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

Tzaar Baalei Chaim – glue traps to catch mice?

Question: May I use glue traps to catch mice? How about if I tried other methods that did not work- may I then use glue traps? Answer: Thank you for your question. It is preferable not to use glue trap to kill the mice, because using the glue trap is a long and painful […]

2019 San Antonio quarters with a cross

Question: Is there any issue with the 2019 San Antonio quarters, it has a picture of a church with a cross on the top? I found it a little odd to see it in the pushkah on the Bimah in my shul. Thank you Answer: Thank you for your question. Your point is valid […]

Removing shatnez in public

Question: If I am wearing a shatnez pants in public do I have to take it off in front of everyone. If yes, isn’t it not zniyut to show my legs. There is a halacha not to uncover a person’s body in the Alter Rebbes Shulchan Aruch. What is there to do? Thanks Answer: […]

meat stuck in teeth/retainer

Question: The Halacha appears to be that if one found meat stuck in ones teeth/retainer after six hours, he need not wait another six hours but nevertheless it should be removed before eating milk. My question is whether he needs to spit it out of his mouth or he’s even allowed to swallow it, in […]

Rage room

Question: Hi. I was wondering if it is okay to go to a rage room (a place where people can vent their rage by destroying objects within a room with a sledgehammer etc.)? Thank you! Answer: Thank you for your question. A rage room is not a place that should be frequented by Jews. […]

Acupuncture

Question: Is one allowed to be treated by an acupuncturist who believes in energy zones or is this true Avoda Zoro? Answer: Thank you for your question. You are bringing up quite a controversial topic. There is much debate about this, including books and seforim written on both sides of this controversy. On one […]

Moshe swearing to Yisro

Question: How are we to understand the mechilta and other sources that explain that Yisro made Moshe swear to give his firstborn son to become a priest for idolatry before allowing Moshe to marry Tzipora? There are many questions on this. Foremost, how can we understand that Moshe Rabbeinu would allow such a thing. There […]

name

Question: Why is my mother’s hebrew name sara bas sara Answer: Thank you for your question. It is hard to say definitely why your mother’s name is such, but it is possible that her mother died right after her birth, and therefore she was given her mother’s name, to keep her mother’s memory alive. […]

Sephardi lineage

Question: I recently found out that my Grandparents were born Jewish. My grandfather came from Greek Jews. Am I then a Sephardic Jew? My father is not Jewish, but both of my mother’s parents are. Answer: Thank you for your question. How lucky you are! To be part of the Jewish people, although it comes […]

Saying kadish for an uncle who no one else is saying kadish for.

Question: My aunt’s husband passed away and there is no one to say kadish for him. I volunteered. I am disabled due to a severe stroke 10 years ago. Which kadishes do I say at which tefilot? For how long should I continue? Thank you. Answer: Thank you for your question. It is very […]

Saying name at Yizkor

Question: Dear Rabbi. When saying the name of the deceased at yizkor and the relative was a Cohen/levi, does one add hlevi to the name or is just used for having an aliyah? Answer: The name “Hakohen” of “Halevi” is added in when saying yizkor etc.. It is also engraved on the person’s tombstone. […]

Funeral/Shiva

Question: While it may be decent is one obligated to go to the funeral and shiva of a relative they have been alienated from for many years? Answer: Thank you for your question. It is a chesed for the deceased, and perhaps the last chesed that you will do for this person, however it […]

Tatoo eyeliner

Question: Can one go into the mikvah with a tattoo eyeliner that is not removable once its done? Answer: Thank you for your question. Going to the mikva is not a problem, since the ink in embedded in the body and is there permanently. There is another issue with using tattoo makeup, and that […]

Normal wear and tear?

Question: Hi, I rented an apartment for 8 years and things are starting to break. For example, the oven door is falling off, cabinetry is cracking and the carpet has stains after all the usage. The oven repair person said that this base model has a life expectancy of 6 years, and the cabinets are […]

Maaser for gifts or winning a raffle

Question: Am I supposed to give maaser for money that was received as a gift or won at a raffle? Answer: Thank you for your question. Money that was given to a person as a present (and the person can use the money for whatever he wants) and money that from a raffle are […]

Appropriate Clothing while saying brachos

Question: May I say Havdala in a t-shirt and boxer shorts? What about other brachos? Thank you Answer: Hello, Although is in proper to be dressed when saying havdala and other brachos, it is permitted to say brachos and havdala, in a T-shirt and shorts. Best wishes Sources: M:B 38-5.

Halacha

Question: Good afternoon. I want to eat rice from Yeshiva dining room. Do I have to be concerned that people touched the spoon on to their plate of chicken and now rice is fleishig? Question 2 – even if I saw someone touch spoon to plate with chicken would I say that it is boutel? […]

Vaccinated chickens

Question: Chickens are vaccinated about 17 times against various diseases. Certain types involve the needle piercing the neck. What are chickens therefore not regarded as “terefos”? Answer: Thanl you for your question. According to the kashrus professionals that we ave been in contact with no one vaccinates in the neck anymore, and no one […]

Baby with greasy chicken hands….

Question: My toddler with probably greasy chicken hands played with our milky bottle drying rack. Should it be cleaned thoroughly in not-hot water before use? Answer: Hello, You should just wipe down the parts that the baby touch. You should have much Jewish nachas from him/her. Best wishes Sources:

Error in pricing

Question: Last month, the Kosher whole chicken was mistakenly priced ridiculously low- $8 instead of the average price of $16 We knew it was a mistake because the chicken was labelled, weighed and priced as chicken bones when in fact it was a whole chicken. Should it be reported to the kosher department or just […]

Causing an animal to suffer or feel any pain during Shechitah

Question: Hello Rabbi, A couple of weeks ago I saw a video of someone performing Shechitah on a chicken next to the Rosh Kollel who was overseeing the process. The Rav of my Shul watched the video and said it was a kosher slaughter. However, I noticed that when he was cutting the neck, he […]

Selling items

Question: May one sell an item that has something disgusting that buyer will be fine if he doesn’t know meaning if u sneeze on an item and u wipe it off and u sell it to him he’ll have no problem but if u tell him he will be disgusted (or he’s fine with it […]

Higher price listed on shelf than at cash register

Question: Hi, I was recently in a pharmacy in Jerusalem. The price for a certain product was listed as 15.90 NIS on the shelf, but when I did a self-checkout, the price was 10 NIS. If this happens, do I need to say something to the employees at the store and see what they say […]

OCD about Nidda

Question: Hi, I have a question that has been bothering me and I dont feel able to ask it in person. I am very OCD around niddah in general and vey often imagine I have seen blood either on my wife’s body or her clothes when in fact there hasn’t been any. I always seem […]

Memorial question (Hazkara) Iraqi custom

Question: Dear Rabbi, My father’s Hazkara will fall on Thursday 13th January, (11th Shevat). When would I have to start reciting Kaddish. I follow the Iraqi tradition. Would it be from Friday evening 7th January. Thank you in advance Meir Answer: According to Iraq tradition, yes you are correct, you would start saying kaddish […]

Russia crossing into the Crimea

Question: I once heard, in the name of the Chofetz Chaim, that when Russia crosses over into the Crimea (Ukraine) it means that Mosiach Tzidkainu is immenent. Is this true? I know that we have to anticipate Mosiach at any minute, but this sounds much more immediate. Answer: Hi, This idea is mentioned in […]

Ribbis?

Question: If I buy something for someone and lay out the money for them. Is this like lending them money where they would have to pay back the exact amount, because of ribbis or is this like buying something and then selling it where I can sell it for more expensive than I paid? Is […]

Siyum on Tanach

Question: May one say the hadran and the full kaddish for a siyum on all 24 books of Tanach? Answer: You can definitely make a siyum and Mazal Tov! That is an accomplishment! We find in the gemora that they made a siyum even after finishing one of the 24 books (If it was learnt […]

Shifra and Puah – Reward

Question: The Torah says that as a reward for not listening to Paroh and saving the Jewish boys, Shifra and Puah recieved “houses”, which Rashi says were the houses of Kehuna and Kingship. Question: What was so special about what they did? Practically no one, even the most lowly Jew, would never kill an innocent […]

Received Ribis?

Question: I lent a neighbor a closed roll of parchment paper which she then returned. It was a different brand but the same square footage so I assumed it was fine. However, I really liked her brand better. The size of each piece was easier to use than the one I lent her. Is there […]

Using Meaty Air Fryer for Fish

Question: Is it permissible to use the same air fryer for meat and fish? What if the internal rack can be cleaned in the dishwasher? What if the components are cleaned, but not perfectly? Thank you! Answer: If there is dirt leftover in the fryer it should not be used for fish, because the […]

Possible neder

Question: Hi, Thoughts of nedorim and shvuas are in my head, especially during davening chazaras ha’shatz- kaddish when we answer amen. My question is do the thoughts become binding when I say amen? Because I know amen makes a shvuah chal. Thank you Answer: Hi, The idea that amen makes a shevuah chal, is […]

Moch when on pill (2)

Question: Hi, Thanks for your response. Am I correct in understanding from your answer that there is no difference between a women on the pill and not on the pill. Would it be true too that if a women on the pill either forgot to do a moch after her hefsek or had a reason […]

Items left in home that we bought

Question: Hi Rabbi, BH, we just moved to a new home. The sellers left many items, some of which were discussed that they would leave for us. Some of the items we did not discuss and were surprised to find them when we moved in. In the contract they were supposed to remove everything except […]

Long Tehillim and Tefilah list

Question: During the Covid lock down, I was on some Tehillim chats or would just get names of many Cholim. I kept a list of them in my Siddur and when it was getting so much, I would copy paste them into emails to myself. I would scroll and scroll getting more and more names. […]

Kosher Drinking Glasses

Question: Hi! New to keeping a kosher kitchen, quick question: if a gentile comes over and drinks from my drinking glasses, I’m assuming that they are still kosher, yes? What about plates/silverware? Answer: Thank you for your question. Assuming that what was used in the glasses plates etc., were all kosher, then everything is […]

Hechsher on cleaning agents

Question: Do you need a hechsher to use a cleaning product on a pan such as barkeepers friend, and do you need a hechsher to clean the kitchen counters such as 409 Answer: Thank you for your question. These cleaning agents do not need a hechsher, because they are not edible, and will not […]

Using the standardised Heter Iska.

Question: Hello, I am going to be lending a friend a large sum of money. Due to the expenses I am incurring with this loan, my friend will be paying a small amount of interest. I found the Bris Pinchas – Heter Iska on your website, is it acceptable for us to just sign this […]

Teens trying on clothing I bought to see if they want to keep it.

Question: We place orders online for clothing. My teens would like to try them on during Shabbos when they have leisure time. Is it allowed? Some of the clothes might be returned to the store if they don’t like how it looks on. In case this makes a difference, I would like to add that […]

Is coffee machine still parve?

Question: B”H Kavod haRav, If someone touched meat and then touched their parve coffee machine (the part that punctures the coffee pod as well as inside the water resevoir), can they wait 24 hours without using the machine, wipe it off and then the machine will be parve? The “meat” residue on the hands was […]

Vows and changing mind

Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you sincerely for your help. If someone has in mind to not shop at a particular store, and then wants to change their mind and shop there, do they need to annul a vow for it? I do not recall ever stating out loud that I would not shop here. […]

meat/milk

Question: My friend ate chicken and her friend offered her a piece of chocolate which she didn’t realize is dairy. can she continue eating her chicken? Answer: It depends on what her minhag is. If she usually waits half an hour after eating milk to eat meat then she should wait the half an hour. […]

Which broker gets the commission?

Question: Our company’s medical insurance broker was replaced because he failed to service the owners of the company. We brought in someone else who basically renewed our coverage for the next 3 years. In an effort to get the business back, the former broker brought a completely new deal to the table which we adopted. […]

oath?

Question: Hi, I hope you can help. Over the last year or so thoughts (I don’t think I ever spoke it out but maybe) go through my head that I can’t buy a laptop and if I do something not good will happen to me so I sort of decided not to buy one, and […]

Eating while moving

Question: Is it permitted to eat while being in the car driven by someone else? How about on an airplane? Answer: Thank you for your question. Yes, it is permitted to eat while one is traveling in a car or plane, and it is not considered shinui makom. Regarding the people inside the car […]

Moch Dachuk when on pills

Question: Hi, I heard that Rav Moshe Fienstien in Igres Moshe says a women on the pill has to do a Moch dachuk. I tried to check it up, it is in chelek Beis of Evan Haezer (I think siman 17) but i didnt understand what exactly it was saying. Can you please confirm indeed […]

Giving monetary value of a sin offering to remove a shogeg Shabbos violation.

Question: I heard that a person can give the monetary value of a sin offering (Billy goat) to remove a shogeg Shabbos violation, is this correct and how much does it cost in $ and ₪, please? Answer: Thank you for your question. It is beautiful to see how conscientious you are about keeping […]

My fingernail broke a thread on the top my polyester hat, did I break Shabbos?

Question: My fingernail broke a thread on the top my mixed polyester hat, did I break Shabbos? Answer: Thank you for your question. It is understood that one should not do this on Shabbos. However, in retrospect, we cannot say that you broke the Shabbos, and definitely not a biblical level, that you would […]

Sick and davening

Question: I am sick w the flu. Cannot get out of bed. Should i daven shmoneh esrei in bed? Can i put on tefillin in bed? Answer: Hello, Yes. If you feel that you cannot daven sitting, you may daven and put on tefilin while lying in bed. You should lie on your side […]

Is a woman allowed to do other things while davening?

Question: 1)During the morning I am alone at home with 2 little ones B”H and I am scared to daven because I cannot interrupt for my children. What should I do? 2) Am I allowed to daven while doing household chores like peeling vegetables, cooking, baking, folding laundry,.. if otherwise I might not manage to […]