How Should I Deal With ‘Preferred Pronouns’?

Anash.org feature: Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin, Rov of Anash in London, explores interesting Torah questions and halachic dilemmas including lighting candles before plag, brushing or blowing insects on Shabbos, trimming a heavy Torah, and a car accident when parking someone’s car.

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

1. It is often said that Bnei Noach have no Bechiro. Please explain:[1]
2. I now realize that last Friday I lit the Shabbos candles before Plag haMincha. Do I now have to add an additional candle each Friday?[2]
3. When traveling out in the morning and returning that night, need one say Tefilas haDerech twice?[3]
4. A minor swarm of ants has gathered on the window-sill. May I brush them away? May I blow them away?[4]
5. A male co-worker has undergone a procedure and insists on being referred to in the feminine form. May I cooperate with this request?[5] What if he is a Ben Noach?
6. A family has hired a yacht for five days, from Tuesday to Sunday. The yacht is operated by a non-Jewish crew. Must the yacht stay put over Shabbos? [6]
7. We have a Sefer Torah that is too heavy to lift for most men. Someone suggested to trim off the excess margin, thus reducing the weight. Is this allowed?[7]
8. I drove a friend to a Simcha. Upon arrival, my co-passenger offered to park my car. Unfortunately, he had an accident and damaged the car. Is he liable? [8]
9. Further to the Baal Korei who is a Kohen or Levi vis-à-vis the reading of the Tochacha, it was mentioned that Chabad don’t add to the set number of Aliyos. But if the Baal Korei reads that extra Aliya himself, why can’t he have an extra Aliya?[9]
10. Further on the brocho for Cholent: What if it includes no mezonos, but contains beans, potatoes and meat?[10]

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

[1] אגרות קודש כרך טז ע’ צב ואילך.

[2] שוע”ר סי’ רסג ס”א. בפסקי תשובות שם כתב לצדד להקל בענין זה

[3]  שוע”ר סי’ קי ס”ה; שו”ת שבט הלוי ח”ח סי’ קסז. הדמיון לברכת התורה – שכוללת הלימוד בלילה, כי היה דעתו על כך. וה”ה בנדו”ד. וע”ע שערי תפלה ומנהג (אשכמזי) ח”א סי’ ק הע’ 1950 שי”ל שתפלה זו קשור ליומי. אך אף הוא לא הסתפק אלא לאחר חצות, כדין ברכות השחר.

[4] פסקי תשובות סי’ שטז ס”ק יט.

[5] מצות “לא  ילבש” הוא שלא יתדמה ויתערב בין הנשים (דברים כב ה, וברש”י שם). והרי אסור להחזיק בידי עוברי עבירה (שביעית פ”ה מ”ט).

[6] שו”ע או”ח סי’ רמח ס”א.

[7] ראה שו”ת שבט הלוי ח”ח סי’ רל.

[8]  רמב”ם הלכות שאלה ופקדון  פ”ב ה”א.

[9] שו”ת צמח צדק או”ח סי’ לה; ספר המנהגים-חב”ד ע’ 95.

[10] ראה סדר ברכת הנהנין פ”ו ה”י.