Are Black Aravos Kosher?

Anash.org feature: Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin, Rov of Anash in London, explores interesting Torah questions and halachic dilemmas including black aravos, jumping during Shmoneh Esrei, water filter on Shabbos and Yom Tov, and should a guest bentch licht at the host or at home.

The following issues are discussed by Rabbi Raskin in this week’s episode:

1. The term שנת הקהל appears in the writings of the  חיד”א:[1]
2. One who is ill is exempt from eating in the Sukkah. Does that exemption include the 1^st night (when one should eat in the Succah even if it’s raining)?[2]
3. I have previously understood that black Arovois aren’t kosher. I now see that discoloration is an issue only for an Esrog:[3]
4. When binding the Lulav, would I be allowed to first secure the Hadasim with rubber bands, and then bind again using the rings made of Lulav leaves?[4]
5. Question re. the Chazan on RH & YK – at Kor’im, or for a Kohain who is Chazan for Musaf: does jumping with one’s feet together resolve the issue of moving from one’s place during the Amidah?[5]
6. On Yom Kippur, when the Leviyim wash their own hands prior to washing the hands of the Kohanim – do they wash until their wrists?[6]
7. On Yom Kippur, in order to make up the number of 100 brachos daily, I wish to use fragrant spices. Could I make a brocho several times a day on the same fragrance?[7]
8. In Yizkor one makes a commitment to give Tzedoko. Does donating Seforim to the Shul count as Tzedoko?[8]
9. May one use a jug that has a water filter on Shabbos or Yomtov?[9]
10. We’re making a Bar-Mitzva Shabbos in a country hotel. The premises’ gardens are surrounded with walls, but one side is a river bank. Our 50 guests will be eating together, but there will be numerous guests at the hotel. How do we go about an Eruv?[10]
11. When eating out on Yomtov, should one bentsh licht at home or at one’s hosts?
12. Feedback on recharging batteries.
13. Re. the Aramaic ending of the Kohen Godol’s prayer when exiting the Koidesh haKodoshim.

To listen to Panorama of Halacha on a podcast, click here.

[1] בספר דברים אחדים דרוש כ”ג. לשבת תשובה.

[2] ראה שוע”ר סי’ תרמ ס”ז; שערי תשובה שם; משנ”ב מהדורת דרשו הע’ 8.

[3] בספר אוצר ארבעת המינים (תשפ”ב) פי”ח סכ”ה הביא מהרמב”ן ששינוי מראה פוסל רק באתרוג.

[4] ראה שוע”ר סי’ תרנא ס”ג.

[5] ראה שוע”ר סי’ קכח סל”ב.

[6] במטה אפרים סי’ תרכא סי”ז – עד הפרק, וכ”כ נט”ג פמ”ג ס”י. בס’ שלחן כהנים כ’ ליטול עד הפרק ע”פ שוע”ר סי’ תריג ס”ו. ואינו מוכרח.

[7] פלוגתא בין הט”ז סי’ תרלט סק”כ והמג”א סי’ ריז סק”ב. הובאו בנתיבים בשדה השליחות ח”ב ע’ 113.

[8]

[9] שוע”ר סי’ שיט סי”ג.

[10] ראה שוע”ר סי’ שפב ס”א, ובכ”מ.