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Is a married woman in availus after a sister is she allowed to put on makeup for shabbos during shivah

Question: Is a married woman during shivah after a sibling allowed to put on makeup for shabbos   Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem btoch shar aveilei tZion v’Yerushalayim. A married that is in shiva may not put on makeup, even on Shabbos, however after shiva since you are married it is permitted. A gut shabbos Sources: […]

Flexibility in selecting targum for shnayim mikrah

Question: How much flexibility is there in selecting the “targum” option for shnayim mikrah v’echad targum? I know that S”A says to use Rashi or Onkelos or, ideally, to read both. However, Rav Moshe seems to permit reading a translation of Rashi and Ra’avan holds the whole obligation doesn’t apply to those of us who […]

Tefillin in bathroom with single cover

Question: Without thinking, I accidentally walked into a bathroom to throw something out while carrying my tefillin bag. The tefillin were in the bag and the batim were in their hard plastic cases. Obviously this shouldn’t be done and I’m doing teshuvah for causing this bizayon to the tefillin through carelessness but is there anything […]

Interruptions in preparing a meal with borer

Question: My understanding is that the requirement of “miyad” by borer requires that one immediately use the item selected from a mixture. And when borer occurs in the context of preparing for a meal, the selection may be done in advance of the meal, but only an amount of time that is necessary for the preparation time for […]

Rosh Chodesh during Chanukah

Question: Hello, 1. Is Rosh Chodesh this month Tuesday night into Wednesday? May laundry be done Tuesday before sunset? 2. If fasting is not permitted during Chanukah, so people who fast erev Rosh Chodesh fast or not? And women? Would it be Tuesday afternoon? Tuesday night? Thank you   Answer: Hello, 1. If Rosh chodesh […]

Maaser for Shul during Yomim Naoraim

Question: The shul that I go to for Yomim Naoraim (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur) brings in a special Chazon with a beautiful voice from Eretz Yisrael. I am assuming that the shul pays the Chazon. Also, I believe that the Chazon is part of a Yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael. Additionally, the shul itself is […]

Maaser Kesafim

Question: I had a follow up question to an article that was posted entitled “Maaser Kesafim: Obligation, Custom and Virtue” published on 11/24/2017. There it stated: “According to some authorities, the special virtue of maaser—for which the Torah promises wealth (and even permits testing Hashem)—is only achieved when one donates exactly one tenth of his […]

Maaser and Business Credit Card

Question: 1) When calculating Maaser, is the minimum monthly payment that is due to the credit card company, for the credit card that I use for business purposes considered a business expense? If it is, I would first deduct this minimum monthly payment from my income, before calculating maaser, correct? 2) If I put a […]

Techum Shabbos

Question: is there any issue of techum between https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Chabad+of+South+Orlando+-+Judaism+for+the+Orlando+Jewish+Community,+West+Sand+Lake+Road,+Doctor+Phillips,+FL/5439+Cursive+Dr,+Orlando,+FL+32819/@28.4501774,-81.4759207,601m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x88e77ef8e93bda07:0xc966a095cbdfbdc2!2m2!1d-81.482578!2d28.450471!3m4!1m2!1d-81.4763771!2d28.45013!3s0x88e77faa306e9699:0x4c701c94c538b296!1m5!1m1!1s0x88e77e8d55c6db59:0xfb727659b09f1f9!2m2!1d-81.4495304!2d28.4621627!3e2?entry=ttu   Answer: Hello, It seems that there is an issue of techumin between the two places, as it is  not in a well populated area, and it is a distance of about six techum Shabbos. (an eruv would permit walking two techum Shabbos, not six) I […]

Cleaning oneself after using the bathroom

Question: After using the bathroom, although the shulchan aruch write that one should use the left hand, can I use my right hand if it is easier for me?   Answer: Hello, According to some poskim, since nowadays we are wiping ourselves with tissues, that one may be lenient regarding this halacha. On the other […]

OCD in Kitchen

Question: Happy Hanukkah! I have a couple of related questions, both concerning the need to wash hands from a kashrut perspective. To provide context, I have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that revolves around kashrut and that religious rituals (prayer etc.) are completed properly. Without getting into too much detail, the OCD related to kashrut manifests […]

Sofek if Washed Hands after Shower and then davened

Question: Hi If someone has a sofek whether he washed his hands after a Shower before he davened does he have to daven again? (This story happened on Erev Shabbos and there wasn’t enough time to daven Mincha again before shkiya)   Answer: Hello, A person that showered before davening, and b’dieved didn’t wash his […]

Sofek if Washed Hands after Shower and then davened

Question: Hi If someone has a sofek whether he washed his hands after a Shower before he davened does he have to daven again? (This story happened on Erev Shabbos and there wasn’t enough time to daven Mincha again before shkiya)   Answer: Hello, A person that showered before davening, and b’dieved didn’t wash his […]

Cemetary Customs, Learning, and Honor

Question: Is it appropriate to learn Torah at kivrei Tzadikim? (a) People seem to always be reading Tehillim there. So if this is the case, can they learn Torah Sh’be ketav there [e.g. Tanach]? (b) Can a person learn Torah Sh’bal peh there [e.g. gemorah and mishnayos]? (c) I noticed that the sefarim that certain […]

Bread touched by people who didn’t wash hands.

Question: I am very particular about washing hands in the morning, and I am aware that if I don’t ruach rah goes onto the food and it shouldn’t be eaten. If it’s possible to wash the food then ok, but when not then the food shouldn’t be eaten. I am just wondering, that many bakeries, […]