Question: Is a frum woman allowed be in yichud with her non-frum sister and her long-time non-frum Jewish partner/boyfriend? Answer: Hello, She should be careful about yichud. According to a number of poskim, since the two are not married, even with a civil marriage, they don’t feel responsible for each other, and they are […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Medicine on tannis
Question: Am I allowed to take any capsule/tablet medicine on TishaBav or Yom Kippur (without water) ? Answer: Hello, To make blanket statement that any capsule/tablet is permitted to take without water is incorrect. Although the person is not benefiting from the taste of the pill, nevertheless it is not permitted without sufficient reason. […]
Hashavat Aveida on toys
Question: Hi, I have some practical questions on Hashavat Aveida 1. My 3 year old son found a very small, cheap plastic toy car on the front lawn of our house and he brought it in the house. It’s like the kind of thing that you might get for free in a box of cereal. […]
Ironing before/during the Nine Days
Question: Hi. Every year, before the Nine Days, I launder and iron all of my children’s clothing (ages 4-11). Since this is a huge job, I am wondering whether it would be permissible to do the ironing during the Nine Days? I understand that the prohibition is against wearing freshly laundered and ironed clothes; since […]
Emails to an overseas recipient when it is Shabbat for them.
Question: Hi I work as an Australian lawyer but I live in Israel. I have many Jewish clients in Australia. If they are not religious, I am careful not to send them an email on Friday (when it is already Shabbat in Australia) becuase I am concerned that they may read it and I would […]
Sifting flour in the USA
Question: Does flour manufactured in the US need sifting? If yes, what mesh sifter is needed? Answer: Hello, This is what one of the Rabbonim of the CRC of Chicago answered regarding your question. “If the flour was purchased from a store that has proper storage conditions, and was properly stored by the consumer, then […]
Steaming a tablecloth during the 9 days
Question: Hi, is it permitted to steam the wrinkles out of a tablecloth using the steam refresh setting on my dryer or by hanging them in the shower (does it make a difference if this is being done for a work event and not for personal use)? Thank you. Answer: Hello, This is permitted, […]
Wine/Meat After Plag Mincha During the 9 Days?
Question: If making an “early Shabbos” during the 9 Days, is it permitted to drink wine/eat meat? Thx & Kol Tuv. Answer: Hello, Once you were makabel Shabbos, it is Shabbos for you and you may eat meat and drink wine. Best wishes Sources: רבבות אפרים ח”א ס’ שסז אות ב’ “אם קבל שבת […]
Buying a wig from China, Chashash of Indian Hair
Question: I live in the U.S. I want to buy a wig from China- through Aliexpress. The store is called 361 Store. All communication is online. The website advertises that this wig is made from European Hair. I asked a question online and someone answered “we only use European Jewish hair, which is beyond doubt”. […]
Business credit card
Question: There is a business credit card (Chase Ink) that is popular now even for people without a businesses. Technically , it is only allowed to be used for business expenses, not personal and household expenses. And when applying, you need to certify that you will only use it as such. But it seems that […]
Halachos/minhagim of 9 days
Question: Is it permitted to go to the gym and/or train martial arts (hands on) in the 9 days? Thanks Answer: Hello, It is permitted, as you are doing it not just for pleasure, but for the benefit of the fitness, and protection that you have out of it. Best Wishes
End of year gifts during the nine days
Question: Is one allowed to give end of year gifts to teachers, Rebbes and other School staff? And on Shavua shechal boi? (such as presentations, books and / or other gifts? Answer: Hello, Although it is not written specifically that buying and giving gifts during the nine days, however according to a number of […]
Havdalah during the 9 days
Question: Hi. What does one use for havdallah during the 9 days since we can’t use grape juice/wine? Answer: Hello, The Sefardi minhag is that the person making havdalah drinks the wine. According to the Ashkenazi minhag either one can use beer[1], which is considered chamar medina, or if one has a boy[2] between […]
40 consecutive days
Question: When saying perek shira for 40 “consecutive” days, does that include Shabbat? There is no perek for Shabbat. Answer: Hello, The idea of saying it means saying the whole perek shira for 40 days. Therefore Shabbos is the same as during the week. Best wishes
Swimming alone
Question: Hi. Is there a halacha that forbids swimming by yourself in an empty pool? Thank you Answer: Hello, I am not aware of such a halacha. In general though, one should be careful not to do dangerous things during the three weeks. Best wishes
Non-Stick Frying Pan
Question: Does a non-stick frying pan need a bracha when toiveled? The metal part that contacts the stove is aluminum. Answer: Hello, A non-stick frying pan, which is coated with Teflon needs tevila. There is controversy among the poskim if a bracha should be said on it or not. The reason being that Teflon […]
Potato kugel cooked in oven with meat
Question: If I cooked a potato kugel in an oven at the time as I was cooking meat (and both were uncovered) what is the status of the kugel – can I eat it with milchig food? Can I eat it and then eat milchig food right after it? Or do I have to wait […]
Toveling utensils
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. 1.Does halacha require toveling utensils three times each in the mikvah, or one full immersion for each item is sufficient? 2. If it requires three, and I recently toveled several items once each, may they be used or should they be reimmersed (without a bracha?) 3. […]
Can one go to a museum during the 9 days
Question: Can one visit a museum during 9 days Answer: Hello, During the nine days we are supposed to minimize doing pleasurable things such as building or planting things that bring us happiness. According to a number of poskim this includes going on pleasure trips, as it is a time for us to realize […]
Asking for forgiveness
Question: About 40 years, when I was growing up in Australia, we often had Shabbat meals together with my grandparents and first cousins. I remember one Shabbat when my cousin bravely tried to recite kiddush. It was difficult for him because he could barely read Hebrew. After stumbling through it, I foolishly made an embarrassing […]
Shaving
Question: I have hair on my ears which I shaved. A while ago I thought that it may be a question of lo silbash so I didn’t do it for a long time at this point it is a very long and making me feel very uncomfortable I called a halacha hotline and asked if […]
Microwave kashering
Question: Hi Rabbi, I have a meat microwave, it has been used in the last 24 hours. I have a gentile worker working in the house, who accidentally put there his cold coffee with milk for about 10 seconds before I noticed. The cup was closed. Can I Kasher the microwave? Can I Kasher the […]
Tikkun Chatzos During The Summer
Question: Is it permitted to say tikkun chatzos during the period from shavous until after tisha b’av if one wants to say it or should one specifically refrain from saying it during that time Answer: Hello, There are different opinions there is an opinion that from Shavous until after Tisha Bav that it doesn’t […]
Davening during work
Question: Is an employer required to allow an employee to daven while he is clocked in ? Answer: Hello, If a worker has the rights to daven mincha during his work time depends on the situation. In general, conditions nowadays are not the way they were in the time of the gemora, and employers […]
Glass Table toivelling
Question: Do I need to toivel my glass table, if I did the basic assembly after buying it from Ikea does that help? Answer: Hello, According to numerous poskim, a table does not require tevilas keilim, because it is not a utensil used for eating on, but rather for putting plates on. Even if […]
9 kavim
Question: What is the MIKOR for 9 kavim instead of mikveh if MIKVEH is not available? Answer: The topic is discussed in Brachos 22a, and then in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 89-1. See sources. Best wishes Sources: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות קריאת שמע סימן פח סעיף א “כל הטמאים קורין בתורה וקורין ק”ש ומתפללין, […]
Toveling Electric Appliances
Question: Another Jewish person recently gave me a small George Forman grill that has never been used. It’s brand new in the box. The instruction manual warns that it should not be immersed in water. Since I cannot tovel it, can I use it? Answer: Hello, A simple George Forman, without a computer chip, […]
Fish and chicken
Question: Are you allowed to eat fish and chicken (not fish and meat) together? Context: the chicken dish has sauce that contains fish… Answer: Hello, The same way we do’t eat meat and fish together, we don’t eat fish and chicken together. Best wishes Sources: א) שבות יעקב (ח”ב סי’ ק”ד) – “גם בשר […]
Globes
Question: Dear Rabbi, When I was young, I had a planet globe map. I did learn my topography and planet. At some point I felt Torah forbid the representation of the globe since you were facing the drive of a whole planet and decided to just stick to maps. Was I wrong? Answer: Hello, […]
Which brachot?
Question: If one had enough of these waffles for a meal so they serve as the bread component, would it be hamotzi? GLUTEN FREE BLEND (BROWN RICE FLOUR, POTATO STARCH, RICE FLOUR, SOY FLOUR), WATER, EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, BAKING POWDER (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: FRUIT JUICE BLEND […]
Water Faucet
Question: Our dogs pulled a paper bag that pizza came in off the counter and it is possible the bag touched the part of the faucet where the water comes out. Unfortunately, my wife used the faucet in a meat pot to boil water before I could clean it. Are there any kashrut concerns? […]
Washing vegetables and checking for bugs
Question: Is it halachikly required to wash and clean vegetables or halachikly one just needs to ensure there are no bugs in the food however way they accomplish that? Answer: Hello, The idea of washing and checking fruits and vegetables for bugs is a practical one. As we see that there are fruits and […]
Teshuva when unable to ask for forgiveness
Question: If a person sins against another person and is unable to ask for forgiveness ( even general forgiveness) for different reasons. For example, the person doesn’t know all the people the sin affected or other reasons. Does it help to have regret and stop the sin as a form of teshuva, give tzedakhah, confession […]
Copying picture for kuntris
Question: Hi Boruch Hashem I am in the process of completing my own kuntris i wanted to know if i can copy and past a kuntris cover i found online and use that as a template for my own one. Answer: Hello, It depends where you are getting the template from. If you are […]
Maariv after plag
Question: Hello, As an Ashkenazi, is it ok to occasionally daven Mincha before plag in order to daven maariv early before shkia ( after plag) ? Or that’s ok only if you do it every day ? Answer: Hello, The Ashkenazi minhag in many places is that this is allowed, even on a constant […]
meat utensils in dairy sink
Question: If dirty metal meat utensils were placed in the dairy sink which had dirty (mostly metal, a little plastic) dairy utensils in it, and a very hot stream of water (less than 60 times more than the food) came from the faucet onto the dishes, what is the status of the dishes and what […]
Fleishigs on Wednesday
Question: Is there a minhag not to eat fleishigs on Wednesday? If so, what is the source? Answer: Hello, There are people that abstain from eating meat and drinking wine on Mondays and Thursdays as a form of mourning over the Bais Hamikdash, the burning of the Torah and chillul Hashem. This would include eating […]
Shatnez
Question: Rabbi, The halachas of shatnez confuse me, I know we can’t sleep on shatnez,wear it, etc. My question is though, can we handle shatnez? For example one time I was helping someone move what I believe was a wool rug (possibly shatnez), is this allowed? Or if a co worker asked me to hand […]
Maaser on Sprouts
Question: If we grow lentil (or similar) sprouts in our kitchen, using just water, must we separate trumos and maasros? No dirt is involved. If we grow sunflower seed sprouts in our kitchen, which are planted in a tray of dirt, must we separate trumos and maasros? Answer: Hello, There is controversy about this, therefore […]
Meat Spoon used in yoghurt (cold)
Question: Hello. I used a meat spoon in cold yogurt. I’m not sure if the spoon was used within 24 hours with meat. How do I Kasher the spoon? Thank you. Answer: Hello, You do not have to kasher the spoon, since the yopgurt was cold. Just wash it off with soap and water […]
Gold on Shoes
Question: Hi, Is it permitted to wear shoes that have a little of gold on the heal? Answer: Hello, It is wonderful that you are correctly sensitive to the ideas of tznius. I think the question should be reworded to say is it correct or incorrect to wear shoes with some gold on the heel. […]
Ribbis?
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. 1. Regarding taking a loan from a Jewish owned company (the loan was taken several years ago, before I knew what ribbis was) and the loan was taken without a heter iska. No interest was charged and no interest was (or will be) paid back from […]
Brachot questions
Question: Hello Rabbi, 1. Are blintzes ever hamotzi? If one ate all six from a box of Golden brand blinztes …blueberry…as a meal with yogurt or fruit or egg etc. So they are the main meal and the “bread”, would they be hamotzi? 2. What about two alone as a breakfast? 3. Would two mini […]
Kosher Drinks
Question: Is it permitted to purchase iced coffee during the week from a facility that is open on Shabbat such as Aroma Cafe? Answer: Hello, The fact that it is open on Shabbat is unfortunate, but if the coffee wasn’t made on Shabbat itself then that halachically that not be an issue. There are, […]
Patriarchs’ role in Creation
Question: I recentely came across an academic publication in which a Jewish professor made the statement to the affect that Jewish patriarchs like Yakob and Moshe were credited with a role in creation in Jewish midrash. I am aware of a post-talmudic midrash Pirke Rabi Eliezer in which Yakob’s stone in Bereshit 28:18 is taken […]
Shechechiyanu on slippers
Question: Hi, Do you make a shechenuyaho on new slippers? Answer: We do not make a shehechiyanu on new slippers. This is because we only say this bracha when acquiring a new garment that is prominent and gives us much joy, This is generally not the case with getting a new pair of slippers. […]
On Bnei Noach
Question: Shalom Aleikhem, Rabbotay! I hope you are doing fine. Recently, it has come to my attention that certain so proclaimed Rabbis in …, are appointing non-Jews to apper before a Bais Din to accept over them the Seven Laws of Noach, of course, fee for that “service” is required. I wonder if there is […]
Playing music during the 3 weeks
Question: Dear Rabbi, I am in the process of learning musical instrument. Am I required to stop it until 10th of Av? Thank you, Al Answer: Hello, It depends why you are leanring to play. If it is in order to be a professional player, and make a livelihood from it, then it is […]
Three weeks and 9 days
Question: Hello, I have a few questions about the three weeks/9 days. 1. Can laundry be done without restriction (except Shabbat) during the three weeks despite not being permitted during the nine days? During the three weeks can one eat fish? What about the nine days? 3. May one go to the beach during either […]
Hanging blessings in wall
Question: I would like to know if one may hang a blessing of the home (ברכת הבית) on the wall of one’s home. Answer: Hello, It is fine to hang such blessings in your home. Your home should be filled with blessings, and have an easy fast.