Halachic Highlights

Question: At what point should the person making the Borei P’ri HaGafen drink the wine at a bris milah?

 Short Answer: While there are multiple opinions on this issue, the prevailing custom appears to be to delay the drinking until after the K’rias Sheim (albeit giving the baby a taste beforehand). Nevertheless, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and other poskim held that a small sip should be drunk before the K’rias Sheim.

Question: How long must you wait before performing a bris milah on a child with neonatal jaundice?

 Short Answer: There is no short answer to this complex medical halachah question. A competent poseik, with knowledge of the medical issues, or access to medical advice, should be consulted.

Question: When should the father recite the brachah of “l’hachniso bivriso shel Avraham Avinu”? 

Short Answer: While some Rishonim hold it should be recited before the bris milah and others hold it should be recited after the bris milah, the Shulchan Aruch follows the compromise opinion, to recite it in between the milah and p’riah.

Question: In light of social distancing, how should everyone get an aliyah on Simchas Torah?

Short Answer: If a minyan only has one sefer Torah and in general has been giving all the aliyos to the baal k’riah, on Simchas Torah the minyan can continue to do so, as there are certainly poskim who disagree generally with the custom of giving everyone an aliyah on Simchas Torah. Nevertheless, there may be some safe ways to perform this minhag this year, as well. However, Rav Hershel Schachter shlita told a group of rabbanim that because of safety concerns, this year it may make sense to give no one other than the baal k’riah an aliyah.

Question: Must a baal t’shuvah perform hatafas dam bris (drawing of new blood) where his initial milah was performed by a mohel who was not shomer Torah u’mitzvos?

Question: In order to minimize unsafe socializing, should everyone, including people whose parents are still alive, remain inside shul for Yizkor?