Question: Does a person have to make sure when going to the bathroom before davening and in general that the מקום המילה is clean and what about shabbos? Is it a problem if by mistake urine get on our body? Answer: There should be no need for a person to check himself there, as it […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Being photographed by a Non-Jew on Shabbos
Question: Shalom. A non-Jew enters a Shul on Shabbos, Yom Tov, etc… and begins to photograph or take video of our Davening for a legitimate purpose (Documentary, Research, etc…). Is this permitted? What if it happens inside a person’s house (i.e, Shabbos meal, etc..,)? Thank you. Answer: From a strictly halachic angle, technically if we […]
Wearing new comfortable shoes in 3weeks
Question: I have a problem with my ankle and bought a new pair of comfortable shoes may I wear them during three weeks Answer: You may wear them, because we don’t make a shechiyanu in shoes Sources: Kovetz Halachos 5-5.
Kashrut
Question: Dear Rabbi, Accidentally I poured with parve stainless ladle hot meat soup into parve stainless pot. Can I make the ladle and the pot parve again? Answer: You definitely can make them parve again. Here is what you should do. Wait 24 hrs. from when the ladle and pot were used for the meat, […]
Atonement
Question: When we feel emotional pain over our sins does it count as the suffering that’s needed sometimes for atonement? Answer: Definitely. Part of the atonement for the sin that was done is the pain that the person underwent in the teshuva process.
Outing during Availus
Question: Is one permitted to go to a ballgame during availus? Answer: Without getting into the issue weather one should or shouldn’t attend a ballgame, regarding aveilus, it is hard to give an exact answer because it depends on your situation. If you have a need to go, then regarding “tiyul” it is permitted, because […]
Tisha b’av
Question: Is Hashem angry at us on Tisha b’av? I get scared about that every year. Also, I was thinking today that I don’t personally remember the Beis Hamikdash, but I actually really do feel sad that we don’t have it. If we had the Beis Hamikdash, imagine we’d feel Hashem’s presence in our lives […]
Selfish davening
Question: Is it okay to say anything in davening? I don’t have much to say right now in davening other than selfish requests and selfish venting. Mainly I just want to talk to Hashem about my sadness and pain and how much I miss Him and want to be close to Him. I also want […]
When is shloshim?
Question: My mother was buried on June 19 , 2018 in morning in USA. When is shloshim? Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem b’toch shar aveilei tzion v’yerushalayim. The shloshim is calculated as the thirtieth day after the burial. Therefore the shloshim will be on the 6th of av, July 18th. Sources: Y:D 395-1, Taz Y:D […]
Calculating shloshim
Question: My father was niftar on ב תמוזand was buried on ה תמוז When is shloshim? I think it may fall on Shabbas-if this is the case should we go to the Kever on Friday or Sunday? thank you! Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem b’toch shar aveilei tzion v’yerushalayim. The shloshim is calculated as the […]
Parei Hachag
Question: How can we understand the Rashi at the end of Parshas Pinchas which says that the 70 parei hachag represents the Umos Haolam which will be destroyed. How can it be that innocent nations (like America) could ch”v fall? Especially, since we have nevuos in Yeshayah about the Umos Haolam, in the days of […]
Raising chicks
Question: kids came home with baby chick from day camp. Any issue with having a baby chick raised in our house. I understand that we need to take well care of them and not cause any pain to them. Any particular issue with raising birds ? Answer: No, essentially there are problems with raising a […]
Tzaar Ba’alei Chaim
Question: During the hot summer months, taking the trash out too early (for pickup) could attract animals. Does spraying around the garbage bags (to repel them) with ammonia, other toxic substances, etc… before it is taken out to the curb present a problem of Tzaar Ba’alei Chaim? Thank you. Answer: It is permitted ,because you […]
May a seller offer a reward on a sale, which he explicitly limits only to cash (not credit) sales?
Question: May a seller offer a reward on a sale, which he explicitly limits only to cash sales? Is the buyer’s forfeiting the receipt of the reward in exchange for delayed payment considered ribbis? Answer: On one hand your question seems to be similar to “psika” because you are offering the customer two differant prices. […]
Checking Teffilin to make sure that they are black
Question: Does a person have to keep checking his ritzuas and battim to make sure their black or his he יוצא as long as פרשיות are כשר Answer: A person has to make sure that the ritzuas and batim of his tefillin are indeed black, and it is not enough that the parshios are kasher. […]
Using Product with the symbol of the Swiss Flag
Question: Could I use pots by Swiss Diamond Co. It has the Swiss Flag symbol on the underside of the pan as well as on the handle? Thank You Answer: It isn’t clear to me what halachic issue you are referring to, but if your question is because the symbol looks like a cross, it […]
Vort during the 9 days
Question: Can a Kallah who’s vort is during the 9 days buy a new dress for her vort during the three weeks? Answer: It is controversial if we are allowed to buy and wear clothing that is special enough that it requires saying a shehechiyanu, therefore the Shulcha Aruch writes that it is preferable not […]
Shaila The Three weeks
Question: Dear Rabbi Thank you so much for your kindness and help. I ask if background or incidental music is permitted during The Three Weeks e.g. programs with incidental music via radio, internet, or other etc. I listen and watch programs and other media not doing so to listen to the background music but often […]
New t-shirt in the beginning of the three weeks.
Question: May my 11 year old daughter wear new t-shirts that were ordered before the three weeks, but arrived in the beginning of the three weeks? Answer: During the three weeks it is permitted because it is not something that would require makng a shecheyanu on it.
Coffee spilled on Fleishig bowl
Question: There was a fleishig bowl out and as I had milchig coffee some spilled and got into the bowl. The bowl was clean and had not been used recently. The bowl is ceramic with a glaze. Can the bowl just be cleaned and continued to use for meat? Answer: If the coffee was in […]
Drinking water in order to swallow a pill on a fast day
Question: Is one allowed to drink some water to swallow a medically prescribed pill on 17th of Tammuz? Answer: It depends on the reason that you are taking the pill. If it is because you are not well, then you are allowed to take the pill with some water, because a person that is sick […]
is conquest of land considered to be like stealing
Question: Is conquest of the land of Israel considered to be theft? Answer: Your question is the topic of the first Rashi in chumash. Rashi says that the reason why the torah starts with the creation of the world, is to justify the fact that the Jews conquered Eretz Yisroel. Just in case the nations […]
Unspoken tefillah
Question: Does tefillah count if there are no words, not even words held inside? If it’s just feelings and thoughts consciously directed toward Hashem, is that still tefillah? Sometimes it’s too painful to say the words, for example if I’m too angry to daven but inside I still have things I need to say and […]
3weeks
Question: Is it permissible to attend a drum circle in the park where people play drums and dance during 3 weeks? Answer: The minhag is not to listen to music or to dance, during the three weeks as a sign of mourning over the bais hamikdash. Therefore such events should not be attended during the […]
I ate after alos by mistake
Question: I by mistake ate to day after 4:25am I think it was 4:29 what’s the din. Do I have to fast again tomorrow? Answer: Although it appears that you did eat after alos, you finish fasting today, and don’t eat any more. You say Aneinu by mincha, and you do not have to fast tomorrow. […]
Impressions of the space programs
Question: Dear Rabbi, I am interested in the orthodox commentary and feeling about the space program we are witnessing. Interesting I have noted that of course we have landed on the Moon in the years from 1969-1972. Mr. Nixon who resigned was the only president during the lunar walks. They took place twice in Av […]
Women dancing at a wedding behind a mechitza when man is watching
Question: When women are dancing at a wedding on the women’s side, and there is a man at the entrance watching them, is it permitted for them to continue dancing while he’s watching? Answer: It is permitted for them to continue dancing. It is not lifnei iver because they are not doing anything to cause […]
Cooked frozen vegetables in a milk pot, then strained them in a meat strainer. Is the strainer treif?
Question: A house guest cooked frozen vegetables in a milk pot (no onions), but then strained them in a plastic meat strainer. IS that strainer now treif? Do we have to throw it out? Answer: No, the strainer is still kosher. The reason is because we can assume (unless we know otherwise) that the pot […]
Can I rent a car during the 3 weeks?
Question: Can u rent a car during the 3 weeks? Answer: Yes, it is not like buying new items, and it is permitted.
basar bchalav
Question: i had gotten fleishigs (chicken) on my phone then hours later touched my phone and then handeled pizza to put it away..is this a problem? Answer: While it is not a preferred thing to do, the pizza is permitted.
Has a big Rabbi furnished you with an opinion regarding #47211 “Working with a Catholic priest”?
Question: On June 4, 2018 I received a message that included, “I am not sure if this is indeed a concern or not, and I had the point send to a big Rabbi, but it will take a few days for me to receive an answer on this.” Has a big Rabbi furnished you with […]
Alos
Question: I usually try not to eat before davening once it’s the first aman alos I didn’t eat melava malkah yet and its it’s no second aman yet here in ny can I eat till second zman? Answer: If it is just that you try to do it, but it isn’t that you noheg like […]
mezuzah on the Bungalow
Question: Mezuzah on a bungalow needs a bracha? Answer: The assumption is that you are asking regarding a bungalow located outside of E. Yisroel that is being rented for more than 30 days. If you are renting the bungalow for more than 30 days then the mezuzah would need a bracha, however it is controversial […]
Did Josiah pray to God
Question: in Second Kings 22:19 because your heart was softened and you humbled yourself before the LoRD when you heard what I decreed against this place and its inhabitants-that it will become a desolation and a curse–and because you rent your clothes and wept before Me, I for My part have listened-declares the Lord. 20 […]
abandoned property of a tenant
Question: I had a tenant that stopped paying rent. After serving him an eviction notice, he disappeared and left furniture, books etc behind. It has since been a year, I have tried to contact him, but to no avail. Are the things he left behind considered hefker? Answer: Answer by Horav Y. Fleishman shlit”a They […]
False judgement between two people only:
Question: in referrance to https://dinonline.org/2018/06/25/people-judge-and-embarass-me/ Does embarrassment also count, if it’s not done in a public area (amongst a group of people). For instance, an embarrassment occurring between only 2 people. The embarrassment to oneself basically. Could such be compared to death (from false humiliation) as well? Or must be towards a crowd (only) to be […]
Photography for non tznius fashion blog
Question: Hi Someone in my community asked me to take photos for them for their fashion blog. The clothing they are wearing are not tznius at all. Am I allowed to take photos for them? Do you think it’ll be encouraging them to dress untznius? She will be paying me and I really need money […]
China dishes, unknown if used for milchig or fleishig not used for 10 years
Question: china dishes that have a smooth coated finish-unknown if used for milchig or fleishig–never used together–they havent been used in over ten years—-can they be kashered? do they need kashering after such a long time? Answer: They can be used after kashering them 3 times, meaning that each dish should be immersed in boiling […]
People judge and embarassment
Question: Why does G-d allow people to constantly judge an innocent person, such as me. We can never ask G-d why, but just trying to understand. Judging results, in an act known as humiliation. Plus, humiliation results in act known as “death” – Since, humiliation is extremely painful. A rabbi once said, whatever happens is […]
Haughtiness
Question: Thank you for explaining. Is it okay for me to remember my accomplishments and be proud of them? Or does that diminish the reward? I think it helps me to build myself by thinking of my strengths because then I feel stronger and more capable of doing more good. It also makes me more […]
Ktav for Sta”m
Question: Shalom. What exactly is Ktav “Vellish”/Script? What are it’s origins and when was it first used? How come Sephardim who use Vellish script (for Tefillin, Mezuzot, etc…) don’t use Ktav Bet Yosef, if the Bet Yosef who is the Mechaber was himself Sephardi? Thank you. Answer: The “Vellish” script is otherwise known as the […]
Bedside hand washing
Question: I grew up in a very frum home and my parents wash their hands in the morning either in the kitchen sink or in the bathroom. I am now aware that some people wash their hands at their bedside. I am wondering if i should change my current minhag and start washing at my […]
Music permitted in resturaunt/take-out store?
Question: Is it permitted to play backround music in a cafe/take-out store? Here is my question: – The actual hetter to listen to music altogether is not clear; seemingly it is prohibited due to the gzeirah of Chazal in Gittin 7 for “Zecher L’churban” – It appears that today’s poskim are more lenient (maybe based […]
matzava
Question: A woman was married to Mr. a for many years and had children with him, after he passed away she married Mr. b, whose name goes on her matzava a or b? Answer: There isn’t any specific halachos regarding this, and it depends on the individual situation, and the feelings of the people […]
Segula for having children by saying Perek Shira for 40 days
Question: Hi. I have heard that reciting perek shira every day for 40 consecutive days is a segula for having children. Is this true? And if so does it in entail reciting the whole perek shira every day or just different portions. Thanks Answer: It is difficult to say anything about this segula, because […]
Why is wrong to believe what someone says about someone else?
Question: Why is it wrong to believe someone when they say something about someone else? Isn’t that an example of judging unfavorably (assuming that the person is lying)? Why shouldn’t we take their word that they are telling the truth, and assume it is like we were there themselves, and whatever they said and thought […]
Thank you.
Question: Thank you with all my heart for answering my questions and listening to my concerns and reassuring me about the same things over and over. This website feels like a hug from Hashem and I am so grateful to everyone involved in answering questions and providing this important service to Klal Yisrael. Thank you […]
How can we pray for something if we don’t ever really know whats good for us
Question: how can we pray for something if we don’t ever really know whats good for us meaning why should someone pray for more money maybe its not good for him to have money now its possible g-d has other plans for him so why are we told to pray for something when we need […]
Diaphragm
Question: Hi, For a woman with a valid heter to use birth control, is a diaphragm a halachically permissible method? Is there a difference between one which can be inserted and taken out at will vs one that is implanted for long-term use? Answer: It would be best for her to discuss this with the […]
How to distribute money to ones married children.
Question: Chalom Someone got an unexpected sum of money. He wants to distribute it to his children all of them are married with children (one with 7 one with three and one with 2 children) Only one of the grandchildren is bas mitzvah. What would the best way to figure out the amount to be […]