Question: This question has been a debate for the last couple of days in my morning class. some Yeshiva’s charge an extra 3% for credit card transactions for paying tuition and some do not. Is it considered interest? They are claiming that they get charged processing fees that they should not have to pay and […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Kashrut of soft gel caps for a choleh
Question: Shalom I was recommended a treatment for a disabling illness consisting of a fish-extract in a soft gel capsule. The fish itself seems kosher, but I noticed at least one ingredient that to my knowledge is not – shellac. (the product can be found here https://nutrilink.co.uk/stabilium-200-x-90-soft-gels-multi-buy) Can I use it? Thank you! Answer: […]
Paying Bituach Leumi
Question: Since moving from E”Y to Chu”l we were informed that we owe some money to Bituach Leumi, with interest. 1) I saw a different question in 2014 in which one of the Rabbanim wrote that the State has a heter iska. Is that still correct? Is there any problem with us paying them the […]
Advice
Question: Rabbi, can you please give me advice on a few things? 1. How can I focus better when I pray? 2. How do I move on from something I might not be able to get closure for? How does one get closure? 3. How can I not let the OCD get in the way […]
Waking up after alos hashachar
Question: If I go to sleep at night and unexpectedly wake up after alos ha’shachar and wish to go back to sleep, is there halachically anything that needs to be done before going back to sleep (e.g. kerias shema)? If I have an alarm that is set to go off later in the morning to […]
Sheimos for parsha sheets
Question: Preschool newsletters from preschool/gan often have a summary of the parsha along with a recap of the child’s week at school. Along with maybe a halacha or another torah concept that was learned. How can I evaluate if these sheets are considered sheimos? Answer: Hello, They should be put into shaimos, since they […]
Borer Questions
Question: 1) Let’s say one finishes eating and there are different foods remaining on your plate that constitute a taaroves. May one scrape off the food into the garbage if in the process of scraping off the food one will be separating one type of food from another? 2) If one is in the middle […]
Getting bad thoughts out of one’s head
Question: I once heard that the pasuk in vayikra (6:6) “אש תמיד תוקד על המזבך לא תחבה” is a source to forget bad thoughts from one’s head. Is there any source for this? Answer: Yes there is a source for it… it is from Eliyahu Hanavi, and it is brought in the Shela Hakadosh […]
Tefillos of a tzaddik ben rasha
Question: The Torah teaches us that Hashem listens to the tefillos of a tzaddik ben tzaddik over those of a tzaddik ben rasha (Yitzchak and Rivka), correct? If so, if there is a tzaddik ben tzaddik davening for something, what is the Torah’s message to the tzaddik ben rasha, (not an ignorant person, a clear […]
Breaking glass plate and earthenware plate at weeding
Question: Why do we use a plate by the engagement and a glass by the chupa? Answer: Hello, The main reason why we break a vessel is to remember Yerushalayim at the time of our joy. Specifically, why we break two different types of plates, one of the reasons given is as follows (Brought […]
Substitute teacher
Question: Hello I am planning on becoming a substitute teacher (in non-jewish schools) shortly. Am I required to break the students up by gender, ie girls on one side, boys on the other while I’m supervising them? Or is it okay to leave them in their regular mixed seating, Thanks! Answer: Hello, In a […]
Did Eliyahu Hanavi have offspring?
Question: I am doing a project on Eliyahu Hanavi and can’t find any sources suggesting that he had or didn’t have children. Could you please help me? Kind regards Answer: According to the opinions that Eliyahu was Pinchos, we find in Divrei Hayomim 1 chap. 5 verse 30 that Pinchos had a son Avishua, […]
Eliyahu Hanavi’s age
Question: How old was Eliyahu Hanavi when he went up in the chariot?? Answer: According to some opinions Eliyahu went up in the chariot in the year 2990. According to those who say that Eliyahu was Pinchos, the grandson of Aharon Hakohen, he was about 500 years old! (This is accordance with the blessing that […]
Microwave with oven convection mode
Question: hi, if we bake a parev cake in this meaty microwave using the convection mode ie an oven, is the cake meaty? the microwave oven will have dirt residue like any normal microwave. the cake is cooked in a disposable aluminium tray. Answer: Hello, It should not be eaten with dairy, but on […]
Aveilus
Question: My mother passed away December 12, 2021 – when is my aveilus up? Answer: It would be 12 months from the date of you mother’s burial. I need to know that date in order to answer you. If you can provide the |Hebrew date for that it would be preferred. Best wishes
OCD and kashering kitchen
Question: I am embarrassed to ask this, but I have to. I have obsessive compulsive disorder and unfortunately some of the aspects of my life that causes me stress is religious matters and kashrut. Since Friday, I have had uncontrollable anxiety that the chicken I cooked in the oven was not kosher, even though I […]
Things that changed after Matan Torah
Question: Shalom, I’m looking for various sources that changed after Matan Torah a couple that I’ve heard are as follows: 1) The Jewish status changed from Father to Mother. 2) That after Matan Torah tefillin etc became holy. Answer: Here are a few quick changes, that happened. It was the first and only times […]
Minyan running late for neitz
Question: If the minyan is running late and not going to reach the amidah by neitz, should you go ahead and daven in time or stay at the pace of the minyan? Thank you Answer: Hello, My understanding of your question is that you are davening in a minyan that happens to be davening […]
Obsessive thoughts
Question: I’m sorry if this sounds silly. I decided if Something happens I will right away say a real neder and when it happened I think I verbalized “that I won’t go there” but quickly felt bad. I always make sure I don’t verbalize it. Do I have to worry about it? What can I […]
Planting estrog seeds with kedushah Sheviis
Question: Shalom Rav. Last Succos, I bought an estrog which has the kedusah of Sheviis. I would like to plant its seeds in my garden to make them grow as tree. Is it allowed? Thank you for your answer. Answer: Hello, It is permitted to plant them. This is because they are not meant […]
Brit Mila in the Torah
Question: Re: 1. Torah doesn’t describe even a single Brit Mila for the Jew?.. Or does it? Bereishit 18:8. “Cream and milk, and the calf”, that had been prepared… Our Forefather Abraham did serve all these dietary treats, products together, at the same time. Milk and meat simultaneously. 3. Deuteronomy 26:5 Does also state: “Wondering […]
Tefillah b’tzibur
Question: How late into shmonei esrai with the tzibur can one start late and still be considered that he davened tefila b’tzibur and not alone? Answer: Hello, Although it is preferred[1] to start together with the tzibbur. This would mean to start within a few seconds[2] of when the tzibbur does. (Although there is […]
Ear Plugs
Question: Can one use ear plugs to increase the quietness while praying the amidah? I have a condition that makes me sensitive to ambient noise. Answer: Yes, you may use earplugs if this is what you need to help you concentrate better. Although it is not the normal thing that is done, neverhteless, concentrating is […]
Divulging Status
Question: When is a person obligated to divulge their status as a ger tzedek? Would a person working as a mashgiach need to volunteer this information if it wasn’t already asked? Answer: Hello, There is no halachic restriction to the ger working at such a job, therefore there is no need to divulge this […]
Bracha on tasty food that one doesn’t want to eat
Question: Hi, I’ve been severely allergic to a specific fruit and haven’t eaten it in many years. My doctor wants me to re-test in the office by eating that fruit. I will not be having any enjoyment from the food, even though it’s tasty. I’d rather not be eating it, and will be eating it […]
Tasting milky whilst in the fleishig state
Question: A gutten, Following off a question that I read, one may taste meat and spit it out and remain parve after cleaning one’s mouth. I have a further question. If a person is fleishig, is he allowed to taste milky without swallowing? Answer: Hello, This is an interesting question, and there are different […]
Follow up to tallis question
Question: Hi, I have a follow up question. Is the 5th knot a chiyuv or is the tallis passul without the 5th knot? Thanks! Answer: The tzitzis are not technically posul, however a person that does not have the five knots is violating what chazal said to do. See O:CH 11-14 and Mishna Berura […]
Writing name of Hashem
Question: If I want to write the name of Hashem in my notes, is there any halachic preference for writing a daled ‘ד or a heh ‘ה or writing out heh shin mem השם? Answer: Hello, Halachically there is a preference to writing a ד’ instead of a ה’. The reason is because there […]
Sitting Brachos
Question: Do I have to sit by birchas hamotzi and mezonos, and what about birchas hamazon? Answer: Hello, When we say Birkas Hamazon we are obligated to say it sitting[1] (until the end of the fourth bracha). This is because we can concentrate better when we are sitting than when we are standing. This […]
Refund on tzedaka
Question: I made a donation to a tzedakah institution and this institution publicly embarrassed a close friend of mine by firing him in a very public way. Am I allowed to ask them to return my donation or to give to another tzedakah? Answer: Hello, You sound very upset, that the institution fired your […]
Teshuva for negative thoughts
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. I am actively working on correcting anger, davening and reading about how to go about it. Recently, I had a situation where I was triggered, and although I did teshuva on the same day and apologized to the person and they said they forgave me, I […]
Tallis Knot that unraveled.
Question: Hi, One of the knots on my tallis gadol came undone, leaving me with 4 double knots on one side instead of 5. Is the tallis still kosher or must I have the knot redone? Thanks! Answer: You should have the fifth knot redone. you most probably will be able to find the […]
Dressing for davening
Question: I (female) have ADD and struggle with time management and housekeeping. I’m working on myself and improving b”H. My question is that once in a while, such as on erev shabbos, I can either daven dressed not 100% – without socks etc. – or I can give up on davening that day because by […]
Eating meat with dairy food in a shopping bag on the table
Question: If someone is eating meat, and there is dairy in a shopping bag on the table, can one continue eating or does he need to remove the shopping bag from the table. Is the shopping bag considered a heker? Would a heker even work for a single person? If not, would it help if […]
Making up for missed Mincha
Question: What to do if you missed mincha? Answer: It depends on the reason why you missed it. If it can be considered an accident, then you can daven maariv twice. After davenng Shemona Esrei of Maariv, daven a second Shemona Esrei as a makeup one for the mincha that you missed. After that […]
opened box – can I assume it wasnt used?
Question: We ordered something similar to a crockpot from a local store (paying for a new item). When the store delivered it, it appears that it was opened before (box wasnt sealed, and instructions were missing). If the appliance looks basically clean, is there a reason that we would have to assume that it may […]
Hello Rabbi
Question: Good afternoon Rabbi, I had a few questions 1. Is it avodah zarah to have fortune cookies at a Chinese restaurant? Are fortune cookies avodah zarah? 2. Can one dress up for Halloween on October 31st? 3. Can one celebrate Valentine’s Day? Answer: Fortune cookies are not Chinese, rather an American invention.They don’t […]
Bathing on Yom Tov
Question: Why in our days, where we take showers daily, isn’t it permitted to shower on Yom Tov? Isn’t it שוה לכל? Answer: Here is an answer given to this question from Horav Asher Weiss shlit”a. Hatzlocha Question: Can we allow a shower on Yom Tov, especially in Chu”l where Yom Tov is 2 […]
Took food unintentionally that did not belong to me
Question: Many years ago I was a counselor in a camp in Russia. The counselors had a freezer for their use and we all brought meat and kept it there. One day I came in and saw someone feasting on my meat. When I pointed it out to him he said that everyone just put […]
Chanukah Menorah
Question: B”H Shalom and Rosh Chodesh Tov, Please advise what is the Halacha for purchasing a Chanukah Menorah. Do all candle/oil holders have to be in a straight line, or Shamash can be in front of the others? Thank you, Answer: Hello, When purchasing a Chanukah menora the eight candle/oil holders should be in […]
Can an employer charitable matching program count towards maaser kesafim?
Question: As an employee benefit, my employer will match ever dollar that I give to a registered charitable organization, up to a certain amount. Can this match help fulfill my maaser obligation as it is structured as an employee benefit and the non-jewish employer would not donate to a Jewish cause if it were not […]
Sticking/unsticking on Shabbos
Question: Is there a problem with removing nursing pads on Shabbos to throw out / resticking new ones? thanks! Answer: Hello, The old pad that you started using before Shabbos may be removed without a problem, because you placed it there with the intention to remove it after a few hours. Regarding placed new […]
Fruit fly on knife
Question: As I was finishing dinner I noticed a tiny fruit fly landed on my knife. I wiped it off with a paper towel. Do I have to kasher the knife, or just wash it? Thank you! Answer: Washing off the knife be sufficient. The knife is at best a kli sheini, the fly […]
Pouring hot water from pareve into dirty dairy sink
Question: I poured hot water from a parve pot (with boiled eggs inside) into a dairy sink, which presumably had dairy dishes inside (maybe dirty) Does the pouring of hot water and any steam change the status of anything? Thank you! Answer: In retrospect it will not change the status of the pareve pot. […]
Shloshim that started on Chol Hamoed
Question: Someone who this year was buried on Chol Hamoed 19 Tishri. When does the shloshim end Answer: Hello, The relatives of a person who was buried on Chol HaMoed, do not sit shiva until after the end of Yom Tov. However, regarding the shloshim, the thirty-day count starts from the day of the […]
Shmitta questions
Question: Ha Rav, I have the following questions: 1. Carrots (approx. Date of Kedusha) from Tishrei 5782. Is that Tishrei 5782 to 5783? 2. How is a person supposed to know when the vegetables were grown? 3. Orange (approx. Date of Kedusha) Elul 5782 to Kislev 5784, is that a mistake? Thank you so much. […]
Clothing washed on Rosh Chodesh
Question: Hello, I have two questions related to clothing. 1. If I live with nonobservant relatives for medical reasons and they wash clothing on rosh chodesh and some got (sock, underwear) got left in the washer or dryer by mistake, and then I do a wash the next day, is that a problem for my […]
Mashing potato on Shabbos
Question: I like to mash potatoes and beans from my cholent with the cholent soup. Can this be done on Shabbos as I’m eating bederech hachilah? Answer: Hello, Yes, this can be done. What you are referring to is the opinion of the Rashba, that it is permitted to cut things into small pieces […]
Breaking matza into soup on Shabbos
Question: Can a person break matza into hot soup on Shabbos kli Shlishi? Pot to bowl #1, then pour soup into bowl #2 then break matza into soup. Answer: Hello, Yes, this can be done. There is controversy among the poskim if “יש בישןל אחר אפיה”, if the prohibition against cooking on Shabbos applies […]
Mistakes in Amidah
Question: If you make a pronunciation mistake, or lose your place in the final section of the amidah, can you go back the the start of a part you have not completed? For example, say a few words into יהי רצון I have doubt that said יהי can I simply return to יהי and restart […]