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Jul 26, 2020

Interesting Psak: masks and food, masks and fines, washing hands on Tisha B'av

Hamechadesh reported on a number of interesting questions asked of, and piskei halacha issued by Rav Yitzchak Zilbershtein, rav of Ramat Elchonon neighborhood of Bnei Braq.

Q: One of the questions asked was if a person could eat while walking nit he street of he is wearing a face mask. Normally one is not supposed to eat while walking in public, as the Gemara says one who does so is compared to a dog and invalidated form serving as a witness. Perhaps with a face mask on (because of Corona) and the eating not visible to the public, it might be acceptable.

Rav Zilbershtein paskened that technically it is ok as the eating is not noticeable, but the real problem is that it is a character flaw - a prince would not want to do something that makes him the equivalent of a dog. While technically it is ok, one should not do so.

Q: If one sees his friend walking outside with no mask and he knows that there is a policeman nearby giving out tickets, is he allowed to warn his friend to put a mask on because of the nearby policeman (even possibly being a form of hashavas aveida)or should he let the friend get fined so that he (and maybe others) will learn the lesson and know to wear the mask when going outside?

Rav Zilbershtein paskened that it is a mitzva to warn him to put on the mask - there is no mitzva of dina dmalchusa dina in this case, especially when they are harassing the haredim and giving fines while only telling the secular to wear masks.

I wonder what he would say about a similar question about warning drivers about a speed trap set up by the police or about a spot that has a policeman waiting to check seatbelts and talking on the phone...

Q: Is it allowed, on Tisha B'Av, to apply alcogel and the like to one's hands, or does that fall into the prohibited category of washing hands? As well, what about washing hands with soap and water as a way to prevent catching the CoronaVirus?

Rav Zilbershtein paskened that this is not considered pleasurable washing. That would make it ok,. Someone who does enjoy it, but needs to wash, should not enjoy it.




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2 comments:

  1. Mordechai HarrisJuly 27, 2020 12:09 AM

    "Rav Zilbershtein paskened that it is a mitzva to warn him to put on the mask - there is no mitzva of dina dmalchusa dina in this case, especially when they are harassing the haredim and giving fines while only telling the secular to wear masks." I find this a great insight into how broken Israeli charedi society has become.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The secular are getting fine. I saw report of a woman being dragged away on Machaneh Yehuda because of her not wearing a mask and cursing as well.

    ReplyDelete

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