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

Stain treat blouse week of Tisha bav Sunday (previous Tuesday stain treat)

Question: Can I stain treat as soon as possible my good white summer blouse of which I only have one, from blackberries which will ruin shirt forever unwearable. It’s Tuesday, Tish BAv is Sunday? Answer: It is permitted not only to stain treat, but also to wash out the stain (only). Spot cleaning is permitted […]

Wearing Stockings

Question: Hi. my wife was wondering if we could get the מ”מ on the חיוב of wearing stockings? Kol Tuv Answer: Here are some mareh mekomos. משנה ברורה סימן עה ס”ק ב (ב) לכסותו – אבל פניה וידיה כפי המנהג שדרך להיות מגולה באותו מקום וכן בפרסות רגל עד השוק [והוא עד המקום […]

Annulling a vow

Question: Can a Rabbi annul a vow prior to erev Rosh Hashanah? Answer: Yes he can, if the halachic circumstances allow him to do so. Annulling of vows ( called hataras nedarim) can be done any day of the year. Best wishes

Havdala Tisha B’Av nidcheh

Question: If one is making havdala for his wife this year on tisha b’av on Sunday afternoon on chamar medina (and she will drink the chamar medina): 1) Who makes the bracha of shehakol? 2) Does the man repeat havdala on motzei tisha b’av? Thank you Answer: When making havdalah on chamar medina, the […]

Siyum in the 9 days

Question: Hi, I recently finished Etz Chaim from the Kitvei Ari (3 volumes). It took me 3 months and I want to know if this qualifies to make a siyum on during the 9 days. Thanks. Answer: Hello, This is a very nice accomplishment, and Hashem should help you finish and understand more seforim. […]

Trimming trees during shemitta

Question: Our very small Israeli back yard is completely overrun with branches from fruit trees and non-fruit trees. There is no way we could build a sukkah there. The gardner has no time to come and trim it all after Rosh Hashanah. Can he do it before Rosh Hashanah and if so can he only […]

Electricity went off on Shabbos

Question: There was a power-cut in our house on Shabbos morning. We were about to have Shabbos lunch – was there any way that we can have the power turned back on? The only non-Jew in the area is a two-minute walk away, and we had a baby with us and the house was very […]

Maaser – losses and gains

Question: Thank You for taking my question. I have two forms of income. My salary and any proceeds I get from stocks, bonds and dividends. Last year I lost money in the market but retained my salary. This year I still have my salary and BH made back some of the losses. I pay maaser […]

Can I go biking in the 9 days?

Question: I bike in the street every morning as exercise. Can I continue in the 9 days? Answer: Yes, but be extra careful and cautious during the nine days. Best wishes Sources:

Properly using an internet filter

Question: Is it permissible to use a filtered or internet-free computer where one can restore the unfiltered internet at will? (Examples: A computer where the internet application is just temporarily removed/hidden, an internet filter that can be turned on and off easily) If this is not permissible, then is it effective to make the filter […]

What may be done after Tisha B’av which is on Shabbat and fast is on Sunday

Question: Hello, When can one shower and do laundry after the Tisha B’av fast this year? Can one go for a walk on Shabbat even though 9 Av is Shabbat? (I read it is only permitted when 9 Av is Sunday, not Saturday) Answer: Hello, This year since Tisha B’av is really the tenth day […]

Fleishigs from a bris seuda

Question: Can someone who was at a bris bring food from the bris and continue eating his seuda throughout the day? If yes, can he eat more of his own fleishigs at home or does it need to have been brought from the seuda? Does the person need to actually eat food at the bris […]

Follow up to the siyum online question

Question: Regarding https://dinonline.org/2022/07/31/siyum-masechta-online-to-allow-eating-meat/eating meat at the meal of a siyum, that a person hearing the siyum on the internet or on Zoom is not considered partaking in the siyum and cannot eat meat. Would a bris be any different? Can someone watching a bris on zoom partake of their own fleishig food? How about if […]

Clothing that arrived during the 9 days

Question: If you ordered a clothing package before the 9 days but it only came during the 9 days can you wear it? Answer: Hello, One of the restrictions to remember the Bais Hamikdash during the nine days is not to wear new clothing. Therefore, it will not matter when it was ordered. As […]

Checking Yuchsin

Question: My wife knows a young woman from a traditional family who she’d like to introduce to a Jewish young man. She has told her that her father is a ger tzeddek and her mother is Jewish of Afghani origin. Do we need to check that she is really Jewish before introducing her? If so, […]

Painting room during 9 days

Question: A bedroom in the home needs badly to be painted. If a relative offers to do the job for free but is only available to do so during the 9 days, can it be done, since if the owner waits until after Tisha b’av, he will have to pay someone else to do it […]

Buying sportswear in the 9 days

Question: Hi, I’m travelling overseas this coming Thursday for camp (we’re not gonna have activities till Monday) and I still need to buy some sportswear (bathing suit, sweatpants, sport tzizis) that I didn’t come around to buy before the 9 days. Am I allowed to buy it in the 9 days since it’s not nice […]

Multiple Beis Meirs

Question: How long do we say that a woman should be choshesh for the beis meir in regards to nidda? for example, if she saw 37 then 36 then 35 then 34….32 do we say she should keep the basis meir for a week straight? Is there a difference if one only keeps the beis […]

Tznius repairs during 9 days

Question: Can I alter and then wear a shell during the 9 days (it is to make it tznius and more presentable without the need for folding material with a safety pin)? Answer: Under the assumption that the shell is not being worn for the first time during the nine days. Since you are […]

Shaving during the 9 days

Question: My facial hair grows very fast, and as a result it can also get extremely itchy and uncomfortable. Can I shave during the 9 days? Especially this year since Tisha Bav is pushed off to Sunday? Answer: Hi, The Ashkenazi custom is not to shave during the three weeks, which includes the nine […]

Siyum Masechta online to allow eating meat

Question: Shavua Tov! Is there any online Siyum massechta on 4th august I can join? Answer: Hi, Hearing a siyum or watching it online is not going to permit eating meat during the nine days. The reason why one may at meat when at a siyum, is not because he heard the siyum, but […]

Canceling conversion

Question: Hello, I converted to Judaism 10 years ago. I was taking psychotropic medications at that time. I lived in Israel and married there in a Jewish ceremony. We are secular and live in Europe now. How can I cancel my conversion? Answer: Hello, In general there is no such thing as canceling a […]

Chillul Hashem?

Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. I’m wondering if the following scenario would be considered Chillul Hashem. A lady and I made casual conversation in the parking lot area before food shopping regarding getting shopping carts. She walked away and when she came back (before shopping) she had a cart and said […]

Meat after Mariv before Shkia

Question: I was wondering if a person davened Mariv early, on erev Rosh Chodesh (Thu eve), do the halachos of the 9 days apply for him (e.g eating meat, washing, etc.) or not? I checked in the Poskim and could not find anything so would appreciate clarification (and in particular with sources). Additionally, I was […]

Leftover fleishigs from a bris during the 9 days

Question: Is there any way that fleishigs after a bris during the 9 days can be eaten in order to avoid baal tashchis from all the leftover food from the bris? Answer: Hello, Yes, there are a number of ways to use the leftover food from the bris even during the nine days. First […]

Fidgeting: Torah Study, Davening, and Its Broader Context

Question: For those of us who fidget, either for mental health or some other reason, is it permissible to use a fidget tool during periods of Torah study? This is of course under the assumption that the fidget is aiding ones concentration or ability to function rather than acting as a toy or distraction. I […]

Tefillin and guf naki

Question: Hello, it’s known the halcha that one cannot say Davar shebekdusha without being clean or without being in a clean place or when needing the bathroom to a ceirtan amount of need, Although it makes sense that this would be the case for tefillin as well whats the Torah source that one must follow […]

Hymenectomy

Question: Hi, can a hymenectomy procedure render a woman Niddah Answer: It is controversial, according to some poskim it does and according to other it doesn’t. A woman with such a question should speak to her Rov to get guidance. Best wishes Sources: בשו”ת אג”מ (יו”ד ח”א סי’ פז) כתב שאם רופא הוציא את […]

Lacking self awareness

Question: Hello Rabbis, I’ve been wondering about this and hope you can clarify… People are given self-awareness so that we have some idea of our strengths and weaknesses, and so we can usually identify when we fall, and what traits we have to fix in ourselves. Some people are more aware than others. However, I’ve […]

Sewing lessons during the nine days

Question: Can I give sewing lessons to children during nine days? Thank you so much! Answer: Hello, It depends on what will be done with the item that they are sewing. If it will be useable garment. That can be worn, then it should not be done during the nine days, however if it […]

Plants-kelayim – Watermelons

Question: In chutz Laretz does plants like watermelon which is a vine plant considered like grape vines regarding kelayim Answer: No. Although watermelons grow vine-like, they are no different than other vegetable regarding klayim. Best wishes

Tefillin ink spilled on my tefillin – lishma

Question: I was putting ink onto my tefillin and some of the ink spilled from the bottle onto my rezuos (without me intending to put it onto the rezuos). As soon as I noticed, I wiped off the ink. I don’t know if any of the ink remained on the straps or if I got […]

Removal of hair on Shabbos

Question: Must one must be concerned about hair coming out (on shabbos)in the following situations. 1) in bed (in a case where hair does come out ) 2) scratching one’s head 3)after going to the bathroom and maintaining a guf naki Additionally would it be a pesik reisha delo neicha le if you don’t want […]

Build luxury sauna in the nine days.

Question: Although I feel like I shouldn’t, I am wondering if must have the contractor continue building our luxury sauna. The reason for my question is: I’m a single mom who is struggling to put food in the table and in fact part of it and other basic expenses are paid thru tzedakah that I […]

Precise time for end of lease

Question: Hi, I am renting an apartment, and the date I am supposed to leave is August 31. The contract does not specify if I am supposed to leave at sundown or at nightfall. Which is it? Thanks in advance! Answer: If the dater is a secular date the time is August 31 11:59 […]

Buying household accessories such as artificial plants during the 3 Weeks

Question: May one buy artificial plants to enhance the appearance of one’s home during the 3 Weeks Answer: Hello, Halachically it is permitted to but such plants, during the three weeks, (unless it is so nice and expensive that you would say shehechiyanu on it). It would be a pious thing to avoid, however […]

Protectsia- conflict of interest

Question: Is it permitted for members of acceptance committee of mosdos to allow entry to their own personal family and friends. Does it make a difference if the members of the committee are paid or unpaid workers? Are people allowed to ask friends/ family of the committee members to put in a good word for […]

Did Israel vomit out the jews

Question: Please see Vayikra 20:22. Did we see Israel vomit out the jews when the 1st Beis Hamikdosh was destroyed? Answer: Yes. Unfortunately this is what happened. Eretz Yisroel can’t take sin, and since we sinned we had to go into exile. Best wishes

Chomesh and getting rich

Question: I have been giving Chomesh for almost two years now and I am losing money. I have followed the rules about giving to a family member who studies Torah and who really needs it because they don’t have any other source of income. On June 30th I had a certain amount in my savings, […]

Wedding of kallah whose father was niftar

Question: My daughter is Iyh getting married. My husband ( her father) is niftar as well as both her grandfathers- who gives her a bracha after the bedekan? She wants me alone to walk her down to the chuppah. She does not want her brother to join us. She says “he is not my father.” […]

Mikva

Question: If a man is taking medication for a UTI, and his wife is supposed to go to the Mikva, is it medically permissible? Answer: Hello, Medical questions need to be addressed to a doctor, and we can’t answer them. However, from a halachic perspective, she should still go to the mikva on time. […]

Is continual financial failure a chillul Hashem

Question: I know of a person who continually goes into debt to the tune of Millions of dollars and then cannot pay the debts so goes into bankruptcy, this happens about once every 5 years over the past 40 years. This person has ensured he has a high profile in the Jewish and general community, […]

“Al na timna…” – was it the invitation or not?

Question: Rabbonim of the Din Online: There are various interpretations, why the rage of Almighty flared against Bilam. Parashat Balak, Ba Midbar 22:16: …אל נא תמנע מהלך אלי. Ba Midbar 22:20: …אם לקרא… Was it the invitation, or not? “Im likro” – means: “if You are invited?” And “al na”, actually, means: “please!” Or “if […]

Do Seventh-day Adventists deserve the death penalty?

Question: Tractate Sanhedrin 58b says that “a Gentile who keeps the Shabbat deserves the death penalty”, does this include Sabbatarian Christians such as Seventh-day Adventists? Wouldn’t it be unfair to kill Sabbath-keeping Gentiles because they believe they should keep Shabbat? Answer: Seventh-day Adventists would not be liable for the death penalty, because they would have […]

Girls bentching out loud

Question: If a father wants to educate his children to bentch out loud, is it better m’shum tznius and halacha for the girls in the family to davka not bentch out loud? Are there opinions that hold that a girl’s voice (even not singing) is ervah when men are saying a davar she’bekedusha? Answer: Hello, […]

כבוד אב ואם

Question: This week I was learning כתובות דף צו which is quoted in יורה דעה סימן רמב:כ that whoever stops תלמידו from assisting him withholds/impedes from his doing חסד and removes from him יראת שמים. I was unable to find in הלכות כבוד אב ואם a corresponding הלכה for parents. Is there such a thing […]

Paying back in different currency

Question: Hi, l was on a trip to Europe, and I lent some money for my friend by paying some stuff for him with my debit card. (Which is an American card so it works with dollars.) (I expected him to pay me back in shekels, since we both learn in Israel, but we didn’t […]

Receiving jewelry from a man you aren’t married to

Question: What are the halachot of accepting jewelry from a guy you are not married to? Answer: Without getting into the actual tznius issues, of why would a boy who a girl is not married to give her jewelry… (unless they are planning to get married). However the only other halachic issue that I […]

Lashon hora and medicine

Question: I am questioned by a parent about the boy dating her daughter. As I work in a medical office, I know the boy is on serious medication for anxiety. She asks me among other questions, not knowing where I work if he is on medication. I think this boy has serious medical issues/problems. I […]

Milchig spatula, parve food, flieshig pan

Question: I cooked fries (parve) on a flieshig pan (eino ben yomo) and used a milchig spatula (probably ben yomo, unsure) to pick up the fries from the pan while the fries were still hot. The fries were sitting on top of parchment paper. Answer: Hi, Needless to say, l’chatchila this should not be […]