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

Persuading loan

Question: I thought you may have insight. Based on a statement from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (that his father in law would always go into debt and was able to pay off debts, for matters of public spiritual support) I have been unsuccessfully trying to secure a loan (allowing Torah study- education, to the benefit of […]

Plastic Is it better not to do this?

Question: Hello, do plastic water bottles (like Poland spring) require toveling for reuse? Could I use an empty one for more water, juice, etc? Answer: Thank you for your question. There is no need to tovel them. One of the reasons is because we don’t have to tovel plastic. Best wishes Sources:

Are days of Sefaria satisfied by new prohibitions and laws?

Question: Rabbi After reading your questions about mourning during the Sefira period and related days of judgment, could it be that Hashem answers your concerns? Deuteronomy 31:14-18 Hashem said to Moses: The time is drawing near for you to die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may instruct him. […]

Paying interest on unpaid taxes to the IRS

Question: Hi, I received a notice from the IRS that I didn’t pay my taxes for 2020 in full (apparently, I didn’t pay a balance of about $170). About a month later, after not having paid that amount, they increased the amount to $172. This is because they charge interest on a daily basis on […]

Passover foods

Question: Is it okay to eat Passover cake leftover after the holiday? Can it even be eaten with non-Passover food such as bread? Answer: Thank you for your question. It is just fine to eat the leftover Passover cakes etc. after the holiday. They may be eaten together with non-Passover foods. There is just […]

Chametz after Pesach

Question: Hi Rabbi. I have a question. We try to avoid buying foods that are chametz gamur after Passover. On the other hand, we sold cosmetics and perfumes that might contain chametz (I’m not sure what alcohol was used to make the perfume) and now we want to use it again. Is this a contradiction? […]

Is highlighting a person’s physical characteristic Lashon Hara?

Question: I’m giving a shiur and my to’eles is to have my students remain attentive and to remember the particular gemorah, or even sugya. By having them visualize an abnormal physical characteristic of a person, who happens to be in the actual shiur (e.g., he has a very long nose or whatever abnormal bodily feature), […]

Is a Joke ever permissible in Hilchos Loshon Hora?

Question: A person makes a joke about someone in the presence of others. He has no intent to belittle him; it’s just a joke that could be said about almost anyone. It might be about his absent-mindedness or anything that most people would consider a joke. At its essence, though, the joke is belittling. I […]

Returning extra money after a purchase

Question: Hi, I bought some flowers for my mother for yom tov together with my two brothers, which cost£22. I paid for them and the agreement was I would let my brothers know how much I spent and we would split the cost evenly. Being that they cost £22 we each should pay £7.33. One […]

Lashon hora about fight

Question: Is it lashon hara to say that somebody is taking part with one of the sides of the war that is going one?(just that, nothing more. Only that he is taking a side) Answer: Hi, It is hard to give you an answer on this, as it depends on the context that this […]

Haircut during omer

Question: This year rosh hodesh is moitzai shabbat. I seriously need a haircut. I am sephardic. Can I cut the hair maybe Thursday, or Friday before RH? Answer: Thank you for your question. The Ashkenazim have various minhagim regarding which 33 days to count for sefira. The Sefarim however have a clear ruling from […]

Found money in supermarket trolley

Question: My son found 5 shekels in the coin slot of a supermarket trolley in Modiin. It seems that someone returned the trolley to the trolley rack but forgot to recover their 5 shekel deposit. Can he keep the 5 shekels? We saw a similar question in your archives about money found in a supermarket, […]

Serefas Challah

Question: My wife gathered all the frozen pieces of challah that needed to be burned and gave it over to someone who burns challah. Right before bedikas chometz, she found another piece. and she asked me to burn it with the chometz. She made 2 paper bags in one the challah and the other my […]

Ripped tzitzits strings

Question: In hilchos tzitzits siman 12 there is a whole discussion about ripped strings and what is considered passul and kosher. My question is if one had all its strings cut all they way down to the gidil (no anaf), but the gidil itself is 12 gedulim ,and if the gidil were undone it would […]

Removing tefillin on chol hamoed Pesach

Question: What is the source for leaving on the tefillin until after the laining on the third day (1st day chol hamoed) Pesach? Heard that because the laining is about tefillin, we leave them on. Where is the source? Answer: Hi, Although this is not the accepted minhag in Klal Yisroel, there are those […]

Animal at seder

Question: Dear Rabbi, today, when my extended family and I were having a “fake seder”, a seder during the second day of Pesach to accommodate everyone (the day before, my Mom and I had a sort of Seder because we placed the food items in the plate you’re supposed to), a racoon came over to […]

Coping with a Disability

Question: I am suffering from a progressive eye disease I am slowly losing my vision and the doctors don’t know how much time it will be until I lose my sight completely. I wanted to know if there is a reason Hashem gives people physical handicaps if our job in this world is to serve […]

Hefsak Tahara

Question: I did a hefsak tahara but forgot to do a bedika before. I just remembered now and I’m up to day 4 . Can I still go to the Mikva on time? Answer: Thank you for your question. If you did a proper hefsek tahara, that is the bedika you were meant to […]

Bedikas on days 30 and 31

Question: If I got my period at night when do I have to do bedikas? Answer: Hello, Under normal circumstances, on days 30 and 31 you should do bedikos both day and night regardless of when the period started. Best wishes

Shloshim after Pesach

Question: Hello. Our family suffered a loss on the 12th of Nissan, with the burial taking place the following day, on the 13th. Is the shloshim on the 7th, 12th or 13th of Iyar this year? Thank you. Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem b’toch shar avelei tzion v’Yerushalayim. When a person starts sitting before Pesach […]

רווח בין דבקים בקריאת שמע

Question: שלום כבוד הרב: יש מקומות בקריאת שמע וכן בתהילים שאם לא נותנים רווח בין מילה למילה, הרי נוצרת מילה אחרת כגון: “דבר אל” בלי רווח יוצא – דברל, או “וכתבתם על” בלי רווח יוצא – וכתבתמל, או “אתכם היום” בלי רווח יוצא – אתכמיום, או “בין עיניך” בלי רווח יוצא ביננך, ועוד המון מקרים […]

Planting blueberry bush

Question: Is planting a blueberry bush going to have the same stringencies as a regular fruit tree (in regard to cutting it down ) Answer: Thank you for your question. A blueberry bush is essentially a tree, as it has all the character traits as other trees. Therefore the halachos of orlah and not […]

Replacing Lightbulbs in Hallway

Question: Our vaad habayit is responsible for replacing lightbulbs in the hall. It has not been done for many months. Am I allowed to purchase the lightbulbs, replace them, and take the cost of the bulbs out of our vaad habayit dues? Answer: Hi, After asking them to replace them, under the assumption that […]

Drying with Meaty Towel

Question: Hi! In cleaning up post-Pesach, I accidentally dried a plastic sink mat (that I use in my dairy sink) with a meaty dish towel (it was used, not clean). How do I fix this? Thank you! Answer: Thank you for your question. It is most probably not an issue, but if you are […]

Metal utensil

Question: Hi Is eating off a metal utensil that had cold non kosher food on it over 24 hours ago a problem? Answer: Hi, If the food was cold, before or after 24 hours is the same. The concern here is if there is any residue left over from the non-kosher food. If the […]

Charging wireless rechargable hearing aids

Question: regarding internal, non-removable, rechargable battery hearing aids, which are charged wirelessly (no electrical contacts) by setting them in a desktop charger. the battery of the hearing aids lasts for about 26- 30 hours on a full charge. This would normally be suffiicient for a single day Yom Tov or Shabbos. When there is a […]

Buying a gift on chol hamoed

Question: Can you buy a gift on chol ha-moed? in a situation where it’s time sensitive thanks Answer: In general, if the gift has to be given r is the derech eretz to be given on chol hamoed or if you won’t be able to give the gift afterwards it is permitted

Sefiras Haomer question

Question: Someone asked me what the omer is (the person asked “hayom…?”) and I answered “arba.” If I did not end up counting sefiras haomer that night, can I use the fact that I answered “arba” to the question to be considered as if I counted the omer that night and continue counting with a […]

Do I need to buy new toothpaste for Pesach?

Question: Hi hope you are doing well,If I have an already opened kosher lepaysach toothpaste do I need to buy a new one before yom tov? is it different for mouthwash, chapstick? Answer: Hi, If the toothpaste etc. is kosher for Pesach there is no need to get a new one. With the ChapStick […]

Shopping Chol Hamoed Pesach

Question: Is it permissible to buy Orange juice that doesn’t have a HECHER for Pesach-on Chol hamoed Pesach-to be used after pesach, since it is NOT MAMESH Chometz–probably Kityanos. Answer: If you are not planning on using it during chol hamoed, or you tov, it is hachana (preparing for after Yom Tov) which is […]

Appointing another Jew as a Shliach for you to do a melacha that is מותר for yourself

Question: Chag Sameach, There is a fellow in my yeshiva who normally asks me to do laundry loads for him (don’t ask why) and even pays me for the favor. He wants a towel to be washed since he doesn’t have any other ones available to him now and it would (probably) be a bother […]

Washing tzitzit on Chol Hamoed

Question: Hi, It is chol hamoed and currently don’t have any clean tzitzit to wear w/o having to wash them. May wash one of them or should I do something else instead like purchase a new pair or borrow from someone? Answer: Buy or borrow. A gut Moed Sources:

Latest time to recite Hallel

Question: Hello Rabbi, When is the latest time in the day to recite Hallel? Answer: While it should be said as early as possible, it may be said the whole day time. Sources: Megillah 20b

drank out of meat plastic cup while eating cold pizza

Question: Drank juice from fleishig plastic cup while eating cold pizza. Can cup be washed well with soap and continue to be used? Answer: Yes. Sources:

Pool

Question: Is it allowed to go with my wife in the pool of a hotel when other people can come in? Answer: If other men can walk in at will and are allowed to other, that would be quite untznius. Sources:

Krias Shema Al Hamita

Question: Can I say Krias Shema Al Hamita sitting by my dining room table? Answer: Yes, but go to sleep right after that. A gut moed Sources:

Vaping on pesach

Question: Can u vape on pesach Answer: On Yom Tov it is a problem, and even chol hamoed the Juice needs to be Kosher for Pesach Sources:

lasher sink with pouring hot water

Question: can one kasher a sink with pouring hot water chol hamoed? Answer: Kashering on Pesach for chometz doesn’t really help, and you will have to cover things well so that no water goes from the chometz to the Pesach. Sources:

Second day of yom tov

Question: Can a Ben eretz yisrael do melacha second day of yom tov while in America? Answer: No, even in private because of maris ayin. Sources:

Vitamin D found after bedika

Question: Hi, After I finished bedika last night in my Yeshiva dorm room I later discovered my vitamin d pills in a different room. I believe my Shul Rav holds of them to be a problem. Do I need to burn them or can I store the jar in my chametz closet (the chametz there […]

גילוח בערב פסח

Question: האם גילוח הזקן בערב פסח לאחר חצות מותרת כי הוא עושה את זה בעצמו, מה הדין לכתחילה ובדיעבד, (ואם אפשר גם מה הדין כשלא הספיק להסתפר)? Answer: אין לגלח הזקן אחרי חצות. אם לא יספיק תלוי מה הסיבה. חג שמח Sources:

scissors on Shabbos

Question: Can we use scissors on Shabbos to cut food packages? Thank you. Answer: Hi, It depends on how the scissors is being used, if it is cutting in a destructive fashion it is permitted, but if it making a nice opening it is not permitted. Have a good Shabbos

Your Site

Question: This site is GREAT! Who are you? Y. L., Monsey Answer: Thanks for the compliment! Here is a link to the Choshen Mishpat Kollel. https://dinonline.org/the-kollel/ This site is a project of the Kollel.

Selling chometz

Question: I sold my chometz with a Rav by signing an authorization form. After signing the paper he gave me a pen to pick up. If I didn’t realize at the time what I was doing by picking up his pen (making him a shliach, etc.), is it still fine to just rely on the […]

Medicine – Pesach

Question: Is Cerazette (mini pill) approved for Pesach? Answer: It is permitted. Have a good Yom Tov Sources:

Most important parts of the seder

Question: Firstly thank you for your wonderful website If someone is very elderly or quite ill, what are the minimum requirements of the seder, are there any paragraphs that may be omitted in these circumstances (apart from the obvious ones of the songs after NIRZAH? Thank you in advance Answer: Thank you for your […]

Hair spray

Question: Which hair spray I can buy in Israel that idkosher l’Pesach Answer: hi, I am not familiar with all the different kinds, however that is a brand called Trendi, which has an alcohol in it that is not an issue. Chag Sameach

selling chometz

Question: Is selling chometz online 100% Valid? Answer: We wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t. True the Rov can’t give you a handkerchief to pick up, he can still be your shaliach without it, and the sale is still very valid. Chag Sameach Sources:

Illness during the Seder

Question: If a guest becomes ill during the Seder and they need to go home to recover/rest, can they continue the Seder at their home, if they feel better later on? Or must the entire Seder be done in one place? Answer: Hi, The seder can be continued in another place. Regarding the meal itself, […]

Supplements on Pesach

Question: Are you allowed to take supplements on pesach for digestion and sleeping if you have major digestive/sleeping issues and the supplements do not contain chametz and most probably don’t contain kitnios? What if they do contain kitnios? Answer: Medications that contain kitnios may be used on Pesach if the person’s ailment makes them […]