Question: Thank you for the informative article on this topic. I found that article because I am being faced with exactly this shailah. We live in a mostly secular / mixed Arab / jewish neighborhood in eastern jerusalem and have been trying to sell our apartment for a long time and move into a neighborhood […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Switching donation from one organization to another
Question: B”H Thank you for your help. Regarding donating clothing- I said out loud that I was planning to donate clothing to organization A, but their policy of picking up donations is currently not in effect (and I do not know if/when they will reinstate this). I would like to donate the same items instead […]
Asking forgiveness
Question: B”H Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to help answer my questions. Regarding asking forgiveness, ideally the other party says “I forgive you.” If I apologize to someone (an acquaintance or someone I don’t know very well but interacted with at some point) and they reply “there’s nothing to apologize […]
amira lakum
Question: When making a simcha , if not all the lights were turned on in the hall and the bal simcha wants more light can a goy be asked to put on more lights Answer: Thank you for your question. Asking the gentile to turn on lights on Shabbos is problematic, because we may not […]
Asking gentile to turn lights off on Shabbos
Question: When catering an affair on Shabbos after the simcha ends friday night can the goy be asked to turn off the lights in the hall Answer: We are not allowed to ask a goy to do melacha for us on Shabbos. Although it can be argued, that we are not getting positive benefit from […]
In regards to amira lakum, is Bain Hashmashos more lenient then after tzeis?
Question: In regards to amira lakum, is bain hashmashas more lenient then after tzeis? Answer: Yes. During bein hashmashos there are a number of instances when we may ask a gentile to do melacha for us, even if the action is a melacha d’orayso. For example it is permitted to ask a gentile to do […]
If someone forgot to light a yahrtzeit candle Friday night can the goy be asked to light it?
Question: If someone forgot to light a yahrtzeit candle Friday night can the goy be asked to light it? Answer: A person who forgot to light a yahrtziet candle, may ask a gentile to light as long as it is still bein hashmashos. This is part of the heter to ask a gentile to do […]
Flour from challah used for mezonos cake
Question: If I use just enough flour to take ‘challah’ (with a bracha) can I use some of the dough for a yeast cake (mezonos). Does it make any difference if I intended to do this from the beginning or if I just decided to use some leftover dough after I had made my challahs.? […]
If I see the goyim loading my truck on their own do I have an obligation to stop them?
Question: When doing a catering job on shabbos, if I see the goyim loading the truck on their own do I have an obligation to stop them? Answer: Yes you do. If a gentile is doing work in public (like loading up a truck) and it appears that he is doing it for the Jew, […]
Can gentiles load up my truck on Shabbos
Question: When doing a catering job on Shabbos, regarding hachanah can the goyim bring out all the equipment outside once the simcha is over on shabbos in order for it to be ready to be loaded once shabbos ends? Answer: There are two issues with having the gentile’s bring out all the equipment for after […]
Made mazonos by mistake on food
Question: If you made a mezones on anything , are you yotzei bedeved. Is this true ,is this only be certain foods. Where is source for this Answer: Yes this is true, and it applies to all foods with the exception of water and salt. The reason for it is because the bracha borie minei […]
Alternative to Teshuva
Question: I feel I struggle excessively with an aveira and therefore cannot commit sincerely to not doing it again, are there any alternatives to Teshuva that one may do (commit to learning Torah, doing a Mitzvah etc.)? Should one confess to Hashem anyway and attempt to explain his situation? Thank you Answer: Thank you for […]
Finishing Shemona Esrei before kedusha
Question: Due to different circumstances, I often need to daven in a minyan that goes at a quicker pace than me. I know that if one starts later than the tzibbur and they won’t be able to finish quiet shmone esrei, they are required to wait until chazoras hashatz to say it with the chazan. […]
OLIVES during meals
Question: Picked olives during a bread meal, does it require a separate BRACHA? Answer: Do you mean picked or pickled. Pickled olives are part of the meal and don’t get their own bracha. I don’t know what picked raw olives are, or how they are eaten, so I can’t answer you on that. Best wishes […]
Paying ma’aser belatedly
Question: Hi, I forgot to take into account investment income (dividends, interest) and gifts from the government into my ma’aser calculation for last year (תש”פ) . I will pay it now. But is there some statement I can or should make so that my payment would apply to last year’s income? I did make the […]
Mezuzah in Every Room of House
Question: Hi Rabbi, I live with my parents and while my room has a mezuzah scroll (no case) my brother’s room has no mezuzah (he is below the age of Bar Mitzvah). Is it my obligation to make sure his room has a mezuzah? Answer: Thank you for your question. There is an obligation, at […]
Asking gentile to turn lights on a/c on Shabbos
Question: If the lights were forgotten to be switched on before shabbos for a shabbos sheva brachos or the air conditioner was forgotten to be switched on can the goy be asked to switch them on? Answer: Regarding the air conditioning, there is an opinion that if it is hot and the people will be […]
Minyan with only ten men
Question: I was in a shul with exactly ten people and four already davened. I was of those that had not davened. However, I am makpid to daven with asara mispallelim, as numerous poskim hold it is not tefilla b’tzibbur unless there are asara mispallelim. What should I do? Am I obligated to daven there? […]
What is the yetzer hara
Question: What exactly is the Yetzer Hara and Yetzer Tov? Are they angels? Are they spiritual ‘impure’ and ‘pure’ forces inside us that convince us to do bad or good? Is it a way of referencing the drives of the body vs. the neshama? Are all these correct somehow? Furthermore, what is the source and […]
Eating meal before mincha or maariv
Question: It seems to me, from the Shulchan Aruch, that it is only muttar to sit down to a meal after mincha ketana, if there is a person in town who calls everyone to shul. However if that is lacking, it doesn’t help that one usually davens in shul. It also seems to me to […]
Asking non-Jew to drive to get something
Question: if something was forgotten for the Shabbos event, is the goy allowed to drive to the warehouse and bring it, are you allowed to ask him to bring it indirectly Answer: If the non-Jew could theoretically bring it without desecrating Shabbos (i.e. the warehouse is not outside of the eiruv etc), even if he chooses to […]
Non-Jew that bought something for party on Shabbos
Question: if the goy goes on his own and purchases something on Shabbos which is missing from the party can you use that item at the party Answer: Essentially since the people he is buying the items for are Jewish, it is prohibited, however might be room for leniency under certain conditions. If the gentile […]
Tower of Babel and various Civilizations
Question: This question pertains to Parshat Noach. If according to our tradition, human kind, for the first time in existence, began to spread from the Middle East area after the punishment of Babel, around 1,765 B.C.E, how can we explain the existence of diverse ancient civilizations, from Egypt to Scandinavia, to China, etc where histories […]
Private information about our daughter
Question: My 16 year old daughter becomes a bit moody at her ‘time of the month’ which of course is very common. My daughter is comfortable discussing these issues with my wife but not with me, which of course is very appropriate. The problem is that when I see my daughter becoming upset I can […]
Feeding a kitten on Shabbos
Question: I’m caring for a kitten that is so young, it cannot eat on it’s own at all. I have to bottle feed it. Is it at all allowed for me to feed it on shabbos? (I have to hold it and hold its mouth open.) Answer: If it can not eat otherwise, you may […]
Sleeplessness after reciting entire Kiryas Shema ?
Question: BS”D What is the Halacha for someone who cannot fall asleep after reciting the entire Kiryat Shema Al HaMita? Answer: The Rema says that a person that can’t fall asleep after saying kriyas shema should repeat the shema again, (but without the first pasuk). Alternatively one can say other pesukim, or even think other […]
Speaking while using the bathroom
Question: Is a woman allowed to speak while using the bathroom? Answer: There are two reason why the Shulchan Aruch says that we should not talk in the bathroom. One is because of overall tznius, and secondly for a kabalah reason regarding bad spirits in the bathroom. The Gemora says that when a bathroom is […]
Bnei noach and Tattoo
Question: I have two questions: 1 – can a bnei noach have a tattoo? 2 – A Bnei Noach can make a tattoo on alef beit do Shem-Havayah? Answer: A Bnei Noach can make a tattoo on his body, however he should not write Hashem’s name, as it is disrespectful to the holy divine […]
Lashes from besdin
Question: Where does bais din get the power to give lashes on dini derbanan from? Answer: Thank you for your question. During the time when Klal Yisroel was governed by mitzvos of the torah, judicial system was run by the bais din, and the judges that were appointed by the bais din. The torah tells […]
Ultraorthodox view of law
Question: What is the difference between how orthodox jews and ultraotrthodox jews view the origin of halacha? Answer: Thank you for your question. Before answering your question it is important to note that in Jewish literature there is no such term as orthodox and ultra-orthodox. The term ultra-orthodox is a term created by the media […]
Minyan with exactly 10 men and one left
Question: Regarding exactly 10 men and someone runs out in the middle, if the baal korei or chazan realizes someone went out in the middle of an aliyah or in middle of chazaras hashatz, are they required to stop until the person gets back? Or can they complete it since they started it with 10 […]
שעווה להורדת שיער
Question: האם יש בנתינת שעווה על השיער מעל הזקן ובסמוך לפיאות משום הקפת הראש או פאת הזקן, והאם יש בזה משום לא תלבש שהרי יעודו הוא לבנות Answer: על מקום הפאות אסור לשים שעווה כיון שזה תולש את כל השער, ולא ישערו שם כלום מהשיער. אבל על הזקן מותר כיון שהוא כמו שלוקט שערות הזקן […]
Hand washing
Question: If not doing ritual hand washing, is it okay to wash the left hand first? if not and one did it, is there anything that needs to be done? Answer: Similar to getting dressed, that we give respect to the right hand and right side by giving it precedence,, while washing ourselves we also […]
Status of tablecloth in regards to Melabein
Question: R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe Y.D. 2:76) discusses scrubbing a plastic tablecloth on Shabbos. He says to avoid any issue of Melabein, one may scrub it gently but not vigorously. I am wondering whether this applies to my tablecloth that I use on Shabbos? It is not made out of cloth or a fabric, […]
Continents moving?
Question: How did the animals spread out over the world after the flood (How did land animals cross the water) (i guess this is also a question how they all got to the teiva) Was it a neis? I’ve heard different answers from not Jewish sources, but I’m wondering if there’s any seforim which deal […]
Asking gentile to bring Shabbos delivery inside
Question: can I open the door on Shabbos if I see my order about to be delivered to my house by the UPS driver? Answer: My understanding of your question is that you want to know if you are allowed to ask or let the UPS driver place the package inside your house, which means […]
How to Beseech Hashem
Question: Hi Rabbi, For quite a long time I’ve felt quite unsatisfied with the course of my life (I am a teenager by the way), often I feel socially isolated and angry with Hashem about other circumstances in my life even if in the long run I’m not even sure if the solutions I seek […]
Divorced sister walking brother down the wedding aisle
Question: Is it problematic if a divorced sister walks her brother down the wedding aisle since their mother cannot attend? Answer: The custom is that a married couple walk the chosson and kallah down to the chuppah, as a good siman. Therefore it should be a couple that walks them down. The divorced sister can […]
Does a mistake in the Haftora have to be corrected?
Question: Does one need to stop the baal koreh for mistakes made while reading the haftorah? It seems that there is much more leniency by the haftorah. Is that justified? Answer: If he the word wrong and it changed it’s meaning then he should be corrected, but if it is only a dikduk in the […]
Aliya in the middle of Hallel
Question: If one is in the middle of davening Hallel and they are called up for an aliya, are they allowed to take the aliya and be mafsik? Answer: A person called up for an aliya during Hallel should go up and he may say Borchu and make the brachos before and after the aliya, […]
Inviting Xian Leaders to Speak at Orthodox Shuls
Question: What is the halacha concerning orthodox shuls inviting Xian leaders (some of them are missionaries) to speak about non-missionary topics on their premises or on Zoom? Should we be cautious and not attend such an event? Thank you. Answer: Something here doesn’t sound right, unless I am missing some information. Why would an orthodox […]
Peeling garlic on Shabbos
Question: There is a way to peel garlic. You place garlic in a closed jar or canister and shake the canister. The garlic skin loosens and gets peeled more easily or peeled. Can this be done on SHABBOS/ YOM TOV. Answer: It is permitted to peel the garlic in this manner right before the meal […]
Bishvil Yisroel- If the world was made for the Jews does that mean that the gentiles have no role?
Question: Dear Rav, When Rashi in Bereishis says that the world was created for Yisroel, does that mean that the gentiles have no real role in this world? Thank you very much! Answer: Let me explain this with an example. In the air force there are many solders and workers; the kitchen crew, the maintenance […]
Unisex looking smartwatch officially for woman
Question: Someone bought me a smartwatch which i would use for exercising and and it looked pretty regular. After looking it up it came out that it is officially for woman. in my opinion it doesn’t look feminine the only thing which is different about the men’s version is that its made bulkier to look […]
Lighting logs on Shabbos
Question: Good evening Rabbi! We have a question regarding our property which has a log burner as the only source for heat with no way of using gas or electricity and also no goyim to light the stove for the Shabbos. But when it comes to Shabbos what is the halachah? We have in our […]
Engaging with antisemites
Question: Is there any good reason why a Jew should not waste his time engaging with anti semites either in real life or online? Thank you. Answer: Isn’t you question self answering? Most of us would say that wasting one’s time is a good reason not to do something! Nevertheless, it isn’t just wasting one’s […]
Branch from neighbor on my property
Question: Rav, My frum neighbor has a tree that large branches have fallen down. So far they have all landed in his backyard. There is one branch that seems to be heading for my garage if it falls. I understand that he isn’t obligated to help pay to cut down that branch (nor can he […]
If I am catering a Shabbos job can I ask my goyim to load the truck after the shabos meal
Question: if I am catering a Shabbos job can I ask my goyim to load the truck after the shabos meal if not can they load it on their own or do I need to tell them that they are not allowed to load the trucks Answer: You should tell them that they should not […]
Spelt puffed cake
Question: Question regarding a spelt cake that I bought recently. They are cooked and appear just like rice cakes, but the only two ingredients are spelt and salt. Here is a link to it – https://www.koshercentral.com/grocery/health-gluten-free/organic-spelt/landau-spelt-cakes-salted-4-6z Is the bracha rishona mezonos and achrona m’ein shalosh? If so, can one be קובע סעודה with it on […]
Shul with Statues of Animals
Question: My shul has statues of lions holding a Luchot display on top of the Aron, davening towards the statues make me uncomfortable. Is this a halachic problem? Answer: Your question shows quite bit of sensitivity, and there is discussion among the poskim if it is permitted to have the lions there. Indeed a number […]