The Business Breakfast: Who is in Charge...

…of a wife’s assets

“These are serious shailas, raboisai.”

Any time money is involved, things get serious. All the more so when we’re talking about a family unit. Rabbi Zev Cohen’s message: Talk about it at the beginning, come to an agreement when you are first starting out.

These days it’s not uncommon for wives to enter the marriage with significant assets, or to have well-paying professions, even more than their husbands. Who has the final say in regards to where that money should go?

In reality, this is an area that is well-covered in halacha. There are a few categories of assets that a wife may have, which have different rules of control. But it is crucial that the husband and wife sit down and determine which of the categories the money falls in to.

Bottom line? Be aware of the issues, and ask a shaila.

Dec. 25th Legal Holiday Learning: Ma'aser Kesafim

UNDERSTANDING THE OBLIGATION

There is a longstanding practice to give ma’aser on (tithe) one’s earnings for charitable and Torah causes. But upon closer examination, what is the source for this custom? The Torah discusses ma’aser on crops and on animals, but we don’t find a mitzva of ma’aser regarding money. Further, how does this interact with the general mitzva of tzedaka?

Rabbi Avi Danziger wove a masterful shiur to address these issues and more, building from the individual obligation to give tzedakah and the limits of that obligation. In that context Rabbi Danziger addressed several difficult questions and built an understanding of the framework of these mitzvos.

Relive the shiur with the recording below, for the background sources click here.

At 9:15 Last Night, We All Stopped

The Kollel’s learning sessions are untouchable—almost sacred ground. But last night, something remarkable broke that tradition.

At 9:15 PM, Rabbi Gibber did the unthinkable: he interrupted a full Beis Medrash night seder. The room fell silent as he shared a story from his days at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel. Rav Yaakov Ruderman had once halted the Yeshiva’s learning seder to honor a group of Iranian refugees who completed a mesechta of Gemara, marking their siyum with a celebration in the Beis Medrash.

Inspired by that precedent, we paused to celebrate an equally monumental achievement: the completion of the “Bavas” (Bava Kama, Bava Metzia, and Bava Basra) —414 folios of some of the most challenging Talmudic texts—by over a dozen community members following the Daf Yomi cycle. The room erupted in joy and dancing. Some continued the celebration with refreshments and singing at a local restaurant, while others returned to their learning, their spirits uplifted.

Rabbi Gibber explained the deeper meaning behind the pause: “The honor of Torah must precede the learning of Torah.”

Torah is not just another subject. It is the Divine Word and Wisdom. Only when approached with proper reverence can its full depth be unlocked. And so, last night, we stopped—and by doing so, elevated everything.

Thanksgiving Legal Holiday Learning: High Strung

Building Blocks of Our Eruv

The main components of today’s community Eruvin are the ubiquitous utility poles and electric wires, which serve as the basis for halachic doorways which enclose the area. In truth there are many details that go into a reliable Eruv that are only apparent to the eye trained in the halachos.

Rabbi Chaim Kulefsky shared his insight from the Kollel’s current study of Maseches Eiruvin and took us on a virtual halachic tour of our own community Eruv with a visual presentation (click here), explaining various halachic issues that arise and how they are addressed practically.

R' Chaim Vital & Myers Briggs

I've been taking a course recently in career counseling. My goal is to help people (primarily yungeleit) find appropriate career paths.

One of the things we learned in the class is personality typing and we reviewed the well-known Myers-Briggs framework.

Lesser known is what Rav Chaim Vital writes about personality types based on the four basic elements in nature. This all got me thinking. If there's any value to Myers-Briggs, it must match up somehow with the truth expressed by Rav Chaim Vital. I have since developed a framework and an understanding for how these two frameworks fit neatly together. Listen to the recording below, and let me know what you think!

Independence Day Learning: More Shabbos

The requirement and status of Tosefes Shabbos

Here at the Kollel, we really celebrate our freedom every day. “There is no free person like one who is involved in Torah study.” (Pirkei Avos, 6:2) That said, what better way to express our appreciation for the religious liberty this country provides that to spend a day off from work studying Torah.

Tosefes Shabbos is the requirement to add on to Shabbos, Yom Tov, Yom Kippur, and Shemita as well, in their onset and departure. Rabbi Yehuda Hendler’s shiur opened up insight into the exact nature of this addition.

• Is there an extension to the Shabbos itself, or is it a personal acceptance to begin the laws of the coming day earlier?

• What are the practical differences that result from this question?

• When does Tosefes Shabbos begin?

• Does Tosefes Shabbos need a conscious acceptance, or is it automatic?

For all of this discussion and more, listen to Rabbi Hendler’s shiur below, and follow along with the sources here.

Memorial Day Learning: The Shul Kiddush

A Kiddush Story

The hero of our story is a good Jew, a Ben Torah, but he’s a little flustered right now. Shabbos morning davening just ended, everyone’s heading out to the Kiddush, and there is a lot to think about. Halachic quandaries await at every turn. Kiddush B’makom Seudah; what to make Kiddush on; interruptions after hearing Kiddush; should one drink from the Kiddush wine; berachos on drinks after having wine; ikar and tafel; bracha achrona; do I need to bentch; should one say Kiddush again at home; and more! Can our hero navigate the kiddush unscathed, and still come away with a bite to eat (but not too much) and a bissel l’chaim (also not too much)?

Listen to A Kiddush Story and learn how to navigate, and avoid, many of the myriad halachic issues that may arise for every one of us, nearly every Shabbos.

For the background sources, click here.

3rd Annual Minneapolis Yarchei Kallah

“A taste of the real thing.”

The goal of the Yarchei Kallah is to allow those who don’t always have the opportunity, to immerse themselves in the sugya and to feel like they’re back in yeshiva once again.

We in the Kollel would say that the goal was met and surpassed! The energy in the Bais Medrash was palpable, the kol Torah was booming. All with the joy that only intense Limud HaTorah can provide. Rav Cziment’s shiurim challenged and enlightened the participants and fueled the spirited debate further.

Participants enjoyed a delicious Melava Malka prepared by Mrs. Shaindy Mandelbaum and Mrs. Shaynie Goldberger at Torah Academy, celebrating the accomplishments of the Yarchei Kallah participants.

The Yarchei Kallah was dedicated by Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Leon for the 1st yartzeit of Rabbi Reuven Gross z”l, father of former Minneapolis Kollel member Rabbi Uriel Gross, who created the Yarchei Kallah here. A video tribute to Rabbi Gross z”l was shown at the Melava Malka, and our friend R’ Uriel shared his reflections of his father over Zoom. Words of inspiration were delivered by Rav Moshe Spiro and Rav Cziment, followed by music and dancing.

Thank you to all who contributed to the success of the Yarchei Kallah:

• All the participants who invested their time and energy;

• Rabbi Yisroel Meir Ebstein for doing much of the preparations to make the Yarchei Kallah happen;

• Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Leon for sponsoring;

• Mrs. Mandelbaum, Mrs. Goldberger, and all who contributed to the Melava Malka;

• and of course, Rav Ezriel Cziment for once again sharing his vast knowledge, his enthusiasm, and his warmth!

Mark your calendars for next year!

Audio of Rav Cziment’s shiurim and addresses from the Melava Malka can be found at this link.

A Day Trip with Hashem - Back Again!

For the second year in a row, we spent a day with Hashem in Chicago. 26 hard-working men took a day to learn and reconnect. This year we were joined by HaRav Yechezkel Greenberg and HaRav Mordechai Kalatsky as well. We spent the morning delving into the sugya of doing business with non-Kosher food at the Chicago Choshen Mishpat Kollel. Lunch at Shallots Bistro was graced with a Rabbanim’s panel of Rabbis Greenberg and Kalatsky together with HaRav Yaakov Robinson. We discussed many pertinent topics in today’s Jewish life. The afternoon was spent in the Telshe Yeshiva where we had a Q&A session with Dayan Shmuel Fuerst Shlit”a, a seder and shiur in the inyanim of Chanukah with Rav Betzalel Pam, capped with a impactful drasha from Rav Efraim Twerski. We ended the trip with dinner at Evita’s Steakhouse along with some old friends from Minneapolis now living in Chicago, and we were inspired by Rav Yossi Lowinger.

These trips are an incredible way to build cameraderie and a sense of connection to Hashem and His Torah. Stay tuned for the next trip!

Thanksgiving Legal Holiday Learning: In the Name of the Law

Clarifying Dina D’Malchusa Dina

Rabbi Stoll began the shiur by stating what Dina D’Malchusa Dina is not: An overall primacy to secular law. Where then, does it apply? Is it limited to situations of benefit to the government, or even to the function of society as a whole? Or does it extend to other monetary laws? Are there areas outside monetary law where it would apply? Speed limits, a military draft?

Relive Rabbi Stoll’s lucid and comprehensive shiur shiur with the audio below. Follow along with the sources here.