FROM THE VIRTUAL DESK OF THE OU VEBBE DANIEL MANN

debated among the Acharonim. The Magen Participation Avraham7 does not allow firstborns to eat even at a brit mila on Erev Pesach. The in a by Mishna Berura8 reports, however, that the minhag in his time was to allow eating Skype at seudot mitzva, including the meal at a siyum. The idea that a siyum meal can serve this role as a seudat mitzva is found Question: On Erev Pesach, I will be in a in the Rama9 regarding the permissibility small Jewish community that will not have of eating meat and drinking wine at a a siyum. Is it permitted for me – a bechor1 seudat mitzva during the Nine Days. – to break the ta’anit bechorot2 based on a siyum3 in which I “participate” via Skype? In these contexts, there is room to distinguish between those people who Answer: In the context of the halacha are the main individuals involved in the not to fast throughout the month of , seudat mitzva, for whom the day is like a Massechet Sofrim4 states that an exception Yom Tov, and the other participants. For is that bechorot fast on Erev Pesach. The example, one who is a sandek on the day of Tur5 and Shulchan Aruch6 cite this practice his parent’s yahrtzeit may eat on that day, as normative, and the Tur explains that it even if he ordinarily follows the minhag is in commemoration of the miracle that of fasting on that day, whereas a simple the Jewish firstborns were saved in Egypt. participant in the brit may not.10 Similarly, The idea that one may eat at a seudat even those who do not allow firstborns to mitzva and thereby cancel the fast is eat at another’s seudat mitzva are lenient regarding a firstborn who serves as the NACHI REALTY 054-461-3943 mohel or sandek, as well as the father of 11 Reduced price! Inheart of Old Katamon. the circumcised baby. In any event, the Ground floor no stairs. 3.5 rooms 75 meters. minhag is to allow all participants at a Renovated 2.39m NIS Best Value in Rechavia! 4 rooms, 90 meters, 4th floor with Elevator. Renovated, Private Land. 3.25m NIS New building in Baka, 2-5 rooms, Spacious units with Mirpesot, parking, storage room and Shabbat Elevators. Prices start at 1.55m NIS

52 TIDBITS / VAYIKRA 5780 The - via its website - fields questions of all types in areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of them are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced , , headed by Rav Yosef Carmel and Rav Moshe Ehrenreich, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli zt”l, to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious community in Israel and abroad. Ask the Rabbi is ajoint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and OU Israel’s Torah Tidbits.

siyum to eat at the siyum’s meal, and as a relying upon but considers legitimate), one result, to continue eating the rest of Erev can be considered a “participant” in the Pesach. seudat mitzva even if he does not actually eat together with the main party. The simple logic for this leniency is that each individual’s participation makes the In most cases, it would not seem celebration more special, thus heightening logical to consider one who “takes part” the ba’al simcha’s12 event. Therefore, in a seudat mitzva via Skype as being a participation in the ba’al simcha’s meal is halachic participant, certainly in regards what is crucial regarding our discussion. to increasing the simcha of the one who Indeed, some allow even a firstborn who made the siyum. However, according to missed the siyum itself to take part in the the approach that anyone connected to the seudat mitzva.13 Following the logic that it siyum is entitled to celebrate his happiness is the enhancement of the ba’al simcha’s due to the occasion, it is at least somewhat event that matters, the Minchat Yitzchak14 plausible to say that witnessing the event says that even the Chavot Yair,15 who rules via Skype is sufficiently significant. that a meal held the day after the siyum A number of authorities take a was made is still considered a seudat surprisingly lenient approach about mitzva, is discussing only a seuda in which siyum standards for ta’anit bechorot,19 the one who made the siyum participates. relying heavily on the following two The gemara16 relates that Abaye was factors: 1) The fast is only a minhag. 2) especially emotionally involved in the For many people, fasting would have a Torah successes of others, to the extent that significantly negative impact on theSeder . he would make a party for the rabbis when While not actually cancelling the minhag, a young scholar finished a massechet. some seem to lower the bar of who is Some17 understand that the halachic status included in the siyum, such that they of such a party extends even to one who is enable almost anyone to eat. If one feels not present at all at the celebration of the a need to be lenient, Skype participation one who finished the Torah section; the can indeed be contemplated. If so, it is vicarious joy of all those who are happy best to watch the siyum and celebrate it about the siyum is equivalent to their as a group, and/or to witness a siyum that participation in the seudat mitzva. The brings one true simcha (e.g., based on Minchat Yitzchak18 writes that according one’s connection to the person or to the to this approach (which he discourages level of accomplishment). OU ISRAEL CENTER 53 We now apply our past response to Endnotes those under Coronavirus quarantine or 1 Firstborn. limitation on gatherings if the present 2 The fast of the firstborn. situation (as of the time of this writing) persists. There are important factors that 3 The completion of a significant indicate that it is fully permissible, even as section of Torah. a single participant, to eat based on remote 4 21:1. participation in a siyum via live streaming. 5 Orach Chayim 470. In the area of need, many people will be 6 Orach Chayim 470:1. unable to take part in a siyum in person, which creates a she’at hadechak, as 7 Ad loc. in the introduction to the above. This is combined with the fact that siman. doctors have raised reservations about the 8 Ad loc. 10. advisability of fasting during the time of a 9 Orach Chayim 551:10. serious infectious outbreak. 10 Mishna Berura 568:46. On a more positive note, such remote 11 Ibid. 470:10. participation in a siyum has much more 12 The person to whom the happy power than usual. While normally, such event is directly related. participation is abnormal, which detracts from its efficacy, this is presently the “new 13 See Teshuvot V’Hanhagot II:210. (temporary) normal.” Furthermore, the 14 VIII:45. one who makes the siyum will be fully 15 Shut Chavot Yair 70. aware of his remote participants, and 16 Shabbat 118b-119a. he will be honored and touched to share his personal simcha with many others, 17 See Az Nidberu XII:58. instead of being limited to a small group 18 IX:45. where he is. The remote participants will 19 Including Az Nidberu and also feel part of the simcha, as the light of Teshuvot V’Hanhagot op. cit.; Yabia Omer, Torah, which unites us at happy times, like I, Orach Chayim 26, is quite stringent. the recent siyum hashas, unites us as well in difficult times.

Undoubtedly then, taking part in such a siyum at this time is absolutely fine. In Having a dispute? contrast, if one would have to break or For a Din Torah in English or even bend the instructions or advice of Hebrew contact ‘Eretz Hemdah medical authorities and/or one’s rabbi, - Gazit’ Rabbinical Court: 077- chas v’shalom, to take part in a siyum in 215-8-215 • fax: (02) 537-9626 person, that is unacceptable. [email protected]

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