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Aliya while needing to use the restroom

Question: If one is a Kohen or a Levi, and the only one in the shul avaliable to receive an Aliya, but needs to use the restroom but is excessively uncomfortable doing so in the shul, what should one do? Accept the Aliya without a bracha? Thank you very much Answer: It depends on how […]

Sending tablecloths to the cleaners to be done on Shabbos

Question: When doing a catering job on Shabbos can the goy give in the tablecloths to the laundry Friday night to have them cleaned for Shabbos morning if there are no clean tablecloths for Shabbos morning? Answer: The gentile can not do melacha especially a d’orayso, for you on shabbos. Additionally you will not be […]

Does a woman strengthen her emunah from learning about emunah?

Question: Dearest Rabbi: Is it beneficial for a woman to study about emunah and bitachon, to help strengthen her emunah and bitachon? Answer: Definitely! Not only is it beneficial, it is imperative for all men and women to constantly strengthen their emunah and bitachon, especially in these trying times. Best wishes

Cluster of grapes on Shabbos

Question: If a person has a cluster of grapes intact with stems. Can they be eaten normally? What is the best way to eat on Shabbos? Answer: They may be washed off right before eating but not soaked in water, They can then be plucked off the stems before eating then without a problem. Removing […]

Daven A Second תפילה after donating a kidney

Question: Lechvod Harav, I donated a kidney. The surgery was in late afternoon. In the morning when I davened שחרות I did not remember that I did not daven מעריב. I few days later I realized that I didn’t daven מעריב and was very aggravated because I could have davened two שמונה עשרה for תשלומין. […]

Can I use maaser money to take a course on how to check shatnez?

Question: Can i use maaser money to take a course on how to check shatnez? Thanks Answer: In general, we don’t use ma’aser money to do personal mitzvos, a person’s learning torah is considered his personal mitzva, therefore maser money should not be used to learn how to shatnez test. Additionally, if he course is […]

Inadvertently ate cold chicken and then drank coffee

Question: Inadvertently ate cold chicken and then drank hot coffee. Is the coffee cup treif Answer: The coffee cup is not trief, but it should be washed off with water that is not hot and soap. This is because the cup might have residue from the chicken on your mouth. Best wishes

When catering an affair if there’s no eruv can the goyim take out the garbage?

Question: When catering an affair if there’s no eruv can the goyim take out the garbage? Answer: They should not be asked to take out the garbage, because it involves an issur d’rabonon, and a hired waiter is considered a sechir yom, (a hired worker) and not a kablan (a contractor) who can choose to […]

Food left uncovered overnight

Question: B”H Thank you for your help. Regarding cookies left uncovered overnight near someone sleeping- may they be eaten or is it like peeled egg and should be discarded? Thank you Answer: The fact that they were uncovered is not a problem, as this issue only applies to onions, garlic and eggs. If the cookies […]

Dropping off clothes at the cleaners on Friday

Question: Can a person drop off clothes to non-jewish cleaners on Friday that will be ready the following week ie Monday or Wed LECHOTHILLA? Can it be right before Sunset or much earlier on Friday? PLEASE LICHITCHILLA. Answer: It is permitted l’chatchila to drop off a suit at the dry cleaners, so that it will […]

Can I use this hotplate on Shabbos?

Question: Dear Rabbi: It has no control knobs except for On & Off. “Turn up the temperature of the portable hot plate to 203F, keeping food warm, not burnt.” Answer: If it indeed doesn’t have adjustable settings, you can use it on Shabbos without any issues of shehiya. Best wishes Sources:  

May retzuos of tefillin touch the ground?

Question: I would think that retzuos cannot touch the ground since they are tashmishei kedusha. But I see nearly everyone not being careful about this. The only source I can find that mentions the issue is the Kaf HaChaim who says it is no problem. Please clarify. Answer: From what I have seen it seems […]

Shoes that are similar style for both gender

Question: B”H Thank you for your help. Regarding men and women not wearing clothing and shoes for the opposite gender: There is a pair of women’s sneakers (they are noted for women with women’s sizing), however they have similar design details to the mens styles from that brand. Would it be ok to wear this […]

bathroom during learning

Question: Hi! I was in the middle of learning with my chavrusa and needed the bathroom badly (gedolim, not ketanim). The bathroom in that beis medresh is tiny and was full. In the future if this happens, am I obligated to stand there waiting or is there a heter to continue learning until the bathroom […]

Brocha Achrona when drinking from a straw

Question: Does one make a brocha achrona when drinking from a water fountain? When drinking from a straw? Does it make a difference if the person drinks a lot at one time, and may arguably be a revi’is in one gulp? Answer: The amount of time for drinking liquids to make bracha achrona  is controversial. […]

Have you ever heard that Hashem led Avraham Avinu with a cloud during the day and a fire a night?

Question: Did you ever hear that in Parshas Lech Lecha when Hashem told Avraham Avinu to go to Eretz Yisroel, Hashem led Avraham with a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night? I heard this on shabbos and it sounded interesting but don’t know where it’s from. The only thing I […]

Sechar Shabbos with a waiter

Question: Is it a problem to hire waiters for Shabbos since its schar yom? Answer: Thank you for your question. Hiring the waiters is not the problem, the problem is that a Jewish waiter is not allowed to accept payment for Shabbos services. This is known as sechar Shabbos. What is usually done when hiring […]

Gentile manager at simcha on Shabbos

Question: When the manager of the catering job is a goy can he do what he feels is needed to make sure the simcha runs perfect even it means doing things which are forbidden to do on shabbos? Answer: The manager may do whatever he likes… for him it isn’t Shabbos. The issue is that the […]

amira lakum for shabbos meal

Question:   Although we said goyim can not bring anything for the meal on shabbos how about if they are items which are essential to the meal like bulkies, grape juice, or even essential foods like gefilte fish, cholent or even chicken. Answer: All of the examples that you wrote are considered essential to the […]

Lights that need to be turned on for a simcha

Question: If the simcha will be ruined because items are missing or the warmer was switched off or the light are off and the bal simcha be embarrassed shouldn’t we apply the klal of shvus dshvus bmokom kovod habrius thus being more lenient regarding Answer:   The lights might or might not be d’orayso, depending […]

Catering job on Shabbos

Question: If you know that if the catering job won’t go well the bal simcha won’t pay you or he will spread bad information about you is. This considered hefsed m’rubah thus there is more room to be lenient in regards to amira l’akum Answer: If it will cause a hefsed miruba, then it would […]

What is the status of life insurance with regard to yerusha and a bechor

Question: Is life insurance considered a davar that is rauy lavo, or is it considered a davar hamuchzak? Is there a difference with regards to this between a whole life policy which can generate cash values, interest for the benefit of the owner, be used as a mashkon to borrow against or provides other benefits […]

Laundry service making pickup on Shabbos

Question: After catering a party can your laundry service pick up the dirty tablecloths on shabbos after the party is over? Answer: There are two issues here. First of all, when the dry cleaners comes, it is a publically noticed action, that is quite noticeable, and it looks like he was told to come on […]

Money may be lost in pocket- can I wear the coat outside on Shabbos?

Question: There is a hole in the pocket of my jacket-somewhere in the lining. I think I lost some money in that lining hole but cannot find it. We have been through the coat, feeling each part of it but have not been able to find the money. Can I still wear this coat on […]

Hinting to goy to open fridge door when the light will turn on?

Question: .Can you hint to the goy to open the fridge door even though the light will come on when opened? Answer: Yes you can even ask the gentile to open the fridge door directly. The reason for this is because you are asking the goy to do an act tat isn’t a melacha, rather […]

Mamzerim and the Mitzva of Having Children

Question: Shalom, Rabbi! Are male mamzerim still obligated to have children? Wouldn’t it be a bad thing to create more mamzerim? Thank you. Answer: You are bringing up a very valid point. The Achronim discuss this, see MInchas Chinuch mitzva 1-22. Also see Pri Megadim, O:CH 240-1. Best wishes

re my previous question regarding making a bracha over the challah when part is used for mezonos

Question: I recently asked a question https://dinonline.org/2020/10/28/flour-from-challah-used-for-mezonos-cake/ and thank you for your answer , but I think there may have been a misunderstanding. The dough I will use for the mezonos cake is exactly the same dough as the one I use for my challos- no difference at all. You mentioned in you reply that […]

Cold chicken in dairy plastic container

Question: Cold cooked chicken was stored in a dairy plastic Container. What is the status of the plastic dairy container and if needed can it be kashered? Thank you Answer: If the chicken was dry and cold, then it will not give over any taste, however if there was liquid or sauce from the chicken […]

Musical Instrument Kabbalat Shabbat

Question: Shalom Rav, I hope all is well. In Australia, some orthodox communities have begun a “musical” Kabbalas Shabbas to attract members to the shul. During Kaballas Shabbas, they play musical instruments, including guitar, piano, violin, saxophone etc. They start before Shabbas officially comes in… and they stop playing and put their instruments away at […]

Does eating one pomegranate seed require a bracha acharona

Question: Does eating one pomegranate seed require a bracha achas m’ein shalosh because of the Halacha of berya? Answer: One seed of a pomegranate is considered a “beriya” ( a whole being). It is controversial if a beriya gets a bracha achrona even if it is not the size of a kezayis. The Shulchan Aruch […]

Was there an opinion that the Jewish calendar was always calculated and not done by witnesses?

Question: Hello if you look at Rabbeinu Bachaye on the pasuk Hachodesh hazeh lachem- He seems to bring down an opinion by Rabbeinu Chananel that the Jewish calendar was always done by calculation not by witnesses. Answer: This is what it seems, however I don’t understand it, and why it isn’t a contradiction to the […]

Bnei noach, Guerim and not kosher wine

Question: gostaria de fazer 2 perguntas; 1 – Can a bnei noach make Beracha(hagafen) from wine with a non-kosher wine? 2 – Can a candidate for Guerim make a kiddush or make a beracha(hagafen) over a non-kosher wine? Answer: 1- It is only prohibited for a person to make a bracha when the food being […]