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

Maaser for therapy

Question: I am a single women struggling with an eating disorder, anxiety and depression I work3 jobs and am still struggling financially am I allowed to use my Nasir money for therapy or nutritionist Answer: Hello, generally we don’t use maaser money for personal expenses. However if you are struggling financially, and you don’t […]

Ksamim

Question: 1) If one’s hands are exposed to oso makom (ex: the ish’s hands after tashmish), and then they wash their hands with just water (ie-without soap), are their hands no longer shayich to a potential kesem issue? Meaning, can one assume that anything that may have gotten on their hands from oso makom was washed […]

Saying Shalom without a Kippah Yarmalke

Question: Can I say Shalom, shalom aliechem or on shabbos Shabbat shalom to someone not wearing a Kippah which will cause them to reply shalom, aliechem shalom or Shabbat shalom – shalom being one of Hashem’s names without a Kippah? Does it make any difference if they are mesoriti, chiloini or arab? Thank you Answer: […]

Water megule

Question: If there is a whole in the middle of the cover of a bottle,how many milimeter maximum the whole may be not to create a problem of mayim megulim thank you.. Answer: Hello, Most people are not careful not to drink any water milk, wine etc. that was uncovered nowadays, however if you […]

Counting omer after zman Rabbeinu Tam

Question: Shalom, My custom is to count the omer after zman Rabbeinu Tam. However, most of the time I am davening maariv with a minyan earlier than that (i.e. regular zman). This means that I wait and count later alone. I fear that I will forget to count. Would I be allowed, and would it […]

When will be the Yorzeit of my Friend?

Question: Re: When will be the Yorzeit of my Friend: after 11th months of His physical expiration, or after 12 months. I’d est: on Av 17th, 5781. Highly Esteemed Rabbonim of the Din Online: …My Friend ascended onto Heavens (physically expired) during previous summer… On Av 17th, 5781… And it is the first year without […]

Tzedakah money that my child mixed up

Question: I woke up on Shabbos morning and find my wonderful 2 year old daughter sitting on the kitchen table emptying out all the coins from my wife’s purse into a tzedokah box. I have no idea how much money was in the tzedokah box or in my wife’s purse, but there may well have […]

My Christian High School

Question: I’m really confused about religion. My ancestors were Jewish but my parents and grandparents were raised atheist and had no religious education because they lived in the Soviet Union, which had a policy of State Atheism. They identify as Jewish because “Jewish” was considered a race in the Soviet Union, was documented as such […]

Tefilin

Question: If one put in tefillin in a place that it smells but the smell doesn’t have a source is one yotzei the mitzvah of tefilin what about if the smell does have a source is one yotzei the mitzvah of tefilin in that place I’m not talking about a beis hakeesei kavua Answer: […]

Embarrassing someone to stop lashon hara or slander

Question: Are you allowed to embarrass someone, if they publicly slandered and gossiped about someone and you want to rebuke the speaker in the same public fashion and put doubt in the mind of the audience? What takes precedence? I always try to steer clear of embarrassing people publicly. But is there an exception in […]

Bnei Noach Making Brachos

Question: BS”D Shalom Rab, Is it allowed for a Bnei Noach to make a brachos on a non-kosher food, for example: a non-kosher meat? Answer: Thank you for your question. It is permitted for a non-Jew to make brachos, as long as he means to make the bracha to Hashem. In fact, we would […]

Worker wants to violate signed agreement regarding payment time

Question: BACKGROUND: 1. I founded and operate a vocational nonprofit 2. Unskilled, adults (18+, some are special needs who legally can sign the contract) workers are paid during training in completing jobs for and by the organization 3. The workers work various lengths of time and/or days at the worker’s convenience or based on the […]

Deciding to eat a Ke’baitza in middle of meal

Question: If someone initially planned to not each a ke’beitza so he washed without a beracha, but during the meal decides to each a Ke’beitza, does he have to wash with a beracha at that point? Answer: Thank you for your question. He does not wash with a bracha, in fact he doesn’t wash […]

Supporting married kids

Question: I have B”H married a few kids, my older ones are working and are just able to finish the month without help, so I help them for extra expenses, however my last daughter married a real learning boy, who learns all day in kollel, she works, but it’s impossible to live on that salary, […]

Question regarding sefira

Question: In regard to the question asked last night about sefira, I received an answer to ask the Rabbi who allowed me to shave. I would really prefer not to ask him and want to just restate my question quickly: basically, I made a cheshbon that it would make the most sense for me to […]

Missed two teffilas due to being sick with the flu.

Question: Hi, I am sick with the flu. Due to this, unfortunately, I missed Mincha yesterday, and Maariv last night. I feel very guilt as I cannot remember ever another time where I missed 2 tefillos in a row. Is there a way to do tashlumim for 2 tefillos this morning at shacharis? If not, […]

Kohen visiting cemetery

Question: Hi, I’m a kohen and I want to visit my dead relatives in the cemetery. Is it okay to go to the cemetery and stay on the path away from the graves or is it better not to go at all? Answer: Hello, In general, kohanim do not go into a cemetery. There […]

Pet in need of expensive medical procedure

Question: My daughter’s guinea pig needs a medical procedure (and possibly subsequent procedures as well) that will cost thousands of dollars. Otherwise, it will continue (increasingly) to suffer until it dies. What are my moral obligations in this regard? I do have the money to pay for the procedure, but I also know that I […]

Cane on Yom Tov

Question: On the website (url below) it says it is not permitted to use a can outside on yom tov. I have heard this a long time ago and have been looking for the mekor. Can you please let me know where the mekor of this halacha is. thank you very much Binyamin https://dinonline.org/2010/05/17/carrying-a-cane-on-yom-tov/ […]

Maaser on stocks

Question: Let’s say I bought 2 stock worth $100 each, a week later I sold one for $150 and the other one for $50, so I made money with one but in total I didn’t make any money, do I have to give Maaser for the stock that I sold for $150 or not? Also […]

Gluten-free cakes and bishul akum

Question: Gluten-free cakes (Pesach non-gebrokt) for Sfardim or Gra, Does not have flour, would fall under בישול and not אפיה and would require all of the stringies of בישול? Answer: Thank you for your question. What you are writing is partially correct. Cakes or “bread” that is not from the five grains, baked by […]

Shadchan question

Question: Hi, A shadchan sent me some shidduch resumes that are irrelevant to the boy she sent them for. I have some other ideas for these girls. Am I allowed to suggest these girls to the boys I know without including the shadchan in the process? I’m not in it for the money. I would […]

Mourning- shloshim

Question: May I wear makeup and/or jewelry during shloshim for a parent? Answer: Hamakom Yinachem eschem b’toch shar aveilei Tzion v’Yerushalayim. Wearing jewelry or applying makeup essentially is included in the prohibition not to anoint or shower during aveilus. However, there are certain women who are an exception to the rule. A married woman, […]

Child Doing Melacha Before Shkia

Question: If a father and mother both were mekabel Shabbos early, can they ask their child to do melacha before shkia? Please give sources. Thank You Answer: Thank you for your question. It is very controversial, and it is worse if the father already davened maariv. Ask your local Rov what he holds regarding […]

Haircut for woman with lice

Question: I saw in your archive that women may be able to cut their hair during sefira for a concrete reason. My wife discovered she has head lice (caught from children). She is very distressed over this and very much wants to cut her hair, which is long and thick. I don’t know if it […]

Shabbos candles

Question: If i go to shul before shkia,say at least one and a quarter hours befor,daven mincha and kabbolas shabbos,can i then come home and light candles ,ensuring that it is still before shkia? I am a single man and worried about leaving the candles alight whenn i am not at home. Answer: Thank […]

name: Zirel

Question: y grandmother was named Zirel and I would like to know the background of the name. I know it was a common name yet I cannot locate anything in Hilchos Gittin in the lists of names there. Would you be able to clarify? ( I was thinking / suggesting and wonder if its connected […]

KILAYIM IN CHUTZ LARETZ

Question: DO I HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT KILAYIM IN CHUTZ LARETZ Answer: Kilayim applies in chut laaretz in a limited form. Essentially there are three different types of kilayim, klayim of trees, kilayim of vineyards, and kilayim of seeds. In Chutz Laaretz one may plant different seeds of different vegetables in close proximity […]

safek kilayim

Question: I am in chutz laretz and I have a patch of ground on one side I planted carrots and the other side I planted watermelons. However right after I planted the carrots I hosed the area down with a very strong hose and I am nervous some carrot seeds may have gone into the […]

Wearing a shirt with tefillin on

Question: The Magen Avrohom in the Siman ‏לח׳ Says that if someone is not wearing a shirt and his heart is revealed ussor for him to put on Tefilin The Levushai serud says because tefilin is domi letfillah if it’s so my question is how come everything else Medina of the Gemara is mutar meaning […]

Late for shacharis

Question: If you arrive late for shacharis so start pesukei d’zimra from ashrei and then finish pesukei d’zimra before the chazan gets to Yishtabach/Baruch hu, can you go back and say the beginning of pesukei d’zimra that you missed? Answer: Thank you for your question. Before getting to your actual question, it is important […]

Haircut before shacharis

Question: Can you take a haircut before shacharis if you have a particular minyan you are going to later? Answer: Thank you for your question. Even if a person has a specific minyan for shacharis which he attends, nevertheless, we don’t take haircuts before davening. Although it is written that regarding mincha, that if […]

Do we need to say birkas ha-torah before Shacharis?

Question: do we need to do birkas ha-torah before shacharis? Or just before learning? Answer: Thank you for your question. We should say Birkas Hatorah before learning davening shacharis or even saying selichos, or other pesukim. Best wishes Sources: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ברכות השחר ושאר ברכות סימן מו סעיף ט וז”ל “לא […]

Singing eishes chayil

Question: Is it not proper to sing eishes chayil on leil shabbos “to” one’s wife because it is also a mashal to torah? What is the proper kavana for the family and the home while the husband is singing eishes chayil? Answer: Thank you for your question. There is no problem with te the […]

Bedika question

Question: Is inserting a bedika cloth (without doing a bedika) considering tampering with and invalidating a bedika cloth that was used for a bedika? This is really my question. I did a bedika on day one of shiva nekiyim. I did the bedika, but then after completing it, thought that I should do it again […]

Lost mezuzah

Question: Hi Rabbi, I put up a mezuzah on my garage door just before leaving on a trip. At the time I noticed that the material was vinyl of the garage doorway or something similar so I didn’t think I could use a nail. I used the adhesive strip instead to affix the Mezuzah. After […]

Buying new clothes during sefira

Question: Can a person buy new clothes during sefira? Answer: Thank you for your question. It is permitted to buy clothing that one will not make a shehechiyanu on them, such as sock, underwear, shoes, etc. Regarding clothing that expensive and prominent, that a person would make a shehechiyanu on them. There are some […]

Immersion Blender

Question: I have used a blender in the past to blend soups which contained onions chopped with a meaty knife. I have also used it to make a smoothie in which contained milk in. What is the status of the blender – is it treif? Answer: Thank you for your question. The blender does not […]

Greetings to someone married to non jew

Question: I plan to email a relative who is married to a non Jewish man rl, would it be proper to writing “I hope that you and you family are well!” She has two children, if that matters. Thank you very much! Answer: Hello, You may write that because you are not condoning the […]

Times for walking

Question: From the gemara in Pesachim (94 a) three times for walking the distance of a mil are derived, 18 minutes, 22.5 minutes, and 24 minutes. A mil corresponds more or less approximately to the modern day kilometer. However, the time units here represent an extremely slow pace of walking. For a regular person, this […]

Deodorant and psik reisha

Question: Thank you so very much for responding to my question about applying deodorant on Shabbos. https://dinonline.org/2022/05/03/deodorant-on-shabbos/ If I understood correctly what the Rav explained, how would any deodorant application (spray or liquid) to the underarm be permissible on Shabbos? Don’t all modern arm seams reach to the bottom of the arm, so by definition, […]

Kivud Av vAim vs Davar Reshus

Question: lkvod HaRav, If a 20 year old in Yeshiva E”Y wants to go to Meron on Lag B’Omer, can parents tell him no? “My own limited baal habatish take on it” Even if going to Kever Tzadikim is a Miztva and an apsect of Avodas Hashem; clearly there is no obligation to be doing […]

Gender/Feminism

Question: What is the Orthodox Jewish position on male and female societal relations? Society seems to be a male over female hierarchy, where those born male are granted a higher quality of life than those born female because males are given the rights to be seen as a whole person with goals in relation to […]

Already Over Chomeish

Question: I really miscalculated how much maaser I needed to give, and, I am very over Chomeish right now. However, since I try to give tzedakah regularly, I am not sure how to act: 1) I try to give tzeddakah every time I daven. Can I continue keep giving and at the same amount? 2) […]

Dancing and music the night of Lag B’omer

Question: Based on the Rama and Mishna Berura, it seems to me that it is forbidden to dance and have music the night of Lag B’Omer (even in honor of Rashb”i). Yet, in chassidic seforim the night of Lag B’Omer is a time of celebration. Therefore, it appears that those that do not follow chassidic […]

Benefitting from melacha on Shabbos

Question: Hi! An interesting question happened at my shul a few months ago which could likely happen again and would like to know the Halacha. In the morning when everyone walked to shul it was beautiful and sunny and hours later it began to rain hard. While people were waiting for the rain to let […]

Not sure

Question: Hi, I hope the Rov can help me. I’m in my late 20’s and would like to start looking for a job, a few weeks ago during chazaras hashatz thoughts were going through my mind ‘that if you go to work something bad will happen to you’ and I answered “kein… ratzon”… I’m afraid.. […]

Tachanun During Shloshim?

Question: Does a mourner for a parent recite Tachanun during sholoshim? Answer: Thank you for your question. Yes, a mourner does say tachanun during sheloshim. The idea of a mourner not saying tachanun is in regard to shiva, or the shiva house. In the house of a mourner (during shiva) the minhag is not […]

Kivrei tzadikim on Rosh Chodesh

Question: Can one go to kivrei tzadikim on Rosh Chodesh? Answer: Thank you for your question. Technically one can go to a kever on Rosh Chodesh, however the reason we go to the kevr of tzedikkim is that they should daven for us. According to kabbalah, the neshomos of the tzaddikim are not at […]

Bedikos on onas benonis

Question: My period started on a Friday night thus making days 30 and 31 on Sunday and Monday. I’m confused about when I need to make bedikas Answer: Thank you for your question. You should make bedikas motzei Shabbos after it is already night, Sunday morning after you wake up, Sunday evening after night […]