Are the 3 hours before sunrise an auspicious time for praying in general like it is for selichos? What are the sources? Answer: The three hours at the end of… Read more »
Category: Uncategorized
Destroying Elderly Dogs
I have 2 elderly dogs who are fit and healthy on meds but without them they would suffer and die. What is the Halacha on having them destroyed by the… Read more »
Maaser from Gift Certificate
Do you have to give maaser on a gift certificate received from the boss? Answer: Some are stringent for this matter, and it is good to give maaser from the… Read more »
Trimming Armpit Hair
Are you allowed to shave your armpits, if you sweat a lot, in order to eliminate some sweating? Answer: Under circumstances where the excess hair causes discomfort, it is permitted… Read more »
Cooking Tea in the Sun
One way of making Ice Tea is by taking a pitcher of water, filling it up and then putting in a number of tea bags and leaving it in the… Read more »
Intimacy in the Day
Are there any circumstances that allow for a couple to be intimate during the day time (i.e. wanting to be together on shabbos but being too tired to do so… Read more »
Selling Megillah to Reform Congregation
Is a sofer STa”M allowed to write/sell a megillas esther to a reform congregation (in the usa) knowing the possibility that it may: A. Not be treated with proper respect…. Read more »
Situations of Doubt in Halachah
Shalom. What is the general hashkafa and way for someone to conduct themselves in a situation where they think there might be a halachic issue and do not know what… Read more »
Woman Blowing the Shofar
May an isha blow shofar for herself on Rosh HaShanah to be yotzee. May she blow for another woman/other women? Answer: Yes, and yes. See Orach Chaim 589:6. Best wishes.
Kashering Grates
How does one properly kasher the grates on top of a stove (that was used by a goy)? May the fire be turned on the highest heat under the grates… Read more »
Practicing Shofar at Night
Someone may practice blowing shofar on Rosh HaShanah for that day, but not for the next day. By night may one also practice (for that day)? Answer: There is no… Read more »
Oath for Masonsic Degree
This is regarding taking an oath. The grand Masonic lodge of Oregon requires that all candidates for Masonic degrees, take the oath on their knees before an open christian bible…. Read more »
Using “Bris” as Heading
A tzedeka organization wants to include in a paper that will be filled out and signed when making a donation a lashon of “Bris Kodesh”. Is such a lashon though… Read more »
Amen During Birchos Shema
When the shliach tzibbur is masiyum the bracha of “yotzer ha’maoros” and someone is holding not in the place but somewhere else in Bircas Krias Shema (like Ahavas Olam for… Read more »
Two Sisters in One Building
Is it brought in any sefer (perhaps Sefer Chassidim or Kav HaYasher) that 2 married sisters shouldn’t live in the same “building” together? If there is yes an hakpadah for… Read more »
Trimming Pubic Hair
Is there any circumstance that allows for a man to trim his pubic hair? Thank you for attending to this sensitive question. Answer: It is only permitted to trim pubic… Read more »
Hataras Nedarim in Changing Nusach
Kavod HaRav: Does a baal teshuva (tinok shenishba) who davened nusach ashkenaz from the time he became frum (many years) need to do hataras nedarim if changing to davening nusach… Read more »
Kohen Forgoing his Honor
Kavod HaRav: Is a Kohen (shomer torah/mitzvot ben torah- though not a talmid hacham) permitted to be mezalzez himself if asked to do something by his office manager at work,… Read more »
Procedure for Separating Terumah and Maaser
Someone who finds himself in place where he can’t buy fruits and vegetables with a good hechsher. What is the seder exactly of taking trumas and maasros on the fruits/vegs?… Read more »
Metaphysics in Maimonides
Hello Wonderful Rabbi! 1. With the exception of genetics, medical, deformities, defects, … From a Jewish… spiritual perspective, … what is r-e-a-l-l-y the cause of mental health problems/issues? …… 2…. Read more »
Kohen’s Refusal to Accept Matanos
Is it “ossur” for a Cohen to say he doesn’t want to be makabel the matanas that one wants to give to him? Answer: Why should this be a prohibition?… Read more »
Keeping Pets at Home
Someone wants to purchase a rabbit for his daughter (6 years old) who feels that the rabbit is able to calm her down (even for a 6 year old apparently… Read more »
After-Berachah for Rice
is there a difference in the bracha achrona of white rice and brown rice or are the both borei nefoshos? Answer: There is no difference in the after-berachah, and both… Read more »
Discarding of Torah Tapes
Do Torah CDs/tapes/other electronic media containing recordings of shiurim require any form of genizah or can they be disposed of regularly once listened to? Answer: Torah tapes and other electronic… Read more »
Using a “Hamsa”
What is the Ashkenazi (Litvish) stance on having a “Hamsa?” I have two, one with Y-K-V-K and Shivis and one with the blessing for business. I took them down and… Read more »
Making Up Ninety Amenim
That which someone should say 90 Amenim a day what comes into the “cheshbon” of Amenim. Only the Amenim of Brachos or also that of Kaddish. Perhaps also if someone… Read more »
Interrupting Prayer for Kohanim
Before a Cohen begings to dochen there is a nusach of yehi ratzon that is said. May the Cohen be mafsik in the middle of this in order to answer… Read more »
Temporary Mezuzah
What’s pashut in the shach in YD Siman 289 Sif-Katan 7 that a mezuzah “lifi sha’ah” doesn’t need to be put up with nails? What does it mean “lifi sha’ah”… Read more »
Debt that Shemittah Passed By
Scenario: A non religious Jew lends money, years pass and shemita passes, and he still didn’t get his money back. After shemita passes, the non religious lender becomes religious, and… Read more »
Blood Spot in Egg Mixture
Shalom! If i’ve been added additional egg (with blood in it) to 3 another (clean) eggs in the same bowl, can I separate clean eggs from the mixture? Or I have… Read more »
Keriyah at the Kosel
Where does it come from the “minhag ha’olam” as it seems to be makil to not tear kriah by the Kosel even for one living outside of Yerushalayim (but still… Read more »
Kiddush Levana Until the Fifteenth
Can I still say Kiddush Lavana? Answer: Kiddush Levanah can be said until the fifteenth day of the Jewish month. According to the Rema, kiddush levanah can only be recited… Read more »
Ne’emanus of non-Observant Jew for Hechsher
Our 19 year old neighbour went off the derech a few years ago after her father beat her and disowned her. My wife asked her to buy us some fruits… Read more »
Yarzeit on Tisha Be’Av
My friend’s wife died on 9 B’Av. This year, does he observe yahrzeit on Shabbat, or is it postponed, as is the 9 B’Av fast, until Sunday? Answer: For purposes… Read more »
Yeshiva Men in the Army
Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg is quoted in your Chukas edition as applying the status of milchemet mitsva to the current ongoing situation in the State of Israel. You also quote the… Read more »
Fruit Pits in Compost
My family has a modest vegetable garden, and we compost from our kitchen year round in order to have enriched soil. Sometimes food trimmings are not fully composted when we… Read more »
Breast Implant Operation
Can a woman get a breast augmentation if it involves general anesthesia? Answer: It is permitted where the procedure is of significant importance. If it is only a matter of… Read more »
Using a Talmid Chacham (Torah Scholar)
From where do we know what one is not allowed to be mishtamesh with a Talmud Chocham? (And what does this mean exactly? i.e. what’s the geder?) Answer: The source… Read more »
Piercing in Halachah
if Jews are not supposed to hurt themselves, why can a child be pierced for earrings? Answer: Although self-infury is prohibited, where the purpose is constructive, such as for earrings,… Read more »
Exposure in Front of Shem Hashem
A few weeks back I asked what to do if the men’s mikvah has a Shem HaShem on the wall… it was suggested to somehow change that, if this is… Read more »
Asking for Basic Provisions on Shabbos
It says in Shulchan Aruch OC Siman 323 Sif 4 that one may go to a store owner and ask for a number of beitzim on Shabbos as long as… Read more »
Drinking Water for Zimun on Motza’ei Shabbos
The Shulchan Aruch states that it’s allowed to drink water on motza’ei Shabbos before havdalah. The Magen Avroham writes that to count a tenth for zimun it is ok for… Read more »
Food Under the Bed
What is the halachic status of food placed under the bed [including sources, please]? Thank you. Answer: One should be careful not to leave food under a bed. However, post… Read more »
Out of Trouble by Dream?
Hi I have a question for you. I’m going through very hard times. Someone dreamt of my father, alov hasholom, saying to him that I made a promise that I… Read more »
Is Terumah Heitera Bala?
The Chavas Daas in Siman 105 Sif-Katan Beis brings from the Toras HaBayis that terumah is considered “heteira bala.” Are there any cholkim on this? Answer: Several poskim write that… Read more »
Chinuch in Devarim Shebikdusha
Is there an actual halachic category of L’Shem Chinuch? – meaning that one must train children in performing mitzvot? There is the idea of 11 and 12 year olds fasting… Read more »
The Sixtieth Year: Complete Years?
Based on the Gemorah in Moed Katan Daf 28, which states that the years for the kareis punishment to be effected are 50-60: Do the years end at 60 or… Read more »
Transgressions for Kevod Ha-Brios
That which one is allowed to be ovar an issur because of Kavod HaBrios is it even b’kum v’aseh or only by a case of shav v’al t’aseh? Answer: In… Read more »
Women for Keriyah at Kosel
Are woman required to tear kriah when going to the Kosel (in cases where one would normally be chayav to do so)? In Piskei Teshuvos Siman 561 (sif 4) he… Read more »
Fast Pushed Off to Sunday
This year 17th of Tamuz starts on the 6th of July and this is the start of the Sabbath. Does this mean that 17th of Tamuz official fast gets postponed… Read more »