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

Which Bracha: Hamotzi or Mezonot

Question: I bought some Pumpernickel rye “bread”recently. Looks more like a black brick, very dense and heavy, sliced into 7 slices 3/16″-¼” thick, it’s rectangular and comes in a vacuum plastic bag. Has the K Parve on it. This is a typical “bread” from Northern Europe. 100% Rye, water, yeast, malt extract, salt. I’m not […]

Chosen Mishpat

Question: Rabbi Fleischman – I wait every week for the questions – they are so enjoyable to learn and go through the mekoros. Question – we had a a subscription to a magazine which was delivered to our mailbox. The subscription ended in 01.2024 – they asked us is we want to continue and we […]

Kaddish

Question: My Beloved Mother passed away dec. 21st 2023, and her burial was dec. 24th 2023. When does Kaddish cease? Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem b’toch shar aveilei Tzion v’Yerushalayim. Kaddish said for 11 months from the burial date, which was on the 12th of Teves. Therefore, you would say kaddish until mincha of the […]

Said Mincha by Musuf (shabbos)

Question: Hi! This past Shabbos, I said mincha Shemoneh Esrei, instead of Mussaf, I’m aware Mussaf has additional bruchos. Being that it wasn’t chatzos and I couldn’t daven mincha yet, what would of been the correct thing to do? Answer: Hello, The correct thing would have been to daven, Musaf then because we cannot fulfill […]

Saying Hashem’s Name When Practicing Tefilah

Question: Hi, May I ask if it’s mutar to say Hashem’s name when practicing reading, tefilah, or chazannut in general? Thank you Answer: Hello, According to the letter of the law, that we may say Hashem name, when we are davening, or praising[1] Hashem. (The exception to the rule is when saying brachos, since[2] […]

Krias Shema Al Hamita

Question: Hi, I’m a 15 year old girl and I usually don’t say the whole krias shema al hamita. I usually just say Shema, Hamalach. Do I have to say the whole Krias Shema Al Hamita? Thank you!! Answer: Hello, It is preferable for women to say the whole kriyas shema al hamita, however if […]

divisions in Jewish Community In Israel query

Question: I’ve noted the divisions in the Jewish People in the Land of Israel..example the Samaritans who eep the line of the Aaronite Priesthood today yet separate themselves from Rabbinic Judaism; the Ashkenazi vs Sephardic; the secular assimilationists who want a Jewish State without religion; and those religious who feel the only way israel is […]

Cheating on a test

Question: Hi, My friend and I just learned for a very big test that has a lot of things to learn by heart, like lashon hakodesh sentences etc. We learned a lot and we also knew it then really well, but suddenly after an hour-now we tried to repeat everything we learned and we just […]

Refrigerator on Shabbos

Question: How do you use a refrigerator without Shabbos mode feature on Shabbos or yom tov? Answer: Hello, The only option that I know of, is to have the refrigerator on a Shabbos clock, that is preset, to turn the fridge off turning the hours that you might open it, such as during the […]

Chametz sale

Question: I am a director of a company which owns whisky barrels. All the shareholders are Jewish. How do I go about selling this chametz? Answer: Hello, If you are the director of the company then you have the jurisdiction to do what is in the best interest of the company. Since they are […]

Unattended Kosher Food in Hospital Room

Question: Unfortunately, we will be in the hospital with our son for a few months while he receives cancer treatment. I have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that mostly resolves around kashrut issues which is the context of this question. Do I need to be concerned about the kosher food we bring in to the room […]

Korbanos after zman tefilla

Question: U guys are amazing. Thank you so much. I want to know if i can daven the complete korbanos section after zman tefilla, and/or after chatzos? Answer: Thank you for the compliment! They are always appreciated! Regarding your question, we are allowed to say the parshios of the karbonos all day long, and […]

Kiddush b’makom seudah at the Seder

Question: Every year this question arises of how to be yotzie kiddush b’makom seudah at the seder where it can be a very long time until hamotzei and finally eating the matzos, and also at Shacharis if for some reason there is a delay to eating matzos. Answer: Hello, The poskim discuss your question, […]

Treif donations

Question: I am a noahide, and I would like to be more observant and keep kosher. Can I give my treif dining ware and pots and pans to a non observant Jew or would this be against the principles of kiruv? Answer: Hello, Although it is permitted for you to do thi, it is […]

Selling Chametz online

Question: I have done this in the past and perhaps it is incorrect, so wanted to verify, so don’t make the mistake. I live in the USA and have used an organization online that is in Israel to sell my chametz. Since there is a time difference, does that have an affect on the selling […]

Shnitzel juice

Question: I was smashing shnitzel the other day on the meaty counter and shnitzel juice went flying everywhere. I had a bag of pasta sitting on the dairy counter at the time and later on a hot dairy pot lid fell on top of the pasta. I don’t know for sure that any shnitzel juice […]

Is using Car Codes ethical?

Question: I recently rented a car from one of the large car rental companies, a friend offered me a coupon code, that can be used to get a large discount on the rental, the code however is coming from a friend of a friend, and they are generally meant to be used for a specific […]

Haflago on leil tevilah

Question: Last haflaga was 67 days, veset was at night. This haflaga now falls out on leil tevilah. What is the halacha? Answer: Hello, Being that the onah falls out on the leil tevila itself, relations would not[1] be permitted. If it would have been the Ohr Zaruah, then it would be permitted but […]

Pesach

Question: Can I eat matzah with things that will cause it to swell over Pesach such as shakshuka, soup, salad dressing? Answer: Hello, It is permitted, unless one has a family tradition not to make the matzoh wet. Have a good day

Giving presents to wife during my aveilus

Question: I am in the 12 months for my father am I allowed to give presents to my wife for anniversary or Yom Tov? Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem b’toch shar aveilei Tzion v’Yerushalayim, It is permitted for an avel to give presents that are in a way a social obligation, such as a baby […]

Netilat yadayim

Question: Can I do netilat yadayim in the morning without a cup if I don’t have one? What about when washing before eating bread? Answer: For washing in the morning although it is preferred to use a cup[1], however if the water was poured[2] over the person’s hands, even if it wasn’t from a cup, […]

Maaser Money

Question: Hi, My 10th grader class made programs and day camps to earn money for our graduation trip. Do we have to give Maaser from the money we earned, that goes to our graduation trip? Thank you! Answer: Hello, You are asking a nice question. If you girls are supported by your parents, then […]

Kashering from milchigs to fleishigs

Question: Hello, My milchig oven has self clean my fleishig oven doesn’t. For Pesach a fleishig oven is more important for me then a Milchig oven. I am Ashkenazi and I know there is a minhag not to kasher from fleishig to milchigs , however I heard that if you are kashering anyways for Pesach […]

Tznius with father / brothers

Question: Hi ! BH I do cover my legs… Just looking for clarity, I don’t want to get caught up in extra chumros here, but ah pe Halacha do I have to cover my lower leg in front of my father and brothers, at night to walk around without socks is specifically my question. Thanks! […]

Tzedoko on Purim nr2

Question: On Purim our 7-year-old son went around with a pushka, wanting to collect Purim gelt for himself. The Pushka was plain, and he didn’t mention that it was for him. Can he keep the money, or do people assume that any pushka is ment for Tzedoko? Thank you! Answer: Hello, If it is […]

Proper thoughts during Shemonah Esray

Hi!! I’m always told to should think certain things in Shemonah Esray by specific brachos, is it permissible to speak out requestes or think them? For ex: Ata chonen (knowlage bracha) should I ask Hashem for specific things while I’m saying the words. I find it hard to concentrate on the words and my bakushos. […]

follow-up: dairy spoon 03/28/2024

Question: Does it matter if the table was ever accidentally used for hot meat, or am I really just concerned with what happend in the 24 hours before the spoon was put on the table? Answer: Hello, If the table was used for hot meat meaning that hot meat was placed directly on the […]

Passing gas while wearing Tefillin

Question: What is the Source for the prohibition to pass gas with tefilin on Answer: Hello, The idea that one may not wear tefillin wile passing gas, is based on a Gemora Brachos 23a, Succah 43. It is also the ruling of the Rosh 4-1, and is the ruling In the Shulchan Aruch in a […]

Tzedakah “mistake”

Question: Hi. Someone who gave money to an organization I volunteer for pledged $100 and ended up sending two checks for $100. We can assume it was a mistake on his behalf, since he only pledged $100 and two seperate checks were sent. Are we mechuyav to tell him about this, being that money given […]

Pesach and Crumbs

Question: Hello, I am learning Hilchos Pesach and am trying to determine if being worried about tiny crumbs is a chumrah or meikar hadin. From the Mishnah Berurah it sounds to me that we are not worried. In practice I see many people are machmir (covering countertops, not eating utensils off the floor) but its […]

Proper care of sefarim

Question: Good Evening. In school I have binders and folders mixed with copies of mefarshim, is it permissible to stack my math stuff on top of it? Is this something to be OCD about? Also putting a homework sheet, on my chumash while doing it? even if there is no Lashon pusuk.. Thank you :) […]

Making tuna salad on shabbos

Question: How is it permitted to make tuna salad on Shabbos? Answer: Hello, The can should be opened from before Shabbos, and any excess water or oil that you don’t want, should be squeezed out of it from before Shabbos. (To avoid issues of making a vessel out of the can and borer issues with […]

dairy spoon

Question: I have a little kids plastic table that is meant for activities, but sometimes the kids eat off of it. The other day my daughters brought home meaty school lunches from an afternoon program. They then ate it on this table and made a very big mess. I don’t know how hot the lunches […]

Tzedoko collection on Purim

Question: Our 11-year-old son went around for Tzedoko on Purim. He had two pushkes in his hands, one where it said on, and where the money was ment for Anyei Eretz Yisroel. The second box he wanted for himself as Purim gelt, however he didn’t specify that it’s for himself. Is he allowed to keep […]

Airline ticket

Question: Is “hidden city ticketing” (meaning a passenger books a ticket for a flight with a connection at the intended destination, gets off at the stopover, and discards the remaining segment. which can be cheaper then Flights to the final destination.)allowed according to Halacha? it is against the terms and conditions of most airlines but […]

Speaker left on desk for Shabbos

Question: Hi! Every Shabbos we host a Tehillim group. I had left a speaker by accident with a few pens on one of the desks we use on Shabbos for Tehillim. I know the desk is not a bosis, because we didn’t intend for it to be there for Shabbos, but what would be the […]

Brochos on (gum,mints + brocha achronah)

Hi. 1. I find my self constantly eating “mints” little mints… would I then make a boreh nefashois.. They are very small, and a lot of the time I don’t have another food to eat with it to ensure a boreh nerfashios. The same goes for gum, do I make a shehakol? Should I drink […]

Dry tumay negel vasser water

Question: HI i originally asked this question about negel vasser spilling on carpet.. the pillow and sweatshirt i used to “clean it up” / the carpet is tumay still? even if its dry” Answer: Hello, You may use the pillow and sweatshirt, even though you used it to clean up the tamay water. I […]

Second Bracha?

Question: If I make a bracha and have water, and a half hour later want a candy, do I make a second bracha (another shehakol) on the candy? Answer: Hello, If you weren’t planning on eating the candy, when you said the bracha, you would make another one on the candy, since you didn’t […]

Hachana on Shabbos

Question: Is it muttar to wear raincoat on Shabbos for afterwards. For example i will wear it to minchah on shabbos because its cloudy and will probably start raining by motzei shabbos. The same thing with a reflector would i be able to wear it unnecessarily on shabbos to have for after? Thank you […]

Extra Drinks from Restaurant

Question: Hello, Recently I placed an order at a pizza store and they forgot to deliver the drink we ordered (1 bottle) and when we called them they said they’d send someone with it but it never arrived. The next time we ordered from the store, we asked them if they could include the drink; […]

Oven tray problems

Question: 1) I know that this is probably coming from a place of ocd, but the other day my son was eating a dairy chocolate wafer candy near some meaty food sitting on the meaty counter. I got a little nervous that he dropped some chocolate crumbs in the area and on the floor, but I […]

Friday fasting

Question: I heard once that one should never fast on Friday (Yahrzeit or tanis chalom etc.) as its Chukas hagoy – as the Gentiles used to fast on Fridays. Is this correct? Thanks Answer: Hello, I am not familiar with such an idea. There are people that have a minhag to fast on erev […]

Brachot

Question: What bracha do we make on mixed nuts Answer: Hello, The bracha on all nuts is haetz, with the exception of what we call peanuts, which grows in the ground and its bracha is hoadama. Therefore, if there aren’t peanuts mixed in, the bracha is Haetz. Even if there are peanuts in the […]

Mishloach Manot on Shushan Purim?

Question: Is it permissible to give a Mishloach Manot on Shushan Purim even if it does not fulfill the mitzvah of giving Mishloach Manot? Answer: Hello, If you would like to give the person a present, you may. Best wishes

Crockpot with water

Question: Hi, Is one allowed to fill a crockpot with water before Shabbos and leave it on, if the sole purpose of the crockpot pot is to reheat food? The method of reheating will involve removing the crockpot lid before Shabbos, then covering the crockpot with a flat metal tray. On Shabbos, metal containers with […]

Wash hands if touch shoes before tefilah

Question: When / how many times should a women wash netilas yedayim. In other words, if I mistakenly touch my shoes, would I have to wash my hands with a cup. (DURING OR BEFORE TEFILAH) (Does hair fall under this catagory too?) Answer: Hello, When women daven they have an obligation to wash their hands […]

Stealing business

Question: Someone had a mezuza case designed and made in Israel. A competitor sent one to be copied in India. He is now selling the same (or very similar) case for half the price. Is it muter? Are there grounds to bring him to a din Torah? Answer: Hello, Yes there are. Best wishes […]

Neggel Vasser that spilled

Question: Hi! I have a minhag to keep my neggel vasser next to my bed, one day “dirty. water spilled over my carpet, and my pillows, and sweatshirt .. does it make them “tumay”. Can I still use it? Or is it just the water that is tumay? Thank you!! Gut Shabbos! Answer: Hello, […]

Bracha on the blossoming of trees

Question: Some of the fruit trees in my garden are starting to blossom. Should I already make the brocha or is it better to wait until Rosh Chodesh Nissan? Answer: Hello, There is controversy about this, however the minhag is to wait for Rosh Chodesh Nissan to make the bracha. Best wishes Sources: ע’ […]