Question: Does one make a shehehayanu on a luxury watch or a fancy piece of jewelry. What is the time span that you have to make the berachah, if I bought the watch a month ago, 6 months ago etc but never made the berachah can I still make one? Answer: Hello, Making a […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Ants on shabbos
Question: If I have large ants in my house and they cause me great distress. Could I collect them in a cup or even trap them in a cup and remove them from the house on shabbos? Answer: Hello, The ants that are causing you great distress would be considered a graf shel rei, and […]
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: […]
Tznius in the bathroom
Question: Can I lower my pants when sitting on toilet till my ankles? How about wiping standing if erva will be uncovered more than a tefach? Answer: Hello, The Shulchan Aruch writes that part of being modest we should be careful not to uncover ourselves unnecessarily. Even when using the bathroom, what we need to […]
Mezuzos & Covering
Question: Dear Rabbonim, Does one assume that both the plastic covering and the mezuzah case are both כליין to the mezuzah and therefore not regarded as כלי בתוך כלי for marital relations. A bedroom door usually has the mezuzah on the outside coming in which is fine; would one be able to place a walk […]
Late Shacharit
Question: I don’t sleep well and usually can’t fall asleep till late and then wake after the 4th and even the 6th hour. Can I still say shacharit or just tefillin and shema? Answer: Hello, If I may politely ask why do you only sleep well in the morning? If possible, try to start […]
Avinu Malkeinu on a Taanis Yachid
Question: Should one say Avinu Malkeinu when fasting a Taanis Yachid? If yes, what if it’s just a taanish sha’os – till chatzos or plag? Answer: Hello, I have not found any source that say that one says Avinu Malkeinu when davening without a minyan, when fasting a taanis yachid. Best wishes
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 […]
Oral Torah
Question: Hi Rabbi, This is a serious question I was hoping you could please answer. We are told the Mishna is the Oral Torah, and that the Oral Torah was taught by Hashem to Moshe on Har Sinai. But when I open a Mishna, all I see is, “Rav Meir says X,” while “Rava disagrees […]
Dairy Dish & Meat contact
Question: I picked up a dairy dish after touching meat. It is possible I forgot to wash my hands first (I cannot remember). Is it sufficient to simply wash everything with soap and water? Everything was cold. Answer: Yes that is sufficient! Chanukah sameach
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 […]
wiping
Question: I’m having ocd when it comes to wiping myself after bowel movement. and it takes way 2 long. what’s called normal that I can study afterwards without being worried of being dirty? Answer: Hello, You should wipe yourself three four times, without pressing in. after that you can assume that you are clean and […]
Backed out of Chanukah party
Question: My daughter is arranging a Chanukah Party with friends. Each friend has contributed money for materials and food. We have spent halve of the money on materials and now one friend wishes to pull out. What are obligations and what is the correct thing to do? Answer: Hello, It is hard to give […]
Does this make my teffilin pasul?
Question: While I was praying shacharit I had an open cut on my arm and a drop of blood was transferred from the cut to underneath the bayit shel yad teffilin that caused a light stain. Does this cause an issue of being pasul? Also is there a halachic way to clean off the blood […]
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 […]
Moser Dino L’shamayim
Question: Hello, what kind of prayers are permitted when a jew starts up with you? Tosfos in Gittin daf zayin according to one answer forbid praying against enemies, but is not tehillim full of such prayers? May one ask that ones own efforts against enemies be successful, or at least that they should leave you […]
clothing and halacha
Question: B”H Kavod haRav, Thank you for your help. Is there any issue for a lady to purchase a fashion style (in a large chain store with multiple locations around the world) that is very modest and proper with regards to style, but the design may be an interpretation of another designers “original” design? With […]
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 […]
Ma’aser questions
Question: Ha Rav, 1. We are invited to a wedding, is the 300₪ considered ma’aser? The 300₪ is our gift to the newlyweds. 2. The Shul dues 500₪. We heard that a percentage is ma’aser. Is this correct? Is the percentage 75% or 80% of the 500₪ Shul membership? 3. I won 85₪ in a […]
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 […]
Garlic
Question: I was told that it is halacha that garlic is not to be cut with a metal knife, but with a ceramic knife (or just using hands/fingers) to peel garlic cloves. I do use a ceramic knife..but I would like to know where this halacha is stated. Answer: Hello, I am not aware […]
Wedding ring
Question: Kvod Harav, I would like to ask about the importance of wearing a wedding ring. Once my finger size changed years ago and my rings no longer fit, I never had them resized and have not worn them regularly. I heard that the ring is meant to be a reminder of the marriage for […]
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 […]
Family vacation during year of aveilus
Question: Are you allowed to go on a vacation with your family during your year of aveilus for a parent? If so, what are the restrictions? Answer: Hello, Going on vacation for an avel depends on the circumstances. If it is needed for medical or mental reasons it is permitted. One should however be […]
Non Jew Bought a Tallith with Tzitzith
Question: Kvod HaRav, I am a non-Jew, I bought a Tallith to don at home while studying, praying, etc as a voluntarily practice. I do plan to convert in the future but as of right now, I have no sponsoring rabbi. Today I was reading the Shulchan Aruch and later the Mishneh Berurah where I […]
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 […]
Maaser money from reduction in price
Question: Can I use maaser money towards my transportation to go help out a family with their children get ready for Shabbos? Can I use maaser money if I am giving a big discount for someone who can’t afford the babysitting fee, I charge to make it worthwhile for me? Answer: Hello, If the […]
Borer Questions
Question: 1) To motivate my kids to behave on Shabbos, I give out tickets with their name prewritten before Shabbos and do a raffle on Shabbos morning after the seudah for a special treat. All the tickets are mixed up in one bag and I pick out the ticket with their name and give them […]
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 […]
Ner chanukah
Question: If my wife works late. Is it better for me to wait for her, or I should light בזמנו? My wife is not מקפיד I just feel to light with nobody home has no advantage Answer: Hello, Wait for your wife to get home, (and she should come home as soon as she […]
agency fee
Question: There is an agency that puts cleaning help in touch with people looking for them. The agency takes a fee. If person A used agency (and paid them) then has the number of a particular cleaner can person A give the number to person B to be directly in touch with cleaner and by […]
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 […]
Neder
Question: Hello Rabbi, Someone asked me what hours of the day I learn Torah, and I answered them. Does this constitute a neder? Thank you in advance for your time Answer: Hello, It is not a neder, because a neder to do mitzva is only regarding that you will do a mitzva in the […]
Yahrzheit for son on Chanukah
Question: I have yahrzeit later this week for my son who tragically passed away two years ago at the age of 21, on first day Chanukah. What are the minhagim regarding: – Davening from the amud – Saying Kaddish (please note that both my parents have passed away) – one kaddish after aleinu or all […]
Time of Melava Malka
Question: If Chatzot B’laylah is at 11:45 pm, and I began eating Melava Malka at 11:40 (meaning I washed and said Homotzi at this time), (a) do I have to eat a certain shiur before 11:45 to be yotzi (b) can I continue eating the meal past 11:45 and still be yotzi (c) do I […]
Encountering Divine Name
Question: If one encounters the divine name in an article (spelled in English as the goyim do), while he has wet semen on him, is this disgracing the name? What about if spelled in Hebrew? Answer: Hello, Wet semen according to a number of authorities is considered like fecal matter and one should not read […]
Building bomb shelter question
Question: Ha Rav, Can we sit on other people’s furniture in our building’s bomb shelter? We do not know whose furniture it is? Answer: Hello, My assumption is that you mean to ask that during an air raid siren and you are waiting in the bomb shelter, are you permitted to sit on chairs […]
Kashrus in my Parents’ Home
Question: Dear Rabbi, I am a 17 year old girl who attends a modern orthodox high school. I know my parents don’t keep the highest level of kashrus, ex water from meat dishes touch dairy, when a piece of warm chicken was on a dairy plate my mother refused to throw it out, a non-Jew […]
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 […]
Mikvah
Question: Can I surprise my husband or do I have to tell him when mikvah night is? Answer: Hello, You can surprise your husband, however you cannot say that you are tameh when you aren’t, and after going to the mikva yoiu must let him know that you are tahor, before any physical contact […]
nidah on pill
Question: Hi I am on a birth control pill and have been having spotting from time to time. The spotting seems to be clear but I am worried that maybe I am about to have a flow. What are the halachic ramifications? Thank You Answer: Hello, Since your spotting is clear, there is no […]
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 […]
Hafrasha Challah (separating Challah)?
Question: Ha Rav, 4?s: My wife used to make challah but because of the bug situation is she still obligated to do so? Since the bakeries here are Jewish, can we rely on them instead? We are older now and need a bug light to check which we could not find here in Yirushalyim (we […]
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 […]
Kid damaged a car
Question: Hi, My son was riding his bike and made a scratch on a car. We wrote a note and left it on the windshield but the person didn’t call. It rained the next day so the note may have gotten erased. It’s a few months later and the damage wasn’t fixed (so I assume […]
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, […]
Wiping on Shabbos
Question: On Shabbos we are not allowed 2 do schita how about if after a bowl movement the only way 2 wipe myself is thru weting a tissue what should i do?how much water can i use Answer: Hello, One who wants to clean himself with a wet tissue after using the bathroom may […]
Reasonable use of a rental property
Question: Hello Rabbi I put up a hook on the wall (with permission) in my rented apartment. The wall is painted white, and I’ve noticed that over time, as I’ve hung my black hat on the wall, the wall seems to have been stained a little bit black, presumably from the hat. Is this something […]
Brocha Shabbos candles
Question: I heard that there are opinions that in our day and age it is better not to make a brocha on Shabbos and Yom Tov candles. What is the majority opinion and the best way to follow? Answer: Hello, I am not aware of any posek that says that nowadays we don’t make […]