Answering Your Summer Shailos in the Mountains

Sunday July 4, 2010 8:12 AM

At the end of June every year, as the school year ends, a mass exodus out of the city takes place. At precisely this time of the year, one feels that the grass is much greener somewhere else. In spite of the challenging economy, seemingly, almost everyone evacuates the city to their dream bungalows, villas, and summer homes in the Catskills. Though we all assume a somewhat more relaxed lifestyle during the summer months, we do not really change. Our unique Jewish attribute of living lives of halachic exploration, questioning every aspect of our religious experience, accelerates unimpeded. So, if one is in the Catskills, or if his rabbi is there, where should the routine everyday and the very special sheilos (questions in Jewish Law) be directed?Summer Instructions for Torah Observant

As a genuine annual service to the observant community, the Hisachdus Horabbonim, the Chassidishe rabbinic organization headquartered in Williamsburg, issued its list of contact information of qualified rabbis that stand ready to receive and respond to sheilos during the summer months. Literally, an army of Torah respondents has been redeployed and is at its summer battle stations ready to respond to halachic inquiries as well as to explain the meaning of a critical word on your Daf Yomi. This is in conjunction with a number of general guidelines that have been issued by the Hisachdus relating to the proper conduct and religious observances incumbent upon all of us during the entire year, including the summer months. The Hisachdus issues their list of updated directives every year. The list has been developed through long years of hard experience and continually updated. Amongst the items are the following:

A Summer Erev Shabbos

Many camps, bungalow colonies, and hotels begin Shabbos earlier than the standard 18 minutes before shkiah (sunset). In scheduling Friday departure times to the Catskills, or to anywhere else, know when Shabbos begins at your destination. Under no circumstances should anyone begin to travel to camps, bungalow colonies, or hotels late on Friday afternoon. In addition to a long list of ongoing construction projects, highways and roadways are routinely congested at such times. When heavy traffic opens up and begins to move, one might be tempted to speed and drive dangerously to make up lost time, something that must be absolutely avoided at all times. If your drivers license is not in order, suspended, or revoked, your may very well spend Shabbos in jail. In addition, unavoidable delays may encroach on proper Shabbos times and create great difficulty in proper Shabbos observance. Many rabbis recommend that Friday travelers must take with them candles, challos, and a bottle of wine or grape juice. Those traveling to be with Chassidishe Rebbeim in their summer retreats cannot rely on Divine assistance and must also take all precautions and make all necessary preparations.

Kosher Eruvin

Every camp, hotel, and bungalow colony must ensure that its eruv was properly designed and securely installed. An eminent rabbi renown for expertise in Eruvin should be consulted to guarantee that the eruv meets all halachic criteria. A reliable learned individual should be appointed to assume the responsibility of checking the eruv every Friday to ensure that the eruv remains in full and exacting compliance with the instructions of the overseeing rav. The Hisachdus, without charge, will designate such rav upon request.

Kashrus While on Vacation

Lakes and Swimming Pools – Strict Guidelines

Swimming pools must be secured to prevent toddlers and young children unauthorized entry. The gate must be safely locked and inaccessible at all times that a supervising responsible adult is not present. When open, an adult preferably with life-saving training should be present and in charge. Every camp or bungalow colony must have one individual designated as responsible to oversee all pool matters. Those swimming in lakes must be accompanied by at least one other person. Swimming pools must have appropriate partitions.

Life Insurance, Summer and All-Year Round

The issue of life insurance for family breadwinners (usually husbands and family caretakers, usually wives) is non-negotiable and applies all year round. The advertisements and flyers seeking contributions to maintain families that have lost a parent sadly abound. One such tragedy is one too many. As our communities keep growing, Baruch Hashem, the actuarial percentages apply consistently. No one is immune. No one is exempt. The cost of term life insurance of $500,000 for a healthy man aged 30 is approximately $20.00 per month. The obligation and necessity for life insurance must be taught at chassan/ kallah classes. Insurance acquired at an earlier age is considerably cheaper; hence the younger one begins the better. This is not only mandatory for a yeshiva rebbi; it is an absolute necessity for every family breadwinner and caretaker, regardless of profession.

Find A Mikveh

In selecting a mikveh during your vacation, ascertain that a qualified rabbi has approved the mikveh. No one should ever use a mikveh without another person present. A lake or a swimming pool does not constitute a kosher mikveh. In the Catskills and summer resorts, the following mikvaos are functioning and are under rabbinical supervision: Bethlehem, New Hampshire 603-869-3336; Ellenville 845-647-4472 and 845-647-6846; Fleischmans 845-254-6349; Liberty 845-292-6677; Monsey 845-371-0211; Monticello 845-794-6757 and 845-794-8470; South Fallsburg 845-436-3333; Swan Lake 845-845-292-5122/3 and 845-292-8031; White Lake 845-583-9702; and Woodridge 845-436-4987 and 845-436-7960.

Behavior at Public Picnic Areas

When using public picnic areas, whether in a park or comfort station on a highway, one is required to always act properly, maintain cleanliness, and not use any public grill. Foods purchased at picnic concessions must also have an acceptable kashrus certification.

Torah Lectures and Shiurim

In order to continually refresh the soul as well as the body, every bungalow colony and hotel must endeavor to arrange and organize Torah lectures,shiurim, and study sessions for men, women, and children. These shiurim should be arranged for Fridays, Shabbos, Sundays, and every weekday.

Sheilos? Stumped? Call the Rabbi!

Boro Park:

Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Heshel Bick, Mezebusher Rav

718-854-2617, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Miller, Eizenstadter Rav

718-438-7526 and 718-438-6218, 9:00 to 10:15 a.m., 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. and on

Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Spitzer, Rav of Beis Medrash Ohr Chaim

718-633-7420, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 6:30 to 7: 45 p.m., and 9:30 to 11:15 p.m.

Rabbi Nachman Yechiel Mechel Steinmetz, Boro Park Skverer Dayan

718-853-3744, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., and from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Rabbi Sholom Noach Weiss

718-236-2622, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Kerhonkson:

Rabbi Yitzchok Stein, Foltechaner Dayan

845-626-3632, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., and 10:00 to 11:30 p.m.

Kiamesha Lake:

Rabbi Shraga Gedalye Kaufman, Kruleh Dayan

845-794-5150 and cell # 347-538-2783

Liberty:

Rabbi Zvi Ausch, Volkaner Rav

817-237-2112, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., and 10:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac Shneibalg, Williamsburg Belzer Rav

845-295-3301, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., 5:30 to7:00 p.m., and 10:00 to 11:30 p.m.

Loch Sheldrake:

Rabbi Avrohom Meir Halberstam, 18th Avenue Satmar Dayan

646-773-0147

Rabbi Dovid Hirsch, Satmar Dayan

845-434-8236

Rabbi Ben Zion Laub, Satmar Dayan

347-645-1314

Rabbi Menachem Zev Stern, Satmar Dayan

845-434-8380

Monroe:

Rabbi Chanoch Henach Ashkenazi, Dayan Yetev Lev

845-782-0751, 8:15 to 9:30 a.m., and 6:20 to 7:30 p.m., and at 845-782-0751, 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Rabbi Elyakim Getzel Berkowitz, Senior Kiryas Yoel Dayan

845-783-8715

Rabbi Pisachye Fried, Rav of Chevra Bnei Israel

845-782-8049, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Rabbi Shimon Zev Meisels, Rav Beis Medrash Yismach Moshe

845-782-2533

Rabbi Yoel Morgenstern, Sharmasher Rav

845-781-4172, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Monsey:

Rabbi Binyamin Gruber, Hisachdus Dayan

845-425-7516

845-371-8292, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Rabbi Shimon Katz, Dayan Khal Vayoel Moshe

845-426-2348, 1:00 to 8:15 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Rabbi Yitzchok Avrohom Jungreis, Monsey Tosher Dayan

845-356-5141

Rabbi Shraga Feivel Shneibalg, Rav Khal Avreichim

845-425-8977, 2:00 to 7:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Rabbi Menachem Mayer Weissmandl, Rav Khal Toras Chemed

845-352-1807, 845-425-1364, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Monticello:

Rabbi Yeshaye Gedalye Kaufman, Hisachdus Dayan

845-794-5150

Rabbi Yeshaye Labin, Zidichover Rebbe

845-794-9476

Rabbi Yeshaye Lieberman, Dushinsky Rosh Kollel, 845-796-1069

Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Saks, Dayan Khal Beis Moshe Aaron

845-794-3337

Mount Kisco:

Rabbi Hillel Weinberger, Nitra Dayan

914-244-1425, after 1:00 p.m.

Parksville:

Rabbi Aaron Yeshaye Rosner, Sombotheily Dayan

845-292-6406 and 718-594-5806

Seagate:

Rabbi Pinchas Mordechai Meisels, Seagate Dayan

718-372-0831

Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Meisels, Rav Khal Yereim

718-373-1444

South Fallsburg:

Rabbi Boruch Avrohom Friedman, Satmar Dayan

845-436-0263

Rabbi Yirmiyah Friedman, Hisachdus Dayan, Shoproner Camp

845-434-1136, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Rabbi Shlomo Kohn, Ada Rav, Shoproner Camp

Bungalow North 12

Rabbi Yitzchok Halberstam, Tartakover Dayan

347-668-9453

Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Lieberman, Hisachdus Dayan

845-434-4548, after 7:00 p.m.

Rabbi Simcha Aaron Stroli, Viener Dayan

845-434-5705, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, Nirbator Rav

845-434-9272

Swan Lake:

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Abraham, Hisachdus Dayan

845-292-9719, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Rabbi Yitzchok Aaron Goldberger, Pupa Rosh Yeshiva

845-292-9733, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Rabbi Aaron Greenwald, Pupa Dayan

845-292-9878, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., and 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Rabbi Asher Mann, Hisachdus Dayan

845-292-2664

Rabbi Asher Gedalye Pollack, Brashover Rav

845-292-2204

Rabbi Moshe Menachem Weiss, Boro Park Pupa Dayan, 845-889-4662, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Thompsonville:

Rabbi Avrohom Halberstam, Tartakover Rosh Kollel

845-434-7283

White Lake:

Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Harfenes, Rav Beis Medrash Yisroel Vehazemanim

347-546-6825/6866

Rabbi Akiva Ludmir, Pressburger Rav

845-583-8360

Williamsburg:

Rabbi Moshe Meir Brief, Ibramer Rav

718-388-3951, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Rabbi Yisroel Avrohom Alter Krausz

718-963-0833, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Rabbi Ezriel Meir Chaim Kohn, Sengeorge Rav

718-963-2614, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Rabbi Shmuel Shmelka Friedman, Hisachdus Dayan

718-963-3568, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Rabbi Shlomo Leib Weinberger, Satmar Dayan

718-387-6698, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Rabbi Shlomo Wieder, Hisachdus Dayan

718-388-4639, 10:30 to 11:30 and 9:15 to 10:15 p.m.

Rabbi Klonimus Zev Gross, Weitzener Rav

718-384-6344

Rabbi Menachem Gross, Kaliver Rav

718-388-6873

Rabbi Leibish Friedman, Satmar Dayan, in the Rodney Street Beis Medrash

718-486-3570 from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.; at 718-388-5703 from 6:00 to 9:15 pm; and at the beis medrash from 9:15 to 10:15 p.m.

Rabbi Yehuda Meshulem Dov Polatchek, Hisachdus Dayan

718-387-1678

Rabbi Yosef Polatchek, Rav Khal Shem MiShimon

718-624-6718

Rabbi Moshe Rosenfeld, Hisachdus Dayan

718-237-2835

Rabbi Yechezkel Teitelbaum, Clymer Street Satmar Rav

7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. in shul, and at 718-963-1564

Woodbourne:

347-684-3025

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Moskowitz, Shotzer Rav

845-436-8604

Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Shneibalg, Chernowitzer Rav

845-434-2568

Rabbi Yosef Dovid Shneibalg, Chernowitzer Dayan

718-855-7701

Woodridge:

Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Krausz, Udvarer Dayan

Gitty Gardens, Glenwild Road, Bungalow 5/6, 7:00 to 10:30 p.m.

845-434-5212 and 917-318-8991

{Rabbi G. Tannenbaum-Machberes}