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Can one say Tehillim after chatzos on Tisha B’av?

Question: Can one say Tehillim after chatzos on Tisha B’av? Answer: It is controversial. Some poskim allow it, but the minhag is not to. If it is for a sick person, then it is permitted. Best wishes Sources: M:B Shar Hatzion 554-8, Rivivos Efrayim 3-268, Mbais Levi 13 pg. 45, Divrei Malkiel 6-9-1, The Three […]

Pregnant woman fasting on Tisha B’av

Question: My wife is in her fifth month of pregnancy. Her doctor (daati leumi) does not encourage fasting. Additionally, I saw that Dayan Fisher and R’ Shlomo Zalman were very lenient. Can she rely on this? Answer: According to most poskim, including R’ Shlomo Zalman (see Nishmas Avrohom 554-1, Halichos Shlomo 16-2) there isn’t a […]

Purchase a meal for someone sitting shiva during the 9 days?

Question: Hello, is it acceptable to purchase a meal for someone sitting shiva during the 9 days? (it is not exactly a “gift”). And, when buying kosher food for Jewish people, does one have to be responsible for their level of kashrut? (e.g., making sure they did not eat meat before serving dairy to them?) […]

Closing up skylight and attic vent vs demons

Question: 1. I would like to close up a skylight. It can be opened but hasn’t been opened- it’s just decorative as it’s hard to get to to actually open. It does make the house very cold however. May I close it up? 2. My attic is not easily accessible and just used for storage. […]

Protecting one from Sakanah Covid-19

Question: Given the current Covid crisis are there any rules in Chazel as to how many people are dying a day is it time to close schools and Shuls? How about when to open them? How about opening up the Shuls in a community when giving the fact that this decision effects so many people even […]

Buying food during 9 days for after Tisha B’Av

Question: Hello, Even though one is not to make extra purchases during the 9 days, is it permitted to buy food during the 9 days that will be eaten after Tisha B’Av (either after the fast or even after Shabbat?) Answer: There are no restrictions regarding buying food in the nine days, and you can […]

Washing car during Shavuah shechal bo

Question: Can one wash his car during shavuah shechal bo? Is there a difference between washing the outside or the inside of the car ? Answer: It is controversial if it is considered like other cosmetic enhancements that we don’t do during the nine days or not. If it is needed than it would be […]

Listening to shiur when sweating from exercise

Question: Is it permissible to listen to a shiur while sweating from exercise? Answer: It is permitted. Sweating doesn’t not mean that you can not learn, if you touch the sweat from a part of the body that is usually covered, then you would have to wash or wipe your hands (if you don’t have […]

Girl going on a shidduch- is a manicure allowed during the week of Tisha b’av

Question: This year where not a nidcheh can a girl going on a shidduch get a manicure during the 9 days? Answer: Depending on the circumstances, if it is indeed needed for the shidduch, then it would be permitted. Sources: Cutting nails during the week of Tisha B’av is controversial if it is permitted or […]

Breastmilk and fleishig dishwasher

Question: Is it OK to wash baby bottles used exclusively for breast milk in fleishig dishwasher with fleishig dishes? What about hand wash with hot water in fleishig sink with fleishig dishes? Answer: Technically it is permitted, but it is a very bad habit to get into, because eventually you will end up putting the […]

Can a 13 year old boy say bedtime krias shema before maariv?

Question: Hi, My son age 14 has had anxiety and depression sometimes, and my family has gone through a years long messy divorce so there is a lot of stress in the background and at some level ongoing.. I try for him to get enough sleep which helps for his issues. This is a challenge […]

Undertops and pyjamas during 9 days

Question: Is it ok to wear undertops and pyjamas during the 9 days that you didn’t ‘prepare’ beforehand? Thank you Answer: According to a many poskim they should be prepared before wearing them. Many people rely on the poskim that say that it isn’t needed, however it is prefered to prepare them beforehand. Even if […]

Activities on Tisha B’Av

Question: I am unclear as to what is permitted on tisha b’av. I see that work is permitted but discouraged. Is walking okay? Reading novels? Seeing friends? Using electricity? Answer: On Tisha B’av we are in active mourning, and we should not do things that will take our mind, and concentration off the destruction of […]

May one do alterations or fix ripping clothing during the nine days

Question: My son is leaving to camp before Tisha b’av. His pants are ripped. Are we allowed to sew this up during the nine days? Answer: It is permitted to fix ripped clothing, however alterations on new clothing is problematic. If you are stuck and your son won’t have what to wear, you can be […]

Is a husband allowed to leave his wife in his first year of marriage?

Question: Is there a halacha about the husband not being able to stay away from his wife in his first year of marriage? Answer: Yes there is such an idea, see Sefer Hachinuch Mitzvah 582. However if she is mochel, or for a mitzva, it is permitted, Sources: See Chochmas Adom 129-18, Shulchan Haezer 12-10, […]

Can one read, walk, visit with friends on Tisha B’Av?

Question: Can one read, walk, visit with friends on Tisha B’Av? Can one take a shower for cleanliness (not leisure) after the fast ends but before midday the following day? Answer: On Tisha B’av we are in active mourning, and we should not do things that will take our mind, and concentration off the destruction […]

Covering a package that arrives on Shabbos

Question: Is there any problem with covering a package that arrives on Shabbos? I have a package that might be arriving on Shabbos outside our apartment and I don’t want the box to be apparent to neighbors throughout Shabbos. Can I cover it with a towel on Friday night? Answer: It is permitted to take […]

Washing hands in the morning

Question: 1) If a person goes straight to the bathroom upon waking , how does he wash his hands afterwards and which brocha does he make 2) If a person goes to the bathroom right before having bread in a meal can he wash only once and say two brachot 3) If a person davens […]

Using a swimming pool as a mikveh during quarantine

Question: Can I use our private swimming pool as a mikveh during quarantine? My husband was in the same location as a corona case at work and we are all in quarantine making public mikveh forbidden. Usually for women a pool would not count, but during quarantine is it allowed? Answer: A pool is not […]

Visiting kevarim before Rosh Hashanah

Question: In a place where there are not recognized tzaddikim per se, is there still an inyan to go and daven at the gravesite of family, friends, or communal leaders, etc? Regarding this specific minhag, is there still inyan to go earlier in the month? Thank you Answer: The main minhag is to go to […]

Being a good guest according to halacha

Question: Honored rabbis, my sheyla is a request for the basic halachic etiquette for a bokhur being a long-term guest in someone’s house. Because of certain world circumstances limiting movement, his best option is to stay for approximately six months in the guest room of a couple and their young child. He knows that he’s […]

Unwinding Metal Closure on Wine Bottle- Shabbos (Similar to metal twist ties)

Question: Hello this is a picture of a popular wine. The ring around the bottle is twisted closed. Before you open the bottle, the cork is in the top of the bottle and another wire wrapped enclosure is on top of the cork and hooks underneath the ring you see attached to the bottle. By […]

Picking up clothing from the dry cleaners during nine days

Question: If clothing were dropped off at the cleaners before Rosh Chodesh, and they were not ready until 2 Av, may one pick it up then and wear on Shabbos? Answer: If the clothing were given to be cleaned before the nine days, may be picked up during the nine days. Best wishes Sources: Nitei […]

Eating meat after davening maariv early on Rosh Chodesh Av

Question: If it is Erev Rosh Chodesh and you davened Mariv right after Plag , can you still eat meat until sunset. Please provide sources Answer: No. According to the Ashkenazi minhag of not eating meat from Rosh Chodesh, as soon as you davened maariv, the nine days starts. Best wishes Sources: Magen Avrohom 551-26 […]

Haircut and laundry after Tisha b’av which is on a Friday

Question: Normally the restrictions last until chatzos on Yud Av. Is this different when Yud Av is erev Shabbos like this year to do laundry and take a haircut? Answer: When Tisha B’av is on Thursday as it is this year (5780), it is permitted to do laundry needed for Shabbos and take a haircut on […]