Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a, Author at Ask The Rabbi - Dinonline

opening package

Question: Hi Rabbi, On Friday night last week, we realized that the ice cream package had an interior seal (like on a tub of yogurt, cream cheese, etc). Was it ok to open it (used opposite hand and from middle and not perfectly). There is some left. Is it ok to finish it on Shabbat […]

TEFILIN DURING MUSSUF ON ROSH CHODESH

Question: WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE MINHAG TO REMOVE TEFILIN BEFORE DAVENING MUSSUF (ON ROSH CHODESH OR CHOL HAMOED IF YOU WAIR TEFILIN)? Answer: Hello, Removing the tefillin is brought in the Bauis Yosef and Shulchan Aruch O:CH 25-13, because in kedusha of Mussaf we say “Keser yitnu lecha”, “you will be given a […]

Puddle in the fridge

Question: Recently my refrigerator had tons of ice in the back of the fridge. We warmed up the fridge so the ice could melt and I ended up with a giant puddle at the bottom of my fridge where I keep fleishig pots, containers, etc. I didn’t have a chance to clean the fridge until […]

Challah from wheat and spelt doughs

Question: On erev shabbos my wife makes some challahs from wheat flour and some from spelt flour (for those in the family on low gluten diets and some people also just like them better). Neither one has a shiur of challah on its own, but together they do. I see in siman 324 sif 2 […]

Male manicurist

Question: Hi. Is a female allowed to use a non Jewish male manicurist? Answer: Hello, It is inappropriate for a female to get a manicure from a male, even if the male is not Jewish. He is beautifying her, and there is physical contact, in a non-medical setting, and aside for it being not […]

A short version of Birkat aMazon and its substitution.

Question: Highly Esteemed Din Online, My acquaintance and I had a dispute. “Shalosh Meanot” can be read, used instead of Birkat A Mazon, when bread was eaten? Is there a short version of Birkat A Mazon after bread? If there is, would not You be so kind to send me a link. בכבוד רב, Answer: […]

Dividing a minyan for kaddish

Question: I was recently traveling for business and spent Shabbat as a guest in a new community. For maariv the beit knesset had exactly 30 people so they had 20 people leave to daven in other areas of the building so more men could say Kaddish. I was asked to daven in a hallway. Is […]

Who gets the maftir?

Question: In our shul we have a conflict. One person has yahrzeit for both parents next week, one is Adar I and the other is regular Adar. The other has yahrzeit only for his father in Adar (which the Rema on the one hand holds that we do Adar I, yet he can do Adar […]

Tikun Ezra

Question: For tikun ezra, do u have to go if zera comes out with urine? Answer: Hello, There is no need to do anything in such an instance. Ezra instituted to use the mikva after zera comes out, due to frivolous thoughts, or after relations, but not when it comes out unwillingly, such as […]

Mispronouncing Shem Hashem

Question: Many times there is someone who davens from the amud, or gets an aliya, and they enunciate the Shem Hashem as if there is a shva under the dalet. Are they yotzei with this way of pronunciation, and are those that are listening permitted to answer amen? Answer: Hello, You are very correct; […]

Shabbos carrying money

Question: Hi, I unknowingly had some money in my suit pocket for the past few Shabbosos and I have an eruv. I’d like to know since I didn’t really even know that there was money in my suit pocket and there was an eruv what did I do wrong? Answer: Hello, The issue here is […]

Place Mat

Question: Do I need a place mat when eating fleishig food (hot or cold) on a milchig table, if no one else is eating at the table? Answer: Hello, If you are placing the fleishig on the milchig table itself, then yes you need a tablecloth, as the residue, grease, etc, form the milchig […]

menorah and keilim replicas

Question: Is it allowed to make a menorah and keilim replica such as is done by the temple institute? Is there a concensus from main stream poskim? can one visit the center? Thank you Answer: Hello, I cannot comment specifically about the Temple institute as I don’t know enough about it. In general, we […]

Refund

Question: Ha Rav, I went to a butcher and bought a items because they were buy two and get one free. The items were beef biltong. I bought 2 for £16 and got the 3rd one free. Normally they are £8 each. When I returned home, I ate one but after opening the another one […]

Cutting Nails on Thursday

Question: Rabbi, I clipped one fingernail at 5 pm (nightfall was 528, sunset 458) on Thursday and then realized I had read that either Wed or Thursday was not permitted so I stopped. Is this something to worry about? Answer: Hello, There is an idea, that when possible, one should refrain from cutting their […]

Borer on Shabbos

Question: Re borer on Shabbos, if there is a packed drawer, and within that packed drawer there is a box of identical items, such as sandwich bags, would it be considered borer to take one of the sandwich bags from the box and use it for later? Note that nothing else was moved in order […]

Using hot water bottle for earache on Shabbos

Question: Re refuah on Shabbos, if one is allowed to use a hot water bottle during winter for refuah since that is what healthy people do to heat themselves up during winter, can the hot water bottle then be used in a way that healthy people would not usually use it, and which would infer […]

YeHareg veAl Yaavor ?

Question: In one of the October 7th videos, a Chamas terrorist is pushing a gun into the face of an Israeli captive and shouting at him “Say ‘allah akbar !’”. 1. What should the captive have done in this situation ? 2. Is it permitted in general to say ‘allah akbar’ ? Answer: Hello, Although […]

Trimming white hairs

Question: After trimming a mainly black beard, is one allowed to specifically locate and cut with their trimmer white hairs from the black ones? Answer: Hello, It depends on how it is done. If you are just making them a little shorter than the black ones, so that the white one can hide inside the […]

Possible Meaty Hands

Question: I picked up a packaged item that fell into our meat sink, washed my hands without soap, and then without thinking put a different box on top of our dairy toaster oven while my hands were still wet. Are there any potential kashrut concerns? Answer: No, everything is fine. Best wishes

Engagement by Water?

Question: Recently I’ve seen a big emphasis on going back to the mesorah to get engaged near water. Is this truly our mesorah? I’ve only heard it recently. Please clarify if this indeed is the case or not. Thank you. Answer: Hello, There is an idea to it, that Eliezer met Rivka at a well, […]

Ketchup touched with meaty hands

Question: If someone peeled off the inside of a ketchup bottle with fleishig greasy hands, forgets to wipe off the inside of the bottle, and then at a later point accidentally uses it for dairy, would the fleishig grease be considered botul? Answer: Hello, Understandably the bottle should be wiped off, but if it wasn’t […]

Shabbos Delivery

Question: When ordering an item on Amazon do I need to select for delivery a later date than a delivery date on Shabbos? Answer: Hello, It depends why it is being delivered on shabbos. If the quickest way o get it to you is by delivering it on Shabbos, i.e. you ordered it on Friday, […]

Unveiling at Jewish cemetery – timing

Question: Is it permitted to do an unveiling at the cemetery the Sunday after Shavuot (6/16/2024)? Answer: Hello, It is permitted unless your community has a minhag not to say eulogies or Keil malei rachamim during the week after Shavous. Best wishes

Amen by phone

Question: There are several different opinions by respected rabbis of saying Amen after hearing bracha on phone. I have a friend who is a shut in and wants to say the Amens badly so I was saying the morning blessings by phone, not easy to see her. Can I choose the lenient opinion and continue […]

Canceling Borerus

Question: After signing borerus, is there any way to back out before a psak is issued? During the diyun, the rav said something against …, and I question his validity as a moreh halacha. Had I known this about him, I never would have agreed to sign his borerus. Answer: Hello, When you sign borerus, […]

Ribbis from credit card points?

Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. A person gives tzedaka via a payment on their own credit card and earns points from their card issuer on the purchase. The card holder then redeems these points for cash back to their bank account or a credit card statement credit. Would there be any […]

Lab Grown Diamonds

Question: Is there an issur geneivas daas to give a lab grown diamond present to a kallah, if she might think that it’s natural? Does the din change if a ring was natural, and now you want to give a lab grown necklace Thank you Answer: Hello, Under normal circumstances since it is reasonable […]

Lashon Hara and forgotten name

Question: Is it lashon hora to unintentionally tell Reuven about a negative experience you had with Shimon while Reuven never heard of Shimon before and has forgotten Shimons name the next hour? All Reuven is left with is a story of negative experience but no name Answer: Hello, The Chofetz Chaim says that if we […]

Borer – Shabbos

Question: Regarding borer on Shabbos, I understand that one is permitted to prepare for a meal immediately before a meal (using estimation of time it will take) and this is considered immediate use. Is one also allowed to do Borer during an earlier part of the meal (e.g. entree course) and only use it later […]

Teshuvah for a noahide

Question: If one subtracted a rock or a mineral and it’s prohibited, because he could damage the landscape, how must he di teshuvah? I don’t know if it’s important, but I have to say that the amount subtracted doesn’t change the landscape. However it’s not legal. Does one has to get rid of the minerals? […]

Yom Kippur Katan

Question: Hi Rabbi, When is yom Kippur Katan each month? If Rosh Chodesh is Thursday night and Friday, is it Wednesday night and Thursday? Just Thursday? Thursday night? Something else? Thank you Answer: Hello, Yom Kippur katan is always on what is called erev Rosh Chodesh which is always the day before Rosh Chodesh, […]

Walking on synthetic grass on Shabbos

Question: Hi. Is there any halachic issue with walking on wet synthetic grass on Shabbos-is there a concern of Schita? Or is it all lo nicha leih, kileachar yad etc so ok, Or is it a type of material that schita doesn’t apply to? Thanks Answer: Hello, It is permissible to walk[1] on an […]

Sechita on Shabbos

Question: Can one dry his or her hair on Shabbos. can you send the mekor? Thank you Answer: Hello, There is controversy about this, some poskim permit it[1] and other forbid it[2], and others say that it is permitted to place a towel[3] on one’s hair and the towel will absorb the water on […]

Masig Gevul

Question: My neighbor and I share a driveway where street parking is almost impossible. I pull one car into my garage and park the other in front of it and my neighbor does the same on his side. A new neighbor bought the house and decided to take down his garage and extend his house […]

Tefflin that might have gotten damaged

Question: My tefillin was inside a hard suitcase that was slammed relatively hard from the outside while I was leaving the house. It was in with clothes and other items that might have cushioned it. The actual suitcase was not damaged so it was not a catastrophic impact or anything like that. In any event, […]

Removing ice from animal water bowl on Shabbos

Question: Shalom, Our outdoor farm animals (chickens, rabbits) are brought fresh water daily, but when the temps drop in winter, the existing water in their rubber bowls will freeze solid. On Shabbos, is it permissible to remove ice from the bowls either using an implement (ex hammer), or turning the bowl upside down and stomping […]

Tablecloth on Shabbbos

Question: Do I need to put a tablecloth on my Shabbos table, or can I use individual placemats? Answer: Hello, There is an idea brought in the Shulchan Aruch that the table in our homes should be covered with a tablecloth.. In fact, the tablecloth should stay on the table not only during the meal, […]

Cookies after meal

Question: Hello Rabbi, If one had a non-bread dinner (so no hamotzi) and then had three of these cookies about 20 minutes later, would it ever be hamotzi? ingredients: Flour Blend (oat, tapioca, potato starch), Cane Sugar, Palm Oil*, Chocolate Chunks (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, vanilla extract, salt), Filtered Water, Molasses, Natural Vanilla Flavor, […]

Shnayim mikrah

Question: Does one fulfill their obligation of shnayim mikrah if they unintentionally read the parsha not in order? Example, They realized that they missed reading the 4th Aliyah and they read it after they completed the full parsha Answer: Hello, Essentially, we should say the parsha in order, the question though is in retrospect, […]

Kitchen thermometer on shabbat

Question: During Shabbat is one able to use a non-electric kitchen thermometer to check the temperature of food or water for making tea? Answer: Hello, On shabbos we generally do not measure things, unless it is needed for a mitzva use such as measuring a sick persons temperature. But unless there is a specific […]

Question regarding lighting candles friday night

Question: Question – I just recently started observing Shabbat. I’m a healthcare worker and this Friday I couldn’t get the evening off, I work till 11pm. But I’m off Saturday. 1. When I get home on Friday night, is it ok to make Kiddush and the Blessing over Challah without lighting the candles? 2. Before […]

Minhagim related to Havdala

Question: Where does the minhag of dipping fingers into the spilled havdala wine come from? I understand the minhag of putting it on our eyelids because of enlightening our eyes, but what about putting the grape juice on our heads, back of neck, and “pockets”. Are there any galactic sources for this? Thank you. […]

toiveled

Question: Put water into glass bowl that was by mistake not tovled then poured it into pot and made a soup do I have 2 throw out the soup? Answer: Hello, In retrospect, food that was placed into a utensil that was not toveled, although we may not eat it when it from that utensil, […]

Praying for women in non frum home, fear and chizuk and questions

Question: Shalom, B”H I have been praying shacharit for a few years, but because I knew that having interruptions in shmone esrei is a sin, I’ve never done this tefillah. I am a baalat teshuvah and the agreement in my family (I was being told the agreement) was that I may only be observant if […]

Drinking Water and Bracha Achrona

Question: If I eat something shehakol with a drink, and I want to continue drinking over a period of time and I did not and will not drink kdei shiyas reviis, but I’m worried that if I delay making a bracha achrona on the food then I will forget. Can I make the borei nefashos […]

Toveling thermos

Question: Can I use an untoveled thermos for cold water? Answer: Hello, Unfortunately not. we are not permitted to use any utensil that needs toveling, before it is toveled. tis includes using it for hot or cold foods or drinks. Best wishes

kiddushin

Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. A lady and man go out on a date. The man pays for the dinner. In a phone call after the date (several days later), the man is explaining something to the lady, regarding what is said in Gemara Kiddushin, and says the words to her […]

Returning books

Question: To the Rav, I order many books and sforim online from a store that offers free returns. When I receive the order, I can look through the books and decide if its suitable for my family and then return the books that I want to return via mail. Being a very detail-oriented person, I […]

HaKaros HaTov for a Gentile

Question: I have a lot of hakaros hatov for one of my Professors from University. He was not Jewish, but I appreciate until today how he helped me. I heard that he passed away recently. I wanted to ask if it’s appropriate that I do something in honor of his nefesh, like a donation or […]