Halachic Highlights

Question: May someone who watches a wedding on Zoom or livestream count as the “panim chadashos” for an in-person sheva brachos later in the week?

Question: With many minyanim giving the baal k’riah all the aliyos because of social distancing, should the baal k’riah recite “Chazak, chazak, v’nis’chazeik” after the completion of a sefer?

Short Answer: The baal k’riah should not recite “Chazak, chazak, v’nis’chazeik” in this situation, but there are some poskim who allow him to recite it.

Question: How should a person perform Kiddush L’vanah when in quarantine in his house, such as in Israel when the quarantine is strictly enforced?

Question: With many shuls needing extra space for proper social distancing, may a shul convene an additional minyan of men in the women’s section and request that women stay home?

Question: With many outdoor minyanim utilizing tents for shade and protection, may these tents be assembled or disassembled on Shabbos?

Question: May one answer Amein to a brachah that he hears over the phone or over Zoom?

Short Answer: According to many contemporary poskim, we follow the ruling of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and not the ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l, and allow one to recite Amein when hearing a live brachah recited over the phone, and by extension, over Zoom.