Question: When one is davening for example uleini or uva litzion in shachris and kadish is being said should he stop and answer for all the amens or he should continue and stop and say amen only for yishei shmei and damiran bulma or all amens. As well what’s the Halacha in psekuei dzimrah regarding […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Caused someone to get a ticket
Question: Hi, if I encouraged someone who generally wouldn’t have parked by a fire hydrant, to park by telling them I always park by this pump etc, thereby causing her to get a ticket. Is there any obligation ( even בידי שמים) to pay Thank you Answer: You do not obligated to pay anything, as […]
Shechyanu on shoes?
Question: Can one make Shechyanu on nice new shoes? Answer: Congratulations on the new shoes. The minhag is not to make shehechiyanu on new shoes. There are a few reasons for this. There are some opinions that say that we don’t say the bracha on garments of leather, since it involves killing an animal, (even […]
Bar Mitzvah Seudah
Question: We are postponing the Seudas Mitzva 2 days due to logistical / technical issues to make it easier for guests from out of town. I understand from the Yam shel shlomo that we are fulfilling the seudas Mitza with the Derosho and celebrations. Is there a requirement do mark the occasion on the actual […]
Overnight a package on Shabbos
Question: Can you go to post office right before Shabbos and overnight a package where there is guaranteed delivery on Saturday by noon. Please explain and give sources. Secondly,If you are staying in hotel and boss jonnie tells his non-Jewish worker they forgot to plug in the warmer . Go plug in now so they […]
Chazaras hashatz without six people who davened
Question: Can one daven Chazaras Hashatz if there were not even six people who davened SE together? Does it make a difference if it is anyway after the zman tefilla? Answer: If the fifth person didn’t daven together with the other five they can not say Chazoras Hashatz. Sources: Ishei Yisroel 34-9 ftnt. 25 pg. […]
Stopping for Kaddish
Question: When one is davening and in the middle kadish is being said should he stop for entire kaddish as well does it make a difference which part of tefillah he is in? I understood that you should stop for entire Kaddish and say amen for all (except for brich hu in psukei dzimrah) (in […]
Limaaseh can one shave with a kosher shaver
Question: Limaaseh can one shave with a kosher shaved (poskims both ways) Answer: You could shave with a shaver that would be kosher according to R’ Moshe. Although there are a number of poskim who argue with him on this, most people in the U.S. and elsewhere rely on him. Best wishes
Pre natal
Question: I had asked abt a different medication and realized it never occurred to me that my pre natal need a hechsher. It’s not a gel like pill so I thought it was fine. Thanks so much Attached: Attached file 1 Answer: You are correct, it should also have a hechsher. Best wishes
Evening primerose oil
Question: Hi, I bought a target brand Primerose oil when I got home I realized i never thought if it needs to be kosher or not. Please help thanks Attached: Attached file 1 Answer: It needs kosher certification, because the glycerin and gelatin can come from non-kosher animal sources. There are a number of companies […]
Using Maaser money to pay for seminary
Question: Is one allowed to use maaser money to send a daughter to seminary if one lives on a small budget? Answer: Yes one can. However the amount of money that the father is saving because the seminary is feeding his daughter, which he would do for her if she would be living at home […]
Blech vs Hot plate
Question: Halacha Lemaseh: 1) Assuming all hot plates get to the level of yad soledes – Is there a difference between a fire with a blech and a hot plate? 2)May one rely lechatchila on the keula of an inverted pot in either situation in terms of warming up dry, cold solids – ie kugel. […]
Lost a pen
Question: I was using a cheap pen that was provided for staff members to use at the place that I work. I ended up losing the pen. Do I need to replace this with a new pen? I think that if I would inform them that I lost the pen, they would tell me that […]
Buying Tefillin with Masser Money
Question: BS”D Shalom dear Rabbi, Question: I give my masser every month in the Jewish community, can I take the money from the masser I give to buy a tefilin? Answer: If the tefillin is for yourself you cannot take it, because we do not use ma’aser money for mitzvos that we are anyways obligated […]
May a convert give psak?
Question: Based on my reading of this question so far, I believe the answer the question lies in whether giving psak is considered a position of serara in our times. The majority opinion is that a convert may not sit on a Beth Din judging a born Jew (for example: see Rambam in Hilchos Sanhedrin […]
May a parent dispose/use items of children under the age of bar-mitzva?
Question: Many times the mother cleans the house and would like to clear out all the junk which children are want to hoard. Another common situation is where the child brings home a danish and just leaves it with no intention, (or even with an intention to save it indefinitely). May these items be treated […]
Aveilus
Question: Is a mourner allowed to sit in a regular chair while eating a meal – both seudas ha’vraah and all other meals during shiva? Answer: The mourner sits on a low chair (less than 3 tefachim high) like Tisha B’av for both the seudas havra’ah and all of the other meals eaten during shiva, […]
Beit Din Gueirut
Question: BS”D Shalom dear Rabbi, Question:Beit Din for one guerim, may have two rabbis relatives (siblings, cousins, father and son etc ..)? even though Dayanim 2 ?, the conversion is valid? Answer: This question is a serious question and should be discussed with a Bais Din that is qualified and recognized to do geirus, […]
purchasing a watch
Question: As an Avel for a parent, can I purchase a wrist watch? Answer: If it is needed, it is permitted for an avel to buy a wrist watch and regarding aveilus, it isn’t considered an article of clothing. Best wishes Sources: Poskim
Looking at the moon
Question: I heard that one should not look at the moon (except to say kiddush levana). Is this correct? Answer: Correct. It is written that one should not gaze (l’histakel) at the moon, for kabalistic reasons. Sources: Shela Shar Haosios Kuf, Shevet Mussar 40-22
chesed at the expense of tefilla b’tzibbur
Question: If one is asked to come to a certain place to help them with a minyan, but one knows that they are not makpid on having asara mispallelim, whereas I would strongly prefer to daven in a place that has asara mispallelim as is required by Rav Moshe, Rav Shlomo Zalmen, the Brisker Rav, […]
hair covering and blessings
Question: Is one allowed to say brachos in the presence of his wife if her hair is uncovered and they are at home and the woman does not cover her hair at home (ie if she does not cover her hair it home, in the home is it considered to be an ervah) Answer: No, […]
secular names?
Question: if one has hebrew names but also have secular names are both sets of names recognized in halacha? meaning could one theoretically even sign halachic contracts with the secular name? Answer: Theoretically you can, however when it comes to signing a kesubah or get, the minhag is to sign with the name that one […]
Saying Asher Yotzar after Hamapil
Question: if one forgot to say asher yatzar and then said hamapil should he say Asher yatzar, ( I don’t see a צד why he can’t) Answer: Yes he should say asher yotzar. This that the Shulchan Aruch writes that we don’t talk after hamapil is only for things that are not important, but for […]
Brocha on having a baby
Question: I have heard in the name of R’ Aharon Kotler and others that the minhag is not to say a “hatov vehameitiv” when one has a baby boy and a “shehecheyanu” when having a baby girl. Is this the prevalent minhag? Answer: Many people do make a bracha, however I can’t tell you what […]
Cologne for men – lo yilbash?
Question: Is there a problem for men to wear cologne. Is there an issue wearing it during dates or at weddings/special events? Answer: Nowadays there are many men that wear cologne, therefore halachically it isn’t Lo Tilbash for a man to wear men’s cologne, (but not a women’s perfume). However hashkafically it should be done in […]
Kezayis of a Tortilla/Wrap
Question: Shalom Rabbis, Practically speaking, is there a way I can go about figuring out (or even estimate) how much of a tortilla/wrap is a kezayis? Thank you! Answer: It is approximately the amount that would fill a one ounce size shnapps cup, when it is pressed in well, or the size of an Israeli […]
New car part
Question: Does one make a shehechiyanu on a new car part? My car was damaged and the insurance ordered a new trunk hood and it is actually a fancier trunk hood (it is from the luxury model). Can I make a bracha on that part? If yes would the Bracha be shehechiyanu or since it […]
What is “Be’maizid” – deliberate when it comes to an avaira?
Question: What constitutes doing an avaira bemaizid – for example bishul on shabbos; 1) If a person is an atheist, is he a maizid? 2) If he believes in Gd, but doesnt believe the Torah is min hashamayim – is that maizid? (I am not referring to a tinok shenishba) Answer: The assumption here is […]
Coffee in the middle of davening
Question: If one is in the middle of pesukei di’zimrah or birchos kerias shema and one feels tired and is falling asleep, is it permissible to stop and have a cup of coffee to help one stay awake? Answer: This is something that should be taken care of before we start davening, (during davening is […]
Passing gas while wearing tefillin
Question: I know that one is not allowed to pass gas while wearing tefillin. What are the parameters of this din? If one is wearing tefillin and senses the urge to pass gas for the first time, must he remove his tefillin right away? Or does must he only remove them if he notices himself […]
Playing with child prior to davening shacharis
Question: Sometimes my one and a half year old daughter wakes up in the morning before I have a chance to daven shacharis. My wife is still sleeping at the time, so I don’t want my daughter to cry or go and wake her up. I watch my daughter for some time until I go […]
Listening to Lashon Hara
Question: Shalom, My frum boss recently said something that was blatantly lashon hara and for no purpose at all when he made a negative judgement of another frum jew. He wasn’t telling me for any reason, he just needed to say his perspective on this person. I was not mekabel and just saw it as […]
2 cm left of a tzitzis string left
Question: Shalom, I noticed that only 2 cm is left of one of my tzitzis strings. Is it still kosher for wearing? Answer: Since it is only one of the strings it is still kosher if it would be two strings then it could start being problematic, but one is fine. Best Wishes Sources:
Can you touch the kosel wall
Question: Can you touch the kosel? and what’s the reason you wouldn’t be allowed to Answer: Yes you may touch the Kosel. According to most poskim and this is the minhag is Klal Yisroel for generations, that the Kosel is not the wall of the Azara of Bais Maikdash itself, rather the outer wall of […]
Hefsek between netilas yadayim and hamotzi
Question: When washing netilas yadayim for bread, sometimes there is no bread available near the washing station on which to make hamotzi. For instance, this might come up by a wedding when the washing station might be on one side of the ballroom, and the person’s table with the bread is on the other side […]
first things first
Question: The Gemara in Megilah 28 says that Rebbe Akiva asked Rebbe Nechunya 2 questions, of which Rebbe Nechunya answered the second question first. Was this a violation of the Mishna that says a chacham answers first things first? Also, in the beginning of Nedarim, the Gemara brings instances of the second question being answered […]
Tziztis and It’s Bracha
Question: When putting on a Tallis in Shul, Kaddish is sometimes said, and I didn’t quite wrap it fully over my head. When am I able to answer Amen Yehey Shmei Rabba, and not have said, a Bracha L’Vatala? Thank you Answer: As soon as the upper part of your body and head are surrounded with […]
Paskening like a single shita
Question: Theoretically is it muttur to pasken like a single man de’amar? for example, if someone knew all the Rambam’s shitos on every topic could that person be a “Rambam-nic” and hold like the Rambam in all situations. I know there is a Gemara that says one could pasken like beis Shammai if they wanted […]
belgium dates infestation
Question: How are Belgium dates are they clean like California and Isreal? Answer: I don’t have any “updated” information on this. In R’ Vaye’s sefer he writes (although this information is not recent) that dates from France are considered low quality, however h doesn’t write regarding Belgium dates. Best Wishes
אֵלִיָּהוּ
Question: peace, was אֵלִיָּהוּ ha’navi married at all? the catholics claim, that he was not. but i don’t know if that is true indeed. sincerely, Answer: According to one opinion, Pinchas was Eliyahu, and we all know that Pinchas was married, Bireishis Rabba 2. Even according to those who don’t agree with this, it still […]
Listening to ambient music during aveilus
Question: During the year of mourning for a parent, is it permissible to listen to the so called “ambient” music, which is not really music but sounds, often repetitive, played at a low volume, to fill the silence of a room. It is used to help concentration and to help me fall asleep at night. […]
Power outage and raw chulent
Question: My shul has the practice of making the chulent right before shabbos. This week the power went out 10 minutes before shabbos and turned back on during bein hashmashos. 1. Is the raw chulent ossur since it wasn’t cooked and we aren’t dealing with any chazara and a complete davar lach (very liquid chulent […]
May I send wine to a non-jew?
Question: May I send wine to a non-Jew? Answer: My assumption is that you have a relationship with the non-Jew, which would permit giving him a present in general. Regarding giving him wine, if the wine is kosher wine, I don’t see a problem with it.
Shabbos hot plate
Question: I inadvertently left a pot of soup on the electric hot plate on Friday night. The hot plate was still on, and I put the soup back right after serving (I had it in mind) and was still yad soledes bo. The hot plate was on Shabbos timer and went off at 11 PM […]
Gezel
Question: My name is Jeff and I’m not a jew but my G-d is Elokei Israel, and I have a halacic question concerning gnavah(theft). I have listened to music video’s posted on youtube and haven’t paid or bought the songs on iTunes or any other platform and was wondering if that would be considered gezel. […]
Shatnez checking
Question: I recently became certified in checking for shatnez. I am wondering what is the based way al pi Choshen Mishpat to charge for garments. Rav Moshe writes in Igros Moshe Y:D 1:72 that even garments that are not 100% obligated to check for shatnez, the custom is to check for them. I am obligated […]
Vaad Bayit monthly fees
Question: I am a tenant in a building in Ramat Bet Shemesh, and the vaad bayit informed me and the other tenants that two building tenants, not disclosing who they are, have not paid their monthly dues in 6 months. This puts an inordinate strain on building maintenance issues. These tenants refuse to pay. One […]
Bugs in ground coffee
Question: Dear Rabbonim, I read recently that it’s a little known food industry truth that ground coffee contains — sorry to gross people out — ground up cockroaches. (Source: https://sprudge.com/dont-worry-there-are-acceptable-levels-of-ground-up-cockroaches-in-coffee-tins-152088.html?fbclid=IwAR3UDhEfatnRw9DljipkFJptN523yJ1B1YOhBPoKAidVe-odMVrR98SLAI4) Basically, the article claims (citing a podcast interview with a professor) that coffee bean stashes are prone to infestation and, as there is no industrial […]
Creating a miyad situation by borer
Question: If one has a mixture of different hand towels and would like to separate one to put away for later, this would seem to be a problem of borer. Would an acceptable solution be to wash one’s hands (even if they are not dirty and one would otherwise have no reason to wash them) […]