Fw: [aneinu] Rabbi Travis - Hiding Tattoos During Kiddush

Sent from AOL on Android

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: "'Chicago Aneinu' via chicago-aneinu" <chicago-aneinu@googlegroups.com>

To: "Chaya Miriam Wolper" <myysbyy@aol.com>

Cc:

Sent: Sun, Feb 4, 2024 at 12:49 PM

Subject: [chicago-aneinu] Rabbi Travis -  Hiding Tattoos During Kiddush

Q&A Update  Feb 4th 2024 / 25 b'Shvat 5784 By Rabbi Daniel Travis Rabbi Daniel Travis is Rosh Kollel of Kollel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim and the author of a number of seforim, including Shailos Uteshuvos Toras Chaim and Praying With Joy 1-5, practical daily guides to improving one's prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers.  For more information about his work or to set up a shiur during one of his visits, email dytravis613@gmail.com   Video Message from Rabbi Travis Thanking Hashem When Things Look Bad # 1503 - As Moshiach Draws Closer Nisyonos Become More Complicated and Subtle Questions & Answers Based on divrei halachah heard from Rav Azriel Auerbach and Rav Shlomo Zafrani. The answers given here are the general rule, but each case is unique and must be referred to a posek. Rav Azriel Auerbach Rav Shlomo Zafrani For a private appointment with the rabbonim in Eretz Yisroel, or to send questions, email Rabbi Travis at dytravis613@gmail.com. Selected shailos will be printed in this column. The author expresses his gratitude to R' Naftali and Rivki Leshkowitz who sponsor the shaylos and teshuvos program of Kollel Toras Chaim and the weekly questions. For more information about Rabbi Travis's work or to set up a shiur during one of his visits, email dytravis613@gmail.com. Hiding Tattoos During Kiddush Question: I am embarrassed to ask this question, but it is important to me. When I was younger, I was in the US Navy. I was not religious at the time and I had my entire left hand tattooed. A few years ago, I became a baal teshuvah. I am hoping to get the tattoo removed some day, but right now it is still there. Since I am a kohein, I am sometimes asked in shul to lead bentching at seudah shlishis. I am left-handed, so from what I understand, I should bentch while holding the kos with my left hand. However, it is every embarrassing for me to display my tattoo in public. I was wondering if I could bentch while holding the kos using my right hand. Alternatively, since corona started, there are some older people in the shul who wear gloves. Maybe I could wear gloves for bentching. I want to add that I am Ashkenazi, in case that makes a difference. Thank you. Allen Rav Zafrani: Allen, I am so happy that you decided to become a baal teshuvah. I can just imagine how embarrassing it must be to have that tattoo on your hand. It is critical for your growth to have it removed, and you should make that a top priority. As far as what to do in the interim, both options you describe are cited by the poskim. The halacha warns against wearing a glove when making a brocha, for it appears as if one does not want to touch the kos shel brocha (Aruch Hashulchan 183:5). Therefore, that is not the best choice of action. However, the first idea you described, bentching while holding the kos with your right hand, is a good idea. Although the Shulchan Aruch (183:5) writes that a left-handed person should bentch using his left and dominant hand, this issue is not so straightforward. According to Kabbolah, even a left-handed person should use his right hand when holding a kos shel brocha. The reason for this is because the right represents the attribute of chesed, kindness, and this is not altered whether a person is right-handed or left-handed (Ben Ish Chai, Shanah Shniah, Shelach 19, Kaf Hachaim 183:29, 206:30; see also Pri Megadim, Aishel Avrohom 206:6). This ruling is very much accepted in the Sefardic community, and I personally instruct left-handed people to use their right hand when holding a kos shel brocha. In a case such as yours, where a great amount of embarrassment will be caused by bentching with your left hand, even Ashkenazim can rely on these poskim. I wish you much success in your path of teshuvah and once again urge you to do everything in your power to remove that tattoo as quickly as you can. Paying Twice for Exploding Pipes Question: I own an apartment in one of the neighborhoods in Yerushalayim. Recently, I got an email that one of the pipes in the apartment had exploded, and I called my insurance company to send a plumber there, which cost me about $200. After the plumber finished all of his work, I got another email that the Vaad Bayis, the person in charge of upkeep in the building, spent another $200 to bring in a different plumber to check the bulding and identify that the leak was from our pipes. I was a little surprised that I was being charged for this, as it seems like it was the responsibility of the building's Vaad Bayis to find out. Am I obligated to pay? Thank you. A.Y. Rav Zafrani: First of all, I am sorry that you had that difficult experience. Eretz Yisroel is acquired with difficulties, and this should be your worst and only one! As far as your question is concerned, you are correct that the Vaad Bayis of the building had a responsibility to find out whose pipe was leaking. However, once they identified it as your pipe, you are obligated to pay for that. The reason for this is because you were causing damage and it was your responsibility to pay, but you were unable to do so because you were not aware of the damage. Once your apartment has been identified as the one causing the damage, you are obligated to pay for all expenses incurred, including the clarification you describe. Rabbi Travis gives a daily shiur on Thanking Hashem for things that seem bad See it at: TorahAnytime.com It can be accessed by telephone: In the USA at:  (718) 521-5231, then dial 17-15-2. In Israel at: (03) 617-1190, then dial 22. Thank you for your support of these shiurim and other projects. Please encourage other people to listen to them and to sign up for the email so that we can help ensure that moshiach will come soon. Sign up for the Kollel Toras Chaim Q&A Update Donate to Kollel Toras Chaim If you would like to contribute towards publicizing and disseminating these shiurim, our donation information is below. B'veracha, Rabbi Daniel Travis You can securely contribute via PayPal with the link below: DONATE VIA PAPYPAL   U.S. tax ID #: EIN 90-0136345 (Kollel Toras Chaim) Checks can be mailed to: Kollel Toras Chaim c/o Travis Family 67-66 108th St. apt D6 Forest Hills, NY 11375 Wall Street Torah is an organization founded by Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg z"tl and under the leadership of other authorities in Choshen Mishpat and business law that is run by Rabbi Daniel Travis. The organization aims to meet twice a year in Manhattan to discuss issues relevant to business people. To submit questions or to find out more, email wallstreettorah@gmail.com Copyright © 2023 Kollel Toras Chaim, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you requested updates from Rav Travis or signed up on his website Our mailing address is: Kollel Toras Chaim 977 East 26th st. Brooklyn, NY, 11210 Add us to your address book

Kollel Toras Chaim · 67-66 108th St. apt D6 · Forest Hills, NY 11375 · USA

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "chicago-aneinu" group.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
To respond or post new messages to this group, please insure that your email is sent to Myysbyy@aol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
chicago-aneinu+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/chicago-aneinu?hl=en
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "chicago-aneinu" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to chicago-aneinu+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chicago-aneinu/2096382071.4086297.1707072590406%40mail.yahoo.com.