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Genizah for Child’s Sefer Torah

Question: Does a printed sefer torah for children to carry on Simchas Torah require genizah? My thought it that since it is not even meant to learn from, rather just to “look like a sefer torah” it would not. thank you. Answer: Yes, it would require genizah. The pesukim and names of Hashem require genizah […]

Erev Chatzeros with Neighbour’s Wife

Question: My neighbor sharing a driveway is ill. Can I do Erev Chatzeros with his wife? Thank you! Answer: Yes. In fact if you use your own matza [generally used for Eruv Chatzeros] you can do it without their direct involvement by allowing another to acquire a portion of the matza for them and then […]

Does Meat Need to Be Kosher for Pesach?

Question: I bought expensive meat for pesach and afterwards I noticed that it doesn’t say kosher lepesach. It is totally unprocessed. Does it need a hechsher for pesach? Is there a reason to be stringent? Answer: Kosher butchers generally prepare their stores before Pesach to assure the meats remain out of contact with any chametz […]

Non-Religious Jews Turning on Lights

Question: I will be conducting the seder in the house of a non-religious Jew (both nights). The problem is that they will be turning on the lights during Shabbos, and certainly during Yom Tov. (For example, on Saturday afternoon/evening they will turn on the lights. They are not going to keep the lights on for […]

Security Cameras on Shabbos

Question: Are you allowed to have security cameras running on Shabbos? Either constantly recording everything, or just recording based on motion detection (when the camera detects motion, it records)? Answer: Generally the cameras are intended to record thieves or other illegal activity. As long as the average person walking by has no intent or interest […]

Loshon Hara in Article on Products

Question: I was asked to write a short article comparing two brands of a food item, both brands are Jewish companies. Is it loshon hara to promote one brand over the other- specifically because one item is healthier than the other. I wouldn’t say “don’t buy ‘x’,” I would say “‘y’ is better because…” Answer: […]

Kashering a Hot Water KumKum for Pesach

Question: Can I Kasher a hot water KumKum for Pesach? If so, how? Answer: In the course of the use of a kumkum [small instant boil hot water urn] it often comes into contact with chametz. Either from pouring into chametz foods such as oatmeal, or from other contact from nearby chametz. The standard kumkum […]

Bracha on Trees in Nisan

Question: What is the minhag of saying a bracha on a tree after rosh chodesh nissan? What is the correct way to do it? Answer: The Gemara (Brachos 43a) states that one who sees blossoming fruit trees during Nissan recites, “Boruch Atta Hashem, Elokeinu Melech ha’olam, shelo chisar ba’olamo davar, u’vara vo briyos tovos v’ilanos […]

Post-it Notes on Shabbos

Question: Can I use Post-it’s As book markers on Shabbat? Answer: Yes, this is permissible. There are those who are stringent unless it will be removed from it’s place within a day, and is removed from the pad of notes before Shabbos.   Sources: See Shu”T Minchas Asher Vol. 2:39, Nishmas Shabbos Vol. 7, pg. […]

Gift to Irreligious Jew

Question: A worker in my office collects money from colleagues before Pesach and Rosh Hashanah to buy a gift for the irreligious cleaner. The cleaner is presented with a voucher but not told which individuals contributed, so there is no issue of enmity. Is there any halachic issue with giving a gift to an irreligious […]