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Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a

Is a school or a business allowed to charge more for credit card transactions or is it ribbis

Question: This question has been a debate for the last couple of days in my morning class. some Yeshiva’s charge an extra 3% for credit card transactions for paying tuition and some do not. Is it considered interest? They are claiming that they get charged processing fees that they should not have to pay and […]

Kashrut of soft gel caps for a choleh

Question: Shalom I was recommended a treatment for a disabling illness consisting of a fish-extract in a soft gel capsule. The fish itself seems kosher, but I noticed at least one ingredient that to my knowledge is not – shellac. (the product can be found here https://nutrilink.co.uk/stabilium-200-x-90-soft-gels-multi-buy) Can I use it? Thank you!   Answer: […]

Sheimos for parsha sheets

Question: Preschool newsletters from preschool/gan often have a summary of the parsha along with a recap of the child’s week at school. Along with maybe a halacha or another torah concept that was learned. How can I evaluate if these sheets are considered sheimos?   Answer: Hello, They should be put into shaimos, since they […]

Did Eliyahu Hanavi have offspring?

Question: I am doing a project on Eliyahu Hanavi and can’t find any sources suggesting that he had or didn’t have children. Could you please help me? Kind regards   Answer: According to the opinions that Eliyahu was Pinchos, we find in Divrei Hayomim 1 chap. 5 verse 30 that Pinchos had a son Avishua, […]

Things that changed after Matan Torah

Question: Shalom, I’m looking for various sources that changed after Matan Torah a couple that I’ve heard are as follows: 1) The Jewish status changed from Father to Mother. 2) That after Matan Torah tefillin etc became holy.   Answer: Here are a few quick changes, that happened. It was the first and only times […]

Planting estrog seeds with kedushah Sheviis

Question: Shalom Rav. Last Succos, I bought an estrog which has the kedusah of Sheviis. I would like to plant its seeds in my garden to make them grow as tree. Is it allowed? Thank you for your answer.   Answer: Hello, It is permitted to plant them. This is because they are not meant […]

Brit Mila in the Torah

Question: Re: 1. Torah doesn’t describe even a single Brit Mila for the Jew?.. Or does it? Bereishit 18:8. “Cream and milk, and the calf”, that had been prepared… Our Forefather Abraham did serve all these dietary treats, products together, at the same time. Milk and meat simultaneously. 3. Deuteronomy 26:5 Does also state: “Wondering […]

Bracha on tasty food that one doesn’t want to eat

Question: Hi, I’ve been severely allergic to a specific fruit and haven’t eaten it in many years. My doctor wants me to re-test in the office by eating that fruit. I will not be having any enjoyment from the food, even though it’s tasty. I’d rather not be eating it, and will be eating it […]

Tasting milky whilst in the fleishig state

Question: A gutten, Following off a question that I read, one may taste meat and spit it out and remain parve after cleaning one’s mouth. I have a further question. If a person is fleishig, is he allowed to taste milky without swallowing?    Answer: Hello, This is an interesting question, and there are different […]

Eating meat with dairy food in a shopping bag on the table

Question: If someone is eating meat, and there is dairy in a shopping bag on the table, can one continue eating or does he need to remove the shopping bag from the table. Is the shopping bag considered a heker? Would a heker even work for a single person? If not, would it help if […]

opened box – can I assume it wasnt used?

Question: We ordered something similar to a crockpot from a local store (paying for a new item). When the store delivered it, it appears that it was opened before (box wasnt sealed, and instructions were missing). If the appliance looks basically clean, is there a reason that we would have to assume that it may […]

Can an employer charitable matching program count towards maaser kesafim?

Question: As an employee benefit, my employer will match ever dollar that I give to a registered charitable organization, up to a certain amount. Can this match help fulfill my maaser obligation as it is structured as an employee benefit and the non-jewish employer would not donate to a Jewish cause if it were not […]

Pouring hot water from pareve into dirty dairy sink

Question: I poured hot water from a parve pot (with boiled eggs inside) into a dairy sink, which presumably had dairy dishes inside (maybe dirty) Does the pouring of hot water and any steam change the status of anything? Thank you!   Answer: In retrospect it will not change the status of the pareve pot. […]

Shloshim that started on Chol Hamoed

Question: Someone who this year was buried on Chol Hamoed 19 Tishri. When does the shloshim end   Answer: Hello, The relatives of a person who was buried on Chol HaMoed, do not sit shiva until after the end of Yom Tov. However, regarding the shloshim, the thirty-day count starts from the day of the […]

Mashing potato on Shabbos

Question: I like to mash potatoes and beans from my cholent with the cholent soup. Can this be done on Shabbos as I’m eating bederech hachilah?   Answer: Hello, Yes, this can be done. What you are referring to is the opinion of the Rashba, that it is permitted to cut things into small pieces […]

Breaking matza into soup on Shabbos

Question: Can a person break matza into hot soup on Shabbos kli Shlishi? Pot to bowl #1, then pour soup into bowl #2 then break matza into soup.   Answer: Hello, Yes, this can be done. There is controversy among the poskim if “יש בישןל אחר אפיה”, if the prohibition against cooking on Shabbos applies […]