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

Grape Leaves

Question: What are the laws for Grape leaves, purchasing fresh not jarred? Do the same rules apply as do for grapes? Answer: Hello, Fresh grape leaves can be highly infested and according to a number of authorities[1] are not recommended to eat. Aside from this, they must be checked and any infestation has to […]

downloading music

Question: We found a way to download music online from Youtube even though normally the site doesn’t allow it, is this muttar? Answer: Hello, If the site doesn’t allow it should not be done. Best wishes

Is a catheter muktza

Question: Someone who has a catheter (a tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain it into a bag), is he allowed to move the bag? The bag is only changed when it is full (maybe a few times a day), and in the meantime as soon as some urine goes in it seems […]

Sale of yosef

Question: What did the sale of Yosef lead to? Answer: Hello, The sale of Yosef was part of a chain of events that were orchestrated by G-d, to get Jakob and his family to go down and settle in Egypt. Being that he became the viceroy, we couldn’t come to Jacob. This in turn […]

black but Jewish

Question: Is it true that blacks were created to stoke the flames of Gehinom? If so, and all blacks are doomed anyway and have no portion in this world or the world to come, is it a problem if a black is killed or chooses to no longer exist? Answer: Hello, I have never […]

My son a kohen to fly to Israel

Question: My son was supposed to fly from Manchester U.K. to Israel on easyJet They just cancelled the flight. There is a Swiss air flight going to Israel from Manchester U.K. but as he is a Kohen he needs to find out if this flight goes a kosher way or over a bais olam. Pls […]

kashrus on vapes

Question: What is the Kashrus statues on Myle vapes Answer: Hello, I don’t know. you can ask the person who sells them. Don’t ask if it is kosher, ask which hechsher it has. Best wishes

Simchah Hall electricity blackout on Shabbos ?Caterer sent more food than ordered

Question: We rented a local Simchah Hall for all 3 Shabbos aufruf seudas, on Friday night the lights and A.C. went out and we had a blackout twice for between 15-20 min or more each time we had to send someone to search for a Shabbos goy willing to come and help it, we sat […]

Stain on hormonal IUD

Question: I don’t get a period every month anymore, ever since I inserted an IUD yet every month around that time of period I’ll get one day of very light staining. Never stains underwear, I’ll just notice it in the toilet or on a tissue. I was told not to look but sometimes it happens […]

About niddah

Question: So I just had a baby boy 2 months ago and when I was wiping after using the restroom this morning I saw blood on the tissue paper the color was red and I am not supposed to get my cycle for another two weeks Answer: Mazal tov on your newish baby. According […]

Pesharah

Question: Could you please tell me what the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch means in siman 181:1 where he says pesharah will avoid zilusah d’bais din. What zilusah is he talking about ? Thank you. Answer: Hello, Usually, the meaning of zilusa d’bais din refers to after the psak is given and the bais din has […]

Compensation to a store owner for blocking access to his store

Question: If Reuvain has a store and Shimon blocks access to the store during normal business hours preventing customers from coming to the store does Shimon owe Reuvain compensation? Thanks Answer: Hello, It seems that you are asking a general question. In general blocking someones asccess would be a grama, and is patur in a […]

Fish and meat

Question: Dear Rabbi, I understand not to put fish on the same plate as meat. What about eggs? My family likes to mix lox and eggs. Thanks. Answer: Hello, There is no problem with mixing eggs with fish. In fact, many people fry fish in eggs and bread crumbs. Best wishes

Bris on shabbos who drinks the wine

Question: At a bris on shabbos who drinks the wine? Answer: Hello, The issue with drinking the wine during a bris on Shabbos is because there is a halacha called “kiddush b’makom seuda”, that we may only make kiddush if we eat a meal or cake in that place. The person making the brachos after […]

crumbs on cholent pot

Question: 1) I had a cheesecake in the fridge that my little girls kept on moving around and looking at over Shavous. Some crumbs scattered throughout the fridge, which I tried cleaning up as soon as it happened, but might have missed some. Also, they did this several times. Later I put my cholent pot […]

Random kashrus questions

Question: 1) Inedible objects- One of my children had “decorated” a dairy bowl with puffy paint and then a different child later made an omelet and ate it hot in that bowl. Do I have to worry about the kashrus of the bowl and fork he used to eat it? 2) I was walking around […]

Selling Church Objects

Question: Is it permissable to (1) sell a church fixture (pew) and if so, (2) to then buy sacred jewish objects (e.g. mezuzot) or do tzedaka with the proceeds? Answer: Hello, It is permitted to sell the benches of the church and give the proceeds to tzedakah or use them for other mitzva uses. […]

Ribbis when borrowing from a foreign Bank

Question: I am considering taking out a loan for a few thousand dollars from the bank “Barclays Bank. According to my research, this bank is owned by people in England. The loan has a fixed interest rate. Do I need to be concerned that the owners are Jewish, thereby presenting a ribbis issue? Thank you […]

When to put up the mezuza

Question: Shalom Harav, What’s the halacha regarding owning a house for rent? Is the owner obligated to put up the mezuza or to wait for the tenant to put it up? What’s the right way? Thanks Answer: Hello, There is a rule in Hilchos Mezuza that the obligation to put up the mezuza is incumbent […]

Mezuzah on apartment rented to intermarried couple

Question: I own a house that I used to occupy but now I’m leasing to others. Am I allowed to remove my mezuzos if the couple coming in, are a married Jew and gentile and the Jew is non practicing? Answer: Hello, You are asking a tricky question. On one hand when renting an […]

Parashas korach

Question: It says korach rebelled with 250 nesiim (princes). how were there so many nesiim? Wasn’t there just one nasi of each tribe, so 12 in total. Thank you Answer: Hello, The 250 people that Korach rebelled with, were not nesi’im, which means governors, or leaders of a tribe, as you write, there were […]

Bahai Gardens

Question: I would like to know if a Jew may visit the Baha’i Gardens in Haifa, Israel. Answer: Hello, There is a prohibition for us Jews not to benefit from idols. Therefore we may not look at a nice idol or pictures of idols even if it isn’t to worship it, but only to […]

Boat travel on Shabbos

Question: Am I allowed to travel on cruise that leaves Sunday and travel back on shabbat does the techum apply to boat? Cruise ship is call Mano cruise Answer: Hello, You do not have to worry about techum Shabbos, because the boat is above 10 tefachim (30 inches) from the sea. Best wishes Sources: […]

Orlah — replanting a grape vine

Question: If a grapevine that grew more than 3 years already was cut and then transferred and replanted elsewhere, without dirt from the original planting, do the orlah years still count or does it start over again with the new planting? Thank you Answer: Hello, You are very correct, the orlah years do start […]

Pas kisnin

Question: Is pita made with apple juice considered pas kisnin, and what amount would require birkas hamazon? Answer: Hello, Pitas are not made to be eaten as a snack, rather filled and as a meal. Therefore the bracha on it would be Hamotzei, and birkas Hamazon. Best wishes Sources:

Maaser on shares of stock.

Question: I was always told that we figure Maaser after we sell our shares. I feel that since stock shares are easily sold we should be required to sell enough shares once a year to give Maaser on the shares that increased in value. What gives us the right to hold on to the 10% […]

Running a kiruv minyan

Question: Shalom Rav, I had a question regarding Kiruv Rekhokim. My beit knesset very much caters to people that are off the derech or people that are recently Baal teshuva and Baruch HaShem I know many people that have become Daati from this beit knesset, many being my friends right now which recently became religous. […]

Slice of lemon in tea

Question: Is one allowed to put a slice of lemon in water or coke for taste on Shabbos. Would this present an issue of liquid coming out of fruit on Shabbos. Answer: Hello, It is permitted to place a slice of lemon into tea even though the taste of the juice will go from the […]

Challah board with broken leg

Question: My challah board is made of glass with little crystal legs on the four corners to hold it. On Shabbos one fell off. I realized I could easily reattach it with glue. I assumed that the tray was not muktzah as it was usable, but the little support piece was not. Was I correct? […]

Short Term Renter from overseas leaves behind items

Question: If I rent an apartment short term on a regular basis and after a renter leaves, we discover forgotten items (usually low cost items). Are we required to track the owner down and return the item(s)? At whose cost? Can we place a clause in the instructions that any items left behind and not […]

Muktza of inedible food

Question: For muktza items I know some foods can be muktza for example, a raw potato. But some foods that even one person would eat in an abnormal way, does it lose its muktza status i.e. one eats raw potatoes? Answer: Hello, The food in its raw state will not lose its muktza status, since […]

Long Lasting makeup

Question: Hi, Is it permissible for a women to apply long lasting makeup before Shabbos and go to the mikvah like that? if yes could you give an idea of which types would be permitted and what wouldn’t be permitted? Thank you very much Answer: Hello, A woman essentially should take off all of […]

Late for work

Question: I’m starting a summer job and want to learn in the morning before work. How much time do I have to allow for possible traffic. Obviously I’d prefer to learn as much as possible, but do I have to allow time to make sure I’m not lake for work even if there is traffic […]

When to have an IUD inserted

Question: When is the halachically best time to insert an IUD? During Shiva nekiim? Before the hefsek? After the mikva? Answer: Hello, There isn’t any simple, smooth answer about when to do it, as there are a number of issues here. On the one hand putting it in usually causes some sort of bleeding. […]

Accidentely throwing out part of a Sefer cover

Question: B’Kavod Harav, What do I do if I lost a piece that broke off a Sefer cover (may have been thrown out by now) from a Lamed Tes Melachos Sefer? Answer: Hello, The cover of a sefer has to go into geneiza. However now that it is lost, there isn’t much that you […]

Adding water to a pool on Shabbos

Question: My pool water was getting low on shabbos and I was concerned that the filter would break if no water was added to the pool. Am I allowed to turn on a basic faucet attached to a hose on shabbos to fill up the pool and to prevent the filter from breaking? Answer: […]

Olam haba not to do melacha on Shabbos

Question: On Erev Yom Tov we were quite behind in preparations. Unfortunately this happens quite often on Erev Shabbos/Yom Tov. I have tried telling my wife at times that she needs to stop doing melacha at this time but sometimes when she is involved in doing something she will continue etc. On Erev Yom Tov, […]

Translation of sfek sfeika

Question: What does sfek sfeika mean in English? Answer: A sfek sfeika is a term used when there are two reasons for doubt. Therefore it wold be translated as a double doubt.

b’dieved

Question: What is the English translation of b’dieved ? Answer: The term b’dieved has two uses and therefore two meanings to it. The simple use of the word is “bdi -ovad” if it was already done. Which means, post facto, or in retrospect. However often it is used in the form of when one is […]

Maaser on Isreali produce

Question: I bought carrots from lidle which I see is from Isreal what should I do? Answer: Hello, If it is Isreali produce then you would have to separate terumos and maasros. Please see the following link of how to do this. https://dinonline.org/2017/07/26/how-do-i-take-terumah-and-maaser-from-israeli-vegetables/ Best wishes Sources:

Promises to Hashem

Question: Are you allowed to make a promise to Hashem? Saying, if something works out, then I’ll give “this” up for you. Answer: Hello, There is such a concept, especially during a period of difficulty. It should however be stipulated that you are gfoing to do such and such, however without it becoming a neder […]

Salt shaker with rice to keep the salt from clumpiing together?

Question: Is there a problem if Borer to use a salt shaker with rice to keep the salt from clumpiing together? Answer: The use of a saltshaker with rice inside to absorb moisture is controversial. Some Poskim say that it shouldn’t be used[1] because an instrument is doing the borer. Others permit[2] its use […]

Do I maaser disability and child support?

Question: Shalom aleichem, I receive monthly payments from the government for my son’s disability and child support (ex doesn’t pay). Am I supposed to maaser this money? Also, if my parents give me money if I don’t make enough, am I supposed to maaser it? Thank you. Answer: Hello, A person who is not […]

Performing in a tzedaka function during aveilus?

Question: Hi. I am part of a group of women and girls who put on a tzedaka production raising money for a local tzedaka. I am part of the core group of supporting cast. My father was niftar just before Purim. May I join the group this year? Thank you Answer: Hello, If you […]

Throwing out edible food

Question: I am indigent widow who gets a food package every week from jewish charity. Many items I cannot eat because high salt. I told them not to send salami and other high salt items. They said they cannot custom make a food package, everyone gets the same. May I throw out items, baal tashchis […]

Changed clothes on Shavout 4 Shabbos

Question: Ha Rav, what is your ruling, assur or mutar, on changing clothes from Yom tov clothes to Shabbos Clothes while it was still Yom tov (Shavout)? Answer: Hello, It is permitted, although there is a preference to do it a little while before shkiya. This is due to a number of factors. First […]

Closing hole in wall

Question: Hi, we have a small “window” in a wall inside my house, from one room to the next, and want to close it up. Am I required to leave a hole in the wall? If yes, can I relocate the hole to an inconspicuous area, and can I cover the hole? Thank you! […]

Ger Kotan

Question: Shalam Rav, On first night Shavuos I had a ger kotan eat by me. He told me he was megayer with his father at age 7, he is now around 20. I was aware of numerous stories that people were made gerim when they were young, and when they turned bar mitzvah they weren’t […]

Cleaning dirt from under fingernails on shabbos

Question: Is there any issue such as borer with removing dirt under fingernails on Shabbos? Answer: Hello, It is permitted to clean out the dirt from underneath one’s fingernail, however we have to be careful only to remove the dirt under the nail, and not to scrap away any of the nail itself. Best wishes […]

Keeping guests waiting

Question: I have learnt that it is absolutely forbidden to keep guests waiting. [So much so that on the 1st night Succos, the host is forbidden to wait for the rain to stop.] I would like to know what the halachah is if more than one guest is expected, and while one or more guests […]