By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
                The Rishonim argue that going from town to another town and thereby having the way the letters are written if it is a psul. The Rosh in 3:11 and in the Shiltei Giborim in Hilchos Sefer Torah 3 and the Meiri in Shabbos 104a they all conclude that there is no chashash in switching your letters. On the other hand, the Ramban in Meseches Shabbos writes that all the letters have a special reason why they are the way they are so switching it would make it pasul.

Navigating the halachic issues of home food businesses. 
Join us as we listen in to a conversation between R’ Shmuel Fuerst, Dayan of Agudas Yisroel of Illinois and Rav of Agudas Yisroel of Peterson Park, and R’ Yitzchok Hisiger.
WATCH:

Scream!

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

The tricky nature of app-controlled appliances.
It may not be so smart to use your Smart Appliances. Join us as we listen in to a conversation between R’ Shmuel Fuerst, Dayan of Agudas Yisroel of Illinois and Rav of Agudas Yisroel of Peterson Park, and R’ Yitzchok Hisiger.

Breaking down chicken for the kosher consumer 
Join an insightful conversation between Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger and Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Director of Kashrus for the Chicago Rabbinical Council ,and the Executive Director of AKO. Enjoy the conversation regarding the Kashrus of chickens and broken bones.

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Bereishis 50:13 the passuk says; the brothers carried Yaakov to eretz Knaan and buried him in the Me’Aras Hamachpeila.

Happy Birthday? 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
Should someone’s birthday be celebrated by making a meal? Is it considered a Yom Tov?
The Ben Ish Chai in Parshas Re’eh 17 writes that some people have the minhag to make a Yom Tov on their birthday every year. They do so as a good siman. The Ben Ish Chai also had the minhag himself to do so. He also brings down a minhag to make a special celebration on the anniversary of the day of one’s bris. The Ben Ish Chai says we do not have this minhag.
The Chasam Sofer in Toras MosheParshas Vayeira writes that Avraham Avinu made a seudah every year on the day of his bris.

Chanukah Questions

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
There are a few questions we will pose here and to which we will provide appropriate answers. How is it possible that a person correctly lights one candle on the first night, two candles on the second night, three candles on the third night, four candles on the fourth night, four candles on the fifth night, three candles on the sixth night, two candles on the seventh night, and one candle on the eighth night?
How is it possible for a person not to be yotzei the mitzvah while he lights the Chanukah candles, but ten minutes later he will be yotzei?
How is it possible that a person will be required to repeat Shemoneh Esrei if he forgot “Al Hanissim?”

What does a Mashgiach look for when certifying an event? Let’s listen in to Rabbi Sholey Klein, Kashrus Administrator at Dallas Kosher as he discusses the responsibilities of a Mashgiach, with Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger.

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The Gemara in Yuma 33b discusses the topic of  “Ein Mavirin al Hamitzvos.” Rashi explains that one who encounters a mitzvah should not leave it. We learn this out from “Ushmartem … hamatzos” and we read it mitzvos.
The Radvaz in Vol 2:509 says that the concept of not leaving a mitzvah is a DeRabbonon and the posuk mentioned above is an “asmachta” (a remez in the Torah.) The Levush and Taz and Pri megadim in Siman 25 argue and hold that not leaving a mitzvah is a DeOraysa.

Pages