala also speaks of issur and heter, and the mekubalim seem all to agree that saying selichos before midnight is assur. Their word, not mine.