Question: Hi I forgot an an important piece of information regarding my original message about the urn so I’ll repost the whole message about that and add that piece of information which may or may not change original psak So I mistakenly put the wrong disposable hot cup under my urn this morning to make […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Women sitting in the Sukka
Question: What is the difference of halacha for Ashkinaz and Sephardic women to sit in the Sukka and shake the lulav and Etrog? Thanks Answer: The Sefardi minhag is that women do not make a bracha on sitting in the succah of shaking the lulav. The reason being that they are patur from these time […]
Times of Divine Judgement and Mercy
Question: I’m having some trouble comprehending the Kabbalistic concept of HaShem’s different attributes at different times of day. Supposedly HaShem’s Divine Mercy occurs after midnight (hence why there is the opinion that selichot should only be said after this time). Could you please explain this concept – where is it from and where is it […]
Milky microwave – parev toaster
Question: Can I defrost bread in a milky microwave and then toast it in a parev toaster? Lchatchila would this be ok? And bdieved would it? Thank you Answer: It is a risky thing to do, because if the microwave has milk spilled on the bottom of the plate etc. then the bread is actually […]
Urn spout fleishig?
Question: I mistakenly put the wrong hot cup under my urn this morning to make coffee. I had taken a clean one from the cabinet and put it down. I guess I got distracted because when I actually went to make the coffee I realized I mistakenly used a cup that was used to serve […]
Regarding Steam
Question: My fleishig sink was clogged and a plumber poured hot water straight from the hot water urn into the fleishig sink. Being that the sink wasn’t clean and there was a lot of steam, is my hot water urn now a problem? Can I still consider water heated up in it pareve? Thank you […]
Pasuk for Shmone Esrei
Question: What pasuk do I say in shemoneh esrei corresponding to my name? My name in devoireh braindel bas mirel faigel Answer: For דבורה- “דאגה בלב איש ישחנה ודבר טוב ישמחנה” (משלי י”ב-כה) בריינדל- “במקהלות ברכו אלהים ד’ ממקור ישראל” (תהלים 68- 27) Sources:
Is there power to yud gimmel middos recited without a minyan and said with “trop”
Question: You posted a question about reciting the yud gimmel middos without a minyan and you posed the question, is there the same “power” to the yud gimmel middos recited alone and you never answered that. Can you please. Does the yud gimmel middos recited alone in quarantine effectuate the same koach or power as […]
Hagra on sukkot
Question: shalom. On sukkot there’s maybe something with yahrzeit of elijahu ben salomo zalman. Apart from that, do you know – or can you redirect to – any source of his (vilna gaon’s) behaviour on [ any maybe even counsel about ] sukkot? A blessed new year, Answer: Correct the yahrtzeit of the Vilna Gaon […]
forgiving or ignoring a narcissist
Question: Hi, there’s a lot of background to this question that’s nec. to show where I’m coming from for, so PLS read it all first! the question(s) is at the end. Thank you very very much! Hi, Sorry for the long question but it’s a lot of background, that’s nec. to show where I’m coming […]
Loss of smell due to covid
Question: I recently lost my smell due to covid. Do I make a bracha on bissamin by Havdalah? Answer: No you would not make a bracha. A person can be yotza havdalah even if they didn’t smell bsamim. If there is someone there that can smell, they should make the bracha and smell, but you can’t. […]
Am I allowed to buy a wood cutting board Or other wood bowls that says it is preoiled?
Question: May I buy new Wood cutting boards or bowls that are pre oiled? Answer: You may buy them, but they should be kashered, once the surface oil is removed. Have a good Yom Tov
Corn stalks used for Halloween for Schach
Question: A gardening nursery near my home is selling corn stalks for a non Jewish holiday called Halloween as a decoration. I do not know if it’s cut specifically for Halloween or not? Can it be purchased for scach l’chatchila? Please answer me ASAP. Thank you Answer: They are permitted to buy and use for […]
Learning in sukkah
Question: Do you have to learn in the sukkah? If it would be uncomfortable to do so, is there a heter to learn indoors? Thank you Answer: Essentially the ideal place to learn on Sukkos is in the sukkah because the sukkah is the place we spend our time during sukkos, If however you are […]
Donating to Hebrew free loan society – which mitzvah?
Question: Is donating a small sum to a Hebrew free loan society considered the mitzvah of tzedekah or the mitzvah of giving a loan? Answer: Essentially it is the mitzvah of giving a free loan, however if the person getting the loan is poor it would also be included in If the money is loaned […]
Fulfilling orders on Chol Hamoed
Question: Hi, is one allowed to fulfill online orders during chol hamoed? What would be the din if delaying fulfilling orders would affect your ratings, and by extension further sales? Answer: Essentially we should not be involved in business on chol hamoed unless it is needed for the chag. If not fulfilling the orders will […]
bris zoom invite
Question: Is it permitted for a person to send a zoom invitation for a bris to another person? Is that the same as inviting someone which many have the custom to not actually invite to a bris? Is there a better way of doing it? Please provide sources. Thank you! Answer: If my understanding is […]
Others potentially working on holidays
Question: Hello, I asked the assistant in my office to do something today and, because it involves multiple people and steps, it is possible that someone will end up working on it on Yom Kippur or another holiday. Is this a problem because the request came from me (even though I did not ask on […]
Fasting on Yom Kippur
Question: I had a procedure several months ago to fix an increased heart rate, since then it is mostly okay bh but it is still somewhat elevated due to anxiety about health issues, which also causes some dizziness. My doctor feels that i can fast if i drink enough on the day before the fast […]
Do i have to fast since i am still recovering from covid
Question: recovering from covid Answer: You definitely have to fast. Regarding taking shiurim of liquids, that depends on your present condition, general health etc. and it should be discussed with your local doctor and rov.. Take care of this quickly ,because Sunday is already erev Yom Kippur. Gmar chasima tova an drefuah shleima Sources:
Black Hebrew Israelites
Question: There have been many Black people believing they are the real Jews because there have been certain spiritual leaders claiming that Jews come from all kinds of people and the original Jews are blacks . There is a website that even claims this. There are many YouTube videos that claim this as well. According […]
Foam insulation work chol hamoed
Question: Can I allow a company to put foam in my attic on chol hamoed to insulate the house? Answer: It should wait until after chol hamoed. The reason is because it is a professional type of work. Additionally, scheduling it now for chol hamoed is problematic Gmar chasima tova
Kaparos and Mistreatment of Chickens
Question: There is a lot of hype lately about mistreatment of chickens before they get slaughtered for kaparos. Animals that are raised for kosher slaughter, do they have animal rights? And do protestors have a claim that animals that are bred for mass kosher slaughterers must not be treated differently than their pets? They cry […]
Kittel Yom Kippur for shana rishona
Question: If one does not have any family minhag, does he wear a kittel on yom kippur during shana rishona? Answer: If you don’t have a specific minhag then wear the kittel on yom kippur. Gmar chasima tova Sources: Kovetz Halachos 28-15
Promise to blow shofar for homebound – binding?
Question: Our synagogue (both Rabbi and administrators) committed itself to blow shofar near our home on the second day of Rosh Hashana, and sent us a schedule, but no one came. Apparently they went to other blocks and apartments and just forgot our block. Did they have a halachic obligation? If so, which halachos apply? […]
Calling from Israel to America on second day yomtov
Question: Can I call from Israel to America on second day yomtov in chutz laaretz ? Answer: You may call a gentile, but not a Jew. Additionally a random place is prermitted because we can assume that the people working these are gentiles (unless you know otherwise). Gmar chasima tova Sources:
Eating an extended meal for Birkat HaMazon
Question: Dearest Rabbi: What if during an extended bread meal there was a time in that meal of maybe 72 minutes where they weren’t sure they ate or drank in the middle? Like they got up to read Torah and lost track of the time. Can they still recite Birkat HaMazon? Answer: yes they still […]
Paying for magazine subscription
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help. My question is: before becoming observant, I had a sports magazine subscription. I was recently going through papers from years ago, and saw paperwork indicating that the subscription at one point was past due/unpaid. It is possible that I paid for the subscription eventually, but I […]
porcelain dental work
Question: B”H Thank you for your help. My question is: If a person has porcelain dental work that they got during a time when they were not yet keeping kosher, but now years later B”H keep strictly kosher, is the porcelain in their mouth like a not- permitted porcelain plate that had not kosher hot […]
Giving maaser to a parent
Question: My parents who are elderly have a major problem that requires an exterminator… They don’t have money and are trying homemade products to try to get rid of their problem to avoid an exterminator. Would I be able to pay a professional using maaser money? Answer: You can definitely use maaser money. In fact […]
Do monthly/daily tzedekah withdrawals count as separate instances of giving tzedekah?
Question: Dearest Rabbi: On tzedekah platforms, sometimes I see an option to divide the tzedekah into daily (https://dailygiving.org/) or monthly for example instead of paying $180 at once, giving $18 withdrawn from account ten times over ten months. Does this count spiritually as giving tzedekah once or ten times? Answer: The Rambam (Pirkei Avos 3-15) […]
Tashlich at night
Question: Normally we do tashlich by day on Rosh Hashanah. We missed it this year, does it have to be done by day or can it be done also at night? Answer: According to the Mateh Efrayim 598-4 it can be said even after sunset until it is night. Have gmar Chasima Tova
What to do if intentionally missed shacharis after chatzos
Question: I’ve asked many rabbis but i haven’t been able to get a clear definite answer, some are too afraid to comment on it, one Rav even said “i don’t answer such questions, ask a mashpia” and the mashpia doesn’t know what to do in all cases So two scenarios, either one intentionally missed shacharis […]
Kaporos – Male/Male & Female/Female
Question: When using chickens, we know that a man should use a male chicken and a woman should use a female chicken. When using money, it is better for a man to use a currency with a male on it, such as Grant or Franklin, and a woman with a woman on it such as […]
Fleishig Corelle dish washed with Dairy dish sponge
Question: A guest of ours washed her fleishig dish (corelle) after eating chicken and side dishes, by mistake at our dairy sink with a dairy dish sponge…the sponge had not been used today.. Not sure if 24 hours have passed since last use. She says she used cold water (or at least not very hot). […]
Kissing the fingers and tzitzis while wearing a face mask
Question: At the minyan I daven at, face masks are required. With that in mind, during parts of davening like Ashrei and Shema, should one still kiss one’s fingers/tzitzis after touching the shell Yad and shell Rosh if one is wearing a face? Answer: The idea is the gesture that we are showing love for […]
Hefsek when kissing the tzitzis during Kriyas Shema
Question: When kissing tzitzis during kriyas Shema, is not considered a hefsek to stop in the middle of a sentence and kiss the tzitzis? Answer: It is not considered a hefsek, because he is not taking out and saying unrelated words. There are instances when we should not make a hefsek in time. such as […]
free shipping/ theft?
Question: B”H Thank you for your help. My question is: I recently ordered something online from a Jewish company. One of the items that I ordered was not in stock, so it was deleted from the order and the price of the item refunded. However that item helped to qualify the entire shipment for free […]
Husband obligation to feed his wife and mazal.
Question: How seriously should one take the tos and tos harosh in kesuvos daf 2b(at the top) D”H “matziah..”- in which they say that a wife is a “field” of her husband and therefore everything that happens to her is because of the husband. The Tos’ Harosh says ” a woman…. is dependant on his […]
Yichud when telling neighbor to come over
Question: One advice generally given to prevent yichud is to give a key to a neighbor to make a pesach pasuach. Does it work if you just tell the neighbor, “drop in sometime tonight” ? I would think that you should need to say ” Come in as much as you want” or something similar […]
Sukkah Skach from Wooden Slats
Question: I have a balcony that is directly under a neighbor’s balcony. Am I allowed to use the floor of the neighbor’s balcony which has wide wooden slats 5.5 inches each, and a space of 0.5 inches each in between as skach? The space above the wooden slats is open to the sky. Attached: Attached […]
Personal Prayers after Hamapil
Question: My daughter asked if she is allowed to still talk to Hashem after saying hamapil to ask for personal things. I understand that the halacha of not talking after hamapil is not to talk for things that are not important but if there is a great need it is allowed and that one may […]
Putting food on a hot try with a timer only going on a few hours into Shabbos
Question: I’m currently learning in a local Hilchos Shabbos chabura and a shailah regarding food and a hot tray has come up. Would there be any chashash of נתינה בתחלה and chazora with putting already cooked food, which is still warm from being taken out of the oven and there is a small amount of […]
Touching up paint on shel rosh and shel yad tefillin. How many declarations?
Question: If one wants to touch up both the tefillin shel rosh and tefillin shel yad. Does he vae to recite L’shem Kedushas Tefillin once for both pairs or twice (one decleration for each tefillin)? Answer: If he is painting both of the tefillin at the same time, saying it once is sufficient. Sources: […]
Moving a Sefer Torah for Kol Nidrei
Question: Since the start of corona (a week after Purim) we have had a minyan 3 times a day in the courtyard in between a group of buildings. The Minyan has around 30-40 men on a given Shabbos, there is a kovidic davening drashas etc.. We have a Bima and a Aron Kodesh (which is […]
Cancer and Fasting
Question: My chevrusah had brain surgery a month ago and is now at Sloan Kettering in NYC receiving chemotherapy and radiation. Is it advisable for him to fast on yom kippur? Answer: May Hashem send your chavrusa a refuah shleima. In order to answer questions regarding eating on Yom Kippur for a sick person, the […]
Once A Brocha Said Is there Still an Order to Eating
Question: Hi. If you say a brocha rishona on a category of food according to the correct priorities, does one have to still prioritise what they eat thereafter. For example on Rosh hashonah if I had a date, pomegranate and apple for simanim. You say a brocha on the date first as it’s the highest […]
Rosh Hashanah
Question: Hello, 1. I recently read that many do not eat nuts or vinegar on Rosh Hashanah but that it may be okay if the end product is sweet. Would onions and garlic fall into this category? 2. With respect to nuts, do chestnuts count? 3. And can these be eaten after the holiday ends […]
Honey and hechsher
Question: We were given a new jar of honey here in Israel. Does it need a hechsher? משק חקלאי כפר הנוער ויצו נהלל Answer: In consultation with a kashrus professional, this is what I was told, “Heated, filtered honey is fine if it is not flavored. Raw honey is not fine” (as it may have […]
Checking Broccoli
Question: How can I check fresh broccoli? Answer: R’ Vaye nd the CRC both say that the florets are extremely difficult to check, therefore they should not be used. Cut off the florets and the stems shold be washed off, preferrably with soapy water, and then they may be used without any need to check […]