Question: Is it Mutar to exercise to music during sefiras haomer with music? Answer: Music that is played in order to help you do your exersice is not considered music for happiness and permitted to listen to while you are exercising. Best wishes Sources: Meiri – Sotah 48b, M:B 560-13, Kovetz Halachos (Sefiras Haomer) […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Resolving Old Conflict
Question: About 10 years ago I spoke to a lawyer (a friend of a friend) about how I would sell my shares in a company I started. He said he can give me some advice, but could not do the deal or take money because of conflict of interest (his law firm dealt with the […]
Is it permitted to listen to music to assist with work on the omer?
Question: I am a programmer who uses electronic music (not happy, no lyrics) to put me in the “zone” and concentrate at work. Is it permitted for me to continue listening to electronic music for this purpose on the omer? Answer: Music that is played in order to help a person do their job […]
Fasting on day forbidden to fast
Question: On days when it is forbidden to fast (e.g. day after pesach, Chanukah), is drinking water enough or must one eat food? Answer: Drinking water is a sufficient, that it is considered that the person did not fast. Best wishes Sources:
Counting sefirah after hearing someone else counting
Question: Hi, If you are in middle of davening shmoneh esrei during maariv and you hear the Chazan counting sefirah (or others for that matter) does it mean that since you already heard that night’s number you may no longer count [with a bracha]? Answer: According to most poskim it is not an issue, […]
Tweezing eyebrows on Chol Hamoed
Question: Hi Is it permitted for a man to tweeze his eyebrows on chol hamoed and sefirah?And are there any sources for this? Thank you very much, Answer: Please see the following post https://dinonline.org/2021/04/05/tweezing-eyebrows-during-sefirah/?swcfpc=1 which talks about your question. Regarding Chol Hamoed, it is permitted for a woman to tweeze her eyebrows. Best wishes Sources: […]
Tweezing eyebrows during sefirah
Question: Hi, Can a man tweeze his eyebrows during sefirah? and are there any mekoros? Thank you very much. Answer: Tweezing eyebrows is not he main issue here, because the custom not to take haircuts only applies to the hair of one’s head and beard, and not for other body hair. The main issue […]
Stepping back Shemonei Esrei
Jewish Community Heritage
Question: If a case where a Jewish Community is saved from destruction..should Jews help not just the survivors but that Particular community heritage as well..? As an example the Jews of Iraq scrolls at Scrolls https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Struggle-for-the-Scrolls.html and online petition at https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/Dont_let_the_Jewish_archive_go_back_to_Iraq/?copy%2F i.e some who is deeply concerend try to help this community reclaim its heritage […]
Shaving on Isru Chag when observing mourning customs from Rosh Chodesh Iyar
Question: Is shaving permitted on Isru Chag if your custom is to observe mourning during Sefirah from Rosh Chodesh Iyar? Answer: If you keep the second set of omer days, then you don’t have an issue shaving until your sefira starts, and you may shave on Isru Chag. Best wishes
Private, ty
Question: Got it. Thanks for the response. Answer: Your welcome. Sources:
Shoelaces of scotch
Question: Is there an obligation to close tie a scotch left before right? Answer: Yes there is such an idea. The Shulchan Aruch O:CH 2-4 says that similar to the idea that when dressing we give precedence to the right side, when tying shoes etc. the left side has the precedence. The reason for this […]
Damage in store
Question: You’re at an Apple store and you leave your cart with several apple products on the edge of the counter. You decide not to buy them and leave the cart there without telling anyone. Someone else comes and tries to reach over your cart, and unintentionally, knock everything over. Is it your fault for […]
Waxing on Passover
Question: Can you wax your unibrow on Pesach? Answer: If my understanding of your question is correct, you mean you ask if a woman may wax her eyebrows on Chol Hamoed. It is permitted for a woman to tweeze her eyebrows on Chol Hamoed. Waxing them should not be any different, therefore it is […]
Maaser and investment
Question: If I own a portion of a property and gave a certain amount of my savings (let’s say 10k), when do I start paying maaser money? Do I wait to get back the 10k or do I pay maaser every time I get a check from that said investment? Answer: It depends on […]
Why do we separate six hours for meat and one hour for milk?
Question: Why do we separate six hours for meat and one hour for milk? What’s the concept behind it. This website got upgraded? This site looks good. Answer: The reason why we wait after eating meat, and not after eating milk is because meat has a strong taste which leaves a residue on the […]
Shaving for Dating
Question: Is there any heter to shave during sfirah to go on a date? Even though, she’ll understand if I don’t shave, I’m afraid I won’t make as good an impression if I don’t. Answer: By shaving, you will make a worse impression by showing her that you are not careful about halacha and […]
Is it ok for me to organize a tehillim group on Chol Hamoed for someone who is sick but not seriously sick?
Question: Is it ok for me to organize a tehillim group on Chol Hamoed for someone who is sick but not seriously sick? Answer: It is permitted to daven and say tehillim for a sick person or for anyone on Chol Hamoed. Davening does not invlove melacha or something that is disrespectful to the […]
Meat pot
Question: I reheated meat in a Pareve Teflon pot. After washing in cold water and then 24 hours on non use can I use this again as a Pareve pot. If not, if I cook beans in this pot do they become fleishig. Thank you so much and chag sameach pesach Answer: L’chatchila the […]
Giving Tzedakah via computer on Chol Hamoed
Question: Thank you Rabbi for your kindness and asnwering my Shailos Are we permitted to use the computer for making donations for Tzedakah and or Maaser on Chol Hamoed? Answer: It is permitted since iot is a mitzva action. Have a good Yom Tov
Work on chol hamoed
Question: I work as a counsellor in a yeshiva. Is it permissible to work on chol ha-moed given that the work doesn’t involve any melacha? If not, is there any way to organise it, such as not being paid for the work on chol-moed and then being paid more for work done after chol ha-moed? […]
Writing on chol ha-moed for shalam bayis
Question: My wife and I write nice notes to each other every erev Shabbos to read on Shabbos. Is it permissible to do this during chol ha-moed? Thanks Answer: Yes you can… it is a Yom Tov need (to make another person happy) and enhancing shalom bayis is tzorech mitzva… A gut moed Sources: […]
Pruta chamura
Question: Hi, I have a pruta chamura in my house in Israel, currently I’m in America an dunsure when I’ll be back, I was told that it was suppose to be dispose of even before pesach, What can I do about it now overseas? Thank you Answer: Biur maasros is not until next year […]
online returns
Question: Can you return clothing items bought online before yom tov Answer: If you can return it after chol hamoed it should wait, because we avoid doing non essential business on chol hamoed. However if you will lose the oppourtunity to return it if you wait, then it is considered a davar ha’aved and […]
chol hoamoed
Question: Hello, can the following be done on Chol Hoamoed? 1. Rip toilet paper/floss/other paper 2. Word searches/games/crossword puzzles that involve using a pen? Must it done with a shinui? 3. Buying fruits and vegetables that could have been bought before but are fresher if one waits? thank you Answer: It is permitted to […]
Touching mother/daughter what are nidda
Question: Why is it permitted to hug one’s mother or daughter when they are a nidda? It would seem to be derech chiba so why is it permitted? Answer: It is permitted for a man to hug or kiss his mother daughter even when they are a nidda. The reason is because there is […]
Seed on outside of Pesach package
Question: There was a small seed of some sort on the outside of the package of passover smoked salmon. We wiped it off.Is the lox still ok to eat even if it touched the part of the package where the seed had been? Answer: The lox if fine to eat, as the package is […]
To be Yoitzeh Sefira with shomeia k’oineh
Question: Hi, on the second night of sefira I was still in middle of shemoneh esrai when the ship got up to sefira. While spacing out during my shemoneh esrai, I heard very clearly the tzibbur recite lshem yichud and the rav say the brocha loud and slow then saw the nights counting. When I […]
אפיקומן
Question: Are you allowed to rinse your mouth with mouthwash after אפיקומן Answer: You should not rinse your mouth with mouthwash after afikoman. The reason we don’t eat after afikoman is in order that the taste of the matzoh should stay in our mouth. The purp[ose of mouthwash it to clear the mouth of […]
Buying back Chometz
Question: Do I have to wait after Motzei Pesach in order to use my Chometz? (I keep 2 days) I cant see the answer on https://dinonline.org/2021/03/26/mechiras-chometz-2/ Answer: No you don’t have to wait. This is because part of the sale and buying back that was already done in Eretz Yisroel ( when they are […]
New shirts during Sefira
Question: Can I buy new shirts for Shabbos on Sefira? I usually do not make schiyanu on new shirts even during the year Answer: You can buy the new shirts during sefira. There is no prohibition not to make a shechiyanu during sefira. Sources: M:B 493-2
Mechiras Chometz
Question: Do I have to wait after Motzei Pesach in order to use my Chometz? (I keep 2 days) Answer: Sources:
Pesach questions and Israeli produce
Question: 1. Are baby carrots kosher for Pesach without certification. I see that they can be used without additives but how one would one know if there are additives? 2. Can one eat kosher for Passover food (e.g., candy, macarooms, nuts, tuna) erev Pesach even when matzah and matzah meal is not allowed? 3. Does […]
wet toothbrush on Shabbat
Question: Hello, I see various opinions regarding using a wet toothbrush on Shabbat. I looked through the answers here and can’t find an answer regarding why it is acceptable it to some. Am I correct that some poskim permit using a regular wet toothbrush on Shabbat? What about Yom Tov? Answer: One of the issues […]
Spot cleaning on Chol Hamoed
Question: What kind of cleaning clothing is permitted on chol hamoed? 1) Spot cleaning by hand with soap if there is dirt/grime? Does one have to take care just to wash that exact area and not any other parts of the garment? 2) What about cleaning the whole garment by hand for smell? 3) What […]
Canned food in Yom Tov
Question: BS”D Shalom dear Rabbi, Question: Can we open canned food on Yom Tov, for the purpose of making food for Yom Tov? Answer: The halachos of opening cans etc. on Yom Tov are the sme as for Shabbos, even though it is for food preparation. Open the can in a way that ruins […]
Erev Pesach on Shabbos
Question: Hello Questions for Pesach: 1. Until when can one do laundry given that Pesach is Saturday? Could it even be done Friday morning? 2. If mint waxed floss is not permitted and one does not sell chometz (instead he/she gets rid of it), is it permitted to own this floss and use it after […]
Pesach Kitchen sink
Question: Does a kitchen sink used only for Pesach in a pesadick kitchen require an insert? Answer: If the sink is not used at all for chametz, then it is considered “Pesachdik”, and there is no need to put in an insert. Chag Kasher V’Sameach Sources:
Soap on kosher for Pesach food
Question: Hi, I was at the grocery buying vegetables for Pesach. The cashier sprayed the counter with a cleaner before I proceeded. After I loaded the counter with bags of vegetables, I noticed there were some areas she missed when drying and some bags got a bit of soap on them (some bags were not […]
Kashering a sink
Question: A parve Chometz paring knife was mistakenly rinsed in a kashered sink, do I need to rekasher? what should I do? Answer: You do not have to rekasher you sink. Best wishes Sources:
Clening mouth when Erev Pesach is on Shabbos
Question: How should one prepare one’s mouth for Passover given that it starts on Saturday and one is unlikely to brush thoroughly on Shabbat? Answer: After the meal before the end of the forth hour one should rinse your mouth out well. You can floss your teeth, if your teeth aren’t sensitive, which will […]
Tevilas Kaylim wearing Gloves
Question: Hi , can I toivel kaylim in a Mikvah while wearing gloves? Thanks! Answer: There is no problem wearing gloves when doing tevils keilim. Best wishes Sources:
Mechiras chametz
Question: ?אם אפשר להקדים מכירת חמץ שיחול לפני י”ג ניסן Answer: במכירת חמץ שלנו יש אפשרות למכור לפני י”ג. בברכה Sources:
haircut during omer
Question: Hi, is a chosson who is getting married the night of lag baomer allowed to take a haircut the day (or a few days) before his wedding? Answer: The chosson and his parents may take a haircut on the day of the chasuna. If there is a big need, there is an opinion […]
Yom Tov Sheni in Eilat
Question: Is one required to keep Yom Tov Sheni in Eilat, even if it’s not in the borders of Eretz Yisroel? Answer: Although Eilat is part of the state of Israel, it is not part of Eretz Yisrael, and within the borders of Eretz Yisroel as stated in Bamidbar 34. Therefore people who live […]
Toveling pop up toaster
Question: Hello, my Rabbi said to follow the view that pop up toasters do not need toiveling because they are plugged in (I know not everyone agrees). Does it matter which part of the toaster touches the bread? (E.g., the metal on top is thicker so is that “worse” than the little strips of metal […]
Sweeping with Broom and dust pan on Shabbos
Question: Can someone sweep with a broom and dust pan on shabbos especially this Shabbos when bread or egg matza are being eaten for Friday night and early morning Shabbos meal erev Pesach falling out on Shabbos? Answer: It is permitted to sweep the crums that are on the floor indide your house. Even […]
Blood on finger
Question: Hello. If one puts vaseline on lips with finger and then realizes there was blood on the finger, is this like eating blood? If one.may have even licked lips? And if after serving food and potentially touching it, if one noticed blood on fingers should the entire bag (e.g cereal) be tossed.? I don’t […]
Divrei Yamim- Torah?
Question: Does studying Divrei Hayamim count as studying Torah? Is it considered to have kedusha? If so why? Thank you so much Answer: I understand why you are asking this question, it appears on the surface that it is merely stories and a history book. however in fact Divrei Hayomim is considered torah as much […]
Nidda clothing
Question: Hi, My wife has a pair of pyjamas that she likes to wear when she is a nidda. She even once remarked whilst wearing them that she was wearing her ‘niddah trousers’. I have heard in the past that if a woman has a specific item of clothes that she wears when nidda this […]