By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

His name is Rav Daniel Osher Kleinman, a Rav in Flatbush, and he is responsible for bringing us the halachic psakim of Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky in his Kovetz Halachos series on Shabbos and the Yomim Tovim, along with remarkable explanations.  That series will be reprinted for quite some time, this author predicts.

Now, Rabbi Kleinman has produced his own two-volume set of responsa, entitled Bigdei Chamudos.  What follows is an unsolicited review of the work.

The teshuvos are quite fascinating, contemporary, and very well researched and written.  Volume I has 177 responsa, and volume II has 178 responsa.  The two indices of sources and topics are enormously helpful.  Each volume contains responsa on all four sections of Shulchan Aruch.

Best of all, however, there is a game-changer in this set of teshuvos.  They were reviewed by HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita – with a section in the back of each volume delineating his conclusions.

Some of the issues discussed are:  A yeshiva ketana buys a conservative synagogue that doesn’t ;follow Shulchan aruch– all the members are in their eighties – can the yeshiva ketana let them stay under their ownership – in the contract (Vol. I #100)?  May a Kohain enter a tent of a deceased gentile? In these responsa Rav Kleinman has a fascinating discussion with HaGaon HaRav Azriel Auerbach.

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In the last Teshuvah of Volume II, Rav Kleinman deals with cannabis, and finds halachic sources in Shas that address some of the underlying issues and questions.

In Volume II Siman 33, Rav Kleinman gives us remarkable clarity in the topic of Nigrar – whether a woman follows her husband when he makes an early Shabbos.  Rav Kleinman cites all of the views and explains them very clearly.  This is paradigmatic of how he approaches halachic topics in general.

There are also a number of medical teshuvos.  Should an ovary with a growth be removed if the doctors recommend to do so (Vol. II #161)?  What is the story with having to inform a future shidduch about the status of a compromised part of the reproductive system?

In a responsa that is bound to be controversial, Rav Kleinman addresses the issue of whether or not a contemporary takanah of, say, the Moetzes Gedolei Torah of Agudas Yisroel is halachically binding or not (Vol. II #168).  This author would like suggest a marei makom that was not cited by Rabbi Kleinman shlita – the footnote in the Mossad HaRav Kook Sefer HaChinuch on the Mitzvah of listening to the chachomim.  It seems that the issue may be a debate between the Rambam and the Sefer HaChinuch.

There is a responsa (Vol. II 137) that this author would humbly question the underlying rationale.  A yeshiva bochur wants to be in Yeshiva for Simchas Torah.  His mother would love him to be home and daven in the family shul.  This presents a true opportunity for the Kivud Av v’Aim, and, in this author’s opinion, Simchas Torah in Yeshiva should perhaps not set aside the Kivud Av v’Aim if the yeshiva bochur would learn more Torah at home than in Yeshiva on Simchas Torah (shuls spend less time for Simchas Torah than do Yeshivos).  True, there would be more impact on his ruchniyus if he stayed in Yeshiva, but let’s remember, there is no mention of Simchas Torah in Shas and the early Poskim.  Plus, the impact of a Ben Torah on other members of Klal Yisroel is not insignificant and should also be taken into account.

This is definitely a teshuvah sefer that one should own.  It makes for fascinating learning, as there is no question that Rav Kleinman is emerging as a leading Rav and Posaik in his own right.  The sefer is available at fine seforim stores near you.

The reviewer can be reached at [email protected]

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