Question: I’m in 2nd year of back to back aveilus for my parents. I understand that we are meikel in allowing Aveilim to attend their usual purim seuda even if there is music. I would like to know if the Avel himself is allowed to play an instrument on purim if they generally do. (not […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Shomer negiah and kol isha with young cousins
Question: Hi. We are very close cousins. I am curious regarding the halachos of Kol Isha, and Shomer negia with my 5 year & 8 year old boy cousions.. Thank you Answer: Hello, Under the assumption that you are over 11 years old, both of these halachos would only apply from when they are age […]
Bosis on Shabbos
Question: Hi Does a electric stove top serve as a bussis on shabbos? if so would it be permissible to take anything off the counter which the electric stove is in? The same regarding a desk with a computer on it. Answer: Hello, The desk with a computer on it is indeed a bosis, […]
Mezuzah on a food truck
Question: If a food truck is (likely) permanently parked and has enough waking space inside to require a mezuzah, does it need one? Answer: Hello, Since you are not planning on moving it, therefore right now it is not meant to move. therefore it would need a mezuza. Best wishes
Disturbing during the amida
Question: Thank you Rabbi for your help. Sometimes at shul I get called as a shaliach tzibur, and a few weeks ago another person, who is shomer mitzvot and a nice person, decided to daven his amida right next to the shaliach tzibur and also stay there during chazarat hashatz, about one feet to the […]
Kashering a dishwasher
Question: Hi. Is there any way to kasher a dishwasher to use for Pesach? Answer: Hello, The poskim say that it isn’t recommended to try to kasher it. Best wishes
Migdol on Friday night
Question: On Friday night do we say migdol or magdil Answer: Hello, We say migdol on Shabbos and Yom Tov by all of the meals, including the Friday night meal. Best wishes Sources: משנה ברורה סימן קפט ס”ק ה נוהגים לומר בשבת ויו”ט ור”ח מגדול ובחול מגדיל
Talis bag
Question: Kavod Harav, I recently purchased a custom Talis bag with my initials on it. I requested that the fabric should be the same as my son had ordered from that store. The gentleman looked up my sons order & placed the order for me. When I picked up the bag, it was the wrong […]
Fast of Esther
Question: dear Rabbi, When the fast of Esther is Thursday and Purim, when is the megillah read? Thursday? Or Saturday night and Sunday? May one go grocery shopping on the fast of Esther? or is buying food prohibited? thank you Answer: Hello, Purim this year is on Sunday, therefore the Megillah will be read […]
Message
Question: Is it muttar for a woman to receive a deep tissue message from another woman? Answer: Hello, It is permitted, especially if it is for health purposes, and provided that it doesn’t lead to anything improper. Best wishes
Bracha achrona
Question: Do I make al hamichya on a 20g wafer Answer: Hello, Yes you would. Best wishes
Birkas Hachodesh
Question: In the Yehi Ratzon paragraph, we say shetichadesh alenu es hachodesh hazeh. Shouldn’t we use the habah or hayavo instead of hazeh? Wouldn’t that be clearer? Answer: Hello, The correct grammar, for the coming month is hazeh, and for the one after the coming one it is habah. For example, in modern Hebrew, […]
Woman davening Maariv, forgot to say bli neder…
Question: I have learned that if a woman starts to daven Maariv, she should stipulate bli neder. However, I have been davening Maariv consistently now for a while and I dont think I ever said bli neder. What should I do in this situation? There are situations where I see that it is not the […]
Mourner going out on Purim for mincha
Question: On Purim, is a mourner allowed to leave his house to go to shul to daven mincha ? If possible, could you please provide a source. Thank you. Answer: Hello, A mourner during shiva does not go to shul to daven mincha. This is because Purim is not like Shabbos, in this aspect. […]
havdala
Question: Is there any source for a minhag (or possibly lesser status) that someone holds aloft the havdala candle rather than just leaving it to rest on the table – discounting the presumed fable that if one wants a tall spouse ……… Answer: I am not aware of such a minhag. It could be […]
Paying a painter who didn’t complete a job correctly
Question: Hi- I have a painter doing a job however he isn’t using the necessary materials (primer) and the job isn’t coming out well. I don’t want to withhold money because it isn’t proper but I will have to repaint his work. What do I do according to Halacha? Should I ask him to repaint […]
Tossing bread Shabbat
Question: Where did the custom of tossing the bread on Shabbat for the Sephardim originate? What is the reason for it? I know the mourners reason but then why can’t they just pass it around on a plate like most people do? Answer: Hello, While I can’t tell you the reason why some Sefardim […]
Disputed CC charge from Jewish seller
Question: I bought a phone from a jewish shop that turned out to have many fake parts on it and did not work as it should have. The shop did not agree. I disputed the charge with the card company and they probably charged them. Do I need to return the phone to them? Answer: […]
Hagomel
Question: How big must the body of water be to require a Birchas Hagomel after travel/a flight (as per Ashkenazic custom)? For example: we just flew over the Gulf of California. Answer: Hello, According to the Ashkenazi minhag, (according to the poskim that one says Hagomel after traveling over the ocean) if the body of […]
Women dancing
Question: Are men allowed to see women dancing? Answer: Hello, According to Jewish law, men should not see women dancing, because it will bring him to have improper thoughts. This is especially true with some of the dances that are meant to bring out certain parts of their bodies. Best wishes Sources: בן איש […]
Kashering sinks for pesach and year-round
Question: I have stainless steel sinks. I noticed that they have little tiny spots of rust. Are these of concern when I kasher my sinks for Pesach? How do I get rid of them? Answer: Hello, The spots should be scraped off before kashering the sink, because of the chance that there might be […]
Walking down the children to the Chupah
Question: Where do the minhagim come for taking children to the chupa? The Rama advocates mothers take the bride and fathers take the groom. However, there is another Gadol who says that it is preferable for both parents to take their own children down the aisle. Would the Rav know which Gadol this was? […]
Kiddush with only one cup of wine
Question: I previously asked if leftover kiddush wine can be poured back into bottle, but another question I have is what if on Friday night I notice that I only have 1 cup worth of wine for the entire Shabbat, what would be the proper practice in this case? Answer: Hello, The Shulchan Aruch […]
Kiddush wine
Question: When we do kiddush on Shabbat we usually just drink the minimally required amount, the problem is we have so much leftover wine? What is the best course of action to take to minimize the wasting of the leftover wine? For example can I use that wine for habdallah that night? Can I pour […]
Leftover challah
Question: On Friday night when we make challah our family doesn’t eat a lot of bread. I have 2 young kids and they don’t really eat a ton of it, so after me and my wife have our kezayit there is still a ton of challah left( the large vav shaped ones). Can I reuse […]
Days since Brias Ha’olam
Question: According to the Jewish Calendar and calculations, how many days have passed since Brias Ha’olam? Answer: Hello, According to the Jewish calander it is 5874 years since creation. We have a time line since then who lived when, and what happened to them, starting from adam, to the Patriarchs, to the exile in […]
Inheritance and divorce
Question: Mother left inheritance. One divorces, can woman take it with her or does her husband keep it? Should she take it with her, what are the consequences? Answer: Hello, The inheritance that the woman inherited belongs to her, and after she is no longer married, she married she takes it all with her. […]
Proper way to do a hefsek/bedika
Question: Hi- I wanted to know what is the proper way to do a hefsek/bedikas. I was told to go in – go around once then turn your finger around and around on the way out. I want to know – is it really possible to detect all blood from just going around once one […]
BESOMIM
Question: What is the reason / source of the seemingly ancient minhag of the besomim for havdoloh being held in a tower shaped holder, mostly with a flag. Answer: Hello, Interesting question, if you ever get an answer to it let me know. Best wishes
Image of Shushan on Entrance to Beis Hamikdosh
Question: The Mishna in Middos tells us that the Mizrach gate had on top an image of Shushan.The Gem in Menochos gives 2 potential explanations but either seem hard to understand. Would you be able to explain this more? I know this is not a halachic query but I found v little in the seforim. […]
Hamotzei on pretzels
Question: I washed at work today because I remember putting my sandwich in my bag and could not find it when I sat down. I remember learning that it is possible to be kovea seuda on mezonos – so I made a hamotzi on pretzels – there was no bread I could find at work. […]
Obligations of a non jew
Question: Is a non-Jew obligated in the mitzva to propagate the world, like a Jew is? Answer: Hello, According to most authorities, they are not obligated in this mitzva, however there is still a preference for them to do so. Have a good day Sources: סנהדרין נ”ט :, וע”ש בתוס’, וכן ברמב”ן נדה י”ג., […]
Mezuzot left on doors of apt bought by goim
Question: I live in a co-op building. I am the only one of 4 remaining Jews on my floor with a mezuzah on my door. The only other Jews with a mezuzah on their door and inside doors as me died and the apt was sold to non-Jews. I even emailed the Jewish brokers who […]
Copyright in Halacha
Question: What copyright does a siddur have? The text in Hebrew was established by the chachamim. So im assuming there no rights to that? Would the rights just be to the translation and commentaries right? Answer: Correct, the translation and commentaries are the publisher’s, but not only that, the fonts typesetting and layout of the […]
Cheating on tests (be a Noahide)
Question: Dear Rabbi, I’m a Noahide. If I cheated on tests in university what do I have to do? If I get lower grades on purpose in the next tests (for example not answering some questions that I would able to answer) the lower grades should balance the higher grades that I get previously thanks […]
Leaving an onion slice overnight in a sandwhich
Question: My wife wants to make me a sandwich and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Is the onion prohibited because of the inyan of not leaving a cut onion overnight? Answer: Hello, Usually it won’t be an issue because the onion is mixed with the other foods in the sandwich such as mayonnaise […]
Tefillin after Sunset
Question: Kavod HaRav My friend struggles with the mitzvah of tefillin and is often only able to put them close to.sunset , is he allowed to put them on with a bracha after sunset but definitely before tzeit The options are either he puts them after sunset or not at all for that day ( […]
pjs for women
Question: Is it ok for my wife 2 wear Pj pants, (how about only when not niddah)? and what about short sleeve pjs (she gets very hot at night)? Answer: Hello, When she is not a nida and you are the only one who sees her both of them are fine. it isn’t proper though […]
Two mattresses on a wide platform bed
Question: Hi, it is ok during niddah to sleep on separate mattresses that are pushed apart but rest on a wide platform bed with no surrounding frame, just a shared headboard. Can it be considered like two mattresses separated on an elevated floor? Answer: Hello, If I am understanding you correctly, you mean to […]
Eating at non-religious home on Pesach
Question: Greetings. What are the halachic parameters for eating at the home of a non-religious relative even if the food is kosher for Pesach, where the relative does not dispose of or sell their chametz? Thank you. Answer: Hello, It is good that you are asking well in advance of Pesach, because there is […]
Effective Neder?
Question: Hi, If I thought that any Nedarim or Shavuos I make should not be effective, and I thought a few minutes later that, “I promise that…should be prohibited to me,” does the promise I made stand? (I don’t remember, but I don’t think I really intended to keep it, I think it was a […]
Fruit from italy
Question: Hi Can I eat fruit from Italy that has been sprayed to make it shiny? I heard that some of them have non-kosher additives. Answer: Hello, What you writing is true. Some of the sprays, can have additives in them that are not kosher. It is controversial among the poskim, if they should […]
Was Mordechai right in not bowing down?
Question: We read in the Megillah that Mordechai did not bow down, and Chazal explain that there was an idol hanging down Haman. Nevertheless, I wonder halachically how this makes sense, considering the Rema quotes the Terumas Hadeshen that it is permissible to make the bowing “unrecognisable”, ie. bowing down earlier or collecting dropped coins […]
After childbirth on pill
Question: Hi, I’m 6 weeks postpartum and on birth control pills so I didn’t get a period since childbirth. Do I need to keep ohr zaruah, yom hachodesh and onah beinoinis if I don’t have period to base it on? Answer: Hello, Unless you have a veses kavuah for a certain day of the […]
Tallis carrying on Shabbos
Question: In a town with an Eruv that I am happy with, can I carry my tallis home from shul on Shabbos. Also, if I go to a friend’s for Shabbos lunch, can I carry my tallis home from there. Lastly, can my wife carry my tallis home from the lunch, as I am going […]
Internatonal transfer fees
Question: Shalom Rabbi, Regarding donating money to someone or an institution overseas (for example in E.Y). The banks often have an international transfer fee. I would like to know, would this fee be part of the maaser I am donating or not a part of it – and therefore it would be over and above […]
Immersing pendant in the mikva?
Question: Vintage jewish necklace, 20 + years old, has alot of significance within the making of it. It has: G-ds name carved, Star of David, 1st letters of 10 commandments all in one pendant. Here’s the problem. It had a former owner. The owner wasn’t observant, not even secular. Owner was jewish by blood but […]
Soup in a papercup
Question: The other day I was drinking a hot coffee in a paper cup. At some point I put the coffee cup down on not such a clean table that has a questionable kashrus status, but not used in the last 24 hours for anything meaty, and I don’t know how hot the cup was […]
Checking brown sugar for bugs
Question: I accidentally left an open plastic bag of brown sugar sitting on the counter for about a week and a half. Next time I want to use it, should I check all of it at once for bugs, or is it okay only to check the amount that I need to use at that […]
Potential Non-Kosher Contact
Question: Unfortunately, my step-daughter eats non-kosher with her biological father. Usually, I just have her wash her hands when she comes home. Tonight she forgot to wash them and then was in the kitchen looking for something. I’m fairly certain she only touched a front part of the counter and it has been washed. I […]