Rav Y Wiener, Author at Ask The Rabbi - Dinonline

My worker damaged my neighbors property

Question: Is there any responsibility that i have for my contractor’s damages to my neighbor? Answer: Under normal circumstances your contractor is responsible for any damages done by his workers. Sources: Mishnah Bovo Kama 98b, Shitah Mekubetz quoting R. Yonason and Meiri, CH:M 306:2

smoking an electronic cigarette on 17th tammuz

Question: Is this permitted Answer: There is a dispute amongst the poskim if one is allowed to smoke on a fast day particularly on the 9 Av. If there is great need one can rely on the lenient opinions although it is praiseworthy to refrain from smoking if possible. Originally I thought that electronic cigarettes might […]

Shehakol on ice cream

Question: If one said Kiddush on wine before a Seudah (Shabbos/ Yom Tov), does one say Shehakol on ice cream if it is served as dessert (for those who are accustomed to make a bracha on ice cream during a meal)? Answer: Perhaps it depends on the dispute if something frozen has the halachic status of […]

Staining and the seven clean days

Question: Good morning, I am currently on birth control pills. I had a clean Hefsek a week after I started bleeding and got a clean bedika the next morning. The second night my bedika was colored. We took it to a rabbi that deemed it Kosher. The next day the bedika was the same but […]

Diluting grape juice

Question: Follow-up question to “diluting grape juice” – As I indicated in my original question, I had a safek if I was yotzi (though my feeling is that the Kiddush was no good or at least questionable). If I would proceed to make Kiddush on the challos, it would be a safek bracha l’vatala, since […]

Early shabbos

Question: Is it OK to make “early Shabbos” based on the zman (Plag Hamincha) of the M”A (even though the rav indicated earlier that the zman of the Gra is also acceptable, I was thinking that perhaps both zmanim are acceptable)? This would mean that one davens Mincha prior to the Plag of the M”A […]

Nine days – meat and wine on shabbos

Question: One is eating meat and drinking wine during shalosh seudos during the Nine Days. One interrupts the meal to say Baruch Hamadvil and performs a melacha. May one continue to eat meat and drink wine until benching? Answer: Depends on the sugya כיון דאשתרי אשתרי He should refrain from doing so because now he can’t […]

Two kiddushim combined

Question: We’re IY”H making a kiddush for our son’s bar mitzvah this Shabbos. Our neighbor wants to make a kiddush for his new baby girl this Shabbos as well. (The baby was born several weeks back; he wants to do it this week for convenience.) Is there a reason not to have both kiddushim the […]

Automatic watch on Shabbos?

Question: Can on wear an automatic watch on Shabbos? Answer: If the watch is running not a problem, but if it stops cannot be worn. Sources: Teshuvas Chelkas Yaakov 1:75, Tzitz Eliezer 9:20, Mishnah Halochos 8:59.

Tefilin on shevasar b’tamuz

Question: Do you put tefilin on for schacharit on shevasar b’tamuz Answer: Yes you wear teffilin normally on the 17 of Tamuz. Only on the 9 of Av do we wear the teffilin at Minchah and not Shacharis. Sources: O:CH 555:1 Mishnah Berurah 1.

Diluting grape juice

Question: This past Shabbos, I was hearing Kiddush from someone who didn’t have much grape juice, so he diluted the grape juice with water. I know that this is problematic, if you add too much water, because the grape juice becomes a shehakol. However, in this case, I am not sure if the amount of […]

Learning on a fast day

Question: Are you allowed to learn on A fast day? Like today, the 17 of Taamuz? Answer: No problem to learn on a the 17 of Taamuz it is even commendable. Only on the 9 of Av is there a limitation to learn sad events. Sources: O:CH 554:1

Three Weeks

Question: Dear Rabbonim, Should one take part in the opening of an furniture exhibit during the three weeks, which will have festivities (including music, drinks etc), is located in a conservative synagogue centre hall and which will also be running over Shabbos certainly leading to more Hilul Shabbos. I believe technically all three aspects would […]

Laundry on shiva asar be’tammuz

Question: Can one do laundry on shiva asar be’tammuz? Answer: Some opinions hold that the fast days might have the status of the nine days, but since these are opinions are based on an erroneous source therfore if necessary one can do laundry on shiva asar be’tammuz. Sources: O:CH 551 Biur Halachah ד”ה מר”ח, Shoney Halochos ibid […]

Found kamaia (amulet)

Question: hi, I walked into shul and found a kamaia written on a klaf with the text that Reb Shayala Kerestirer ztz”l used to write on many of his kamaias. I felt that sitting there on the table, the small peice of parchment that it is with its unintelligible letters (which i was only able […]

Yichud

Question: As part of my job, I will probably have to clean out a basement together with another intern, who is female, which presents a shaila of yichud. There are other people in the actual building, but in terms of the basement, it will be only the two of us. May I rely on telling […]

Intentions in Tefilla

Question: Hello, this question may be a bit odd, so please bear with me. When praying, I often lose control of my intentions. What this means, is that I will randomly come to decide that I do not wish to be yotzai a certain bracha, pasuk (in kriyat shema), or other type of Tefilla. This […]

Am I fleishig? I was preparing chicken and accidentally tasted the spices

Question: I was preparing chicken for Shabbos this morning to marinate and I was rubbing the spices and olive oil over the raw pieces of chicken with my hands and of course washed my hands with soap. Some time later I noticed some residue on the cuticle of my thumbnail and not realizing where it […]

Shabbos Halacha

Question: Dear Rabbonim, In the requirement of שביתת כלים if one is a partner with a non-religious Jew in a workshop; would I be correct in assuming it is only items that belong exclusively to you that would require not being used. I.e. you would not be called upon to force the other person to […]

Hefsek tahara

Question: I’m on birth control and I have very little bleeding on the second day my bleeding already stopped do I still need to count 5 days or can I count less? Answer: If you are Ashkenazi you still have to wait 5 days, but if you are Sephardi there are those who hold you […]

Cohen serving another cohen

Question: Is one kohein allowed to be “mishtameish” with another kohein or is he just as obligated to honor them by not being mishtameish with kohanim? Answer: It is a dispute amongst the achronim. Sources: Teshuvas Yad Aaron O:CH end of 128, Yeshuas Yaakov ibid, Ksav Sofer O:CH 15

How many died at Ba’al Pe’or

Question: Rashi on 25:5 says each of the 88000 judges killed 2 people. Does this show in the census taken after this incident? Only Shimon shows a marked decline. Why doesn’t the Torah mention this huge number of deaths – far more than the golden calf, Korach’s rebellion or the plague in v.9? Answer: Maybe […]

Shabbat 17th Tamuz restrictions

Question: Dear Rabbis, When 17th of Tamuz falls on Shabbat, like this year, are we entitled to do everything we would normally do on Shabbat, for examplw, wearing new clothes or making a shechiyanu on fruit that is “new” to us, or are there restrictions as in a private year of mourning? Thank you very […]

Bilam’s prophecies

Question: How does Rabbeinu Bachya on 23:19 see Bilam prophecying the founder of Christianity? Answer: Rabenu Bechaya is quoting the Midrash Tanchumah and does not mention a particular person. All he says is that someone in the future will claim that he is G-d and will mislead the people. It is hard to know to whom he […]

Three weeks

Question: 1. Can an ashkenazi buy new clothes that he would make shehechiyanu on during the 3 weeks but not wear them until afterwards? Would this be a problem for Weekday clothing to the likes of pants and buttondown shirts… 2. Would they require a shehechiyanu anyway? Thanks! Answer: Since now days the custom is […]

Men and Women sitting separately in shul

Question: Is there a Torah or Talmud source or reference that says or indicates that men and women should not sit together in shul? I know there are reasons. What I am looking for is if there is an actual reference in Torah/Talmud. Answer: The Temple (Beis Hamikdash) had completely separate men’s and women’s court. […]

Your Religious Experience

Question: Hi, My name is Bailey, and I’m a year 11 currently studying VCE Unit 2: Religion and Society. We are currently working on a class project where we are to interview a local person of a different faith who has a strong affiliation with their religion. We are learning about religious experience and how […]

Bar meitzra

Question: Does the halacha of bar meitzra apply when the seller is a non-Jew allowing the Jewish neighbor to have first rights? Second question does hilchos bar meitzra give a renter the right to purchase a property (That he’s renting) before an outsider? Answer: If one bought a property from a non Jew the neighbor […]

Eating before maariv

Question: For those who make kiddush before maariv, is it OK to do so up until 40 or so minutes after shkia, since nightfall is 72 minutes according to Shulchan Aruch/ Rabbeinu Tam? (This is even without a shomer.) [One cannot start eating once it’s half an hour to nightfall.] Answer: Lechatichla one should not make […]

Ice cream machine parve or dairy

Question: Hi, how are you, I just bought an ice cream maker made of metal (cuisinart) for non-dairy parve desserts. However, I would like to know if I use it for dairy ice cream and i also make parve ice cream will i be able to eat the parve ice cream with meat meal? Thank […]

Kiddush Levana Tonight

Question: All the websites show last night as being the last time to say Kiddush Levana, but tonight (now) is Yud Daled. Can I still say Kiddush Levana with a Beracha? Thanks Answer: The end of the time for kiddush lavanah this month (Tamuz) with a brocho was Monday night (layl yud gimel), It can […]

krias shema

Question: In response to this https://dinonline.org/2010/06/02/time-for-krias-shema/ – I would like to note that the following poskim insisted on following the earlier zman of the MA: the Gadol Hador Rav Schach (who wept hysterically when, on two occasions in his life, including one that occurred when he was a child, he accidentally missed the zman of […]

Drinking wine spilled from kiddush

Question: I know many people are makpid not to drink the wine spilled during the seder. Is there any source not to drink the wine that spills over from the kiddush cup on shabbos Answer: I do not know of any reason to refrain from drinking the wine spilled over from the kiddush cup. The reason […]

Shachris

Question: Hello, Someone needs to do a few hours of work in the morning. These are the two options. Wake up very early(before sunrise), do the work, then daven at 615. Or, daven beyichidus at neitz and do his work later. Which option is preferred? Thank you Answer: I think the best thing is to […]

Kiddush before maariv

Question: For those who make kiddush before maariv, is it OK to do so up until 40 or so minutes after shkia, since nightfall is 72 minutes according to Shulchan Aruch? Would it help to appoint a shomer to remind them to daven Maariv? Can the shomer be a person who is also eating? Answer: […]

Donate old taleisim and tefillin

שְׁאֵלָה: איך אני יכול לתרום או אחר תשליך taleisim ותפילין הישנים כמו שצריך? תשובה: מתן הם כשרים אולי אתה יכול לתרום אותם shule או באיזה מוסד ראוי אחר. אם לא לשים אותם לתוך הגניזה. מקורות: O: CH 42 משנה ברורה 3

Lashon Hara (specific)

Question: Hello, I have 3 short specific questions regarding lashon hara. 1. If the intent is good (making conversation, being nice) would it be fair to say the sentiment is not lash on hara without bad intent (saying you haven’t seen someone in many years, without bad intent…) Is this lashon hara? 2. Is it […]

Early shabbos (2)

Question: I do not understand the rav’s answer regarding early Shabbos (accepting Shabbos at exactly Plag). Could the rav please clarify and tell me when the wife should light candles in this case? Thank you. Answer: Many follow Reb Moishe’s psak. Sources:

Number of Neshamos

Question: Shalom. I have a tradition that there are only 600,000 ‘souls’ in Klal Yisroel. If so, how do we reconcile this number with the current estimate of 14.2 million Jews, presently alive? I know that a husband and wife together are considered ‘1 soul’ and that children before Bar/Bat Mitzva age are not counted […]

washing for bread

Question: When one is in the middle of washing for bread (having washed one hand already), can he say Amen? What about after having washed both hands, and before the bracha of al netilas yadayim? What about between the bracha and the drying? Answer: You can answer Amen in all the above cases. Only after blessing […]

The three weeks

Question: Is it permissible for one to get a haircut, listen to music, etc. this coming motzoi Shabbos? Answer: Motzei Shabbos is already the 18 Tamuz so therefore you should refrain from getting a haircut or listening to music. Sources:

Online Reviews

Question: Is there anything halachically or hashkafically wrong with writing a negative review online for a jewish establishment i.e. restaraunt etc. for which the customer had a bad experience? Answer: It might be halachically wrong. May over all the restaurant is fine and the bad experience was a one time occurrence-mistakes do happen. Also the proprietors should […]

bleeding on shabbos

Question: If one accidentally gave himself a paper cut on Shabbos, or otherwise accidentally caused himself to bleed, is that an aveira, or is it misaseik? Does one need to do teshvua? Answer: A person who desecrates the Shabbos by doing a melocha unintentionally e,g. falling against the wall and accidentally switching on the light is called […]

Picknick on La”G BaOmer

Question: Bs’D Shalom Aleychem K’vod HaRabbanim, what is the background for the picknick – not this specifically RaShb”I connected tradition of fire and bow, but only picknick / nature time spending – on La”G BaOmer? It would be great also to know eventually the sources – thanks a lot in advance! B”H Shalom and all […]

early shabbos – at exactly plag hamincha

Question: If a shul is mekabel Shabbos with “Mizmor Shir” at exactly Plag Hamincha, or a few moments thereafter (which is certainly permissible), when should the wife, whose husband davens in that shul, light her Shabbos candles? On the one hand, she cannot light earlier than Plag, but on the other hand, once the husband’s […]

Orthodox Judaism vs Conservative Judaism

Question: Shalom, I need to find out the following: what are the differences in beliefs and observances between Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism? Are there more differences or similarities? Is bar-mitzvah age the same or different in Conservative Judaism as it is in Orthodox Judaism? What would my son need to learn to qualify as […]

some matters for man to decide

Question: some matters are not for God to decide but are for man to decide two Jews were arguing and a voice came down saying that some matters are for man to decide where is this written Answer: You probably mean “loy bashamayim he” that Hashem gave the power of halachic decision to the Rabbis living […]

E-cigarettes-kosher?

Question: Does the flavored juice/liquid used for e-cigarettes need a hechsher? The ingredients are usually Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerol (VG), Water, Nicotine and carefully selected flavourings formulated specifically for the e-cigarette devices to offer a satisfying vapour experience. I saw din online’s previous answers regarding Pesach that they are not a problem of chametz […]

Knives and Fish

Question: A piece of salmon was purchased at a non-kosher fish store and cut initially with a non-kosher knife. It was washed off afterwards in the home, but not scraped. It was then cooked (grilled, so likely no shishim). 1) is the scraping an issue b’dieved if it was washed? 2) is the chiyuv to […]

Men and Botox

Question: Is a religious man allowed to get Botox injections and other cosmetic procedures? Answer: Botox prevents wrinkles and stops perspiration so might not be a problem. Other cosmetic procedures might be a problem, It depends if the procedure is done to remove an existing blemish or just purely to enhance looks.I suggeste you discuss the […]