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

Parve dishes in dishwasher

Question: Can I wash parve dishes in an empty milchik or fleishik dishwasher? Answer: Can I wash parve dishes in an empty milchig or fleishig dishwasher? Answer: Hello, There is controversy about using a milchig or fleishig dishwasher for pareve. According to some poskim, it depends if the dishwasher has a filter or not. […]

chicken

Question: I recently came across this poster: https://www.star-k.org/articles/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/KCChicken_Poster.pdf My question regarding it: A few months ago, I noticed the chicken I was preparing had a greenish discoloration to it. Since it had a reliable hechsher (bdatz edah chareidis), I figured it was more of a health concern than a kashrus concern, so I used it […]

Hot dairy spatula touches meat pan

Question: I was using a dairy spatula to cook dairy food on the stove (so I imagine the spatula was hot) and it fell from the stove to the shelf where I keep my baking sheets. From my angle I couldn’t tell if the spatula was touching the meat baking sheet. It looked very close […]

Teshuvoh on aveira

Question: Hi, When I was 18 years old, I did something immodest and improper. I made tshuvoh for this and is still doing tshuvoh on this. Even I feel very bad from doing this aveira, My yetzer hara still repeats in my mind,’this was very cool and lovely’. What can I do about it? Do […]

Eating before Kiddush

Question: I have to take a medicine a half hour before I eat, is it permissible to to drink a bit of water to swallow the pill before kiddush? Is night kiddush more stringent than day kiddush? Answer: Hello, It is permitted to drink a little bit of water to swallow medication, before kiddush, […]

Tzniut

Question: Hello Rabbi, I want to know if there is a problem for a girl of 13 to walk into a classroom of boys and a rebbi for example ( came in to get something walked across the room) thank you! Answer: Hello, There isn’t any specific halachic problem with this, however it might […]

al hanisim on purim katan

Question: Do we say al hanisim on purim katan? Thank you! Answer: Hello, We do not say al hanisim on Purim Katan, on the other hand if one did say it he does not have to daven again., Best wishes Sources:

onions and cutting board

Question: You recently told me that if an onion is cut with a dairy knife on top of a cutting board and then a different onion is cut on top of the same cutting board with a meaty knife, the cutting board wouldn’t become treif according to many opinions. However, would the second onion and […]

Zera Levatala

Question: While being with my wife Zera came out before I was able to get into the vagina, but was in the general area Is that Zera Levatala? Is teshuva necessary Answer: Hello, Before answering your question, I just want to express my respect for you at asking a question which involves a sensitive […]

Purim Katan

Question: Hello, Is it required to add something to a meal on Purim Katan? If one is having a meal they love anyway, must something be added? And is the day before (so today) a fast day? I read on Wikipedia that some fast like before the usual Purim. Answer: Hello, On Purim Katan we […]

Ben pekuah and noahides

Question: According to Halacha, Jews and non Jews alike are prohibited from eating the limb of a living animal as one the noahide laws, known as Ever Min Hachai. My question is, is there no prohibition of Ever Min Hachai for a Ben Pekuah, as it is considered an organ of the slaughtered animal. Noahides […]

Psak Marah bathroom

Question: Can one paskin on a marah in a bathroom? Answer: Hello, We are noheg that our bathrooms are considered regular bathrooms, and therefore even paskening should not be done in the bathroom. Best wishes Sources: משנה ברורה סימן פד ס”ק ז גם אם שאל לו אדם דבר הלכה בבית הפנימי אסור לומר לו […]

Pool Area Beis hamirchatz?

Question: Can one speak or think in torah in a pool, wearing a bathing suit without a yarmalka? Can one speak or think in learning at the pool area while wearing a Yarmalka and just a bathing suit? Can one spaek or think in learning in the Sauna which is a seperate room to the […]

mixing bowl

Question: Hi, I have a mixing bowl that I only use for parve baking. Once or twice in the past I might have used it with a ben yomo meaty fork or with hot water that was heated up in a meaty pot, but I’ve since moved it to a parve side of my kitchen […]

Beard brush

Question: ZilberHaar company manufactures a beard brush made of sandlewood and peach wood handle and boar hair. Is it permitted to use or not? Thank you. Answer: Hello, It is permitted to use. Best wishes=

Damage During Shatnez Checking

Question: B”H Hello, I check clothing for shatnez. I do take payment for checking of garments. I was recently checking a jacket and I was viewing an internal component. While I was checking the internal component, some of the stitching which connects the internal component to the inner lining came undone/ripped. I was checking in […]

Hezek Shemiah

Question: Hi, I know that hezek Shemiah lo shamanu, but I was wondering if that was only by speaking or “normal” noise. Would the halacha still not consider it hezek if a neighbor was shouting with a megaphone? Is there any source that is mechalek between normal and not normal sounds? Thank you, Answer: […]

Difference in the Blessing on Bread and Vegetables

Question: Shalom Rav, Why is the Bracha on eating bread, “Hamotzei Lechem Min HaAretz” (the earth) while on vegetables we say “Borei Peri HaAdoma” (the ground)? Why not both from the Aretz or both from the Adoma? Answer: Hello, You are asking an excellent question, in fact let me add to it. Why do […]

follow-up to assorted kashrus questions from 02/16/2024

Question: Thanks for getting back to me. 1) I originally wrote “a treif cutting board on top of a dairy plate with water in between- would there be a transfer of taste”- I mistyped. The cutting board wasn’t treif, but it was clean and wet and sitting on top of a clean, wet serving bowl […]

Unsupervised Guest in Kosher Kitchen

Question: I had some guests over for dinner and we had pizza that people ate with their hands. Someone went into my kitchen to take a call on their phone and I could not observe them while they were there. Do I need to be concerned that they might have touched something meat in the […]

Trying on items

Question: I was once trying on a someone’s sheitel to see if I wanted to buy it, and in the course of putting it on/taking it off- not because I was pulling at the hairs or anything like that-, a few sheitel hairs fell out. Do I have to tell the woman or compensate her […]

ז”ל for ע” ה

Question: Why do we write ע”ה for women and ז” ל for men? Answer: Hello, I am not aware of any definitive reason. We find a number of times in Chazal that they wrote ע”ה on Moshe Rabbeinu, therefore it isn’t because the person is not enough of a righteous person to use that term. […]

Purim katan

Question: Hello, Are there requirements or restrictions on Purim Katan? Is laundry permitted? If it is thursday night and friday, can we do laundry thurs night and fri morning or better not to? Answer: Hello, Purim Katan is a semi joyous day, and there is an idea to eat a little bit more of […]

Omer

Question: Hello, Are doctor appts permitted during the Omer? Answer: Hello, Yes they are totally fne. Best wishes Sources:

Meat in teeth with in 6 hours

Question: Hi, I will often find very small pieces of food in my mouth or stuck in my teeth after I finish eating. I try to make sure nothing is stuck, but I miss pieces sometimes. If I find a piece of meat in my mouth before 5 hours have passed (how long I wait) […]

First shearings

Question: There is a dispute in tractate Chullin regarding whether Reishit Hagez (the commandment to give the first shearing of the flock to a Kohen) applies in the Diaspora like it does the Land of Israel. My question is, even according to the accepted custom of it not applying, what about cases where there is […]

Akedah

Question: In the story of Akedah, we read that Hashem was the one who commanded Avraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. (Bereshith ch 22) But later on, Avraham is stopped from sacrificing his son, by a Malakh (angel) not Hashem. Also the blessing to Avraham (in the same chapter) is from the angel when Avraham […]

Carrot for snowman

Question: Is there an issur of bal tashchis or bizuy ochlin to use a carrot as the nose for a snowman or to give a carrot to a child to use for that purpose? What if one cleans the carrot afterwards and uses it for cooking? Answer: Hello, If the carrot will be used […]

Are these makeup ingredients okay for pesach?

Question: I have this product and I’m wondering if these ingredients are okay for pesach: WATER, GLYCERIN, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIMETHICONE, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, ISODODECANE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIISOSTEARATE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, SILICA, PHENOXYETHANOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, FRAGRANCE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE(CI 77891), IRON OXIDES(CI 77499), RED 6 LAKE(CI 15850), RED 7 LAKE(CI […]

Assorted Kashrus questions

Question: I have a few questions that I was hoping you could clarify: 1) If a 10-ish year-old child can take a plate/bowl out of the microwave and bring it to the table without the help of a towel/something else, can I say that the plate and food are not yad soledes bo? This is […]

Buying Tefillin

Question: When buying tefillin for our son, is there a preference of buying directly from a sofer versus a local judaic store? If yes, how would we choose which sofer to order from? (We don’t have personal connections to any particular sofer) Answer: Hello, One of the crucial factors when purchasing tefillin is that […]

Selling a building to a church

Question: Hi We have been trying for some months to sell a building and the best offer is from a church. Is it permissible to sell to them? (as far as I know a Protestant denomination) Thank you Answer: Hello, Selling one’s property to a church is very problematic, as we do not sell […]

Kasher a sink

Question: Do I need to kasher my meat sink if someone washed their hands in it to get rid of the dairy chocolate they just ate? Answer: Hello, There is no need for you to kasher your sink. Best wishes

Dating post divorce

Question: I’m an adult woman with grown children. If I date a man in the same situation and he invites me to his house for Shabbat or a holiday am I allowed to stay there, in my own room, if there are other adults in the house? Answer: Hello, Two people that are very […]

HANDS AND BLESSINGS

Question: WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE MINHAG TO PLACE ONE’S HANDS UPON THE PERSON THAT ONE IS BENTCHING (AS YAAKOV AVEINU DID AND AS KOHANIM RAISE THEIR HANDS)? Answer: Hello, The idea of placing one’s hands on the other person’s head when giving a bracha is because according to kabbalah, when there is […]

Reviews

Question: Hi, If a restaurant or store tells me for every positive online review you get something is it allowed? And is it allowed to make fake names for the accounts otherwise the review might not work? Answer: Hello, To be honest, by putting up false multiple reviews, you are being paid by the restaurant […]

Belching while wearing Tefillin? Is this assur to do?

Question: Ha Rav, Is uncontrollable belching whether once or more than once during davening while wearing Tefillin, something to do Teshuva for? Is this assur to do? Thanks! Answer: Hello, First of all. if it is uncontrollable, especially if it was unexpected, then the person was a “ones”, and it isn’t considered his fault. But […]

kashrut

Question: A few tiny drops of hot milk fell onto a cold fleishig pan (which has not been used for 24 hours. what is the halacha ? thank you Answer: Hello, The pan needs to be koshered, because of the drops of milk. However, being that it was only a few small drops that […]

Laser hair removal for man

Question: i have a normal not to big beard, but it keeps growing higher and higher on my face, on my cheeks it is growing close to my eyes, it bothers me but i see many people like that , but my wife really wants that i should take it off, she feels that she […]

Are women worthy

Question: Are women considered equal to men? Is it against the Torah for a woman to disagree with a man? Do women get a place in the world to come? I heard someone said it would be better for the Torah to burn then for a woman to learn it, are women that impure? […]

Washing to eating shalosh seudas after shkia

Question: Is it better to wash for shalosh seudas after shkia or not eat shalosh seudas at all? Answer: Hello, The issue with washing after shkia is that we may not eat, when it is already close to time to daven maariv ana make havdala. in the states, it takes more than half an hour […]

Singing, half brother

Question: Hi, Rabbi hope you and your family is doing well, I was wondering if a girl above the age of 12 can sing when her brother is around spec. her half brother? b) What about zmiros on Shabbos when there are others singing as well… Answer: Hello, There is controversy among the poskim if […]

Hot Water Urn on Shabbos

Question: Am I able to just buy any hot water urn even if it doesn’t have Shabbos mode and use that on Shabbos? what are these Shabbos modes adding besides for shutting off the electric panel? does it stop the water from boiling for the rest of Shabbos, and non-Shabbos mode one would boil throughout […]

Listening to shiur

Question: Hi, I have a few questions, 1: If I’m listening a shiur in person, whether about gemara or chumash, or anything, do I actually need to say the words of the gemara or whatever it is, or would it be ok to just listen, like שומע כעונה. 2: If I’m listening to a recorded […]

Ribbis – sharing the cost of a ride

Question: Hi – I read the article about Ribbis and found it very informative. I was wondering if I get into an uber with friends (or acquaintances if that matters) planning to share the cost. I initially pay for the uber and it comes out that it splits evenly to $19.96 for each of us. […]

Halacha about the oil of non-Jews.

Question: Greetings…I would like to know halacha about the oil of non-Jews. thank you Answer: Hello, The oil of non-Jews is not prohibited in any special way, however on a practical level like many other products nowadays, we have to make sure that it contains only kosher ingredients, and that it wasn’t processed with machinery […]

Rice Brocha

Question: Hi…..I’m trying to clarify the following questions: –If rice flour is the second, third, fourth etc. ingredient, what would be the blessing (eg. water, rice flour, etc.)? –If rice flour is the first ingredient, but not necessarily 50% or more of the product, would the brocha still be mezonos? Thanks for your help! […]

Kaddish End Date

Question: I am saying Kaddish for someone who passed away on ח׳ בְּנִיסָן תשפ״ג, and was buried the next day. On what date and which T’filla do I stop saying Kaddish? This is not for a Karov. It is for someone from the community for whom I am saying Kaddish. Answer: Hello, kaddish is […]

Yarzeit on Adar during a leap year

Question: My mothers Yarzeit is on 19 ADAR. do we follow Adar 1 or Adar 2 during a leap year? Answer: Hello, It depends on what minhagim you follow. If you as Sefardi, then you would do the Yahrtzeit during the second Adar, however the Ashkenazi minhag is to do it in the first […]

The Presence of Hashem in Mental Illness

Question: I have debated whether to send this email for awhile. I think on some level the subject matter is unanswerable, but I would value your perspective. I have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that mostly revolves around kashrut and other religious issues. It would be impossible to provide a complete account of living with this […]