Question: Dear Rabbis, How comfortable should a Jew feel in discussing the need for others to keep a kosher diet in the jewish community. I have friends and family who are reform and can not ever discuss the idea of eating kosher with me at all. I have even had to eat meals with some […]
Author Archives: Rabbi Akiva Dershowitz
Kashering Retainer for Pesach
Question: Should I kasher my retainer for Pesach if so how should I do it? I can’t put hot or warm water on it because the retainer is plastic and will melt Answer: They should be cleaned well with whatever soap or cleaning solution you use. You should not eat hot chametz in them for […]
Bedikas Chometz When Selling/Leaving Home
Question: What’s the halacha when one is moving homes within 30 days of Pesach? Does he have to do bedika in the house although he will not own it and will not be renting by the time Pesach comes? The question includes the case when one won’t own a house on the 14th of Nissan. Answer: One who […]
Searching for Children’s Chametz
Question: Does one only need to check his house for his own chametz, but not for his spouse’s chametz? The reason being that one only needs to check for chametz that he owns, but chametz of children even under 13 still belongs to them? If one does not need to check for chametz of his […]
Using House that was Sold for Pesach
Question: I am selling my entire house, since i am going away for Pesach. Can someone use one of the bedrooms for sleeping only? Answer: This can be done, but you must specify in the sale, that this room and any other which will be used is not included in the sale. These rooms need […]
Pot Used for Hagalas Keilim – Kashering for Pesach
Question: Dear Rabbi, As I understand one can make kosher any kli sheni [spoon,knives etc] by just pouring boiling water over it form a kli rishon [and certainly by hagala] I also understood that a big spoon one can be kashered by first dipping one part of it in a boiling kli rishon and then dipping […]
Kashrus of Iron Supplement Pill
Question: Does “slow fe, slow release iron supplement” contain any non kosher ingredients? Attached: Attached file 1 Answer: While there may be some kosher sensitive ingredients in this product, it may be used. Even if there is something from a non kosher source, it is likely it was totally altered in the processing. In addition, […]
Direction of Bed
Question: Which direction should the headboard face? Answer: There are 2 opinions as to the proper position of a bed. According to the Talmud it seems it should be placed between North and South. According to kabbala it should be placed between East and West. Both are valid opinions, one who generally follows Kabbalistic teachings […]
Shabbos and Sprinkles on Cakes
Question: If words or letters were “written” on a cake using sprinkles instead of frosting, could that be cut on shabbos? (see first and second pictures where the number 2 is created using a cookie cutter to outline the number.) Would that be different if the letters are created by NOT having anything? (see the […]
Abstaining from Alcohol for Health
Question: Dear Rabbi, I have been recently informed that I likely have an autoimmune medical condition. I have mixed feelings about whether I should stop drinking alcohol as a result of it and question were I to take such a decision, how that could fit within Judaism’s general celebration of the virtues of moderate alcohol […]
Shaving Unibrow for Man
Question: Is it permitted for a man to shave his unibrow if it is disturbing and he is very embarrassed by it? Answer: If the purpose of trimming eyebrows is to avoid embarrassment, it is certainly permitted to do so. If the purpose is for beautification, it is better to avoid the practice, though it is […]
Mishloach Manos Never Received
Question: If my wife picked up a Mishloach Manos to be “Zoche” [legally acquire as an agent] for a man and it never got to him because it was eaten up by my kids. Do I have to ask him forgiveness for it, or was it never acquired to him because it was picked up […]
Vestos While on Contraceptive Pills
Question: Do I need to keep my vestos [i.e. do bedikos] if I am taking pills to stop the period from coming? Answer: If these pills have shown themselves to work for you to completely stop your period from coming, you would not be required to do bedikos while on the pill. Sources: See Radvaz […]
Maaser Money for a Sick Pet
Question: Dear Rabbi, My cat had a very dangerous procedure and it was very costly. I know that Judaism puts great emphasis in animal welfare. Am I allowed to use some of my maaser towards the cost of this operation? Many thanks in advance Answer: No, maaser money should not be used. While Judaism does […]
Handing Over Chametz During Pesach
Question: When one is shopping in a store during Pesach, which contains both kosher and non-kosher foods, and one is approached by a fellow customer, who may or may not be Jewish, and that customer requests that one should take down an item from a certain shelf (because he is unable to reach that shelf/ […]
Mikvah After Seminal Discharge
Question: When do men have to go to the Mikveh? If a man is baal keri and touches objects, are they impure and can they pass on that impurity to others? If someone touches these objects (clothes, beds, chairs, etc), how does that person purify and how do you purify these objects? Is a hand […]
Child from Adulterous Relationship
Question: I need to know the Halacha: a married woman had an affair with another man and brought a child in to the world from that man, is that child allowed to marry a Levi? Answer: The offspring of the union of a married woman and a Jewish man other than her husband produces what is […]
Minyan Skipped Tachanun
Question: If a minyan you davened with didn’t say tachanun, but you feel it should be said, is there any benefit of saying it after davening? or does tachanun have to be said immediately after shemoneh esrei? Thank You Answer: If the minyan skipped tachanun with no justification, you should say tachanun. If possible, you […]
What Foods Can be Kept Over Pesach
Question: What kind of foods do we not have to throw out before Pesach? Answer: Any foods that do not contain chametz ingredients may be kept over Pesach. Even if they are not being used because they were used with chametz or they are kitniyos they may be kept over Pesach. Any chametz product must […]
Status of a Person that Commits Suicide
Question: Shalom kvod haRav. Today my family received a call from my brother who lives in the U.S, telling us that one of his clients committed suicide. Apparently, this person was diagnosed as bipolar and medicated but was left alone at home and did what he did, unable to tolerate loneliness. What´s the Torah view […]
Preference of Minyan
Question: If one has a choice between davening in a place where he will be able to say more of Pesukei D’zimra, but the minyan is not really a good minyan (S”E is rushed, there is talking during krias hatorah, many people are not bnei Torah), versus davening in a place where he will be […]
Bruises in Chickens
Question: What is the halacha regarding bruises commonly found in poultry sold in supermarkets and butchers (of course, with a reliable hechsher)? Since no incision is found near the bruise should it be cut out – as written in Shulchan Aruch. This is a common occurrence which gives the impression that if it were a […]
Renting Apartment During Pesach
Question: My family is renting an apartment on chol hamoed. Presumably, the apartment will be cleaned thoroughly. What are the halachos of kashering the oven, microwave, ect? Answer: See here for detailed guidelines of kashering for Pesach. However from your question it sounds like you want to perform the kashering on Pesach itself. Any kashering […]
Incomplete Shnayim Mikra
Question: Hi Raabi Gut Voch, I wanted to know if one misses some of the parshiot with shnayim mikra and cannot make them up is it still a mitsva to continue reading shnayim mikra, ie. is each parasha a misva by itself or is it only a mitza when finishing the entire 5 sefarim of […]
End of Aveilus, Kaddish in Leap Year
Question: Dear Rabbi, My Father ZTL was niftar on the 19th Av (Tuesday 4th August 2015) in Chutz Laaretz and the Levayah was on 21 Av (Thursday 6th August 2015) in Eretz Yisrael. When is the: 1 Last day to say Kaddish 2 Last day of Avelius 3 Even though the Yartzeit […]
Lego and Rubix Cube on Shabbos
Question: Is it permissible to allow children to play/build with legos on Shabbos? Is it permissible to allow children to play with a Rubix cube on Shabbos? Answer: Yes, both of these games are permissible on Shabbos. With lego, if the child is old enough to understand he should be instructed not to create a […]
Leaving Town for Birkat Hailanot
Question: Is it better to travel out of town for Birkat Hailanot? I think i read this in Yalkut Yosef. Why would it be better to specifically leave town for this beracha? Answer: There is no obligation [or benefit] to travel out of town for birkat hailanot. One may not just wait and see if […]
Scheduling Road Test for Chol Hamoed
Question: May I schedule a drivers license road test for Chol Hamoed? Answer: If you need it in order to drive on Chol Hamoed, this would be permitted. If it is not for driving on Chol Hamoed, but it would cause you a loss to do it any other time [i.e. there are no available […]
Overbearing Care for Elders
Question: Jogging is hard. I used to do it often when I was young and now that I am older I have curtailed my physical activity. I have often many nice people who always grade me on my physical activity claiming I will feel better to walk vigorously every day or do other physical work […]
Women’s Obligation to Say Shema
Question: For a woman who does not daven Maariv, what is the obligation regarding saying Shema twice a day. If she says Shema at Shacharis and Shema Al haMita does that mean she has fulfilled her obligation? Also, regarding Shema al haMita, I read that one should be fully dressed… but then preparing for bed […]
Pidyon Haben After Miscarriage
Question: I am wondering if a miscarriage that the doctor said the fetus grew 8 weeks (counting from the period) until the heart stopped and a D&C was done 10 weeks would it disqualify the next baby a boy from pidyon haben? thanks for this amazing service! Answer: The general rule is that if the […]
No Intent [kavana] in Shmone Esrei
Question: If one did not have in mind the meaning of Baruchat Atah Hashem Elokeinu in the first berachah of Shemone Esrei what should one do? What about in any other berachah? Answer: One should have intent for those words [silently] and continue from there. Sources: See Shulchan Aruch O:C 101 and commentaries there. While […]
Selling Chametz in a Different Time Zone
Question: I currently live in Eretz Yisroel and I plan on being in the U.S. for Pesach. I’m wondering if I can sell my chometz there because Pesach starts a few hours earlier in EY. (also don’t think I could sell in EY because yom tov ends later in US). Answer: You should ideally sell […]
Metzizah B’peh Done with Gauze Covering the Bris
Question: Hi Rabbi, My son was having a bris performed on him by a (which I now know) modern thinking (white hat) type of mohel , however when I noticed he was doing metzitzah bpeh after the bris he put a gauze on the bris and then did it over the cause. Should I be […]
May one Walk/Play with a Dog on Shabbos
Question: Someone comes to us for Shabbos with a dog. May we play with the dog within an eiruv? Answer: The dog may be attached to a leash and walked. This may be done even in a place without an eruv. The leash must be kept a tefach above the ground, and no slack should […]
Are the Seven Clean Days after the Period is over Really Necessary?
Question: From what I understand the Torah only forbids a man from sleeping with his wife while she is on her period, until she goes to the Mikvah. The Rabbis decided to add the additional days as a stringency to make sure she is pure and the period is over. I am not a very […]
Pareve Container in Meaty Dishwasher
Question: Does the container remain parev? Answer: see here: https://dinonline.org/2016/03/30/pareve-containers-in-milky-dishwasher/
Shir Hashirim After the Seder
Question: Why is there a custom to say Shir Hashirim at the Seder? Isn’t it more important to talk about yetsiyas Mitzrayim? Answer: While the mitzva of the night is to speak about Yetzias Mitzrayim, ultimately this should bring us to an elevated state of spirituality. Increased Emunah – faith and awareness in Hashem, Ahavas […]
Heter Iska for House Sale with Mortgage
Question: We are attorneys representing a seller who is selling a multi family home to a Jewish couple whose attorney has forwarded us a Heter Iska form. Our client is holding a mortgage for the buyer with interest. We are selling as an LLC. Is this necessary for our client? Answer: Yes, a heter iska […]
Drinking Breast Milk
Question: When a husband and wife are intimate at a time when the wife is (generally) nursing and the husband, while intimately kissing his wife, extracts some of the breastmilk into his mouth, is is assur to drink? Answer: see here: https://dinonline.org/2012/12/28/drinking-mothers-milk/
Urination on Pants, Maaser and Taxes
Question: 1 is if somebody gets a little bit of urine on pants is it enough to just dry clean them in order to daven wearing them? 2 And second does one give maaser after or before taxes? Answer: 1 Yes, dry cleaning is sufficient. Urine absorbed in a garment only poses […]
Pareve Containers in Milky Dishwasher
Question: If I put pareve containers that have only had cold food in them and wash them in the milky dishwasher does it make the container milky? Answer: No, they retain their pareve status. It is questionable if they received any dairy flavor from the dishwasher. Even if they did it would likely be spoiled […]
Eating Fruit Directly from Tree in Eretz Yisrael
Question: May one eat fruit in Eretz Yisroel derech arroy (e.g., picking a tangerine off a tree in our yard and eating it) without separating terumos / maasros. Answer: Yes, this is permitted. Sources: Rambam, Hilchos Maaser 3:1, Chazon Ish Shviis 1:19.
Switching Seats at a Sporting Event
Question: What is the halacha regarding the common custom of switching seats for an empty more expensive seat at a baseball or any other event? Thank you. Answer: Once the seat has not been sold and will not be sold for that game, it is probably assumed that the seat may be taken by someone […]
Baruch HaShem l’Olam in Eretz Yisrael for Bnei Chu”l
Question: Although it is the minhog not to say Baruch HaShem l’Olam Amen veAmen in Maariv said in Eretz Yisrael, should it be said or not said in the following circumstances: a maariv is said during a wedding in Eretz Yisrael, where the location is not a shul, and therefore there is no locational minhog […]
Home with Christian Icons
Question: Hello, I often need to visit a family who is Orthodox Christian and they have a lot of icons in their home. They are pictures of Jesus and saints etc that they need for prayers, they pray in front of them. Now I read about avoda zara and I got worried that there’s a […]
Therapy Work on Shabbos
Question: I have a shomer shabbos family in my neighborhood that are entitled to have social therapy services from the city for their son. They are entitled also to have hours on Shabbos afternoon as well. There is a possibility that I can be the one providing these services for their son. I would be […]
Residency Programs on Shabbos
Question: Hello, What is the halacha on non-shomer shabbos residency programs? Is there a heter because of eiva? Even when there will be eiva, does that allow one to put himself in that situation? Thanks Answer: It is forbidden to enter a residency program which will require any form of Shabbos transgression. There are many […]
Pills with Lactose After Meat
Question: Hi, I have a medication which contains lactose as an inactive ingredient. Does that mean that I must wait 6 hours after eating meat or chicken before taking my medication ? (I must take it half hour before meals) Thank you! Answer: No, in pill form as a medication there is no need […]
Borrowing Credit Cards and Ribbis
Question: my friend let me use his credit card to buy shirts on line which were on sale for $100.00. a few weeks later i sent it back because of a problem with the shirt. it was not on sale then so they credited the credit card for $150.00. the regular price. i told my […]