Maareh Mekomos: Bava Metziah 110B-112A Choshen Mishpat 339 Ketzos and R”A Eiger Ibid Nesivos end of 333 Shulchan Aruch beg. of 333
Author Archives: Admin-EN
Parve Soup and Milchig Onions
We have a milchig pot in which we made a soup that contained onions cut with a milchig knife and fried in a milchig pan (the soup was pureed). We then accidentally used a flieshig ladle to move the soup to clean plastic containers which had been previously used for fleishigs. If possible, please let […]
Cleaning Up Board Game on Shabbos
After playing a board game such as Risk on Shabbos, how do I clean up or put away the pieces? Would the prohibition of sorting apply to these game pieces? Thank you Answer: If the pieces are mixed up, and they are being sorted to be put away and used at a later time, this […]
Damaged Car
The school secretary parked her car close to the building, and not in the car park, because she needed to make a quick getaway after school that day. Some lads had a game of football in a classroom a few floors up above her car…. the lads smashed a window, and some of the falling […]
Amount for Birchat Hamazon
I understand that one can only bentch if eats a kezayis in 4 minutes does that have to be right away or at any point in the meal? If one does not eat a kezayis in 4 minutes and then eats something else does he make a brocha? Answer: Eating a kzayis within the prescribed […]
Minhag Confusion
Dear Rabanim I was born jewish mom, non-jewish dad. My Ffather ad was converted by Bet Din of Rav Vozner when I was 14 and is religious (family did teshuva). Father adopted Chabad customs/practices. Mother is of Romanian Jewish background and says she is Ashkenazi, however I doubt it (surname in Hebrew, grandpa has the […]
Chicken After Coffee
If you are slowly sipping a cup of coffee with some milk in it over a period of about an hour, how long should you wait before eating a piece of chicken? Do you even have to wait any time? Answer: One would need to rinse out mouth to make sure there is no residual […]
Interrupting Birkat Hamazon
May one interupet in the middle of Birkas Hamazon to answer amen to any berachah of Birkas Hamazon he hears from another. What is also the Halacha, for kaddish kedushah etc. Answer: Birkas Hamazon should be treated like Shmone Esrei in this regard, and is forbidden to interrupt even for amen, kaddish, and kedusha. Sources: […]
Milchig Ladle and Parve Pot
Used a milchik plastic ladle to serve one bowl from a full parev pot of near boiling soup. The soup had some soft fully cooked onions. The pot contains about 6.5 liters of soup and the ladle had been used for milchik approx. 24 hrs before. The pot had not been used for about a […]
Distribution of Maaser Funds
If I receive a large amount of money as a family gift, do I have to give maaser of all of it within the first year of receiving it or can I disburse the maser funds slowly to the charities of my choice? Thanks! Answer: The Noda Beyehuda [Y:D Tenyana 198] brought in Pischei Tshuva […]
Overpaying Credit Card Loan
My mother uses my credit card to help me build up reward points. She repays whatever she spends to my account. Sometimes she adds a little extra and then she tells me I don’t have to return and I should treat it as a present. Is this a problem of ribbis? Answer: Yes, giving additional […]
Name of Hashem on Whiteboard
BS”D I wrote one of the 72 names of Hashem on an erasable whiteboard. Am I allowed to erase the name or do I throw out the board in Genizah? Thanks. Answer: A non Jew should be allowed to erase it. Sources: Shu”t Chasam Sofer Vol. 6 Siman 8, see Shulchan Aruch Y:D 282:3, Mishna […]
Shower Before Mikvah
Can one prepare and bathe for the mikva at home and then go to mikva and immerse without bathing or showering at all at the Mikva? I heard that one should be wet before going into the Mikva. Is that true? Answer: There is no requirement to be wet upon entering the MIkvah. If the […]
Free Will and Angels
I was discussing angels with a theologically confused friend of mine, who had read the basic list of beliefs that make a Jew a Jew. It was his contention that angels DO have free will–citing the fall of “Lucifer” and 1/3rd of the stars of heaven (which Catholics apparently take to mean a whole flock […]
Phone as Alarm on Shabbos
I have a horrible memory and I just started having to take an important medication 3x’s a day. I keep my phone on me at all times and I have an alarm to remind me midday to take it. Skipping a dose of this medication can lead to serious side effects which could have me […]
Marital Relations During Pregnancy
how often/till when should I do the mitzvah while pregnancy? Answer: There are no strict halachic guidelines in this regard, and the couple should be sensitive to each others needs, which fluctuate throughout pregnancy.
Using and Returning Purchases
A man buys battery case for his phone. He keeps it for 2 weeks and uses it once or twice. Then a better version comes out from another company. Is it ethical to return the case and then buy the better one from the other company? Answer: The first question we need to clarify is […]
Widow Showing Hair
is an aged widow allowed to show her hair ? Answer: A widow is obligated to cover her hair as she did when she was married. Sources: See SHulchan Aruch E:H 21:2, Bais Shmuel ibid, s”k 5
Lighting Shamash on Disposable Menorah
For chanukah I bought those disposable oil filled glasses for my menorah when I light the glasses can I light them with a candle and if I do light them with a candle what happens to the shamesh do I light the shamesh first then continue lighting the rest of the candles and then what […]
Havdala from a non Shomer Shabbos
Is it proper for a man who did not keep Shabbos to perform Havdallah? Is it halachacly acceptable to perform it for others? Answer: One who is not Shomer Shabbos is still obligated in the mitzvah of havdala. As such, if he understands what he is saying and doing he can also perform it for […]
Relations Before Shachris
I’d like to know if it is mutar to have marital relations before shahrit. If it is not, since what hour? Thanks Answer: There is no prohibition against relations before Shachrit. In general, from the time of Alos Hashachar one should ideally not engage in any activity that takes considerable time and should be focused […]
Ethical Misbehavior
The case is that: You are at the Canucks game. Your face comes up on the big screen saying that you are the lucky winner and you won two free tickets to a future game. You go collect your tickets and realize that you already have tickets to that same game. You sell them infont […]
Vacation When Nidda
My husband and I booked tickets for a vacation. What happens if I am assur at the time, are we allowed to go? Answer: If possible vacations should be scheduled when a woman is not a nidda. If it was scheduled already and/or there is no other convenient time, they may go when she is […]
Haircut and Tefillin on Chanuka
1. May I get a haircut on Chanukah? 2. Do I wear tefillin for shachris on Chanukah? Answer: 1 Haircuts are permitted on Chanuka. 2 Tefillin are worn regularly on CHanuka.
Lighting for Single Girl
Hi, What is a single girl’s obligations in candle lighting? Is it the same as a man’s? What would it include- in regards to eating before lighting or not, appointing a shomer if you will be lighting late, and may one have others in mind when lighting? Are the obligations the same for a single […]
Washing Hands
1) I’ve always washed for bread 3 times each hand, but most people seem to do only twice. Is there a source for washing 3 times for bread? 2) What about washing before davening? Does one time suffice? Do I need a cup? Thanks! Answer: 1 The Halacha only requires 2 timer per hand. 2 For […]
Selling on Amazon on Shabbos
Hello Please can you tell me if it is ok to sell via Amazon and keep the listings up over Shabbos? I am a private seller and do not use Amazon fulfilment. When and item is sold, any money is held by Amazon for a number of days before being transferred automatically to my account […]
Freezer Becoming Muktza [Bosis]
Can a freezer become a Bosis, if the value of the muktzeh items are greater than the non-muktzeh. If so, can one open the door of such a frezzer or the door of the fridge which is attatched to the frezzer. Answer: A freezer which is attached to a fridge will not become a bosis […]
Lubricant on Shabbos
Can oil or any thin lubricant be used for husband/wife cohabitation on Shabbat? Thanks. Answer: Yes, liquid lubricant may be used on Shabbos.
Maaser for Parents
my brother is getting married and i want to help my parents with suppers for the week prior to wedding. may i use maser money to buy with it the food, ingredients? Answer: One’s parents have preference over others in receiving Tzedaka funds. If one can afford to support their parents without using Maaser funds, he […]
Fallen Tefillin
Shalom. A handbag/briefcase containing a pair of Tefillin which were wrapped up in their plastic case and placed inside a Velvet zekel which were contained inside the plastic outercase fell approx. 4ft. to the floor. The Tefillin are not damaged. Do I fast? Give Tzedaka? Also, is it permissible to wind the Retzua over the […]
Lost Maaser Check
if someone gave money as a maaser check and the check is cashed by a money changer in Eretz Yisroel – the institution got the money – but the money changer lost the check, so the money is still sitting in the donor’s account, is he patur from giving maaser? is he chayav in giving […]
Mezuza Removal
I am renting an apartment. If I put up my own Mezuzot, can I take them down with the termination of the rental? Answer: Mezuzos should not be taken down by the one leaving the apartment. The new tenant should remove them to put up his own mezuzot and return them to you. If he […]
Pareve Potatoes
If potatoes are cut with a meaty knife, that has not been used for meat for more than 3 days, and baked in a meaty oven, that has not been used for meat for more than 3 days, can the potatoes be eaten with yellow cheese? Answer: If the knife was cleaned well and had […]
Non Religious Using Home Unsupervised
Hi all, May one allow the use of his home to a non-religious Jew who promises to abide by all the rules without the supervision of a religious Jew? Kindly provide sources for my reference. Thanks, Answer: Ideally there should be some supervision, someone who can pop in and check on the house/kitchen, or the […]
Conversion Dilemma
Hi Rabbi, wonder if you could help me please. I have a huge dilemma and no idea what to do. I have wanted to convert for years but couldn’t find work anywhere near a shul but kept looking but decided I would learn as much as I could myself so when I did get to […]
Bracha on Soup
If one eats an instant soup containing noodles and/or dehydrated vegtebales. Or classic Chicken soup containing croutons. Must he make seperate berachos on the noodels vegetables and croutouns. If he must make seperate berachos can he, for example make mezonos on a spoonfull of croutons and soup and then make a shehakol on another spoon […]
Bleeding from IUD
Since I put in an IUD (Mona Lisa) I bleed (fresh blood) a little on the day I ovulate. If I wait another 7 days I will start to bleed again for real. Please advise. Thanks Answer: It would depend how much you are bleeding. If you are in a state of Tahara [not a […]
Bishul Yisrael with Burners
I know that there is an obligation for a Jew to light the oven, but what about cooktop burners? Does this also apply? Answer: Yes, to avoid Bishul Akum a Jew must light the cooktop burners.
Shoshim Finishing on Shabbos
If one’s Shloshim concludes on a Shabbos, may they shave on Erev Shabbos (if someone tells them that they need to shave)? Answer: Shaving is prohibited until after Shabbos. Sources: Dagul Mervava Y:D 402
Yichud with Sisters as Shmira
if there is a boy home with a 12 year old sister, a 8 year old sister, a baby brother, and a non jewish housekeeper, is it okay for a random girl to stay in the house? Answer: The 2 sisters provide shemira for the brother and this would technically circumvent the problem of yichud. […]
Talking to Hashem and Other Questions
Kavod Harav, We are Sephardic and act according to psika of Maran Ovadia Yosef ztz”l 1. Is it permissible to talk to Hashem while doing tasks such as washing dishes or folding laundry? Is there a difference between washing dishes, where one’s hands are presumably wet and soapy, as opposed to folding laundry? 2. Is […]
PARSHA PONDERINGS-VAYEITZEI
SHOOTS AND LADDERS: WHEN YOU MISS YOUR LADDER, DON’T SAY SHOOTS ויפגע במקום וילן שם כי בא השמש And he encountered the place, and he slept there for the sun had set Alas, Yaakov is forced to head into exile, driven from his home by the fear of retaliation from his brother and arch-nemesis, Esav. […]
Maaser Money for Therapy
Am I allowed to use maaser money to see a therapist to help better my marriage. There are no real issues that require immediate attention but there are definitely changes that can be made to make it better such as there are in every marriage. The sessions are expensive, way beyond what I can afford really, […]
Music During Aveilus
gm im in the year after my father and im finding it very hard not to listen to music in the car as i travel 100 miles daily and cant follow shuirim or speeches being stopped all the time with buisness. please advise if there is any way i can listen to music in my […]
Protein Drink Before Shacharis
Am I allowed to drink protein powder mixed with water before davening Shacharis (but after Birchos Haschachar)? Answer: Water is permissible to drink before davening. Many are lenient with tea and coffee as well. This is due to the fact that it is only a drink and many feel it necessary to be able to […]
Spacing in Straight Menora
Does a straight menorah whether or oil or wax , need to have a finger space between each flame. Answer: A straight menora should have space between the flames so as not to appear as an “avuka” torch like flame which is unfit for this obligation.
Laser Hair Removal
What’s the halachit views of laser hair removal on a woman’s bidy? Answer: Body hair removal is permissible for a woman, including laser removal.
Work Conflict with Shabbat
Shalom, a friend called to ask you, regarding the keeping of the Sabbath, and she wants to know how she does to keep the Sabbath and she works for the period of the night 19:00 until 7:00, if her job requires that every day is this time, in her situation as it has to keep […]
Tumas Meis for Miscarriage
If one miscarries at home at six weeks is there a problem of tumas meis? If so, what should one do if one lives in an apartment building where a kohen also lives Answer: If there is anything aside from blood, a kohen should avoid becoming tamei. If there are kohanim in the building the […]