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

Saying Tehillim after Chazot

Question: Can a person learn Tanach and/or say Tehillim for praying purposes after chazot? Can I follow the Chatzot of the Levush? Answer: Hello, According to the basic halacha, it is permitted[1] to learn Tanach even at night, however there is a preference not a prohibition to learn Tanach during the daytime. However according […]

Hagbah on Chol Hamoed

Question: On Chol Hamoed Pesach, do we need to put the second Torah on the bimah before doing hagbah on the first? Thank you. Answer: Hello, Yes. The first sefer Torah is placed on the bimah, before the hagbah of the first sefer Torah. The reason is as not to have the bimah without […]

shaving on ROSH CHODESH

Question: Is shaving on Rosh Chodesh permissible? Answer: Hello, Halachically it is permissible to shave on Rosh Chodesh, however many people abstain from shaving due to the tzava’ah of R’ Yehuda Hachassid who writes that to be careful about this. Best wishes Sources: משנה ברורה סימן רס ס”ק ז יש מקומות שאין מגלחין ואין נוטלין […]

Hataras Nedarim

Question: My daughter- 12 years old was eating salmon and got a bone stuck in her throat. She said ‘I’m never eating salmon again’ She later said she didn’t mean it. Does she need Hataras Nedarim ? Answer: Hello, She should be reprimanded not to say such things in the future, however technically it […]

Butul bishishim

Question: If a fridges handles are dirty,(like most fridges which aren’t spotless, does one need to wash their hands after opening it,if they are about to start eating, or can one just assume it’s butul bishishim whatever food it is, and even if it’s easier to just wash, it can be embarrassing to look ocd. […]

Source for this concept?

Question: Good afternoon, I don’t remember where I heard it, or if it I am even remembering correctly. But what is the source for the concept that someone can go to a crowded area, or near a well/source of water, and ask a question of Hashem. If he hears someone say “Yes, yes” or “No, […]

Candle flame on Shabbat moving

Question: Shalom Rabbi, If I walk past a candle on Shabbat causing a breeze to move the candle flame, is this a violation? Thank you Answer: Hello, With a wax candle, there is no prohibition to make the flame flicker, as long as it won’t go out. Therefore, if your walking past it, is […]

Bloody nose chaburah on shabbos

Question: What should one do if one has a bad cold, and their nose is stuffy, but also a little bloody, it’s very uncomfortable, but is blowing an issue of chaburah? Answer: Hello, It depends if blowing it will almost definitely cause bleeding. If it will then it is a problem. Wait a few minutes […]

Cleaning a Kosher Kitchen

Question: Shalom, Can one clean a kosher kitchen that has separate fleishig and milchig ovens, countertops, sinks, etc with the same sponge one right after the other? Answer: Hello, The two ovens etc. should be cleaned with separate sponges, otherwise the grease and dirt of one type will be mixed and wiped on to […]

Nyc water

Question: Does nyc tap water need filtering Answer: Hello, According to most oskim, yes it does. Best wishes

V’sein Bracha at Maariv

Question: If someone realized hours later they may have said V’sein Tal… instead of V’sein Bracha at Maariv, do they say another Shemoneh Esrei right then, or say two at Shacharis the next day? Answer: Hello, If it is still the time to daven maariv, then say it then. Best wishes

Repeating Birkas Hamazon

Question: Bsd If one realized he concluded the first brocha of birkas hamazon with “al haaretz v’al hamazon” and did not correct himself b’toch kdei dibur, seemingly the whole brocha should be repeated, correct? And what if the person didn’t know and instead returned to the middle of that brocha (instead of the pesicha) and […]

Vomiting after Kiddush

Question: Hi, If someone made Kiddush Shabbos day and ate a kzayis of mezonos but then threw up, do they have to make Kiddush again? Do we say that when they made Kiddush it was chal since it was bemakom seudah or do we say that like the bracha achrona is lost so is the […]

When Erev Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh Coincide

Question: I saw in the Kitzur S”A that one can get a haircut and get married this Friday when it is both Erev Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh, even though one is keeping the first half of Sefiras HaOmer. 2 Questions: 1. Do Ashkenazim Pasken like that? Can one also listen to music as well? Thank […]

Cancelling a reservation

Question: Hi, we are a family from Australia who made aliya 10 years ago. We are planning to go back to Australia for a visit in August to visit our family. We found an apartment in a perfect location through airbnb (an online booking facility). We booked the apartment for a cost of around 8,000 […]

Yartzeit candle on yom tov

Question: My father previously told me that our minhag was to light a yartzeit candle on the day of the yartzeit and yom kippur but not for the yizkors of Pesach Shavuos and Shemini Atzeres. He recently changed his minhag because someone told him that he was wrong. Understood that the candle is just a […]

browsing at online store

Question: Hi, I’ve learned that a person is not allowed to browse in-store with no intention of buying the items. Is the same true with online/web browsing? Thank-You Answer: Hello, It is permitted. The basis for what learned was because when a person walks into a store and makes it look like they want […]

Parve Sink

Question: Hello, I would like to use three sinks for Parve, dairy and meat. However, one is a single-bowl sink and the other is a double-bowl sink. Please advise if it is best to use the double sink for parve and dairy or for parve and meat. Thank you. Answer: Hello, This is not […]

Lighting candles early

Question: Dear Rabbi, I think I noticed over an event this past week we lit the sabbath candles over an hour early and resumed our maariv prayers. From which time is it permitted to light candles before sundown? Thanks Answer: Hello, can are allowed to light candles from what is called “plag hamincha”, which […]

Online Proxy finding

Question: Hi, I have a software that scrapes many sites and collects the data for me. In order that the website shouldn’t block my IP from doing many scrapes I need to have access to many proxies. I have no clue how to do it. I have a developer in Russia that does the whole […]

dirty suit

Question: Hi My suit got dirty on chal hamoed and i would like to know if I can clean it with a little water with my hand? Answer: Hello, Yes you can. Spot cleaning is permitted. A gut moed Sources:

Selling chametz

Question: Hi if I’ve sold Chametz in a cupboard to a goy but there’s food or something in that cupboard I need for Pesach that isn’t chometz, can I take them out on pesach or is it considered “stealing”? Answer: the things in the cupboard that are not chometz weren’t sold to the goy. […]

Anchoring swingset on Chol HaMoed

Question: We built a swingset before yom tov, but did not have time to anchor it. Anchoring entails knocking metal pegs into the ground next to certain places of the swingset and then screwing those pegs to the wooden swing set. It would not be a very strenuous job, but I will need to consult […]

Trimming moustache Chol Hamoed Pesach

Question: The Mishna Berura (531-21) paskens that one may trim his moustache, even areas that do not interfere with eating, on chol hamoed. Is there a problem due to sefira restrictions chol hamoed Pesach, or are sefira restrictions lifted during chol hamoed just as music is permitted? Are nose hairs the same as a moustache? […]

New clothes on chol hamoed

Question: If I bought an article of clothing before yuntif and want to try it on chol hamoed to see if it fits but not actually wear the clothing until after yuntif is over is that permitted? Answer: Hello, Hachana on Chol Hamoed only applies if there is melacha involved in what is being […]

Fridge on Pesach

Question: Hi, Can i keep mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, salad dressings (items i do not know if they may or may not contain chometz)in a separate bag in one area of the fridge or are they considered just like chometz gomur (ie: bread) Please let me know, Chag Sameach :) Answer: Hello, The mayonnaise and […]

Hair spray Passover

Question: I’m trying to look for a hairspray that is fine to use for Passover I have tried to ask my local Kashrus and also tried to find online any suggestions but was unsuccessful. Answer: Hello, As of this writing, Aqua Net, White Rain, Final Net, are all fine. Best wishes

What Chometz to sell on Pesach

Question: You list mustard that doesn’t have to be sold…but mustard contains vinegar. Answer: Hello, I am not sure what you are referring to, but mustard is kitnois, and while Ashkenazim don’t eat it, it doesn’t have to be sold. While it is true that some vinegars can come from grains, there is plenty […]

Places sometimes used of chometz on Pesach

Question: Hi, I have a desk which I sometimes (not often) eat hot food on. There is no food currently on it. Am I allowed to use this desk/eat on it if it is not covered, on Pesach? Thanks Answer: You may use the desk, but if it should be covered if you are […]

Playing guitar during Sefirat HaOmer

Question: I play guitar as a hobby and I do find pleasure and enjoyment when playing. Am I allowed to play during the Sefira if I feel that it would be hard for me without it? Answer: Hello, In general you should not play during the days of sefira that you hold. If there are […]

HAIRSPRAY

Question: Is tres emme freeze hold hairspray good for pesach? Answer: Hello, As of this writing, Aqua Net, White Rain, Final Net, are all fine. Best wishes

Biodegradeable vegetable bags

Question: When shopping at Trader joes they use biodegradable bags for their fruits and vegetables xan I use them for vegetables and fruits that I will be using for Pesach? Answer: Hello, Plastic bags don’t need special kosher for Passover supervision. Therefore you can use their bags on Pesach. Best wishes Sources:

When does Mechira End ?

Question: Hi, When does the Mechiras Chometz end ( I keep two days of yom tov ) Thank you Answer: It shoiuld be mentioned that the person is keeping two days. The buying back is done in a way that each person aquires his chometz only after Yom Tov is finished for you. Best […]

Kashered sink

Question: Water that was used to clean a rcooking range was poured into a kashered pesachdig sink, does it have to be kashered again? Answer: Hello, You don’t have to kasher the sink again, but it sould be washed out well to get rid of any grease from the oven. Best wishes

Kosher for Passover?

Question: Are GEFEN gherkin pickles chometz? Answer: Hello, You have to check the label, to see if it is certified Kosher for Passover. Pickles need to be certified Kosher for Passover. Best wishes

Sell house, not check for chometz

Question: Hi, If I’m not in the mood to clean my house for chometz, can I just sell it to a non jew, the same way all my friends going to hotels for pesach are doing and not cleaning for Pesach? Of course, in my kitchen I’ll make sure all the chometz is in closed […]

If something does not happen is it from above

Question: If I take a situation like applying for a job and it does not result in success is this from above. Is this telling me something? What I am trying to get at is this. Is there anything that tells us how many attempts we should have at something generally? The example here may […]

Is an empty garbage can Muktza

Question: If on Erev Yomtov I put my garbage out to be picked up by the garbage persons, can I bring the empty garbage can back to my property on Yom Tov? Is it muktza? If it’s Muktza, can I then put a non-Muktza object in the can, and transport it that way? Answer: Hello, […]

Putting plants outside to acclimate them on Chol Hamoed

Question: I have grown seedlings indoors. I know I can’t plant them outside during Chol Hamoed. Can I put them outside to get acclimated to being outdoors on Chol Hamoed without planting them? Answer: Hello, It can be done on Chol Hamoed, but only if it couldn’t be done beforehand. Best wishes Sources:

Wife — chometz

Question: Hi, I had an interesting question: I already went to a Rav to sell my chometz (I didn’t put down my wife’s name). However, I remembered afterwards that I gave my wife a bottle of perfume for a present. Assuming that there is chometz in the perfume (it says denatured alcohol is one of […]

Meat & dairy spoon in pareve sorbet

Question: I typically use a “meat” spoon when dishing out sorbet from its container. Tonight I wasn’t paying attention and used a dairy spoon in the container – is the dairy spoon still kosher? Answer: Hello, Assuming that the spoon was clean, the sorbet is still kosher and pareve. Best wishes

chometz cosmetics

Question: Do I need to put away the chometz toiletries or is it sufficient that I refrain from using them? Answer: If it is a solid or a cream it doesn’t have to be sold to a gentile, however if it is a liquid that has a problematic type of alcohol, then it should be […]

Beged isha

Question: Is it a problem of beged isha for a man to use a facial cream that reduces bags under the eyes? There are products that are designed for men. If allowed, would I need to davka buy the men’s product, or a general product (which men also use and might be cheaper) is ok […]

May I wish a muslim a blessed Ramadan?

Question: Given that muslims are not considered idol-worshipers and ramadan is a time of tefilah, fasting, and charity for muslims, can I wish a muslim colleague a “ramadan mubarak”? Answer: Hello, As you write, Islam is not avoda zara it is permitted to wish him this. Best wishes

Questionable eyeshadow on shaytel prepared for pesach

Question: I had my Shaytel washed and set for Pesach by someone new. When she was done, I noticed that the part for the Shaytel which was middleparted ( it’s a pretty new Shaytel) didn’t look right. She took out a pallet of eyeshadow and put some whitish eyeshadow on it to enhance the look […]

selling chometz online not recommended?

Question: I do not see a form for selling chometz on the web site and I have not gotten an email with an offer to do so as in previous years. Is this due to being outside Israel or selling online not a thing to do anymore according to Din Online? Answer: Hi, We […]

Dentures

Question: What has to be done to dentures to make them kosher for Pesach? Answer: Hello, The dentures should be cleaned and pour hot water over them, if they won’t get ruined. If not then soak them for 24 hours. If you can manage doing this at least don’t eat hot chametz with them for […]

eye drops to see better

Question: GM- I sent a question on Monday regarding eye drops – and I have not seen a response. Kindly respond. Thanks! Answer: Hi, \My apologies that I didn’t get back to you earlier. Can you please tell me if the reason for the drops is in order to heal the eye or prevent […]

Chumetz

Question: Is buckwheat chumetz? Is semolina chumetz? Are oats chumetz? Is quinoa chumetz? Are lentils chumetz? Answer: Hello, Buckwheat is not chometz, however the Ashkenazi is not to eat it as it is included in kitnios, which we don’t eat. Semolina comes from wheat and is a type of wheat flur, therefore it can […]

Kashering kitchen for Pesach

Question: Is everyone mechuyov to kasher their kitchen counters for pesach or is it enough just to cover them? Do you also have to kasher the sinks if you put in a sink insert? Answer: This is the minhag, to kasher the counter tops and sinks, even though they will be covered anyway. Besides […]