December 9, 2000 / 12 Kislev 5761; Issue #295

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Dear David,

According to Jewish Law, it is prohibited to enter any place of worship that is not purely monotheistic. This would include weddings, funerals, baby namings, etc.

Regarding actual application of this law, consult your local Orthodox Rabbi.

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Dear Mike S.,

What an interesting question, and one that everyone should really ask himself!

Working gives you a chance to do countless mitzvot and good deeds: Keeping your word to employers, employees and clients, paying workers on time, treating fellow workers with respect, fulfilling obligations to support your family, contributing to the good of society. These are all important parts of Jewish Law which you can fulfill at work!

And simply supporting oneself is a mitzvah because it helps eliminate temptation to steal.

In the words of the Sages, it is possible for a shoe-maker to stitch every stitch in the Name of Hashem. And the Talmud says, "Work is great, because it brings honor to the one who does it."

So, approach your work as an opportunity to serve Hashem by doing all that is required according to Jewish Law, and pray for success in this.

And, above all, if you set aside time to study Torah in the course of your busy schedule (not at your employers' expense), it is possible to elevate the mundane workday to a spiritual plane.

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THE GIFT OF "SIMCHA":

For the past several months, we have publishing (with credit and permission from the author Simcha Groffman) "Simcha's Torah Stories" from OHR.EDU. We publish these in our Temple newsletter, "The Shofar," for the enjoyment and enlightenment of our congregation. Temple Beth Am is a reform Temple here in Las Vegas. We have a relatively small membership of about 160 families, and we all enjoy "Simcha's Torah Stories."

The reason for this email is that our Temple Brotherhood always presents a gift to Bar and Bat Mitzvah children. Up until now we have been giving a different book, but after a bit of discussion we have decided that a small volume, containing a complete set of your "Simcha's Torah Stories" (one for each parsha), would be an even more desirable gift. Can you please tell me about the availability of such a book?

Many thanks for your wonderful stories.

Dear Larry Steckler,

Thanks for writing. The book Simcha's Torah Stories is available from Feldheim Publishers.

In a recent Yiddle Riddle, we asked: What Torah mitzvah is it that, if done one way, one blessing is said, and if done another way a different blessing is said?

Here are some reader responses:

When putting on a "talit katan" (small tallit) you say "al mitzvat tzitzit," but when putting on a large "talit" you say "lehit'atef batzizit." The blessings before (and after) the morning "shema" are different than those for the evening shema. Before putting on the hand tefilin, you say "lehaniach tefilin." But if you put on first (by error) the head tefilin, or if you only have the head tefilin but not the hand tefilin, you bless "al mitzvat tefilin."

When you dunk one new vessel in a mikva you say "al tevilas kli -- on immersing a vessel" (i.e., singular), but for many vessels you say "al tevilas kelim -- on immersing vessels" (i.e., plural).

When you make kiddush on wine, you say "borei p'ri hagafen." But if you are out of wine and you have to substitute some other beverage or challah, then you would say a different blessing, the blessing appropriate for either the beverage or the challah.