Halachic Highlights

Question: Does one violate the prohibition of lashon ha’ra when he or she speaks negatively about a person in front of him?

Short Answer: The poskim dispute whether lashon ha’ra is violated when spoken in front of the person being spoken about, but certainly other prohibitions are violated.

Question: Are women permitted to fry latkes while the candles are burning?

Short Answer: According to many poskim, cooking while the candles are burning is permitted, while some poskim are strict and suggest that women should refrain from cooking during the first half hour that the candles are burning.

Question: Is it permissible to speak lashon ha’ra about a person who is constantly arguing and fighting with others?

Short Answer: In limited circumstances, such as to prevent future fighting, and with certain limitations, one may speak lashon ha’ra about a person who starts fights and arguments.

Question: Why do we light the Chanukah candles?

Short Answer: According to Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l, candle lighting has two aspects, the basic lighting to commemorate Chanukas HaMizbei’ach, and a requirement of pirsumei nisa to commemorate the miracle of the oil.

Question: Why is HaNeiros Halalu recited after lighting neiros Chanukah?

Short Answer: According to Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l, HaNeiros Halalu provides the speech aspect necessary for mitzvos of pirsumei nisa.

Question: Is it permissible to share lashon ha’ra with your wife?

Short Answer: This is a big dispute, with the Chofetz Chaim seemingly forbidding it unless necessary for the speaker’s mental health, and other poskim ruling leniently based on the concept of “ishto k’gufo” (that a husband and wife are like one person).