Question: I know that on Shabbos we are to Honor it by not doing our own ways, from seeking our needs or discussing the forbidden and I want always to Honor the Shabbos to the highest level. Is davening for our desires considered seeking our needs? I know we can pray for Shidduchim on Shabbos, […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
covid minyan. individual cubicles with transparent walls enclosed from all sides.
Question: Can the people be combined as a minyan? I left the doorway unzipped. However, some are are enclosed from all sides. even if they are all unzipped is there a problem of combining to her a minyan? Answer: Although ideally all ten people should be in the same place, under the circumstances it […]
Pidyon shevuyim for a person in jail
Question: Al pi halacha how far does the obligation extend to help frum convicted white collar criminals get out of jail in a civilized country like America? By some ppl (like some chassidim) they treat it like it’s the biggest mitzvah in the world to be involved in freeing these people who could have stolen […]
שמות
Question: האם שם עדיאל לתינוק זה טוב ומה היה טיבו בתנך צדיק או חלילה רשע? Answer: הרבה מזל טוב! השם עדיאל מוזכר בדברי הימים א פ”ט י”ב שהוא היה כהן אבל לא מוזכר שם אם הוא מה טיבו. השם הזה מוזכר ג”כ בדברי הימים א כז-כה שהיה ממונה על אוצרות המלך דוד איש בשם […]
Money earned on Shabbos
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, If someone who is not yet Shomer Shabbos (but G-d willing soon) buys a lunch for a Shomer Shabbos, may the Shomer Shabbos eat the food? (The concern being that the not yet Shomer Shabbos works on the Sabbath, so maybe some of the money that paid for that meal is […]
Washing hands after touching sneakers
Question: My sneaker laces untied while food shopping. I tied them (using plastic bags to cover hands). Can I buy food or must I wash? I am new to this. Answer: There is no need for you to wash your hands because you didn’t touch your sneakers. Best wishes
Lowering Loan amount
Question: Hello, With Hashem’s Divine Intervention my family and I came under a massive amount of debt for many reasons. Since the interest rates were so high, we decided to take out loans from our bank in Israel (works under Herer Iska) to pay off the massive debt. Due to COVID we haven’t been receiving […]
Purchasing from an idol worshipper
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Regarding clarification of purchasing from a specific vendor who is not Jewish- may I purchase from a vendor who makes references to non-Jewish concepts, such as using the term “g-d…ess”…would this person’s merchandise become forbidden to the Jew because of these references, or it’s ok for the Jew to buy here? […]
Socializing during corona
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. Regarding someone who is showing no signs of the corona virus, may they interact socially for “non emergency” tasks such as going to the hair salon if this will help their emotional health (and also they will plan to wear a mask when appropriate). Per halacha, […]
Forgot to return a borrowed object
Question: Hi Rabbi. I tried looking this up but could not find a source. If I borrowed a sweater from a friend or relative and forgot to return it and many years go by and they never have asked me for it back, Can I assume they have given up on it and keep it? […]
Informing for a constructive purpose
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it. May someone who received damaged goods from a Jewish-owned business inform the business owner to 1. request a refund and 2. to mention that the (food) item may need to be checked so as to prevent someone from being injured? (The question […]
Clothing purchased before pesach
Question: I purchased a pair of pants before pesach but didn’t wear them over pesach. Can I wear them now during sefira? Answer: Yes. There is no problem with wearing a new pair of pants during sefira. Most poskim say that it is permitted to wear something new even if one would say shehechiyanu, […]
Pot and pan used on non kosher stove top
Question: I have a pot and grill pan that was used on a non-kosher glass smoothtop burner. The area within the heat was kashered by turning on the burner first but the pot and pan are larger than the heating area and thus sat partially on the rest of the burner. The burner wasn’t used […]
Signing iska by email
Question: Can I sign a heter iska then scan it and email to my partner who will then print it, sign it, re-scan it, and email back to me – now with both signatures? Answer: Yes you can. Even if both of you sign on different papers the heter iska will work, as each of […]
Shema after waking up in the middle of the night
Question: Sometimes I fall asleep while trying to get my baby to fall asleep, without having said shema. If I wake up in the middle of the night, afterward, should I say kriyas shema at that point? If so, should the whole thing be said, or are some sections omitted? Thank you Answer: […]
Cutting nose hair during sefira
Question: Hi, during the year I trim my nose hair because it becomes long and messy and thus embarrassing. Can I continue to do so once it become long and messy during sefira? Answer: Yes it is permitted. These hair are permitted to remove when they are bothering, similar to tweezing the extra hair […]
Rusting washing cup
Question: Can a rusting washing cup be used for hamotzhi or neggel vasser or mayim acharonim lchatchilla? It doesn’t have a hole, just a little rust inside and out. Answer: The rust is not an issue and you can use the cup for all three uses. Rust is only an issue when you want to […]
Shaving underarm hair during sefira
Question: Is it permitted for a woman to shave underarm hair during sefira, to prevent discomfort? Thank you Answer: The minhag is that even women do not cut thier hair or shave during sefira. There is a heteer for women to shave when it is l’tzorech mitzva, for a mitzva need, such as going to […]
Starting Psukei Dzimra close to zman krias shma
Question: If a person is going to start davening and its so close to zman krias shma that he won’t make it if he says all of Psukei Dzimra, is it better to skip parts of Psukei Dzimra to make it in time, or should he instead say krias shma beforehand and then say all […]
Asking about the omer
Question: If one asks his freind “is today the 8th day of the omer?” is he yotzei counting? can he still count again with a bracha? Answer: It is not considered as if the person has counted yet and the person may still count with a bracha. The reason is because the person did […]
washing for a meal
Question: Hello, if one eats rice cakes or crackers (for example, two large rice cakes) with peanut butter or hummus as the dinner meal, would one wash given that the cakes are serving as the bread? Answer: You would not wash on such an amount. Regarding rice, since it isn’t from the five grains […]
selling chometz
Question: In the s.a. o.ch. 440, : chometz of a goy which is mufkad by a yid , if the yid has responsability for it for lost or stolen, and even if only the goy is violent or of its the law of the medina, it’s asur; my question: when we sell the chometz to […]
Exercising with Music during sefira
Question: Is it Mutar to exercise to music during sefiras haomer with music? Answer: Music that is played in order to help you do your exersice is not considered music for happiness and permitted to listen to while you are exercising. Best wishes Sources: Meiri – Sotah 48b, M:B 560-13, Kovetz Halachos (Sefiras Haomer) […]
Resolving Old Conflict
Question: About 10 years ago I spoke to a lawyer (a friend of a friend) about how I would sell my shares in a company I started. He said he can give me some advice, but could not do the deal or take money because of conflict of interest (his law firm dealt with the […]
Is it permitted to listen to music to assist with work on the omer?
Question: I am a programmer who uses electronic music (not happy, no lyrics) to put me in the “zone” and concentrate at work. Is it permitted for me to continue listening to electronic music for this purpose on the omer? Answer: Music that is played in order to help a person do their job […]
Fasting on day forbidden to fast
Question: On days when it is forbidden to fast (e.g. day after pesach, Chanukah), is drinking water enough or must one eat food? Answer: Drinking water is a sufficient, that it is considered that the person did not fast. Best wishes Sources:
Counting sefirah after hearing someone else counting
Question: Hi, If you are in middle of davening shmoneh esrei during maariv and you hear the Chazan counting sefirah (or others for that matter) does it mean that since you already heard that night’s number you may no longer count [with a bracha]? Answer: According to most poskim it is not an issue, […]
Tweezing eyebrows on Chol Hamoed
Question: Hi Is it permitted for a man to tweeze his eyebrows on chol hamoed and sefirah?And are there any sources for this? Thank you very much, Answer: Please see the following post https://dinonline.org/2021/04/05/tweezing-eyebrows-during-sefirah/?swcfpc=1 which talks about your question. Regarding Chol Hamoed, it is permitted for a woman to tweeze her eyebrows. Best wishes Sources: […]
Tweezing eyebrows during sefirah
Question: Hi, Can a man tweeze his eyebrows during sefirah? and are there any mekoros? Thank you very much. Answer: Tweezing eyebrows is not he main issue here, because the custom not to take haircuts only applies to the hair of one’s head and beard, and not for other body hair. The main issue […]
Stepping back Shemonei Esrei
Jewish Community Heritage
Question: If a case where a Jewish Community is saved from destruction..should Jews help not just the survivors but that Particular community heritage as well..? As an example the Jews of Iraq scrolls at Scrolls https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Struggle-for-the-Scrolls.html and online petition at https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/Dont_let_the_Jewish_archive_go_back_to_Iraq/?copy%2F i.e some who is deeply concerend try to help this community reclaim its heritage […]
Shaving on Isru Chag when observing mourning customs from Rosh Chodesh Iyar
Question: Is shaving permitted on Isru Chag if your custom is to observe mourning during Sefirah from Rosh Chodesh Iyar? Answer: If you keep the second set of omer days, then you don’t have an issue shaving until your sefira starts, and you may shave on Isru Chag. Best wishes
Private, ty
Question: Got it. Thanks for the response. Answer: Your welcome. Sources:
Shoelaces of scotch
Question: Is there an obligation to close tie a scotch left before right? Answer: Yes there is such an idea. The Shulchan Aruch O:CH 2-4 says that similar to the idea that when dressing we give precedence to the right side, when tying shoes etc. the left side has the precedence. The reason for this […]
Damage in store
Question: You’re at an Apple store and you leave your cart with several apple products on the edge of the counter. You decide not to buy them and leave the cart there without telling anyone. Someone else comes and tries to reach over your cart, and unintentionally, knock everything over. Is it your fault for […]
Waxing on Passover
Question: Can you wax your unibrow on Pesach? Answer: If my understanding of your question is correct, you mean you ask if a woman may wax her eyebrows on Chol Hamoed. It is permitted for a woman to tweeze her eyebrows on Chol Hamoed. Waxing them should not be any different, therefore it is […]
Maaser and investment
Question: If I own a portion of a property and gave a certain amount of my savings (let’s say 10k), when do I start paying maaser money? Do I wait to get back the 10k or do I pay maaser every time I get a check from that said investment? Answer: It depends on […]
Why do we separate six hours for meat and one hour for milk?
Question: Why do we separate six hours for meat and one hour for milk? What’s the concept behind it. This website got upgraded? This site looks good. Answer: The reason why we wait after eating meat, and not after eating milk is because meat has a strong taste which leaves a residue on the […]
Shaving for Dating
Question: Is there any heter to shave during sfirah to go on a date? Even though, she’ll understand if I don’t shave, I’m afraid I won’t make as good an impression if I don’t. Answer: By shaving, you will make a worse impression by showing her that you are not careful about halacha and […]
Is it ok for me to organize a tehillim group on Chol Hamoed for someone who is sick but not seriously sick?
Question: Is it ok for me to organize a tehillim group on Chol Hamoed for someone who is sick but not seriously sick? Answer: It is permitted to daven and say tehillim for a sick person or for anyone on Chol Hamoed. Davening does not invlove melacha or something that is disrespectful to the […]
Meat pot
Question: I reheated meat in a Pareve Teflon pot. After washing in cold water and then 24 hours on non use can I use this again as a Pareve pot. If not, if I cook beans in this pot do they become fleishig. Thank you so much and chag sameach pesach Answer: L’chatchila the […]
Giving Tzedakah via computer on Chol Hamoed
Question: Thank you Rabbi for your kindness and asnwering my Shailos Are we permitted to use the computer for making donations for Tzedakah and or Maaser on Chol Hamoed? Answer: It is permitted since iot is a mitzva action. Have a good Yom Tov
Work on chol hamoed
Question: I work as a counsellor in a yeshiva. Is it permissible to work on chol ha-moed given that the work doesn’t involve any melacha? If not, is there any way to organise it, such as not being paid for the work on chol-moed and then being paid more for work done after chol ha-moed? […]
Writing on chol ha-moed for shalam bayis
Question: My wife and I write nice notes to each other every erev Shabbos to read on Shabbos. Is it permissible to do this during chol ha-moed? Thanks Answer: Yes you can… it is a Yom Tov need (to make another person happy) and enhancing shalom bayis is tzorech mitzva… A gut moed Sources: […]
Pruta chamura
Question: Hi, I have a pruta chamura in my house in Israel, currently I’m in America an dunsure when I’ll be back, I was told that it was suppose to be dispose of even before pesach, What can I do about it now overseas? Thank you Answer: Biur maasros is not until next year […]
online returns
Question: Can you return clothing items bought online before yom tov Answer: If you can return it after chol hamoed it should wait, because we avoid doing non essential business on chol hamoed. However if you will lose the oppourtunity to return it if you wait, then it is considered a davar ha’aved and […]
chol hoamoed
Question: Hello, can the following be done on Chol Hoamoed? 1. Rip toilet paper/floss/other paper 2. Word searches/games/crossword puzzles that involve using a pen? Must it done with a shinui? 3. Buying fruits and vegetables that could have been bought before but are fresher if one waits? thank you Answer: It is permitted to […]
Touching mother/daughter what are nidda
Question: Why is it permitted to hug one’s mother or daughter when they are a nidda? It would seem to be derech chiba so why is it permitted? Answer: It is permitted for a man to hug or kiss his mother daughter even when they are a nidda. The reason is because there is […]
Seed on outside of Pesach package
Question: There was a small seed of some sort on the outside of the package of passover smoked salmon. We wiped it off.Is the lox still ok to eat even if it touched the part of the package where the seed had been? Answer: The lox if fine to eat, as the package is […]
To be Yoitzeh Sefira with shomeia k’oineh
Question: Hi, on the second night of sefira I was still in middle of shemoneh esrai when the ship got up to sefira. While spacing out during my shemoneh esrai, I heard very clearly the tzibbur recite lshem yichud and the rav say the brocha loud and slow then saw the nights counting. When I […]