Question: I was stuck erev shabbos and I needed a strainer to strain some cold fleishig food and I only had a milchig strainer in the house. I used the milchig strainer since I’ve heard one can use a treif kli for cold food if its only an arai use, and I figured this was […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Tisha B’Av for women
Question: Hello Rabbi, I fast on Tisha B’Av but did not know about the beforehand/after requirements–for women. I saw one reference to eating one meal in the afternoon and then a small meal before the fast. Do women have to follow this or could one follow a normal eating schedule and even eat a regular […]
Meat during Shalosh Seudos of the nine days
Question: Do I have to stop eating meat before sunset DURING my shalosh seudos meal? Answer: Hello, On Shabbos chazon, the Shabbos during the nine days, if one is eating shalos seudos, meat may be eaten even after it’s already dark outside, since for him it is still Shabbos, and he is going to say […]
Swimming for exercise during 9 days
Question: Is one allowed to swim in cold water chlorinated pool during 9 days for exercise purposes? Answer: Hello, We don’t go swimmig during the nine days, even if it is for exercise purposes. Best wishes
Water Spilled on a Meat Oven
Question: Some water from washing a dairy dish spilled on the front of my meat oven. Are there any kashrut concerns? Answer: Hello, Was the outside of the oven door hot at the time? If it was, then the oven should be heated up, in order to kasher it. However, if it wasn’t hot […]
Buy toys for kids in the 9 days?
Question: Is it permitted to buy toys for kids in the 9 days? Answer: Hello, Cheap toys are permitted, but not expensive ones, which will bring them real joy. Best wishes
Questionable reading material in frum family
Question: Dear Friends, this is concerning kashrus but not food: I live in a thriving Jewish community in NMB, Florida near my married son. They hold by a kollel rav here. My son went to a frum yeshiva through high school here in NMB, Florida and then on to beis medrash for a few years […]
Dry Cleaning during the 9 days
Question: Hi, I own a dry cleaners that outside the Frum area and primarily services non-Jews. This year I’ve had some Frum customers request a pickup for dry cleaning and laundry services. I am not familiar with their situation and am unsure of whether or not this is permitted. The work is done by employees […]
Caterer eating meat during nine days
Question: If a caterer is catering a meat pidyon haben during the nine days, may he eat meat with the baalei Simcha or must he refrain as he is not an invited guest. What about the waiters in that case? Answer: Hello, The waiters are allowed to eat, because they are not formally invited […]
Hichon on Tisha B’Av
Question: Is there an inyan of hichon on Tisha B’Av, or is it not relevant because of the nature of the day? Therefore, would it be permitted to wear wrinkled, or stained, or torn, or dirty, etc, clothing on Tisha B’Av? Answer: Hello, The idea of hichon, is that we should prepare[1] ourselves, and […]
Decal ironing during the nine days
Question: It is permissible to iron decals on a sweatshirt during the nine days? This is something that is necessary for the girls in camp. Answer: Hello, It is permitted as it isn’t considered making the sweatshirt better. Best wishes Sources:
Vegan restaurant
Question: If a vegan restaurant is supposedly certified kosher, although the certification is not from one of the well-known ones and I looked into it and the Rabbi gives more leniency about the necessity for a full time mashgiach, etc are you allowed to go there and also, they are open on Shabbos. Please include […]
Talking about others
Question: May one say that a person one knows is a great baker or is an adventurous person if the person being talked about is not present? Answer: Hello, If it is said in a positive manner then it is permitted. Pone should just be careful not to say such things in front of […]
Boy swimming with girls
Question: May a 4 year old boy go swimming when several girls (mostly under 12 years old) are in the pool? Thank you Answer: Hello, Please see the following post https://dinonline.org/2010/07/12/mixed-swimming-for-children/ which talks about this issue. Best wishes
Showering during the nine days after relations
Question: Is it permitted for men to shower during the nine days after relations instead of mikvah? Answer: Hello, A man that is always makpid to go to the mikva after relations may do so after relations during the nine days. If he isn’t makpid on this all the time, then he can’t, similar to […]
Yichud adult sisters
Question: Is a frum woman allowed be in yichud with her non-frum sister and her long-time non-frum Jewish partner/boyfriend? Answer: Hello, She should be careful about yichud. According to a number of poskim, since the two are not married, even with a civil marriage, they don’t feel responsible for each other, and they are […]
Medicine on tannis
Question: Am I allowed to take any capsule/tablet medicine on TishaBav or Yom Kippur (without water) ? Answer: Hello, To make blanket statement that any capsule/tablet is permitted to take without water is incorrect. Although the person is not benefiting from the taste of the pill, nevertheless it is not permitted without sufficient reason. […]
Hashavat Aveida on toys
Question: Hi, I have some practical questions on Hashavat Aveida 1. My 3 year old son found a very small, cheap plastic toy car on the front lawn of our house and he brought it in the house. It’s like the kind of thing that you might get for free in a box of cereal. […]
Ironing before/during the Nine Days
Question: Hi. Every year, before the Nine Days, I launder and iron all of my children’s clothing (ages 4-11). Since this is a huge job, I am wondering whether it would be permissible to do the ironing during the Nine Days? I understand that the prohibition is against wearing freshly laundered and ironed clothes; since […]
Emails to an overseas recipient when it is Shabbat for them.
Question: Hi I work as an Australian lawyer but I live in Israel. I have many Jewish clients in Australia. If they are not religious, I am careful not to send them an email on Friday (when it is already Shabbat in Australia) becuase I am concerned that they may read it and I would […]
Sifting flour in the USA
Question: Does flour manufactured in the US need sifting? If yes, what mesh sifter is needed? Answer: Hello, This is what one of the Rabbonim of the CRC of Chicago answered regarding your question. “If the flour was purchased from a store that has proper storage conditions, and was properly stored by the consumer, then […]
Steaming a tablecloth during the 9 days
Question: Hi, is it permitted to steam the wrinkles out of a tablecloth using the steam refresh setting on my dryer or by hanging them in the shower (does it make a difference if this is being done for a work event and not for personal use)? Thank you. Answer: Hello, This is permitted, […]
Wine/Meat After Plag Mincha During the 9 Days?
Question: If making an “early Shabbos” during the 9 Days, is it permitted to drink wine/eat meat? Thx & Kol Tuv. Answer: Hello, Once you were makabel Shabbos, it is Shabbos for you and you may eat meat and drink wine. Best wishes Sources: רבבות אפרים ח”א ס’ שסז אות ב’ “אם קבל שבת […]
Buying a wig from China, Chashash of Indian Hair
Question: I live in the U.S. I want to buy a wig from China- through Aliexpress. The store is called 361 Store. All communication is online. The website advertises that this wig is made from European Hair. I asked a question online and someone answered “we only use European Jewish hair, which is beyond doubt”. […]
Business credit card
Question: There is a business credit card (Chase Ink) that is popular now even for people without a businesses. Technically , it is only allowed to be used for business expenses, not personal and household expenses. And when applying, you need to certify that you will only use it as such. But it seems that […]
Halachos/minhagim of 9 days
Question: Is it permitted to go to the gym and/or train martial arts (hands on) in the 9 days? Thanks Answer: Hello, It is permitted, as you are doing it not just for pleasure, but for the benefit of the fitness, and protection that you have out of it. Best Wishes
End of year gifts during the nine days
Question: Is one allowed to give end of year gifts to teachers, Rebbes and other School staff? And on Shavua shechal boi? (such as presentations, books and / or other gifts? Answer: Hello, Although it is not written specifically that buying and giving gifts during the nine days, however according to a number of […]
Havdalah during the 9 days
Question: Hi. What does one use for havdallah during the 9 days since we can’t use grape juice/wine? Answer: Hello, The Sefardi minhag is that the person making havdalah drinks the wine. According to the Ashkenazi minhag either one can use beer[1], which is considered chamar medina, or if one has a boy[2] between […]
40 consecutive days
Question: When saying perek shira for 40 “consecutive” days, does that include Shabbat? There is no perek for Shabbat. Answer: Hello, The idea of saying it means saying the whole perek shira for 40 days. Therefore Shabbos is the same as during the week. Best wishes
Swimming alone
Question: Hi. Is there a halacha that forbids swimming by yourself in an empty pool? Thank you Answer: Hello, I am not aware of such a halacha. In general though, one should be careful not to do dangerous things during the three weeks. Best wishes
Non-Stick Frying Pan
Question: Does a non-stick frying pan need a bracha when toiveled? The metal part that contacts the stove is aluminum. Answer: Hello, A non-stick frying pan, which is coated with Teflon needs tevila. There is controversy among the poskim if a bracha should be said on it or not. The reason being that Teflon […]
Potato kugel cooked in oven with meat
Question: If I cooked a potato kugel in an oven at the time as I was cooking meat (and both were uncovered) what is the status of the kugel – can I eat it with milchig food? Can I eat it and then eat milchig food right after it? Or do I have to wait […]
Toveling utensils
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. 1.Does halacha require toveling utensils three times each in the mikvah, or one full immersion for each item is sufficient? 2. If it requires three, and I recently toveled several items once each, may they be used or should they be reimmersed (without a bracha?) 3. […]
Can one go to a museum during the 9 days
Question: Can one visit a museum during 9 days Answer: Hello, During the nine days we are supposed to minimize doing pleasurable things such as building or planting things that bring us happiness. According to a number of poskim this includes going on pleasure trips, as it is a time for us to realize […]
Asking for forgiveness
Question: About 40 years, when I was growing up in Australia, we often had Shabbat meals together with my grandparents and first cousins. I remember one Shabbat when my cousin bravely tried to recite kiddush. It was difficult for him because he could barely read Hebrew. After stumbling through it, I foolishly made an embarrassing […]
Shaving
Question: I have hair on my ears which I shaved. A while ago I thought that it may be a question of lo silbash so I didn’t do it for a long time at this point it is a very long and making me feel very uncomfortable I called a halacha hotline and asked if […]
Microwave kashering
Question: Hi Rabbi, I have a meat microwave, it has been used in the last 24 hours. I have a gentile worker working in the house, who accidentally put there his cold coffee with milk for about 10 seconds before I noticed. The cup was closed. Can I Kasher the microwave? Can I Kasher the […]
Tikkun Chatzos During The Summer
Question: Is it permitted to say tikkun chatzos during the period from shavous until after tisha b’av if one wants to say it or should one specifically refrain from saying it during that time Answer: Hello, There are different opinions there is an opinion that from Shavous until after Tisha Bav that it doesn’t […]
Davening during work
Question: Is an employer required to allow an employee to daven while he is clocked in ? Answer: Hello, If a worker has the rights to daven mincha during his work time depends on the situation. In general, conditions nowadays are not the way they were in the time of the gemora, and employers […]
Glass Table toivelling
Question: Do I need to toivel my glass table, if I did the basic assembly after buying it from Ikea does that help? Answer: Hello, According to numerous poskim, a table does not require tevilas keilim, because it is not a utensil used for eating on, but rather for putting plates on. Even if […]
9 kavim
Question: What is the MIKOR for 9 kavim instead of mikveh if MIKVEH is not available? Answer: The topic is discussed in Brachos 22a, and then in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 89-1. See sources. Best wishes Sources: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות קריאת שמע סימן פח סעיף א “כל הטמאים קורין בתורה וקורין ק”ש ומתפללין, […]
Toveling Electric Appliances
Question: Another Jewish person recently gave me a small George Forman grill that has never been used. It’s brand new in the box. The instruction manual warns that it should not be immersed in water. Since I cannot tovel it, can I use it? Answer: Hello, A simple George Forman, without a computer chip, […]
Fish and chicken
Question: Are you allowed to eat fish and chicken (not fish and meat) together? Context: the chicken dish has sauce that contains fish… Answer: Hello, The same way we do’t eat meat and fish together, we don’t eat fish and chicken together. Best wishes Sources: א) שבות יעקב (ח”ב סי’ ק”ד) – “גם בשר […]
Globes
Question: Dear Rabbi, When I was young, I had a planet globe map. I did learn my topography and planet. At some point I felt Torah forbid the representation of the globe since you were facing the drive of a whole planet and decided to just stick to maps. Was I wrong? Answer: Hello, […]
Which brachot?
Question: If one had enough of these waffles for a meal so they serve as the bread component, would it be hamotzi? GLUTEN FREE BLEND (BROWN RICE FLOUR, POTATO STARCH, RICE FLOUR, SOY FLOUR), WATER, EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, BAKING POWDER (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: FRUIT JUICE BLEND […]
Water Faucet
Question: Our dogs pulled a paper bag that pizza came in off the counter and it is possible the bag touched the part of the faucet where the water comes out. Unfortunately, my wife used the faucet in a meat pot to boil water before I could clean it. Are there any kashrut concerns? […]
Washing vegetables and checking for bugs
Question: Is it halachikly required to wash and clean vegetables or halachikly one just needs to ensure there are no bugs in the food however way they accomplish that? Answer: Hello, The idea of washing and checking fruits and vegetables for bugs is a practical one. As we see that there are fruits and […]
Teshuva when unable to ask for forgiveness
Question: If a person sins against another person and is unable to ask for forgiveness ( even general forgiveness) for different reasons. For example, the person doesn’t know all the people the sin affected or other reasons. Does it help to have regret and stop the sin as a form of teshuva, give tzedakhah, confession […]
Copying picture for kuntris
Question: Hi Boruch Hashem I am in the process of completing my own kuntris i wanted to know if i can copy and past a kuntris cover i found online and use that as a template for my own one. Answer: Hello, It depends where you are getting the template from. If you are […]
Maariv after plag
Question: Hello, As an Ashkenazi, is it ok to occasionally daven Mincha before plag in order to daven maariv early before shkia ( after plag) ? Or that’s ok only if you do it every day ? Answer: Hello, The Ashkenazi minhag in many places is that this is allowed, even on a constant […]