Parshas Lech Lecha 5785 – Intriguing Questions & Answers
Using an English Translation for Shnayim Mikra for Someone Who Struggles with Reading
I was asked by a baal teshuvah who, in the early stages of his learning in yeshiva, struggled significantly with reading. On the one hand, he wishes to fulfill the mitzvah of Shnayim Mikra v’Echad Targum properly. On the other hand, it takes him a long time, and he doesn’t understand a single word of the Targum. He therefore wishes to know if he can fulfill the mitzvah by reading the Pesukim (Mikra) twice in Hebrew and use an English translation for the Targum instead of the Aramaic Targum.
To answer this, we must consider two points:
- Is it necessary to understand the Mikra? This seems to depend on whether Shnayim Mikra was instituted similarly to krias hatorah, where the purpose is simply to read the Parshah, or if the purpose is limud hatorah, learning Torah. The Poskim debate whether Shnayim Mikra has the status of limud hatorah. I have already elaborated on this in my sefer Ohel Yaakov hilchos Shnayim Mikra.
- Is it necessary to understand the Targum? Here too, the Poskim disagree. Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Rav Menashe Klein ztz”l, and others, held that one does not fulfill the mitzvah if they do not understand the Targum. On the other hand, Halichos Shlomo cites Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, who ruled that even someone who does not fully understand the language of the Targum is no worse than a 13-year-old boy who also doesn’t fully understand the Targum, yet fulfills the obligation. Ideally, one should read the Targum and understand it well.
For a specific individual who struggles with reading altogether, can he fulfill his obligation by reading the Targum in English? I asked Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztz”l, who responded that one does not fulfill the obligation with English, even in such a case.
Does One Have to Wait Six Hours After Eating Rice Touched by a Dirty Fleishig Spoon?
Q: I’ve often asked about a common scenario: A person is eating rice and chicken at the same table. They take rice using a spoon that was also used to serve the chicken with sauce. The rice doesn’t appear to have any visible sauce. Does the person still need to wait six hours before eating dairy?
A: The Rema (Yoreh Deah 89:3) rules that if someone eats pareve food cooked in a fleishig pot that was used that day (ben yomo), they do not need to wait six hours before eating dairy. The Shach explains that even if there are small amounts of meat in the pot, it is permissible to eat dairy afterward without waiting six hours. The Chochmas Adam, Aruch Hashulchan, and many other Acharonim rule in accordance with this Shach.
Applying this to our case, rice touched by a meaty spoon would be similar to the Shach’s ruling. Darkei Teshuvah adds that if a pareve dish has absorbed meat fat but the person doesn’t taste the meat, it is permitted to eat dairy afterward.
Leaving Food in a Hospital Refrigerator Opened to the Public
Q: Often I am asked by mothers in maternity wards and other patients who are hospitalized or by their visitors who leave various foods in the hospital’s central refrigerator if they should ideally mark their food with a seal or at least write that it is private. However, b’dieved, if one did not do so, is there room to be lenient and permit eating the food?
A: Patients or visitors who are hospitalized who leave various foods in the hospital’s central refrigerator should ideally mark their food with a seal or at least write that it is private. However, b’dieved, if one did not do so, there are several reasons to be lenient and permit eating the food.
Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ztz”l ruled that ideally, one should not leave unsealed food items, but b’dieved, the food is not forbidden due to the minimal concern for exchange.
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