Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a, Author at Ask The Rabbi - Dinonline

Putting a Sefer Torah in the hold of a plane

Question: Hi. We are transporting a Sefer Torah to Israel and it needs to go in the hold of the plane due to its size. What is the appropriate way to wrap it? Answer: Hello, Unfourtunately, I can’t suggest an appropriate way to do this. If it goes in the baggage, the goyim are […]

Splash-back from sink

Question: Recently, I was rinsing a dairy bowl in the sink and some water splashed up from the bowl and might have gotten on the part of the faucet where the water comes out (I’m not sure if it actually did). There was no soap being used as I was just rinsing the bowl. In […]

Very little time for Mincha

Question: We have a minyan at work which has a very limited time. We can either do a hechi kedusha or start the chazara with 6 listening. What would you suggest? Answer: Hello, Before answering your question, you have to understand that both options are b’dieved, and just because you will be meikel one […]

meat fork in dairy toast

Question: I toasted bread with butter. I started to take it out of the toaster [the toast was definately yad soledet] with a metal aino ben yomo fork, but immediately realised my mistake before the fork penetrated the toast more than a drop. The part of the fork that penetrated is definately less than 1\60 […]

Follow up on Sponges

Question: Meaty Sponge for Parve Utensil 07/09/2010 Can a parve utensil be cleaned with a fleishig sponge and still remain parve? Answer: The utensil would remain parve provided that one of the following three conditions were met: 1. Cold water was used to wash the utensil. 2. The sponge had not been used for fleishigs […]

Teshuvah between Individuals

Question: Hello, Let’s just say that you’re in a situation where it is not very possible for you to track down a certain individual you want to seek and ask Forgiveness from, and you really want to in order to do Teshuvah to the Person wronged with Love and Remorse. However, you have no way […]

kashering a soup ladle with a plastic handle

Question: I recently kashered my kitchen and dishes, except for the Pesach dishes. I want to kasher a soup ladle with a plastic handle from the unkosher Pesach dishes, so that I can use it now. Do I need to wash it and wait 24 hours before kashering? It wasn’t used in about 7 months […]

Fantasy football/baseball

Question: Is playing in a yearly fantasy football/baseball league between friends where everyone gives $10 and the winner is awarded allowed ol pi Halacha? Thanks Regards Answer: Hello, I am not familiar with this type of game, but from what you are describing, it sounds like it is considered betting. Best wishes

Case of damage (from a ben Noach)

Question: Dear Rabbi, I’m a ben Noach. When it rains, the water streams from neighbors’ balcony to my grandma’s balcony. So, my uncle and me built a little barrier that stops the water from flooding her property. But I thought that so the water could gather only on her neighbors’ balcony and could cause more […]

Torah and History

Question: What are the classic proofs that human does not write the Torah and does any scholars write about Documentary theory? Thank you Answer: Hello, There are numerous ones, but here is one of them. When the Torah writes which animal are kosher and which aren’t the torah says that an animal needs 1. […]

Salad perepared with meaty equipment to eat with fish

Question: Hi. I recently bought a Israeli salad which is prepared in the store itself, however on the label it says that everything is prepared with fleishig equipment. I was wondering if there would be a problem of mixing it with tuna fish. Answer: Hello, You may eat it with tuna fish. It is […]

Erev Rosh Chodesh

Question: Hello, What is the status of women fasting erev Rosh Chodesh? Answer: Hello, There are some men that fast for teshuva on erev Rosh Chodesh, however the majority of men do not. It is not the custom for women to do this. Best wishes

Giving kavod when entering or exiting a shul or bais medrash?

Question: Recently I was inside a shul. The Rav (who is also a Kohen) was also inside the shul. We approached the door at the same time to leave. I motioned for him to go out the door before me, l’khvod HaRav. As he was leaving, he smiled and said that it’s not such a […]

Cremation for non Jews

Question: Hi Rabbi, Could you share some light on non-Jewish cremation for a grieving friend who is a Jew, but their family is not. If a non-Jew is cremated, is there any possibility of them still being able to participate in Techias Hameisim on account of being a righteous gentile? Any information would be greatly […]

Unfriendly ?

Question: Hi Rabbi, why do ——— [native english speakers] seem unfriendly and (sometimes) even rude when you talk to them, and they seem a bit self-centered, of course there will always be the very enthusiastic and outgoing. But I feel that most of them are unfriendly. Is that true? Answer: Hello, Personally, I don’t feel […]

Is the status of Av HaTumah limited to a person?

Question: If an item (e.g. bread) touches a corpse, does that item become Av Hatumah or a Rishon l’Tumah? Answer: Hello, The only things that become an av hatumah when touching a corpse are items that can be toveled and made tahor in a mikva. Therefore food, and pottery (kli cheres) which cannot become […]

Storing challah in the freezer and then burning

Question: Can I take off challah, wrap it and freeze it and then burn a whole batch of these challahs once a month or so or is the mitzvah to burn or dispose of it right away? Answer: Hello, It is preferable to either burn it or wrap it well and dispose of it […]

Wake up and smell the coffee

Question: I open the jar of coffee and without any intention, I smell the enjoyable fragrance of the coffee. I then make coffee to drink and make a shehakol. Do I need to make any beracha on the smelling of the coffee beans in a case in which I enjoy its smell and want to […]

Eat unwashed supermarket fruit

Question: Can you eat supermarket fruit without washing it since it was already washed before it came to the supermarket at least once, usually many times? Answer: Hello, The reason for washing fruit, aside from general cleanliness, (as it might have fallen on the floor, and/or was handled by numerous hands between the tree […]

Seforim in bedroom

Question: Hi, hope all is well. BH I have a large and growing seforim library in my bedroom. Recently it came to mind that maybe I shouldn’t have seforim in my bedroom because I am not always completely dressed while in my bedroom (changing cloths, etc.) I am not married so that is not an […]

Ketubah Signing

Question: Can a Step-father who is a Rabbi, officiate any part of the wedding service for his Step-Son and his intended. Bedekin, Ketubah Signing, Kiddushin, Shevah Brachot? Please provide sources. Thank you in advance. Answer: Hello, A step father, which I am assuming means that the rabbi is married to the groom’s mother, is […]

Burning challah

Question: It is very difficult for me to burn the challah that I take off at hafrashas challah so I triple wrap it and throw it out. Recently I noticed a bin outside where you can drop challah to be burned for a fee. Am I required to use this service or is there room […]

Sweeping up food with ants on Shabbos

Question: If I am sweeping up food remnants on Shabbos, and I notice that there are ants crawling around in the food, is it permissible to dispose these food remnants into a garbage can, or would it be prohibited since it would be trapping the ants? And would it matter if a different type of […]

Hadassim in water

Question: If there are fresh hadassim in water in a jug on the shabbos table, does one need to be careful about moving the jug on Sshabbos? Answer: Hello, It is permitted to move the jug on Shabbos, since the hadassim have already been cut, and even if the water touches more of the hadassim, […]

Bracha standing

Question: If I have more kavana standing for a bracha (even for bentsching or al hamichya) than sitting, is it ok if I stand? Answer: Hello, There is controversy about this, however it would seem that it is still better to sit. This is although the main reason for sitting while bentching is in […]

Giving mitzvah merits to a sick parent

Question: Is it permissible to give the merit of a mitzvah to the benefit of a sick parent so that they should have a refuah shleimah? I know it mentions this in the gemara about one giving tzedaka so that someone should live, but what about other mitzvos? Is there a particular mitzvah which is […]

Food under pillow

Question: After waking up from a daytime nap, I recently found a bag of animal crackers/pretzles underneath one side of my pillow. I’m not sure if I slept exactly on top of the crackers, but I did sleep on top of the pillow. Are the crackers now forbidden to eat? I’ll add that the crackers […]

Destroyed Fruit tree

Question: My neighbor redid their driveway and now our lime tree is slowly dying. They must have cut a root unintentionally. What is the Halacha on them or us for them killing our tree? Answer: Hello, My understanding of your question is two-fold. You mean to ask regarding the monetary aspect, and regarding the […]

Any hope for people who say, “I will sin then repent, sin then repent”?

Question: What happens to somebody who really says to himself, “I will sin then repent, sin then repent,” then does exactly so numerous times, however, later on realizes that this was his biggest mistake in life without a doubt, feels true genuine regret, begins to live an honest and upright life, is humble to himself […]

Bishul akum on potato kugel

Question: Is potato kugel considered oleh al shulchan melachim? Answer: Hello, It seems that it is. First of all, according to some poskim, foods that are served at a smorgasbord would be considered oleh al shulchan melachim, and potato kugel is often served at a smorgasbord, (R’Y.Belski zt”l) or at a chasuna (R’ M. […]

Karate Bowing to Picture

Question: Hi, my son wants to start a Karate class with his frum classmates. Apparently, they bow when they enter the room and there is a picture of a Karate master on the wall in the room. I assume that the bowing could be directed to the picture of the Karate master, who I assume […]

Kosher status of fur

Question: Dear Rabbi, I understand it is treif to touch the carcass of a dead animal. Of course, Jews wear streimels made out of a fur. But why is fur permitted? I think it is nice but are there any kosher precautions? Thank you. Answer: While touching a carcass makes a person ritually impure, […]

My Daughter’s status

Question: I went through a conversation while pregnant with my daughter. Her Father was a Cohen and thought he no longer was a cohen because of my pregnancy and because I was a convert. Our daughter was born and two years later we married (Jewish ceremony) our daughter attended Jewish schools and went through an […]

Sources in Baba Bathra 14b

Question: Who is R. Johanan in Baba Bathra 14b? Is this Johanan ben Zakkai or Johanan bar Nafcha? And how would we know? Many kind thanks!! Answer: Hello, It is definitely not R’ Yochanan Ben Zakkai, as he was Tanna, who lived in the time of the Second Temple (3713- 3833) and was the […]

Blamelessness

Question: My question has to do with being blameless. After the proper sacrifice was made one becomes blameless. My question has to do with any punishment that would have occurred if a problem arises from the sin after becoming blameless. A good example would be if someone committed an act of infidelity and made the […]

Yichud

Question: Is the following a yichud scenario: A woman is home alone in the evening. A night nurse for a relative arrives. They are home alone for an hour, in different rooms of the house. Any family members could arrive at any time, and several family members would certainly be back within 72 minutes. […]

Davening for women

Question: I only had time to daven Brachos and Shemone Esrei this morning and I always thought Shemone Esrei started from tehilos l’kel elyon but after I said it I realized that it’s in middle of a Bracha. Wld that be considered a Bracha l’vatala? Answer: Hello, No, it was not a bracha l’vatala, […]

Kaddish inquiry

Question: I daven slow and need to skip certain parts by shachris only to keep pace with Charan over the year.Now I must say kadish yosom ,I feel I cannot be shliach tripper when skipping.Ithink I will say kaddish shachris only and lead services for mincha and maariv.Would this be disrespectful to parent memory.Please advise. […]

Buying My First Tefillin – Beit Yosef or AriZal

Question: Hi Rabbi, I come from a non-observant family and am starting to reconnect with Jewish traditions and would like to buy tefillin. However, because it’s been a couple of generations since anyone in my family was observant, I do not know whether my family would use Beit Yosef or AriZal tefillin. My entire family […]

Disrupting Shemonah Esrei Due to Siren

Question: Sholam Rav, What is the halachah if one is in the middle of shemonah esrei, and a siren goes off? Is one allowed to go into a bomb shelter or should he just stay where he is and ignore it? Answer: Hello, Unless your Rov tells you personally otherwise, he should go into […]

Do oil vegan probiotic drop need heksher?

Question: My toddler has been struggling with a sensitive stomach and I was recommended a brand of probiotics that is not kosher certified but was told that should be okay because it might fall in category of medicinal and is plant based. The product name is BioGaia: this are the ingredients Sunflower oil, medium chain […]

Intermarriage and being Jewish

Question: My father was the only child of an ultra-orthodox Jewish family. In 1950 my father married my mother who was non-Jewish.. My father’s family held a funeral for him and never had contact with him again. After I was born in the mid 1950’s we left New York and moved to California , I […]

Am I required to let people know when I’m sick?

Question: I personally dislike letting people know when I am unwell. Am I required to inform them so they can have kavana for the mitzvah of bikur cholim, or can they fulfill it without having the kavana? Also- are there other reasons I would need to inform people? Clarification: I am taking necessary health precautions […]

Microwave by mistake

Question: I used a fleishig microwave for a dairy product what is the rule with the microwave and the food Answer: I used a fleishig microwave for a dairy product what is the rule with the microwave and the food? Answer: In order to answer you regarding the product, I would need to know […]

floor

Question: What is the status of a hot utensil/food that falls onto the floor- not necessarily clean, but not known to have mamash milchigs or fleishigs on it. Answer: Hello, If you don’t know that it fell on any actual fleishigs of milchigs, you don’t have to be concerned that it did. Best wishes […]

Is someone who lives from tzedaka obligated to give maaser?

Question: Unfortunately, I live from tzedaka, and have very little extra funds. Am I obligated to give maaser nevertheless? Isn’t maaser on money just a custom and not a real mitvah? What about past years where no maaser was given at all? Exactly how is masser calculated? Is it dollar per dollar, or after […]

Using feminine form of verb when saying 13 principles

Question: I live in Israel and speak Hebrew. When I daven I recently started saying the 6 zechirot and 13 ikarim after aleinu. Should I say “ani maamina” or “ani maamin” ? Since I speak Hebrew it seems wrong to me to say “ani maamin”. Answer: Hello, Interesting point. Although grammatically what you are writing […]

Blowing shofer not in Elul or for R’H

Question: It is MS’K 20th Cheshvon, I am looking the kotel.org. at Wilson’s Arch, there is a Sefardi Sefer Torah on a Bima, and men davening around it and blowing both a rams shofer and then a metal shofer and then 5 men walk around the bima. I have seen it said 3 times during […]

Regarding question https://dinonline.org/2023/11/02/maaser-test-and-lottery/

Question: By segulah I was referring to a source that brings down that it is permitted to test Hashem by promising to give maaser if Hashem will grant him financial profit. I don’t remember at this moment where this source is. Therefore, my question was if it is permitted to test Hashem in this way […]

Maaser test and lottery

Question: Someone who desperately needs a livelihood and more funds, if it is permitted to buy lottery tickets, and to use the segulah of maaser, that if they win, they will bli neder give maaser from the amount that they actually receive, since most of the winnings go to various taxes. It will probably be […]