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Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a

Eating bread for Melava Malka after eating other foods

Question: If one ate mezonos or fruits for the third Shabbos meal or melava malka (whether due to being lazy, or not having an appetite for bread, or being unable to eat bread due to not feeling well r”l), and later it became possible for one to eat bread, should one do so? Or do […]

Electrolysis on eyebrows on Rosh Chodesh

Question: Is it permissible to do electrolysis on eyebrows on rosh chodesh? Answer: The reason for not taking haircuts or cutting nails on Rosh Chodesh is from the “Tzavah (will) of R’ Yehudah Hachasid”. There are different opinions if this tzavah was meant for his descendents or for everyone. The custom of many is to […]

Eating before davening Mussaf

Question: Is it ok to eat before davening mussaf? If a person had to leave shul early and won’t daven musaf until later is it okay to eat before? Is there a difference between shabbos and rosh chodesh?   Answer:   During the week, it is permitted to eat a little bit before davening mussaf. […]

Yom Kippur Katan on Erev Rosh Hashana

Question: https://dinonline.org/2014/02/27/should-you-fast-daven-on-yom-kippur-katan/ Regarding your statement here that Yom Kippur Katan is not observed on erev Rosh Hashanah – this is unclear, since in fact it is accustomed to fast on erev Rosh Hashanah and to recite many selichos/ prayers. Answer: You are right, on Erev Rosh Hashana it is the custom to fast, however the […]

Do I need to put on teffilin or daven with a minyan when I have to repeat davening

Question: A person neglected to say mashiv haruach or yaalev v’yavo (on Rosh Chodesh) in the morning prayer. He has already removed his tefillin. Is he obligated to put them back on prior to repeating S”E? Should he try to repeat S”E with a minyan, or do we say that he already fulfilled tefilla b’tzibbur […]

Saying Al Hamichya on rice

Question: If one ate cake and rice (a kezayis of each), what bracha achrona should he say? Only al hamichya, since that would cover the rice as well? Answer: This is a very good question. The Sharei Teshuva 208-5 brings Mahari Mocho that if one mistakenly said al Hamichya on rice he doesn’t say borei […]

Dividing honors at the wedding

Question: Hi, What are the customs at a wedding regarding how to divide which side gets what with tenaim/kesubah/kiddushin etc. Thanks Answer:   The custom nowadays by many is that the eidim (witnesses) of the various things gets divided between the two sides. It doesn’t have to always be this way, and there is nothing […]

Interest from bank account on Rosh Hashanoh

Question: I’ve heard that there is a problem with interest from bank accounts over Rosh Hashanah and Shabbos before/after Yom Tov, as interest is calculated daily and there is no havloah in this case. What should I do in practice? I have interest-bearing bank accounts in Israel and abroad, but neither has any facility for […]

Women’s hakafos on Hoshana Rabba

Question: This last Hoshana Raba, I was in a shul where the women who had arba minim and hakafos in the ezras nashim of the shul. Is there any problem halachically with this? Answer: While it may not be halachically problematic, in haskafa however it is problematic. Not because there is anything wrong with women doing […]

Is there a problem with making mass weddings?

Question: Recently, I cama across an article in a Jewish newspaper that showed 8 chuppahs in a row where 8 couples were married simultaneously. The reception, too, was for all 8 couples who were Russian Jews. Is there any problem of ‘ayn m’arvin simcha b’simcha? Obviously, it was to reduce the costs, but is there […]

My employer gave me a 1099 instead of a W2, is that stealing?

Question: 1. I work as a per diem substitute teacher at a yeshiva in the US. 2. I asked for a w2, but they gave me a 1099 which forces me to pay all the 15% payroll taxes myself. 3. I explained to the Executive VP who made this decision, that according to the IRS, […]

Cold chicken on a dairy plate

Question: My husband by accident put cold chicken piece onto a dairy plate. Plate is porcelain. Should I throw the plate out? Thanks! Answer: Since the chicken was cold, there wasn’t any taste that got absorbed into the plate itself, therefore we only have to get rid of the grease of the chicken. Therefore there […]

Does a preseasoned grill pan need a hechsher?

Question: May I buy a pre seasoned cast iron grill pan without a hechsher? Answer: From the research that I did it appears that you may buy the pans however they must first be cleaned and then kashered by puitting them in the oven on high (550 F) for 40 minutes. Then they can be […]

Can a Wife inherit an estate without a kinyon.

Question: If a husband writes a secular will for his wife, that if he passes away the house gets transferred to her. Then If the husband passes away is the house halachically considered transferred to the wife? (Also would it matter if the wife’s name is also on the deed to the house? Can a […]

Is a cup that holds 2.9 ounces good enough for kiddush

Question: If on Friday night one made Kiddush using a cup that holds 2.9 or 3 oz., even though it is preferable to use 4 or so oz. on Friday night, is he still yotzi, or should he repeat Kiddush? Answer: He is yotze with this amount. In fact this is the amount that R’ […]

Saying mashiv haruach for a convert

Question: A non-Jew who converts to Judaism after Shemini Atzeres, and he has a safek regarding mashiv haruach umorid hageshem – what are the rules for such a person? For a regular Jew, within the first 30 days he repeats; afterwards, he does not repeat. Should the convert count his 30 days from the day […]

Can I read Artscroll’s english translation instead of targum when doing shnayim mikroh?

Question: Can I read Artscroll’s english translation instead of targum when doing shnayim mikroh? Answer: It depends on your level of understanding of the Rashi. if you understand it then you should read the Rashi however if you can’t understand it, then you may read it in English from a reliable English source. Best wishes Sources: […]

Dairy spoon with cold potato soup made with chicken stock

Question: Hello, I used a milchig spoon with cold potato soup made with chicken stock. Wash with soap or re-kasher? Answer: Since it wash cold it is sufficeint to wash it off and scrub it well with soap to make sure no oils are left on it. Sources: Chochmas Adam 42-1

follow-up question regarding leaving someone in yichud

Question: I just wanted to clarify that this particular test was administered only to the religious Jewish students, due to the fact that we could not take the test as it was originally scheduled for yom tov. Therefore, there were no other people who could come in to the room and take things that they […]

Davening when on had to use the bathroom

Question: If a person davened when needing to use the restroom for #1, does he repeat his davening? Answer: If he was able to wait 72 minutes before using the bathroom when he started Shmona Esrei then he does not have to repeat his davening. However, if he couldn’t wait that long then it is […]

Is it Lifnei Iver to leave someone in a yichud situation?

Question: Two frum men – Reuven & Shimon – are taking a test in a room where there are two females (one of the females is also a test taker, and the other is the proctor). Reuven finishes the test before Shimon does. Is Reuven permitted to leave the room, even though this will cause […]

Spreading butter on bread or icing on cake on Shabbos

Question: is it permitted to spread butter on bread and icing on cake for taste reason Answer: It is permitted to spread butter on bread and it isn’t a problem of memareiach. The reason for this is because in general there is no memareiach regarding food. There are however rishonim that question if there is […]

meat and dairy crockpot

Question: Hi, I’d like to purchase the crock pot lunch warmer to use at work. It’s not practical to purchase two of them but it’s possible to purchase additional inserts. This is the crock pot: https://www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-SCCPLC200-PK-20-Ounce-Lunch-Warmer/dp/B006H5V7ZY?tag=198500-20 This is the additional insert: http://www.crock-pot.com/parts/replacement-food-container-with-lid—crock-pot-lunch-crock-warmer/154441-000-000.html#start=1 Would I be able to use the same crock pot for reheating both […]

Said the incorrect bracha between washing hands and eating

Question: Dear Rabbi If one accidently said a wrong bracha after saying netilyat yadayim, should he say “baruch shem kavod” and then recite hamotzi, or does one need to wash again? Answer: He does not need to wash again because bedieved even if one did speak out, if it was only a little bit and […]

Doesn’t know if he said Mashiv Haruach

Question: A person who suffers from OCD and constantly imagines that he did not say “mashiv haruach” etc. or has doubts, what should he do? May he take a bookmark and put it in a certain place in his siddur as soon as he says those words, and that way if he has a doubt […]

Stopped raining after made kiddush inside the house

Question: On Shabbos Chol Hamoed, one made Kiddush in the house due to rain. After Kiddush and before eating, one realizes that the rain has stopped. Should one eat mezonos inside the house, due to kiddush b’makom seuda, even though there is no longer a heter to eat inside the house due to the absence […]

grandparents buying tefillin that don’t meet parents standard.

Question: For Rav Fleischman Shlit”a, Grandparents intend to purchase tefillin that don’t meet the level of hiddur the parents desire for their son. They either can’t really afford more, will not understand the need to pay more or this is what they’ve bought for other grandchildren without any comment from the other parents (siblings of […]

P’sul in mezuzah overlooked by examiner

Question: Shalom uvracha! In addition to the question I submitted 7 weeks ago, #39287, which I hope he can respond to in the near future, here’s another shaila for Rav Fleischman. I have a mezuzah, for example, checked by 2 magiim. The 2nd magia finds a psul or something that affects the requested standard of […]

Manicure on Chol Hamoed

Question: Am I allowed to get one Erev Simchas Torah   Answer: In order to ensure that we properly prepare ourselves for Yom Tov, Chazal for bade us to take haircuts and according to many poskim to cut our nails on Chol Hamoed. Therefore one should not have a manicure done on erev Simchas Torah. However if […]

Does my spatula need to be kashered?

Question: We have one electric cooktop for both fleishig and milchig. We generally use the left 2 burners for milchig and the right 2 burners for fleishig. While making scrambled eggs (pareve) in a milchig frying pan, the metal spatula (slotted turner) fell onto the cooktop area between the burners. The cooktop itself may have […]

Using my deceased uncles tallit

Question: My uncle passed away can I use his Tallit? Answer: Answer: Regarding using your late uncles tallit, since your uncle passed away, the tallit now belongs to his heirs, meaning the people who inherit him or if he made a kosher will and willed it to them. therefore you have to ask them if you […]

Davening maariv or saying kriyas shema after Chatzos

Question: If one will only be able to daven maariv after chozot, he needs to say shema before chazot. What kavana does he have when he says it since after all he will say it later with brochos after chazot, i.e. should he want to fulfill the mitzvah now or when he davens maariv? Thank […]

Saying kiddush levana before 72 minutes after Sunset

Question: If one waits 72 minutes for melacha on motzoi Shabbos, is he permitted to recite Kiddush Levana prior to that time, assuming that no melacha (carrying) is involved? [Maybe someone else will carry the siddur for him] Answer: Even though you wait 72 minutes not to do melacha, you may still say Kiddush Levana […]

Do children have to be taught to be careful about zman kriyas shema

Question: An 8 yr old boy wants to be makpid on zman kriat shema in the mornings, he thinks it is an obligation. Is it? It is hard for the parent to wake him up on time during vacation, he gets upset. Can a parent tell him that there is no obligation to say it […]

My maternal grandmother is Jewish. Am I jewish?

Question: Hello, rabbi. My maternal grandmother is from jewish origin, am I jewish, can I be considered jewish? Even If I didn’t grow up in a jewish home, or I’m not circumcised? Am I jewish? Thank you , rabbi. Answer:   The Law is that if your mother is Jewish then you are Jewish, and […]

Writing Schoolwork on Chol Hamoed

Question: Moadim L’Simcha, I am in high school and attend a Jewish, yet not completely religious, high school. Therefore, school is in full session. I understand that there are issues with writing on Chol Hamoed and was wondering if there is any way for me to be able to write in order to do my […]

Taking tests on Chol Hamoed

Question: When taking exams for school on Chol Hamoed, should one try to keep the writing to a bare minimum (for example, not to do an outline of the answer prior to writing if it’s not really necessary, or otherwise to minimize the writing), or may one write freely as long as it is for […]

Using a highlighter in books on Chol Hamoed

Question: Can I use a highlighter on my textbook while I study on chol hamoed? Answer: if it is a torah related subject and you fear you will forget it it is permitted, but if it is only a vocational course it is only perimtted if without it you will be jepordizing the grade. Sources: […]

Melachos on Chol Hamoed

Question: Thank you Rabbi for your help and kindness in answering my shailos. It makes me happy and I derive some joy from listening to music and listening to talk (discussions, etc.),and also watching entertainment on the radio and via other media sources. Am I permitted to do these things on Chol Hamoed? Answer: If […]

Waking outside with slippers on Shabbos or Yom Kippur

Question: Is one permitted to wear shoes without a back (slippers) on Shabbos/ Yom Kippur, or is it considered carrying since they are likely to fall off when walking in the street? Answer: This is a good question. There are poskim that say not to go outside wearing slippers that don’t have a back to […]