Question: Dear Din Team , Thank you for assisting the Jewish community with this service! I’m reaching out because I have a question that was actually answered by the Rabbi at the Temple I attend here in NY. Unfortunately I’m ADD and forgot the answer. I’ll be a grandmother soon, which made me rethink about […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Baal Koreh leined without saying every word from the Sefer Torah
Question: Hi, If the Baal Koreh leined the parsha without saying every single word from the Sefer Torah (ex. when going from one end of the line to the beginning of the next line he just said the word by heart) is the Tzibbur still yotzeh their chiyuv of hearing krias haTorah? And are the […]
Newly married, husband has teenage boys, questions of yichud at their mother’s home/baby sitter
Question: Hi I am newly married and my new husband has teenage boys, and I have a few yichud questions. Yichud for a baby sitter/cleaning lady at their mother’s home of many years to hug and kiss an almost 12 year old boy? Yichud for almost 12, & an almost 14 year old boy to […]
Renting space from conservative synagogue
Question: I am wondering what the halacha would be to rent space for a preschool from a conservative synagogue. They have classroom where they originally had for a Hebrew school that’s not in use. I am aware of R’ Moshe Feinstein tshuvos regarding renting a room for shul. Please let me know your opinion about […]
Mezuza in the kitchen
Question: Hello, can you please let me know if this opening into our kitchen is required to have a mezuza? Thanks Attached: Attached file 1 Attached file 2 Answer: The door does not need a mezuza, because it doesn’t have a lintel. Best wishes Sources: Shulchan Aruch 267-1, Chazon Ish Y:D 172-3, Chovas Hador […]
Mezuzah case made by non SHOMAR SHABBOS#2
Question: Can someone purchase a mezuzah case made by a non shomar Shabbos person if the person making the case assures you that it will not be made on shabbos? The question is significant because it’s an object used for a mitzvah. Naming keeping the mezuzah on the doorpost and safe, free from potential damage. […]
Unmarried woman tracking period
Question: Since a vesses kavuah is not uprooted until a woman establishes a new vesses, must a woman who is not married track her vestos to see if she has established a vesses kavuah so that she is not intimate with her future husband in case that the vesses that was not uprooted is reestablished […]
Responsibility for damage caused by kablan
Question: We live in the lower half of our building, which is dug into a mountain. A neighbour below dug out behind their apartment to extend it backwards. They left a space between their new wall and the earth behind, so that damp won’t come in. I hired a kablan to dig behind our apartment. […]
Skipping parts of davening
Question: Can one skip parts of Pesukai Dezimra in order to daven Shmoneh Esrai at hanetz hachama? Is there a difference if he is davening alone or with a minyan? Answer: Yes, a person may skip parts of pesukei d’zimra in order to make vasikin. We cannot skip Boruch Sheamar, Ashrei, or Yistabach in order […]
Gezeira
Question: I’ve heard that there is a gezeira not to spend the night in York. Is this true? What’s the reason? Answer: This is the accepted tradition and practice handed down for many generations among the Jews of England. The reason given is because of he massacre that happened there in the year 1189 during one of […]
toivel
Question: Hello, 1. If scissors are used to cut a package of food (e.g., two sealed connected packages of tofu) but do not actually touch the food itself, must they be toiveled? If one follows the lenient ruling (per rabbi) that toasters do not require immersion, does it matter if the bread is frozen or […]
Throwing out old bread
Question: Is it better the throw away old bread wrapped in a bag, or to give the old bread to the birds? If its better for the birds, then should it be placed respectfully. Not thrown, or placed in cleaner location, ect. What is the best way to dispose of old bread? Answer: It is […]
returning to Amazon an item I did not order
Question: I ordered Turbotax software from Amazon. It arrived today but included in the package was a USB Flash Drive that I did not order nor did I pay for it. It was definitely a mistake on Amazon’s part because it was stuck in the packet of the Turbotax box.. Do I have to return […]
Using maaser money to pay husband’s bill
Question: My husband has been struggling financially for many years since the collapse of his business. I started working and began paying many of the bills my husband used to pay including supporting my son who’s learning in Eretz Yisroel and putting away money to marry off my daughter and to help support her as […]
Checking for Bugs
Question: Do I have to check every dried date for bugs and if so, how? Thank you! Answer: According to R’ Moshe Vaye dates are considered miut hamotzuy, and therfore all of them haveto be checked. For the method of checking them please see the following link https://dinonline.org/Bedikat/dates/ Best wishes
Teshiva for Chilul HaShem
Question: I made terrible chilul HaShem (happened 3 times!), that I would get angry in a basketball game (or a different game) and would scream out the “N word”, and the black would give me looks. I feel really bad about it and keep getting sad every time I think about it. Am I chayav […]
Washing Pareve Dishes
Question: If one has a dairy sink & a meat sink, where & how exactly should these pareve dishes be washed? Ok to place pareve dishes inside sink? Is there any benefit to placing a rack in the sink? Answer: They can be washed in any of the sinks, however they should be washed when […]
Signing a paper with rules that may not be completely kept
Question: What is the proper response when a school requires its students to sign a paper attesting to the student keeping to certain behaviors, when the student and the parent know that there will be times when it may not be possible to keep to the specific guidelines or there may be instances when the […]
Rosh Chodesh meaning:
Question: In honor of Rosh Chodesh question. I know that it’s the beginning of something new. This is best to my knowledge at the moment. What is Rosh Chodesh the beginning of? Why is it such a special era, which would result in adding extra special praise aka: Hallel. Thank you. Answer: Rosh Chodesh is […]
Forgetting to check bedika cloth prior to use
Question: Does one have to check a cloth before using it or is it only advisable? Many times I grab one from the bag and forget to pre inspect them. Does it make a bedika invalid if you don’t look at the cloth first? What if you didn’t see anything questionable anyway after the fact? […]
How to spell the name Uman and the country Ukraine in a Kesuba written in Uman ?
Question: Do you write אומאן or אומן and the country יוקריין or אוקרינא or some other way? Answer: It depends on the way the local people say and spell it. You should inquire with the local Rabbonim about this. Best wishes
How much do I have to pay for hezeka
Question: Hi if I purposely broke somebody’s AirPods charging case how much do I have to pay him? Enough for a brand new case or enough for a used one Answer: Determining that amount that one has to pay is difficult to do in such a setting, as there are a number of factors involved, […]
Writing on MEZUZAH CASE
Question: I would like to write the name of the SOFER and/or the quality/ andor price/and or date of purchase of MEZUZAH on the case ( on the underside of the case not shown to the PUBLIC) as a marker or indication for me at a later date. Is this permissible? It sounds like a […]
Loshon hora
Question: Is one able to get hundreds of לבין if he spoke to hundreds of people? I’m a bit confused, because if he can get hundreds of לבין in one act, while someone can speak tons of loshon hora, and still have the same amount of לבין as him. Answer: Correct, it is unfortunately possible […]
Peeled onions
Question: I peeled and chopped a bowl of vegetables, preparing to make soup later in the evening. I also peeled 2 whole onions and added them to the bowl of vegetables, placing the bowl in the fridge. In the end, I decided not to make the soup that night, but wait until the next day. […]
safek beracha lehakel – part 2
Question: But when a person does not remember whether he made the beracha or not, why in this case does he consider Safek Gezel? Answer: It is only considered gezel when a person eats something and he was supposed tomake a bracha but didn’t. According to halacha, since in this case he is not supposed […]
Yeharog V’al Ya’avor
Question: Dear Rabbi, I was learning pesachim 25a-25b in the סוגיא of מאי חזית and my ראש חבורה said that it’s משמע from רש״י that יהרג ואל יעבור doesn’t apply to killing נכרים. I felt very troubled and down by this! Answer: Thank you for your question. You sound very troubled by this, but […]
Obligation to replace tzitzit on tallit katan
Question: I understand that the tallit katan is a piece of garment specifically made and designed to fulfill the mitzvah of wearing tzitzit. However, if the tzitzit are no longer valid and can be removed, and the tallit katan is still wearable, is there an obligation to replace the tzitzit, or can the sides of […]
Mezuzah in doorway without door
Question: A doorway with lintel and 2 sides like a regular doorway but it does not have a door, is a mezuzah need and if so does it require a BRACHA? Answer: There is controversy about this among the rishonim, therefore we put up a mezuza, but without a bracha. It should be noted that […]
Lowering the head while saying Tachanun
Question: What is the position if one cannot be in shul for Tachanun, with no sefer torah present , but is, for example , davenning at home in a room full of seforim. Can one lower one’s head, or is this still not permitted ? Answer: There are different opinions and customs regarding this. The […]
Fruit pieces in yogurt proper bracha
Question: Shehakol would be on a simple yogurt. How does real fruit pieces inside work? In other words, aside artificial flavors, how to apply a bracha with real fruits? Would it be proper to recite, Ha’eitz on that particular fruit. For instance, blueberry, peach, etc. Thank you. Answer: There is no need to make a […]
AL NAROT BAVEL WHEN?
Question: Is Al naarot bavel said after mayim achoronim, or before? Answer: Al naarot bavel and Shir Hamaalos are said before washing mayim achronim. The reason is because we should preferably not have any separating (hefsek) between mayim achronim and bentching. Best wishes Sources: Aruch Hashulchan 181-9, Ketzos Hashulchan 43-1. According to some Rishonim ( […]
Woman lighting candles
Question: If a woman is lighting Shabbos candles, but does not want to accept Shabbos at that time. She has this in mind at the time. Can she do that? If so, does she make the bracha first, and then light like all other brachos before mitzvot. That we say the bracha before doing the […]
What motivation to give myself to keep shabbos?
Question: My family is traditional, but not shomer shabbos, and so I end up keeping shabbos on my own. My community is very small, and there are no adolescents my age. On Friday night maybe about 4 or 5 people show up to shul, including the rabbi, and it’s very sad and depressing for me. […]
Disagreeing with parents
Question: Are you allowed to voice concern(have a disagreement) with your parent if the topic is related to their health or well-being? Is it wrong to send them information that supports your view but contradicts their opinion? Or must you always agree about everything in order to honor them? Answer: The mitzva of kibbud av […]
Forgot to have kavanah on tzitzis and hefsek for shel Rosh
Question: If someone forgot to have in mind to be yotzeih his bracha for his tzitzis when he made his bracha on his talles, does he have to make a bracha on his tzitzis. Also, if after someone put on his tefillin, he started to daven and then realized after that his shel Rosh was […]
safek beracha lehakel
Question: If one must make a blessing before eating because if not it is gezel, if a person supposes that he made a blessing, safek beracha lehakel, Why is it not considered safek gezel that is prayed and the blessing is made? Answer: Thank you for your question. The reason why we make a bracha […]
Can a bris be done on day 7 after birth?
Question: Brith melah is done on the 8th day after birth , sometimes delayed by illness . Can it be done on day 7? Answer: No it can not. The torah tells us (Leviticus 12-3) that it can only be done from day 8 and on. It is noteworthy that the day of birth is […]
TEA ESSENSE in THERMOS
Question: If someone before Shabbos filled a thermos with hot sweet tea, can that tea be used as TEA essence on Shabbos with hot water? The tea in the thermos stays hot / warm for a while through shabbos. Answer: According to the Ashkenazi minhag the tea in the thermos is no different than any […]
Parve food from a kosher restaurant?
Question: Is there any rule about eating a parve food from a restaurant that serves both fish and meat? Answer: Hello, If the food is from the meaty section, the food should not be eaten with dairy, as there might be residue of meat on it, or it may have been cooked in a meaty pot. […]
Coughing in Shemnei Ezrai
Question: If in the middle of shmonei esrai someone gets a cough attack where he’s embarrassed and/or he’s worried it will be disturbing other people davening, can he walk outside in the middle of his amidah? Answer: Before addressing your question, Hashem should send you a refuah shleima and heal your cough. Regarding your question, […]
Friday Night Candle Lighting
Question: If I light on one Friday night, because I will be the only one home, does that mean that I have to light forever? Answer: Thank you for your question. All men and women have an obligation to light Shabbos candles, however the privilege of being the one to actually light them for the […]
Is it desirable to bring in Shabbos at zman Neros
Question: Is it desirable for men to bring in Shabbos at the zman of hadlakas neros? Is this even true in Jerusalem where it’s 40 mins before shkiah and it can be helpful to bring Shabbos in later to have extra time. Thanks Answer: Thank you for your question. Yes it is desirable to bring […]
Can a man get a pedicure by a female?
Question: Is it allowed for a man to get a pedicure in a salon that has only female nail technicians? Answer: Please see the following Posts where a similar question was discussed. https://dinonline.org/2012/04/08/services-for-the-opposite-gender/ and https://dinonline.org/2010/06/06/haircut-from-a-woman/ Best wishes
Proper placement of MEZUZAH
Question: LCHACHILA where should a mezuzah be placed? Assuming 80 inch door post. Upper 1/3 begins at 53 1/3 inches from the bottom (80/3 =26.67. 80-26.67=53.3). Should the MEZUZAH be placed at right above 53 inches exactly? It seems too low. Or l’chatchilla can it be placed between a TEFACH from the top (4inches CHAZON […]
Why is a potential convert asked to join a community or else he can’t undergo conversion?
Question: It is written in the Rambam (Laws of Forbidden Relations chap. 14, 2) that when the potential convert comes to convert “we notify him regarding a small number of weighty mitzvot and a small number of light mitzvot and we may not prolong this matter”. So we see that we should merely notify them […]
Teviles keilim masseh uman
Question: Some electrical appliances may be ruined if they are toiveled, I’ve heard if they are dissembled and reassembled in a professional manner they know longer require tevilla because they are now “made by a jew” If I cut the wire and reconnect the wire without touching the primary part of the appliance would that […]
Toveling a disposable Disposable pan
Question: Hello, if I want to use a disposable pan to cook until I can toivel the real pan, can I cook a few things separately in it as long as it is for the same meal or is this considered re-using? For example, could I cook some vegetables, take those out, and then cook […]
Zman shehatzibbur mispallelein
Question: The Halocho is that if one cannot daven with a Minyan at least one should daven when the Zibbur is davening. 1. How do we deal with this today as practically speaking in many larger communities there is constant or near constant Minyanim – so which Minyan does one “pick”. I could not find […]
Mezonot after bracha calculation possibility:
Question: A bracha mezonot is said on certain types of foods. You snacked on cake, muffin, donut and brownies. You make one bracha for all. You don’t make an after bracha, if it didn’t equal a kezyis/approx. half an eggs worth. This is clear. Does it make sense to calculate all the bites of each […]