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Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a

Kosher for Pesach hand sanitizers ?

Question: Are any alcohol based hand sanitizers kosher for Pesach (for covid). Would an isopropyl based hand sanitizer be ok ? Answer: If it contains Denatured alchohol often abbreviated as “alcohol denat.” or Ethyl alchohol it can migh be derived from grains, however Isopropyl alchohol will be ok. Best wishes

The mitzva of Tevilas Keilim on ceramic, glass and wood

Question: Dear Rabbi Do new dishes, glasses, utensils, etc. made of wood, ceramic or glass need to Toveled if they are new and never used? Also, do trays and plates, cups etc. made of melamine need Tevilas Keilim? Thank you so much Answer: The rule with tevilas keilim is that only metal and glass need […]

Do I have to keep new minhagim/chumras that my husband takes on

Question: My husband and I come from British/German families and always kept 3 hours bet milk and meat. A few years ago ( we now live in Israel) he decided to keep 6 hours but told me that I don’t have to change my minhag ( our children are all married so there’s no question […]

Contact lenses solution before Shabbos

Question: Hello, I know there is debate as to whether it is okay to soak contacts in disinfecting solution (vs. plain saline) on Shabbat. However, if one puts them in to soak before Shabbat (e.g., 12 pm Friday) and then does not touch them again until after Shabbat ends, is that permitted? (or becuse they […]

Going to mikveh or arvit when there is a curfew

Question: BS’D What to do in a case, when there is a nightly curfew from 8 o’clock at night. Going to mikveh or to daven in Yom Tov. Answer: Right now shkiya is not that late, and she can go to the mikva before 8 o’clock, and be home before the curfew. Additionally there are […]

Can one use a carpet sweeper on Shabbos?

Question: Am I allowed to use this manual carpet sweeper on Shabbos. I am sending a picture of the underside. There are many different kinds. Some companies says it uses “static” to lift the dust and crumbs. this company does not say that…but there might be other issues involved.. Attached: Attached file 1 Answer: Thank […]

Broker vs. Investor keeping extra money

Question: I hope you can help me with the following שאלה, which is נוגע למעשה and just came up tonight: Reuven brokers loans for private lenders and recently facilitated a loan between Shimon and Levi (Jewish lenders) and Richard (an aino Yehudi borrower). (Shimon and Levi sent the money to Reuven and he forwarded it […]

Two brachos for mishloach Manos?

Question: I think that I’ve messed up the proper giving of matanos this year for Purim. The Halacha was to give two different kinds of brachos on food. I gave mezonos 3 packs: Chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter sandwich cookies and muffins. The second one was just sprinkles in a shaker. Sprinkles would be shehakol. […]

Davening while pushing baby to sleep in stroller

Question: Is a woman who has difficulty finding a free moment to daven allowed to daven Shmoneh Esrei and other parts of tefilla while pushing her young child back and forth in a stroller (to help the young child fall asleep)? Thanks Answer:   While saying a bracha, and especially while davening Shemona Esrei, we […]

Can a non-Jew say Tehillim for a sick Jew

Question: Is a non-Jew permitted to say Tehillim for a sick Jew? Answer: If the gentile wants specifically to say Tehillim, we don’t have to stop him, however I wouldn’t encourage it. A better idea would be for the gentile to give a nominal sum of money for a Jew to say tehillim. Best wishes

Bein Hashamashos on Friday

Question: What exactly is the status of time between Shkia and Tzeit Hakochavim on Friday? Is it fully considered to be Shabbos? If one accidentally did Melacha during that time, would they be chayav chatas? Likewise with the time after Shkia on Saturday. Happy Purim and have a great Shabbos Answer: The time period between Shkia […]

KITNIUS LAXATIVE ON PESACH

Question: Can a KITNIUS LAXATIVE be used on PESACH (ASHKANAZI)? The LAXATIVE is tasteless or even bitter to the taste, and must be either mixed in juice or taken in a capsule? This laxative is not food, its medicine. Answer: Although the Ashkenazi minhag is not to eat kitnios on Pesach, however a person who […]

Bracha when reading Shir HaShirim/Ruth/Kohelet individually

Question: Shalom. Does a person make a Bracha on the Megilla for Shir Hashirim, Ruth, etc… if he is davening and leining by himself (no minyan) and he has a kosher Klaf/Megilla? Thank you. Answer: A person that is reading Shir HaShirim/Ruth/Kohelet and it isn’t for a minyan does not say a bracha. The reason is […]

If you eat milk and meat together are you milchig or fleishig?

Question: Hypothetically, chas vshalom, if somebody eats milk and meat together, let’s say hamburger and Parmesan or some other “sharp” dairy that means you have to wait between milk and meat, are they milchig or fleishig or both? What can they eat after? Answer: The person is now both milchig and fleishig! So if this […]

TESHUVA ON SHABBOS

Question: How can a person do Teshuva Shabbos without saying vidui? Answer: Teshuva by definition means to return and come close to Hashem. There are many ways to do this, such as thinking aboiut Hashem, doing what Hashem wants us to do, etc. these are all included in teshuva. It is definitely permitted to do these things […]

Davening when one can see a woman with pants

Question: If if have a 2 pictures in my room, of me and family members, and there most probably are women with pants in the background (by a ski resort). Would all my learning actually be batul? What if I was turned sideways, and it was on my right? Answer: Without getting into the issue […]

Saying Aveinu Malkeinu if I broke my fast.

Question: My doctor said that I shouldn’t fast today (Taanis Esther), can I still say Aveinu Malkeinu? Answer: Yes you can still say Aveinu Malkeinu, because it is a tefilla. However you would not say aneinu in Shemona Esrei. Additionally even though yo aren’t fasting, you should only wat foods that are healthy and that […]

Bar mitzvah boy laining the klalos in bechukosai

Question: Hi I was wondering whether you have heard of a minhag for a Bar mitzvah to not lain the aliyah in bechukosai that contains the klalos even if he is laining the rest of the parasha? Have you heard of such a minhag and if so, do you know its source? Thank you Answer: […]

Who was Hashem speaking of with Moshe Rabenu?

Question: Shalom Rabbi To which alien gods would the Hebrew people turn with Hashem’s referencing Devarim 31:15-18 pesukim? וַיֵּרָ֧א יְהוָ֛ה בָּאֹ֖הֶל בְּעַמּ֣וּד עָנָ֑ן וַיַּעֲמֹ֛ד עַמּ֥וּד הֶעָנָ֖ן עַל־פֶּ֥תַח הָאֹֽהֶל׃ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְ-ה-וָ-ה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה הִנְּךָ֥ שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ וְקָם֩ הָעָ֨ם הַזֶּ֜ה וְזָנָ֣ה ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י נֵֽכַר־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֤וּא בָא־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ וַעֲזָבַ֕נִי וְהֵפֵר֙ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרַ֖תִּי אִתּֽוֹ׃ וְחָרָ֣ה אַפִּ֣י […]

If multiple people in different ways unwittingly cause damages, who is responsible?

Question: So, I’ve been asked to make my own case based on Jewish Law. My case involves COVID-19, with all it’s relevance in the past year. That being said, here it is: Say, you are a Rabbi. And you want to run a service during COVID, so you find ways to attempt the best way […]