Question: hi, i dont have a balcony but the roof in my building is quite large (and safe) and i would like to put my popup sukkah there do i need to ask all the tenants in the building (some are jewish some are not )for permission in order to make a leishev basukah during […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Is mechila necessary?
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. I was wondering if mechila is necessary in the following situations: 1. I was in a group setting for a Yom Tov meal, and there were various groups of people sitting at various tables in a room. There was beautiful singing during the meals. I asked […]
Rosh Hashanah food
Question: Hello Rabbi. Are any of the following NOT permitted between Rosh Hashanah and Simchat Torah? Peanut butter Purple grapes Chickpeas, Onion Salad dressing with vinegar used in sweet sauce, Cole slaw with vinegar that is tangy. Thank you Answer: Thank you for your question. Before getting to the specific foods that you are […]
World Problems and Messianic Times
Question: Hi, What do Chachamim say will happen to worldwide issues such as pollution, Global Warming, other environmental issues, overpopulation, medical research, space exploration etc – will those issues vanish once Moshiach sits on the throne in Yerushalayim? If so, and, if the majority opinion is that Moshiach must come within 220 years, does it […]
Enema on Yom Kippur
Question: I might need to either eat pachos mikishiur or take a hydrating enema with vitamins to avoid dangerous dehydration or passing out since I have Crohn’s and possibly undiagnosed cancer and last year I almost passed out from dizziness. My question is, is there a pachos mikishiur requirement when getting nourishing benefits shelo derech […]
Why is a heter for contraception necessary
Question: Hi, I have heard many times that in order for a woman to use a contraceptive pill, a heter is required from a moreh horaah. I understand the need with regard to halachically questionable forms of contraception, but I don’t understand why this is necessary in the instance of using a pill. If someone […]
Throwing dough out
Question: Hi! I’m new to making challah and froze lots of extra dough from previous batches. Now they don’t look so good and I’d like to dispose of them. I’m wondering if there’s a particular way I should go about doing so? Thank you! Answer: Hello, You should put the dough in a bag, […]
New brocha when tallis falls off
Question: What is the hanhoga regarding making a new Brocha in the following instances: 1. Ones talis completely fell to the floor during davening. 2. One removed his tefillin to urinate in a bathroom in Shul (which has urinals and sitting stalls.) I know that Mishna Berura says to make a new Brocha, but I […]
Parameter of Emes
Question: I have a few scenarios that I wanted to know if one is over on midvar sheker tirchak. 1. Many home security systems place a sticker or a sign up in front of the home to show that it’s not worth trying to break into this home since it is protected. If one moves […]
Correcting Baal tefilla
Question: If one hears the Baal tefilla make a mistake in how they say a word in davening (e.g. in chazoras hashatz or Kaddish) do they need to correct them, or does malbin pnei chavero berabbim override that in this case? Answer: Thank you for your question. Correcting the baal tefilla, would be similar to […]
Taking the Rov’s spot
Question: There is a reserved parking spot for the Rov in front of the Shul. If one knows that the rov is out of town or never uses the spot at a certain time of the day, may they park in that spot? Answer: Thank you for your question. It is hard to give […]
Must I pay for a medical visit when the exam was not performed?
Question: I made an appointment for my annual visit with a local eye doctor to update my prescription. I said I cannot wear a mask because I become hypoxic. The nurse suggested I wear it as long as I could and then the doctor would step outside and give me a chance to breathe and […]
Israelis doing business in the Diaspora on yom tov sheini
Question: I’m an author who lives in Israel and I plan to be in Israel for Sukkos. One of my books has been selected to be part of an email marketing campaign in the United States that will take place on yom tov sheini. The company sponsoring the campaign isn’t a Jewish company, but there […]
Responding Twice to a Zimmun at the Same Seudah
Question: Can a group of people (less than 10 but more than 3) who responded to a zimmun from one of the members who wanted to leave early, say zimmun again when they finish their meal. This happened recently and I told them I think they cannot do it, but they overruled me. Answer: […]
Extra tzedaka
Question: Dear Rav. I have a question that has been troubling me for a long time. It comes up in a number of places. There are certain times when one should give extra tzedaka e.g. as part of kappara for a sin, as gratitude for when a miracle was performed (see for example S.A. O.C. […]
Toveling
Question: Hello Rabbi, If a paper towel touches an untoveled cutting board at a less observant family member’s house, and then touches a napkin, is that napkin ok to use? In other words, does the “untoveled” applyto non-food items? Answer: Thank you for your question. There is no problem for a non-food item to […]
Mearas Hamachpela
Question: I have heard that a pregnant woman should not visit Kevarim. Is a pregnant woman allowed to daven in the Mearas Hamachpela as it is not clear if the Kevarim are where they are marked? If I daven by myself on Yom Kippur (not in shul) what parts can I not say (besides Krias […]
Business before Davening
Question: Is it Mutar to: Check/respond to emails or text messages before davening Shachris? Is it Mutar to buy/sell stocks before Shachris? Is there a difference if it’s before Alos? Answer: Our apologies, but the site was down for a little while due to some technical issues. It is permitted to check your e-mail in […]
Jew who died in a Goyim site
Question: A Jew who died in a city that has no Jewish cemetery, can he be buried in a Goyim cemetery? If yes, which halakha should he follow and how should he be buried in a goyim cemetery? Answer: Our apologies, but the site was down for a little while due to some technical […]
Class action lawsuits
Question: Are class action lawsuits recognized in Halacha or are they basically a secular concept? Thank you. Answer: Our apologies, but the site was down for a little while due to some technical issues. According to halacha when one person damages a number of other people, the person owes money to each individual, not […]
Nicotine pouches
Question: I am using nicotine mouth pouches for a healthier way of getting nicotine. There is no tobacco in them, just nicotine. They are like a small tea bag you put between your gum and lip and the nicotine is absorbed through the gum over a period of about 2 hours. Then the bag is […]
Refund from shul that cancelled event or did not provide their obligation to announce a sponsorship
Question: I am a member of a large U.S. Torah observant congregation. The shul has demonstrated a continued pattern of behavior wherein they have pre-paid events (no walk ins), cancel the event, and refuse to refund the money. They have no cancellation or refund notice during the purchase or on the receipt but a “no […]
Stopping a RoboCaller
Question: In the US, there is a charity organization led by a certain individual, that makes incessant robocalls, they call every single day, including short winter Fridays. This can often cause aggravation, as people sometimes wait for an important phone call, and drop everything just to catch the phone, only to hear that it is […]
Tithing produce from Israel/ Shemita
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, What is the proper procedure when purchasing dates from Israel during Shemita? Sometimes I buy them for a parent- should I separate some from each box each time I buy them, before giving the parent the rest? (We are in US) Thank you Answer: Thank you for your question. In […]
kiddushin through relations/ get
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Regarding the third way of acquiring a wife through kiddushin, through relations, would that require the female to have a get in order to marry someone else? Do baalas teshuvas require get from previous boyfriend before becoming observant? Would she be allowed to marry someone free and clear if she met […]
Shabbat and limited washing
Question: Is there any permissible method to wash (rinse) part of the body (with cold water) following relations on Shabbat? Answer: It is permitted to wash a part of the body[1] with cold water on Shabbat. Just don’t use soap. Regarding drying yourself with a towel, essentially it is permitted[2] however it is preferable […]
Alexa
Question: We learn in Gemora Makos that dibur is not an action. An Amazon Alexa came be operated by voice. Would operating an Alexa be considered breaking Shabbos? Answer: Thank you for your question. Operating an Alexa would be considered breaking Shabbos. Although dibur may not be an action, it does not mean that […]
Shacharis after Chatzos
Question: Even though one is lechatchilo supposed to daven Shacharis before Sof Zeman Tefilo, one can daven until Chatzos Bdieved. If one is unsure the timeor what time Chatzos is exactly, but he knows it is definitely within half an hour does one have to check the exact time or can one rely on the […]
Food mutar or assur?
Question: Shalom, can we eat the entrails and stomach of an ox, sheep or any kosher animal or is there a prohibition due to what HaShem commanded us about the fat from the entrails of animals being burned on the altar? Answer: Thank you for your question. There are two potential issues here. The […]
butterflies
Question: B”H Kavod haRav As a follow up question Re graven images, may a person wear jewelry with a butterfly/ butterflies on it? (I do not know if anyone in the world worships this, therefore making it prohibited?) Thank you Answer: It is permitted to wear such jewelry. The only images we cannot wear […]
Halacha Sefer
Question: Cvod Harav, What’s the best English Halacha Sefer for a beginner Ashkenazi? Kitzur Shulchan Aruch? Any modern Halacha seforim in English? Thanks Rav! Answer: Hi, I must say, that I am so impressed with your drive to learn and grow. Keep it up and you’ll get to great heights! There are many seforim […]
Kashering numerous utensils together
Question: If you kasher a whole bunch of thing together and their touching each other do you have to re kasher it Answer: Thank you for your question. We may kasher a number of utensils together, even if they are touching each other, as long as they are not pressed against each other with […]
Lo Taturu
Question: Cvod Harav, Is seeing immodest women in the corner or your eyes a sin of Lo Taturu? if you see clearly? Or does one have to look deliberately? Thanks Rav! Answer: Hi, Here are some of the halachos regarding what is included in Lo Taturu. It is forbidden[1] for men to look at […]
Shadchanos
Question: Jenny and Alex are engaged. Sarah had sent Alex Jenny’s resume, but he had ignored it. Leah had suggested that Alex attend a singles weekend, where he ended up speaking with Jenny. After they had spoken, Chaim suggested that they continue speaking. They started dating and Leah coached Alex through the dating, but spoke […]
Kashrus of Tefillin- white on battim
Question: I noticed on my Tefillin that it is a little bit white near one of my Batim. Is this a problem? Answer: Thank you for your question. The halacha is that the tefillin must be black and even a little bit of the batim may not be white. From a practical angle check […]
Paying back loan with electronic money transfers
Question: If I am in NY and owe someone in Israel 1500 shekel, do I have to pay for any deductions that might be incurred either by the transfer service – such as PayPal which deducts a service charge from both the sender and the receiver, or the recipient’s bank which might deduct a service […]
Pictures of bugs in produce
Question: Hello, Thank you so much for this service. I was hoping to get some pictures of what bugs look like in different produce. It’s very hard to know what to look for if I don’t know how it looks. I’m not sure what an aphid really looks embedded in a piece of lettuce. Is […]
Ma’aser Kessafim
Question: I am selling a larger property and buying a smaller one. The difference in price I intend to distribute amoung my children. Can their ‘maaser’ be given to their children. Do I, as the seller, pay maaser on the price difference, minus Lawers fees, taxes., etc. Thank you for your time and any opinion […]
Ma’aser Kesafim – Rolling Over to Next Year
Question: Hi, Is it possible to give extra ma’aser money before Rosh Hashana and then roll over the balance to the next year? For example, is it ok if I have already given 10% this year but want to make an additional donation from ma’aser money in advance with the intention of using incone which […]
OCD and biting fingernails on Shabbat
Question: A frum person has OCD, and part of that affects them so that they bite or pick their fingernails a lot. This person might also bite or pick fingernails on shabbat, presumably related to OCD. Have they transgressed? If so, have they transgressed to the same degree that a non-OCD frum person would have […]
Liquid meat pot in pareve oven
Question: Hello, we cooked a covered liquid meat pot in our pareve oven . We think since it was covered, that the oven remains pareve, but wanted to confirm. Is the oven still pareve or did it become fleishig? Thanks! Adam Answer: Under the assumption that the pot remained covered, nothing leaked out while […]
Writing on Yom Kippur
Question: It is prohibited to write anything on the Shabbat but what about Yom Kippur ? Let’s assume that a Jewish kid is in school on Yom Kippur , can he/she write anything on his/her notebook ? Answer: Thank you for your question. This is not an easy situation for this kid! In general, […]
Indirect passing when wife is a Nidda
Question: Is indirect passing such as taking out an item or putting in a item in a bag which ones wife is holding problematic? Thank you. Answer: Thank you for your question. The reason we don’t hand things from one to the other is because they might come to touch each other in the […]
Need for a pruzbul
Question: Shalom, I heard from someone that merely owning a bank account would require me to sign a pruzbul. I don’t understand why this would be true, but I wanted to confirm. Thanks in advance for your help. Answer: Thank you for your question. R’ S. Z. Auerbch is quoted (Dinei Shevi’is-Degel Yerishalayim chapter […]
water cooler or water fountain
Question: Shalom, what’s the halakha about using a water cooler or water fountain in shabbes to Sephardim? Answer: There are two potential issues with using a water cooler or fountain on Shabbos. The first is, if taking water out of the fountain makes the thermostat activate the motor or any other electrical connection. Secondly does […]
Stumbling block in issue of “minhag”
Question: Shalom, A friend of mine wants to come to Israel from the US to visit for Sukkos. I’ll be IYH sleeping in a sukkah at the time, and my apartment will be available. My friend says he keeps minhagey Chabad, and therefore does not sleep in the Sukkah. Am I allowed to let him […]
HaShem and Promises
Question: I know that HaShem made various promises and covenants with people but my question is not about them. It is about us , can HaShem make a promise to a person that he will do something specific for him/her and if so then to what extent ? For example can he say to a […]
Lego on Shabbos
Question: Many Poskim (Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchasa 16,53)learn that even though lego is considered b’derech rafui and should be mutar, since a totally new thing is created each time, it is permitted for children to play with lego but not adults. I was wondering if the same would apply to specific lego model sets which are […]
Eating on the job
Question: I’m familiar with the halacha that somebody working a vineyard is allowed to eat from the grapes of the vineyard and the owner can’t disallow him to eat. Does this Halacha apply outside of the field? How about by a pizza shop, is the worker entitled to eat pizza? How about by a steak […]
Honoring estranged father in law
Question: Do I have an obligation to honor my father in law if he was not involved in my husband’s life since early childhood? Answer: Thank you for your question. In general, the fact that he wasn’t involved in your husband’s life from early childhood doesn’t change the fact that he is still his […]