Can a person mail a letter on friday as long as its mailed early enough for the post man to retrieve the letter even though the post might actually pick… Read more »
Category: Shabbat
Washing Fruit on Shabbos
Can someone use a cylinder on shabbos to wash fruit? Answer: This depends on how the cylinder works. If fruit are soaked in the water, causing the dirt to rise… Read more »
Air Freshener on Shabbos
Can someone use air freshener on Shabbos after bathroom use? Answer: Most permit the use of air freshener on shabbos. Sources: According to the Bavli, the labor of Zoreh is… Read more »
KY Gel on Shabbos
Can a woman or man use KY Jelly (Water soluable) on shabbos or yom tov for intimate purposes or bathroom purposes (easy elimination)? Answer: It is permitted to use this… Read more »
Trimming Nails for Shabbos
Theres an inyan to cut ones nails on erev shabbos? Does this include the nails of the feet as well? If so, one should not have the nails (HANDS AND… Read more »
Bringing in Shabbos Early
What is the heter to take in shabbos during mincha gedola? How and when should my wife light when the only orthodox minyan in town davens maariv and recites kiddush… Read more »
Purchased Stocks on Yom Tom
I have an online automatic stock purchasing account which purchased stock for me on Yom Tov (by accident! even though i put in the order the week before, I forgot… Read more »
Kiddush with a Seudah
I was recently at a kiddush on shabbos chol hamoead pesach. There wasn’t any mazonot. Is it sufficient to hear kiddush and be yotzi? Is there something one should do… Read more »
Deriving Benefit from Shabbos Candles
b’h’i In shemirat shabbat (eng vol 3 43:17) it says that if the nerot shabbat do not last enough to get any usage out of it is a bracha in… Read more »
Havdalah Again at Home
If I have already made havdala at the beth ha-kneset, and yatzati yedei chova, it is a “problem” if I make havdalah again in my house for my wife? Why… Read more »
Size of Kiddush Cup
What is the minimun size Kiddush cup that one can use for Shabos Kiddush? Answer: The minimum size for a kiddush cup is 86cc (2.91 fl oz). For Friday Night… Read more »
Looking at Candles in Kiddush
When exactly during kiddush on Friday night should one look at the candles? Answer: In principle, for the duration of kiddush one should look at the kiddush cup. Rema (271:10),… Read more »
Captions on Shabbos
What are the halachos of reading captions near picutes on Shabbos? Why does it seem that many people are maykil regarding this and read newspapers and magazines on Shabbos which… Read more »
Folding on Shabbos
What are the halachos of folding things on Shabbos? Everyone knows not to fold their tallis on the crease, but what about paper? What other practical halachos do people need… Read more »
Colleague to Work on Yom Tov
I work for a frum boss & he of course gives me time off for Yom Tov. Am I allowed to give over my duties to a one of the… Read more »
Shabbos Legions
My husband has legal entanglement with another Jewish man. He has hired legions of attorneys to collect money on a judgment we could not possibly pay. Our net worth is… Read more »
Lighting Extra Candles for Children
Are there any sources for a woman when lighting shabbos candles to light one candle for each member of the family? Answer: It is interesting that lighting extra candles for… Read more »
Paraffin Candles on Table
Please allow me a follow up on my question (and your prompt answer) regarding leaving liquid paraffin candles on the Shabbos table. I was looking at a somewhat different situation… Read more »
Paraffin Candles on Table
Is one permitted to, lechatchila, place liquid paraffin candles on the Shabbos table (these candles are solid while unlit but quickly become liquid when lit). I am assuming that the… Read more »
Baby Wipes on Shabbos
Can one use baby wipes on shabbos in changing a baby? Answer: It is permitted to use baby wipes, provided one uses them gently, so that one will not actually… Read more »
Flatbush Eruv
is the eruv in Flatbush permissable to use? Answer: Rav Moshe Feinstein did not approve the eruv, and maintained that the eruv would not permit carrying on Shabbos. In his… Read more »
Tevillah on Erev Purim (Shabbos)
Can one be tovel in the mikvah Shabos afternoon as hachona for Purim Motzei Shabos. Or would this be considered as some kind of hachona l’chol. Answer: Although some authorities… Read more »
Reading Material on Shabbos (Computer Books/Captions)
1) Regarding reading non-torah books on Shabbos. If someone gets a lot of joy from reading about a particular interest. Let’s say like someone involved with computers that enjoys reading… Read more »
Keli Shelishi According to Mishnah Berurah
I have heard of many people who claim that the Mishnah Berura doesnt hold of a Kli Shlishi based on Mishnah Berura 318:39. But it seems to me that the… Read more »
Clapping Hands and Dancing on Shabbos
Can one clap one’s hands and dance on shabbos? What classifies as “bemakom mitzvah“? And when can one apply the rule of not telling people about a halachah so they… Read more »
Joining two Halves of a Challah
On Shabbos, many times my kids decide to wash after I have already cut lechem mishna. Are they are obligated to say hamotzi on lechem mishna? I once heard an… Read more »
Digital Photo Frame
Is there any problem having a digital photo frame running on Shabbos. Answer: There is no problem in this. Leaving the frame running on Shabbos does not involve any melachah, and… Read more »
Standing for Kiddush
In my parents’ home we always said Kiddush standing. I continued this tradition for some years after getting married. I then changed to saying Kiddush sitting (I do not recall… Read more »
Heating Challah on Upside Down Pot
An upside aluminium tray is placed directly over the flame on the blech and reaches yad soledes. Is one allowed to place a chalah on top of this tray in… Read more »
Fully Cooked Cholent
On friday evening, I often like to eat chulent from the chulent pot. I know before even thinking of doing chazara the food must be fully cooked. At what stage… Read more »
Ointment for Lips on Shabbos
Is it permissible to use a soft jell from a tube on the lips for a herpes viral infection on Shabbat. Answer: Two issues need to be addressed: Medicine/Treatments on… Read more »
Shaping the Fish on Shabbos
On shabbos can one cut the gefilte fish in a way where the fish looks like a fish. One makes a triangular cut and then takes the triangle and puts… Read more »
Hotplate on Shabbos
Why is there so much confusion about hotplates on shabbat? With or without a blech, putting cold solids or semi solids straight on without or with an upturned lid? Answer:… Read more »
Alarm Clock (Muktzeh)
I have a vibrating alarm clock that goes under my pillow that is plugged into the wall. Can I use such an on shabbos to wake myself up? Is it… Read more »
Giving Stitches on Shabbos
Is there any halachic problems with a religious doctor giving stiches or surgical sutures on shabbos? Might it be considered koshair or tofair since the surgeon would be considered a… Read more »
Saving Documents from Damage on Shabbos
Muktzeh If a person is a lawyer by profession and he has a lot of client documents and other documents related to his business stored in a study in his… Read more »
Snowmen and Snowballs on Shabbos
Can one make snow balls or a snow man on shabbos or this this boneh? Answer: It would not be permitted to build a snowman on Shabbos. Concerning snowballs, some… Read more »
Muktzeh: Electrical Appliances and Esrogim
Can one do ’tiltul’ or ‘niyur’ for any muktzeh category (i.e. not just kli shmealchato l’issur)? For instance, if there would be a hammer on the table and one doesnt need the… Read more »
Lit Bedroom On Shabbos
If a couple by accident left the bedroom light on during shabbos. Can the couple have relations in that room during the evening if there is no other private room?… Read more »
Going to the Kotel on Shabbos (Surveillance Cameras)
Is it a problem to go to the Kotel on Shabbos since they put the new cameras clicking evertime we pass by? Answer: This question has been discussed by many… Read more »
Helium Balloon – Muktzeh
Is a helium balloon muktzeh? Answer: A helium balloon does not fall under any of the muktzeh categories, and it is permitted to move it/play with it on Shabbos. Sources:… Read more »
Key-Chain With Ignition Key on Shabbos
if a person has a key-chain that he found on shabbos with many keys, and one key which is his ignition key (kli shmelachto l’issur) and he wants to use… Read more »
Muktzeh- Basis Le’davar Ha’Asur
BHI topic: muktzeh If a tray on top of a table has candles on it, what becomes the basis (muktzeh): the table, the tray, or both? Where should the challah… Read more »
Graduation for Doctorate on Shabbat
Hi Rabbi. I just found out my graduation for my Doctorate degree is on Shabbat! I am shomer Shabbat and can stay in walking distance but I am not sure what… Read more »
Laws of Basis Ledavar Ha’asur
Kavod HaRav, A question about muktzeh (basis le’dvar issur) 1- If a ‘cleaning lady’ (ozeret) places the remote controls (muktzeh machamas chesron kis?) to an electronic device on the couch… Read more »
Wrapping a Food When Warming on Shabbos
When reheating food on shabbos, I sometimes place dry food like a kugel on top of my chulent. Is there a problem of hatmana if I have silver foil covering… Read more »
Moving Garbage Blocking a Public Walkway on Shabbos
There was a blizzard in my city and the garbage hasn’t been collected in many weeks (unfortunately). I woke up shabbos morning and my garbage that was (sitting by the… Read more »
Leasing Out a Fleet of Taxis (Shabbos)
How do you deal with keeping Shabbat when leasing out a fleet of taxis (cars), or several houses, contracted or leased for yearly periods? Answer: Provided no payment is made… Read more »
Opening Tea Bags on Shabbos
Could you please explain why the melachah of kore’ah would not apply to opening the flap of the tea bag, which is actually attached (albeit very flimsily) to the body… Read more »
Whistling on Weekdays and Shabbos
Is there any problem with whistling in general or to a tune, and is there any difference between whistling during the week or on Shabbos? Answer: In general there is… Read more »