Several Questions in Halacha
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Question
I am not sure if this is appropriate here or if it belongs to study questions, but let's try. A. I am puzzled as to why in our time we wash hands in the morning with a blessing, as according to the Rosh, the reason is for cleanliness, and for those who sleep in long clothes, there is no concern of touching covered places, so how can one bless (as explained in Mishnah Berurah, end of Siman 4, which states that in his time one needed to wash hands because the collar was open, and in our time, when it is not so, why are we obligated with a blessing).B. Why is it written in the Shlah that one needs to wear a kippah at night, and why is it not enough that we sleep on a pillow and it covers our head (not for Chazon Ish who requires most of the head to be covered).C. I am abroad now, and I wanted to ask if it is permissible to hide from the sun under a church, is it allowed to pass through its entrance if there is no other option, and to what extent is it forbidden to look at a church (accidentally/intentionally) or at a cross.
Answer
Shalom and blessings
A. We do not wear a garment that covers the entire body, but rather a shirt and pants. Touching the body in a place under the neck, or on the legs, or in the gap between the pants and the shirt, is possible and requires washing.
B. Even if it is not necessary to cover most of the head, covering the side of the head, where the pillow lies, certainly does not count as covering.
C. It is completely forbidden. Both using the shade, passing through the entrance, and looking at it to enjoy. Only looking without intention is permitted. See sources.
Source
Shulchan Aruch and Mishnah Berurah, Orach Chaim, Siman 4.
Mishnah Berurah, Siman 2, Seif Katan 11
And a measure of piety even less than 4 amot and even during sleep at night.
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 142.
Paragraph 10: The shadow of a house of idol worship, inside and opposite its entrance, within four amot is forbidden.
Paragraph 15: It is forbidden to listen to musical instruments of idol worship or to look at the beauty of idol worship, as one enjoys the sight. (However, something unintended is permitted). (See note in the name of Rabbi Yeshayah the last, z"l, and see Seif Katan 34).
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