Halachic Highlights

Question: Must a person force himself to learn with a chavrusa even though he learns better by himself?

Short Answer: If a person learns better by himself, he may learn alone, but he should try to have at least one chavrusa each day.

Question: Must a father teach his young child to refrain from eating in part on Yom Kippur?

Short Answer: Yes. According to the Rambam, there is a chinuch obligation to teach a child to refrain from violating prohibitions, even if the child will not fully refrain from violating the prohibition.

Question: Is it halachically preferable to learn in a beis midrash instead of one’s house?

Short Answer: Yes, one should ideally learn in a beis midrash.

Question: May one recite Kiddush before nightfall on Rosh HaShanah?

Short Answer: Yes, you may, even though the Maharil cites poskim who disagree.

Question: May you fulfill your mitzvah of daled minim with a dry lulav?

Short Answer: A dry lulav is pasul, even b’dieved. There is a dispute as to why a dry lulav is pasul. Nevertheless, we allow a dry lulav bish’as ha’d’chak.

Question: Does the chazan need to repeat Sh’moneh Esrei from the beginning if he says HaKeil HaKadosh instead of HaMelech HaKadosh?