Name: Gabriel ***********	Date: 2009-06-16 16:09:40
Subject:gift mohel
Question: We are scheduled to have our first Bris this Friday. The Mohel is coming in from out of town and we were wondering if there is supposed to be any type of gift given to him. We have been told a couple of different things regarding this and we are trying to get accurate information. If a gift is to be given to the Mohel, what type of gift is customary? Thank you.
Answer: I just give money.

Name: rod king	Date: 2008-11-21 11:38:54
Subject:
Question: do you do tefillin checks?
Answer: We could but we mostly specialize in offering new Tefillin/Mezuzos. http://sofer.ilovetorah.com

Name: Paul Chi[pkin	Date: 2008-09-04 22:39:04
Subject:mezuzah
Question: How does one relate to a mezuzah when passing in and out of one's residence? What is the procedure?
Answer: To kiss it and think about Hashem. To know Hashem is in the room and protecting you from all harm.

Name: Jake Ratte	Date: 2008-04-02 22:23:24
Subject:
Question: I was wondering if its ever to late to have a barmitzvah. When I was 13, there were a lot of family issues going on so i wasn't able to have a barmitzvah. And when people ask, and I say i havent had one. Its embarrasing.
Answer: It is never too late for a bar mitvah. You can get called up to the Torah special and have a kiddush after. Mazel Tov!

Name: yeshiya .	Date: 2007-11-20 04:06:10
Subject:tefillin boxes
Question: Where do you go to look for the Tfillin leather container boxes with straps? Is it that place where David works in Beit El? Thank you,
Answer: the outside boxes are very cheap. The beit Al ones, never saw anyone ever use them. When you buy tefillin, the outside box comes free. Until someone shows me different, I think inexpensive batim boxes are fine.

Name: zvi hersh .	Date: 2007-11-19 06:33:35
Subject:Rabbenu Tam buy
Question: Should I consider getting a pair of Rabbenu tam tefillin?
Answer: according to some rabbi's it is a total must have and gives long life and blessing. Some say without them in a community which wears them, actually brings you bad.

Name: menachem mendle .	Date: 2007-11-19 06:01:19
Subject:inexpensive tefillin batim
Question: As a sofer, what do you think of inexpensive batim?
Answer: see the parshios are like lights and the boxes contain the light but if they are not good, they block light.

Name: Benjamin .	Date: 2007-11-18 05:01:07
Subject:techeilet, should i wear blue
Question: >I am studying the arguements concerning the wearing of modern-day techeilet (the Radziner Rebbe's dye based on the cuttlefish as 'chillazon' versus the P'til Techeilet organisation's promotion of the Murex Trunculus snail). In the fierce debate between proponents of each of the two dyes, each side raises some valid arguments, but also point out specific problems with the other's dye and thus in my view, calls into question the authenticity of both dyes. > On the one hand I would like to try to fulfill the mitzvah of techeilet, but on the otherhand I feel that at this stage (until the arrival of Moshiach) > there is too much uncertainty...and perhaps even the possibility of > committing an aveira by wearing the wrong dye for techeilet.
Answer: i woudn't call it an avayra but unless it really can help one in avodas Hashem by looking at the blue and feeling fear of Hashem, it is better probably to refrain. What is remarkable is how both sides have such great proof.

Name: Feivel O`	Date: 2007-11-16 00:06:15
Subject:Tzitzis in Bathroom
Question: I wear my tzitzis over my shirt and I was wondering if before one uses the restroom would he need to remove his tzitzis (if Im not wearing my jacket over them) just as one should remove a Talis Gadol before entering the restroom. I have been removing them just in case but I'm curious if this is needed. Thanks in advance, Feivel
Answer: No, we do not remove the tzitzis in a restroom. You see, the mitzvah of tzizis is so high that it can reach the lowest of places; we do not remove the small tzizis in the bathroom: the talis gadol we do remove.

Name: Concerned .	Date: 2007-11-15 18:16:07
Subject:Smoking During Mitzvah
Question: i viewed the how Tefillin is made video. in the beginning there is a guy preparing the skins. he has a cigarette in his mouth. that bothered me. should it bother me? i did run that question by a rabbi who sort of felt the same way. one does not smoke while donning tefillin so wouldn't the same respect apply? i may be wrong which is why i ask.
Answer: it bothered me at first and then i thought to see the light in this person. Maybe being video taped he felt nervice. We should always look for the good in another.

Name: Rivkah Salamon	Date: 2007-11-14 19:50:21
Subject:Women wearing Talis
Question: are girls allowed to wear the talif? I was reading that back in the day they were but how come now they dont?
Answer: women don't wear talis. It was a commandment given to men. Why only men? We are not on the same high spiritual level and need to be reminded of the mizvos. The commandment for Tzitzis is in the shema prayer, 3rd paragraph and the sages from old clarified it that it meant for men. You have to remember not to look at it with eyes of 2007. Women were always considered very high in Judaism and not being commanded something was giving her honor, not dishonor. It is like giving men Iron, we already produce it, women dont so they need it. In this case, women do not spiritually need a talis, they already produce the benifits naturally.

Name: Tracy Stern	Date: 2007-11-14 18:44:07
Subject:Bat Mitzvah, Reading from the Torah
Question: Should my daugther have a Bat Mitzvah and read from the torah?
Answer: well for girls in orthodoxy, all we have is a party with friends. More then this we actually disagree with. You see, women are considered on a higher spiritual plaine so they don't need to read from the Torah, they don't have this mitzah cause they are higher then it. A men has to learn Torah as his soul needs this or he will become sinful. Women usually learn torah for the enjoyment rather then needing to do so to the extent men hae too

Name: Yocheved Simchei	Date: 2007-11-14 18:12:09
Subject:Planning a Bar Mitzvah
Question: i am currently planning a barmitzvah...HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!
Answer: you could take the easy way out and just fly your immediate family to have it in israel:)

Name: Sandra Marks	Date: 2007-11-14 16:15:02
Subject:
Question: I have this problem im a little confused about. My parents don't practice the jewish faith so they don't observe or recognize jewish principles. Thus they usually want me to work on shabbos. Is it more important to obey my parents or keep shabbos holy? -Sandra
Answer: We are told that anything in direct violation to halacha superseeds honoring ones parent. One should do this gently and respectfully but refrain on the shabbos from working. Eventually, they might suprise you and catch on one day or years later. But something so important, one has no choice but to not listen.