Your friend has a job at David’s Tea and she gets a 50% off discount on everything in the store. You ask her to give you her discount because you want to buy tea and she says yes. Are you allowed to use the discount? Is it considered stealing? Are you stealing from David’s Tea […]
Author Archives: Rabbi Akiva Dershowitz
Biblical Question
Why is Yosef not listed in the land ? Answer: Which list are you referring to?
Cooking Milk on Shabbos
There is a concept regarding cooking on Shabbat of “En bishul achar bishul” – meaning that there is no concern regarding possibly cooking food that has already been cooked. Milk is pasteurized. However, I don’t think that one is allowed to cook milk on Shabbat. I understand that pasteurization in a way boils the milk […]
Lifegaurd Training with Women
Shalom, Is one allowed to study a training manual for lifeguarding if in the explanation pictures there will be women dressed in swimsuits? A related question: Assuming there is no male only lifeguarding classes in the area, is one allowed to take a lifeguarding course that might have women in the group? Thank you very […]
Staining from IUD
My wife has an Mirena IUD for almost 6 months & is still having problems with staining. When she stains on colored is it necessary to abstain from tashmish? What are the guidelines for this? Answer: On a day when there is a stain the size of 1-2 pennies or more from mid day and […]
Shoveling Snow on Shabbos
Assuming an ERUV can someone shovel snow on Shabbos? Answer: Yes, it may be shoveled. Sources: It is questionable if snow is muktzeh, according to many opinions it is not, see Beis Yosef at end of O:C 310 with regards to rain. Even according to the opinions that it is muktzeh, this would be indirect […]
Leftover Shabbos Candles
whats the proper way to dispose of Shabbos candle left over wax? Can it be thrown away or burnt? Just like Chanuchah candles or oil? Answer: Unlike Chanuka candles and oil which are set aside for a mitzvah which is forbidden to benefit from in other ways, Shabbos candles have no such restriction as they […]
Cutting Board on Shabbos
I asked re cutting vegetables on a cutting board on Shabbat and the Rav answered that it is okay. However, the reason that I suspected this was a problem is: when cutting, the knife makes small scrapings/indentations in the plastic/wood board. Does that present a problem on Shabbat?? Answer: This would not pose a problem. […]
Melting Cheese on Shabbos
May one melt cheese on Shabbat (such as for making a grilled cheese sandwich?) I don’t see that there may be a problem of cooking the bread. Is there a problem with melting the cheese or any other Shabbat violation that I may have overlooked? Answer: There are a number of potential problems: Cooking: […]
Yichud for Babysitter
I am babysitting for a 9 year old boy, 7 year old boy and baby at night. I am stuck here without a 2nd shomer. What do I do in such a situation? Answer: You should ask a neighbor to take the key and pop in from time to time into the house. This would […]
Muktzeh of Alarm Clock
Which muktzah is an alarm clock without batteries? כלי שמלאכתו להיתר, כלי שמלאכתו לאיסור, מוקצה מחמת חסרון כיס? Answer: An alarm clock is a “kli” a vessel, when it is off or without batteries it would be considered a “kli shemelachto laissur”.
Pores Al Shma
If one davened shemonei esrei at his house, can he later repeat shemonei esrei because of pores al shema when he arrives at shul. Answer: One who has already davened should not repeat Shmone Esrei with Pores Al Shma. Sources: While the opinion of Shulchan Aruch is to permit this [O:C 69:1], see the MIshna […]
Non Jewish Friend and Cooking
I work with a non Jew as my co-teacher in a secular school. She invited me over and is so sweet and open to learning how to cook a kosher meal but in “her” house and her kitchen. How I can I do so in these circumstances? Do I bring my own pot or pan […]
Body Hair Removal for Men
Hi Is it permitted for a male to trim body hair eg chest/abdomen/armpit? thanking you Answer: Hair removal from parts of the body which are generally only done by women is prohibited, even if it is bothersome. Chest hair which is exclusive to men may be trimmed, without a razor. Only when hair growth is […]
Aveilus and Shaliach Tzibbur
I am within the 12 months of aveilus for my mother A”H. Last night as I was about to go up to the amud someone who nebuch just lost his daughter was already there getting ready to daven. I told my chavrusa that he’s in shloshim so it’s fine. He told me that an aval […]
Yoshon
what means yoshon for a pareve food? Answer: Yoshon refers to a grain product which uses grains from before Pesach. By passing over Pesach, the prohibition of Chodosh is permitted, making Yoshon grains. Some are lenient based on various considerations for grains from outside of Israel, and use grains which may be from after Pesach. […]
Dairy Blender with Garlic
I have a dairy blender stick (that has not been used within 24 hours). If I make tehina with fresh garlic with this stick, can we eat it with Basari? (if the halacha is different for Sefardim, I would need to know that. Shabbat Shalom Many thanks Answer: The Tehina should not be eaten with […]
Challah Board from Israel
I recently bought a glass and metal challah board from Israel. Does it require tevillah? Answer: You can usually speak with the store you bought it from an they can verify where it was made. Generally, they are made by non Jewish factories and require tevila. If you can not clarify, it should be toveled […]
Candy Theif
My 90 year old mother has diabetes. Everytime she goes grocery shopping with her caretaker, she takes (and does not pay for) candy bars, which she later eats. I’ve asked the caretaker to watch her more carefully, but this hasn’t helped. What should I do? My mother and I live in the same condo building, […]
Cashew Chicken
Whole Cashews in Cashew Chicken: A friend of mine emailed me a picture a while ago of an opened cashew with a bug in it and said (don’t know if he had a psak for this) that we must check cashews before eating them. The other night I ordered Cashew Chicken from the local Glatt […]
Interpreting Dreams
Yireh learned from a dream can be scary. What should a jew do if his dreams are funny, scary and seem to indicate something about his relationships? I find it keeps me wondering about G-ds plan for my life and I have delayed some acquaintances because I feel the experience is not ready in my […]
Bracha Achrona on Roce Krisipies
what kind of brucha achroina do you have to make on rice crispies? Answer: As with rice itself, the after bracha is “borei nefashos”.
Mechanic Work on Shabbos
Hi. I was learning Mishna Brura, Hilchos Shabbos רמז סעיף א today about giving an ano Yehudi a letter to deliver and the concerns about him delivering/carrying on shabbos. The Mishna Berura in ס”ק ד says that you may not tell him that you need it delivered on Sunday if it would be “impossible” for […]
Maid Doing Dishes on Shabbos
Based on something I read in the response presented in this question (https://dinonline.org/2015/11/07/hachana-by-non-jew/) I have a question regarding a maid doing the dishes on Shabbos (either for later use on Shabbos or because of discomfort about having dirty dishes). I always heard that since it is mutar to wash the dishes on Shabbos we don’t […]
Salting Walkway for Snow
Assuming an ERUV, can one salt or sand an icey walkway or steps for safety on Shabbos? Even yes, are there any restrictions? Answer: This would be permitted. Sources: There are two potential problems with spreading sand or salt on the walk on Shabbos. One would be the melocho of Boneh. In this regard salt […]
Hiring on Shabbos
If a non jew wishes to shovel snow on your walkway on Shabbos for payment, but you want him to come back after Shabbos. Can you tell him or hint to him? How can you let him know? Answer: Being that shoveling snow is not actually a prohibited act on Shabbos, per se, the non […]
Pores Al Shma for Kedusha
If one heard Barachu (by shachris) and davened shemonei esrei but didn”t hear kedushah can he be pores al shema and get kedushah by repeating shemonei esrei with ten? Does he also need to complete the pores al shema shemonei esei? What is also the halacha by mincha? Answer: One who has already davened should […]
Styrofoam Cups and Cooking on Shabbos
Making coffee on Shabbos using 2 cups assuming no essence was made: Pour water from kettle into cup #1, pour water from that cup into cup #2 that has coffee placed into it. The question is: CAN ONE USE STEROFORM CUPS? These cups retain heat but do not dissipate heat. Answer: Yes, styrofoam cups may […]
Driveway Damages
Shalom, In general , there is a yellow line, as a marker, on the sides of my driveway by the entrance to the street, so that cars that park in the street in the spots next to my driveway know exactly where to park so as not to block my driveway. During the recent snow […]
Short Menstrual Cycles
My husband and I are trying to have a baby. I have short menstrual cycles and did an ovulation test and am ovulating before I go to the mikveh. What should we do so I can become pregnant? Thanks Answer: This is a common issue and usually very easily treatable, you should see your OB/GYN […]
Gentile Assisting Putting on Tefillin
Is a non Jew allowed to put on Tfillin for a handicapped person. Answer: Yes, he may put them on, and the handicapped person can make the bracha. If possible he should assist somewhat in the donning of the tefillin. Sources: Shu”t Mahari Asad 19, Shu”T Maharam Shick 15, Shu”t Maharshag 2:120
Exposing Hair at Gym
i go to a mixed gym with mostly non-Jews and dress modestly while there. However I find it very difficult to work out with my hair fully covered. In the community I live many women don’t fully cover their hair. Would it be permissible for me to wear a baseball cap with some hair exposed? […]
Buddha Pears, Marker on Tins
Can you please tell me if pears grown in the mold of little Buddhas would be assur to buy/eat? I’m not sure who makes these pears but apparently they have some esteem for the Hindu god if they’re growing these fruits in his mold. Also, can you please tell me if why it’s muttar (if […]
Pan in Meaty and Dairy Oven
I used a cake bundt pan for only parev cakes usually in a fleshig oven I realized that I put the pan which was not used for over a month in a milchig toaster oven, do I need to throw out the cake? Can I keep the pan? Answer: If everything was clean i.e. the […]
Yichud for Divorced Spouses
6 months ago I gave my wife a get. We have been living seperately, me in New York, her in Virginia. Our 2 sons are with me. For the last month and half, we’ve been talking about trying to work things out and get remarried. A lot of factors involved in that. She came up […]
Mezuza for Jewish School Building
Is a Jewish school building obligated in mezuzah on all their doors? Answer: Mezuzas should be affixed to a school building and all it’s rooms, without a bracha. Sources: This would seem comparable to Shulchan Aruch Y:D 286:11, that a place which is used only by day and not throughout the night is questionable as […]
Haircut After Shloshim
My husband has just completed the shloshim for his mother and still will not shave or have a hair cut. People have told him too but he thinks it is because i asked them too. It is causing a problem with shalom bayit for me. Thank you Answer: As long as he genuinely looks disheveled, […]
Found Music CD
I found an mp3 cd in rental car that the non-jewish workers would have thrown out had they found it. The regular price of a blank cd is probably around US$0.20 . The cd has on it alot of songs from one particular composer many of which i have not purchased nor do i intend […]
Pregnant Women Attending Funeral
May a pregnant woman attend a levaya? What is the Inyan involved? Thank you Answer: A pregnant woman may attend a funeral, when necessary for a relative or someone close to her. Otherwise, she should refrain from being at a funeral or in a cemetery. Sources: Two reasons are brought to refrain: because of the […]
Mother In Laws with Same Name
A shidduch was suggested for my daughter, which sounds perfect. But, someone pointed out a possible problem that my wife’s name is Sarah Hitzel (called Suri) and the boys mother’s name is Sarah (called Sarah). Can we go into this shidduch or not? Answer: Yes, the shidduch may be pursued. Sources: There are varying customs […]
Measuring Cup for Milk and Meat
I have a glass measuring cup. Can i use it for milky stuff and fleishig? Like milky ingredients in it. And by fleishig I might poor liquid in a fleishig pot. Or do I need a separate one for both Thank you Answer: If only cold is being used in the measuring cup itself and […]
Bracha After Mezuza Checking
When one takes down a mezuzah to be checked, does it get put back on with a bracha or not? Answer: If it was only down for a few hours [not overnight] AND it was found to be kosher, no new bracha is made. If it was down overnight OR found to be non kosher […]
Yemenite Netilat Yadayim
Hello I have a Yemenite friend who says netillat yadaim blessing and then washes. Where r the sources for this and what is the halachic standing Answer: This is the opinion of the Rambam. Yemenite tradition follows the rulings of the Rambam over Shulchan Aruch. Sources: Rambam Brachos 11:3, Tefillin 4:7, see also Tshuvot Rav […]
Classes at Catholic University
I attend classes at a Catholic university, there are crucifixes in every single room (with a body of you know who on all of them, whether that makes a difference or not). They all vary in size and ‘ornateness.’ Should I make a concerted effort to sit as far away as possible from them when […]
Teacher Damaged School Property
I am a teacher, and at school I borrowed a DVD player from the technology center for a class I was giving. It was not clear which way the dvd was to be inserted into the machine, and there were no instructions in the box. I asked another teacher standing next to me which way […]
Calculating The Sabbath Day
Due to the fact that sources that I’ve looked at say Shabbat should be observed on the seventh day, but don’t say how that lines up with the christian week, is it acceptable to observe the shabbas on whichever day of the week you want as long as it’s consistent? Answer: The seven day week […]
2 Sisters Marrying 2 Brothers
Hi Are there any Halachic issues or restrictions on 2 sisters marrying 2 brothers? Thanks Answer: Halachically there is no issue, see below for other considerations of the Will of Rav Yehuda Hachasid. Sources: Rabbi Yehudah Hachasid writes in his tzavaah (no. 25) that two brothers should not marry two sisters. This is also stated […]
Shaking Hands with Women
Dear rabbi, I have chosen some time ago to become shomer negiah. Limiting my handshakes to men only. I feel this is propriety and humane. I find gentile women often think I am nasty to turn down a hand shake and I worry they may not consider giving me humane gain should I wish to […]
Buckwheat from Israel
I received a present of kasha (buckwheat)from someone in brooklyn, NY. They purchased it there. The product is under the hasgocho of Rabbanut Eretz Yisroel. It was produced in PRC for Infost Fine Foods PO Box 47033 Tel Aviv. Is there a shmitta and teruma/missros shailo here? And if so how can you advise me? […]
Moving Tefillin on Shabbat
If a talis bag containing tefillin is left on a chair in a beis medresh on Shabat, can the bag be moved in order to use that chair? Thx Answer: Yes. Tefillin are ideally treated as muktzah, but only the status of kli shemelachto laissur, which is permissible to be used for need of the […]