1. How is it possible that you need to say Vesein Tal U’matar on Pesach?
According to the Bach (Orach Chaim 117), if, on one of the first two days of Pesach, you mistakenly started davening the weekday Shemoneh Esrei and only remembered after beginning Bareich Aleinu (in which case you need to finish the brachah), you say Vesein Tal U’matar.
2. How is it possible that your clothing will become muktzeh as soon as you remove them?
(1) If you realized they are shaatnez. (2) If they became wet in the rain, you may continue wearing them until you remove them.
3. When do we say a Harachaman that goes like this? הרחמן הוא ישלח לנו ברכה מרובה בהליכתנו ובישיבתנו עד עולם
When eating a meal in a non-Jewish house, and you cannot say a Harachaman to bless the owner of the house as is usually done during bentching (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 193 and Mishnah Berurah there).
4. How is it possible to give an aliyah to a Kohen, Levi, and Yisroel and then again to a Kohen, Levi, and Yisroel?
When there are not enough Yisre’eilim (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 135:12 and Mishnah Berurah 44).
5. When do you need to add people to a Beis Din, and those people can even be amaratzim?
When doing chalitzah (see Bartenura to Yevamos 12:1).
6. How is it possible that if you lost the key to a house, you may not carry in the courtyard?
If you lost the key to the house which has the eiruv, and you cannot remove it from there without doing a melachah, the eiruv is invalid (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 394).
7. Which fast can take place in the third week of Marcheshvan (in Eretz Yisroel)?
A fast for rain (Taanis 1:4).
8. When is the following nusach said? ברוך ומבורך שמו תמיד לעולם ועד
If a group of people are making a mezuman and someone is present who did not eat with them, he says this nusach (instead of ברוך שאכלנו משלו ובטובו חיינו).
9. On which days would the Rebbe say Kaddish (besides the days when he would daven before the amud)?
The second day of Rosh Hashanah (for his sister-in-law Sheina hy”d); Isru Chag HaSukkos (for his grandmother Rebbetzin Rochel); Yud Kislev (unknown); Yud-tes Kislev (unknown); 13 Iyar (for his brother Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib); 23 Elul (for his grandfather Rav Meir Shlomo Halevi Yanovsky); and 25 Elul (unknown).
10. When did the Rebbe begin the mivtza of printing a Tanya in every place?
5744.
11. Why do we not recite a bracha over giving tzedaka? (שו"ת הרשב"א ח"א סי' י"ח)
Brachos must be recited before mitzvos are performed. Therefore, we do not recite brachos which are dependent on the actions of others; such as tzedaka, which is dependent on the pauper accepting the tzedaka — which he may not do. — Rashba
12. Why do we not recite a bracha over honoring one’s parents? (שו"ת הרשב"א שם)
As above — because the parents may not accept the honor. — Rashba
13. When pouring leftover wine back into a bottle, a bit of wine is first poured from the bottle into the cup. What is the reason for this?
Because the wine remaining in the cup is “pagum — blemished — wine” (which may not be used for holy purposes), and if it will be poured back into the bottle, all of the wine will become blemished. This is why we first pour wine from the bottle into the cup, which renders it “non-pagum.”
14. What is the response to someone who says, “L’chaim”? “L’chaim v’libracha” or “L’chaim tovim uleshalom”?
In Chabad, the custom is to respond, “L’chaim v’libracha — for life and blessing” (לברכה spells “לב רכה — a soft heart”). But other chassidim say, “L’chaim tovim uleshalom — for good life and peace.”
15. Why do we say “Savri Maranan — Attention, Masters!” before kiddush? (ספר המטעמים, מערכת יין וסעודה, אות ה')
One of the reasons is because wine can cause drunkenness and improper actions. Therefore, one invites others to drink with him, and in this way, the merit of the public will help him to not come to an improper state.
16. When making kiddush on challa, do we say “Savri maranan” or “Birshus — with the permission of...”?
In Chabad, the custom is to also say “Savri Maranan” when making kiddush on bread, but the rest of the world say “Birshus” when making kiddush on bread.
