Wednesday, April 8, 2020 – 7am & 8am Virtual Siyum for Taanit Bechorim https://zoom.us/j/8618119980 HALACHA OF THE WEEK: PART 2 Tevilat Keylim in the COVID-19 Pandemic Since last week, the keylim mikva was closed --see here for the Pesach guidelines from cRc and AgudahAs a result, utensils which are purchased from a non-Jew and need to be toveled cannot be used until an alternative process to tovelling is used.
Therefore, in this unusual year – there are three options:
1. Keylim can be sold to a non-Jew and then borrowed for use by the original owner. (Since kelim owned by a non-Jew do not require immersion in a mikvah, this process allows for the use of the kelim without immersing them.) The Beth Din of America has created a mechanism for individuals to sell kelim to a non-Jew and borrow them back to use for themselves. Here is the form and procedure - click here
2. Keylim can be decalred ownerless – and therefore not yet requiring tovelling. This process is complicated, but being used by the cRc and based on the position of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, ztz”l.
The cRc is planning 2 conference calls - Friday, April 3 at 10:30 am, and Monday, April 6, at 10:30 am where people can declare as hefker (ownerless) any relevant keilim (utensils) before a cRc Beth Din panel of rabbis. The call-in number is 773-657-9272.
Participants will be called upon, individually, to recite the following script: "Hello. My name is [ ]. I hereby declare that all of the food-related utensils that I own that requiret'vila but have not been toveled yet are hereby hefker, declared ownerless to everyone." The Beth Din panel will respond: "Your utensils are now hefker." (You can then hang up.)
This will allow for the use of any utensil currently in one’s possession. After performing this procedure, the person should have in mind if he or she uses these utensils from now through Pesach, that he or she is using hefker utensils and not his or her own utensils. Be sure to note which utensils you made hefker, as when there is with G-d's help an opportunity to tovel the utensils in the future, he or she must tovel the utensils at that time (upon re-acquisition thereof).
3. There is a minority opinion of the Rogatchover Gaon, ztz”l, that if utensils were made in a factory, they do not require tevillah. While the are some poskim who will rely on this approach in this most unusual year, the first two options are much more preferable.
DVAR TORAH "And the priest shall put on his linen garment and he shall wear his linen pants, and take up the ashes to which the fire had consumed the elevating-offering on the altar, and lay them down at the side of the altar" [Vayikra 6:3].
In this week's parasha we read of the mitzva known as "Terumat HaDeshen" - removing the ashes which remained from the previous day's sacrifices.
The classic work of mussar, Chovot HaLevavot (written by Bachya ibn Pekuda) offered a simple, but elegant rationale for this mitzva. That the Torah was very careful that even the kohen, who directly served G-d in the Temple, should never let this privilege "go to his head" , lest he became haughty. Therefore, the kohen's first mitzva of the morning, was to get dressed in of his finery, and begin his day by the seemingly lowly task of cleaning the altar.
MAZAL TOV *to Alan & Jodi Gershman on the Bris of their grandson Ilan Netanel Kirschner and to the proud parents, Elka and Yosef Kirschner of Cincinnati. The family would like to thank the community for all their Tefilot on behalf of the baby and are so thankful that he recently made it home from the hospital.
*to Rabbi Leonard and Margaret Matanky on the birth of a grandson. The proud parents are Avi and Sarah Matanky. Mazal tov to grandparents Hillel and Ruthie Kellerman, and to great-grandparents, Trude Matanky and Dr. Oscar and Bernice Novick.
* to Dr. Josh and Sarah Bernstein on the bris of their son, Aiden Alexander.
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Ephraim Rimel and Itai Rimel * to Shifra Yehudis Orlian * to Irv and Lynne Shapiro * to Joe Samuels who is recuperating at home.
DAF YOMI – LIVE Mon.-Friday @ 7:30am; Sunday - TBA
3 MINUTE HALACHA – RECORDED Sunday- Friday
SEFER MELACHIM – LIVE Sunday @ 9:00am
Rabbi Reiss' pre-Shabbat HaGadol Drasha -April 2 @ 9pm