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Hashem’s Other Names

Question: May one erase or throw out a paper that contains a name of Hashem other than the seven main names?

Short Answer: Certain names of Hashem require burial and may not be discarded into the garbage. However, many poskim are lenient with these names for various reasons.

Question: What should a student do if he sees his rebbe muvhak at the mikvah?

Short Answer: While a student should not go together with his rebbe to a mikvah where people walk around fully unclothed, if the student is already at the mikvah when his rebbe muvhak enters, many poskim allow the student to remain in the mikvah.

Question: May one write and then erase the letters alef and daled of Hashem’s name (sheim “adnus” – i.e., alef, daled, nun, yud)?

Question: May a student daven near his rebbe?

Short Answer: The custom is to be lenient and allow a student to daven behind or to the side of his rebbe in a minyan, even if the student is within four amos from the rebbe. Nevertheless, a student should be careful when setting up his permanent seat in shul, to not establish his seat within four amos of his rebbe muvhak.

Question: When a rebbe causes financial loss to a student, may the student sue the rebbe for damages?

Short Answer: A student may sue his rebbe if the rebbe causes the student financial loss. However, the poskim frown upon such practice.

Question: May a student remove his t’filin in front of his rebbe muvhak?

Short Answer: While the simple answer would appear to be that a student should not remove t’filin in front of his rebbe muvhak, some poskim are lenient nowadays where we are otherwise wearing yarmulkes.