Question: Can a person wash NEGEL VASSAR in a clean bathroom with a shower? Answer: Please see the following post https://dinonline.org/?p=57962&preview=true Sources: Also see Shevet Halevi 8-168- 2, that if one washed his hands negel vasser in the bathroom that b’dieved it helps.
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
WASHING AFTER ENTERING A BATHROOM
Question: Does one wash hands after entering a clean bathroom with a shower? If so, should one wash 3 times with a utensil? Is that water TUMAH? Answer: My assumption is that you are asking when the person did not use the bathroom, but just entered it. It is questionable if our bathrooms are considered […]
Going ahead of the shatz on motzei shabbos
Question: On motzei Shabbos, even if I start ‘veyhi noam’ (after the amidah) at the same time as the shatz, he normally reaches the kedusha d’sidra in u’va ltzion before me because I’m a slow davener. Am I allowed to start veyhi noam before the shatz in order to reach the kedusha d’sidra at the […]
Paying for benefiting from a shul or website
Question: Hi, if I daven in the same shteiblich every morning and enjoy the AC and obviously the lighting, is it advisable to contribute to the financing someway? I don’t have any idea how much that would cost. What about all the articles I read online, Torah-related, or not (like from Wikipedia) on a semi-consistent […]
Making Bracha on talis katan
Question: If I won’t be wearing a talis godol, do I make a Bracha on my talis koton ? Do I need be choshesh for the general concerns of making a Bracha on a talis koton. I have a 24 inch cotton t.k. And I checked the tzizis. Thank you. Answer: When we put on […]
Adding spices to soup on Shabbos in a kli shieni
Question: I just listened to a class. The person asked what do you if your wife forgot to spice the soup before Shabbos. He said she pours it from the pot into a serving bowl (this is obviously a kli sheni) and she can now add the spices to the serving bowl. Is this true? […]
Standing for brachos during kriyas hatorah
Question: I thought one has to stand when the oleh to the Torah says ‘baruchu’ and the tzibbur answer ‘Baruch hashem umevorach’ (Mb 146:4). However most people seem to sit and just do a quick half stand and then continue sitting. Is it correct to say that such a practice is incorrect? Answer: The Rema […]
When does Onos Perisha start?
Question: Regarding keeping the onas perisha, when does the separation begin for the daytime perisha, at the alos or at netz? Answer: The day onos start at sunrise,- netz. See Y:D 184-4,5. Best wishes
Davening in a very fast minyan
Question: On occasion, I am stuck with a minyan for shachris that davens so fast that I can’t possibly keep up, with having a basic level of kavana. Are there any issue(s) with starting birchos krias shema and krias shema way ahead of them so that I can start shemoneh esrai with them? What are […]
Carrying plates in an eruv.
Question: Dear Rabbi, I was just wondering re the following. If one is using an eruv on shabbos, is it only permitted to carry things that one requires for use on Shabbos or can one carry items he does not require? To give an example, if someone borrows some plastic plates from a friend to […]
Attaining Perfection in life
Question: Let’s say a person sets a goal (in my case the religious field) and NOT because of something or someone, is it possible that one day (future tense) I can excel in greatness? If I put in all the efforts and be fully devoted (while single and after marriage) can this goal be fulfilled? […]
Melatonin
Question: Does unflavored non chewable melatonin and magnesium need a hechsher Attached: Attached file 1 Answer: In consultation with a kashrus professional, it is ok to use. Sleep well
Maaser for a well needed vacation
Question: My father has always struggled financially. Recently, he was very ill and has mostly recovered. He wants to take my mother on vacation after all they went through but he can only afford a minimum basic vacation. Would it be ok to pay for them to go on a nicer vacation with maaser money, […]
vitamins and exercising without doctors orders
Question: Based on last week’s article, https://dinonline.org/2020/07/31/the-mitzva-to-avoid-danger/ that the chiyuv of venishmartem only applies when most people run away from a certain activity or behaviour, but if most people are not afraid, it is not considered a danger, what’s the Halacha concerning taking vitamins as well as exercising on a daily basis, not because I received […]
Sleeping on back or stomach for women
Question: Hi, Does the prohibition against sleeping on the back or stomach apply to women as well? or only men? I find it easier to sleep on my stomach or back at times. Answer: It does not apply to women, only to men. See Even Haezer 23-3.
OPEN BATHROOM DOOR
Question: CAN A person keep a clean bathroom with a shower door open to cause a breeze to flow through the home ? No smell at all. In terms of RUACH RA OR RUACH HATUMAH Answer: As far as I know there is no problem with ruach ra coming out of the bathroom, when the […]
Boat ride while being Niddah
Question: Are me and my wife (niddah) allowed to ride a boat together? Does the boat size make a difference? If there’s someone else on the boat? (ex. Gondola ride in Venice) Answer: If it is a big boat, that her movements are not going to move the boat, then it is permitted, however in […]
Losh regarding Tradition soups
Question: The TRADITION soups that all the kids eat would there be a problem of LOSH when you add hot water ? Not discussing Bishel . Ty Answer: Before getting to losh it should be stated that adding hot water to the soup can have a serious bishul issue, because the spices, etc. are not […]
medicine on shabbos
Question: Can a man over 50 take medicine on shabbos to help himself and fulfill his mitzvah of onah? Answer: Please see the following post where this question was discussed https://dinonline.org/2017/06/06/viagra-on-shabbos/ Best wishes
Igeret hagra
Question: Shalom Aleichem Rabbi, iggeret hagra is important for us Litvishe Mitnagdim. The original is – I suppose – in Yiddish. Can you find out if the Yiddish ~original text of Iggeret HaGra is available (maybe even for purchase) somewhere? A shlema healthy week. Kol Tuv, Answer: I looked around a bit. I did find […]
Learning Midrash Eicha on Tisha B’av
Question: On Tisha B’av may one learn the entire Midrash Eicha, even parts that deal with consolation? Answer: I didn’t see anything on this, but my assumption is that it would be similar to reading Yirmiyahu and other permitted things on Tisha B’av, that when a person gets to consoling parts that those parts should […]
Soncino press
Question: Is it okay to use Soncino press? Are they considered heretics? Some of their books have Christian commentaries? Answer: I can not comment on all of the books as a whole, when I don’t know all of them. Books that contain commentaries of heretics may not be used. In general there are other very […]
Platta on Shabbos timer
Question: Shabbos morning we usually don’t eat cholent but rather some sort of meat dish and sides. When we go out to eat Friday night we don’t want to leave the platta on the whole night since it makes the house very hot and uses more chashmal… Putting the food on the platta to heat […]
Grooming on Sunday
Question: Can one cut nails and shave/tweeze on Sunday? Or should these be done before Shabbat to honor the holiday? Answer: Halachically it is permitted, however there are people that are careful not to cut their nails and hair right after Shabbos, if they could have cut them beforehand, because it looks disrespectful to Shabbos, […]
Swimming yud Av before noon
Question: I need to swim for health reasons . Can I be lenient and swim yud Av before noon because there are no women’s swimming after noon Answer: The general minhag is not to go swimming until after chatzos. If there is a special need, it should be discussed with one’s Rov. Best wishes
Davening with Netz
Question: Is there a hidur to start Shmone Esraei at the exact second of netz, or is there a problem of ose tefiloso keva? Answer: The hiddur is in fact to start exactly at netz. The idea of ose tefiloso keva, means that a person’s attitude towards davening should not be that he is davening because […]
Cholent cooked on Shabbos
Question: If on shabbos night there is a blackout and a few hours later the government turn it back on, am I allowed to eat the cholet? My question is if there is a problem of bishul akum and also is there a problem of a goy cooking on shabbos for a jew? Thank you. […]
Play with squeaky toys on Shabbos?
Question: On Shabbos, is it forbidden to play with squeaky toys? If so, is it forbidden by Chazal or by the Torah? Answer: On Shabbos we don’t play with toys that are meant to make noise. This is part of the general enactment, that we shouldn’t make noise or play musical instruments because we might want […]
May my son daven without minyan? We live far from shul.
Question: Boy age 14 lives with single mom who doesn’t own a car, and shul is 3 miles away (1 hour walk) from the house). He usually has a ride to yeshiva where he davens. Occasionally when he can’t go that yeshiva and therefore doesn’t have a ride to town where there are minyanim, is […]
Cold chicken soup in a milky pan
Question: I accidentally put cold chicken soup in a milky pan (cold). The soup has not been boiled (cold). Was wondering if we have to throw the pot? Answer: If the soup was not hot when it was inside inside the pan, and it wasn’t in side the pan for 24 hours, you only have […]
halachic will
Question: I wanted to down load the halachic will from you web site for some reason it did not work can you send it to me by email greatly appreciated menachem Answer: Here is a copy of what I found. Whereas no man knows when his time will come, therefore I the undersigned,…………………….., of [address] […]
Dish towels during the nine days
Question: I forgot to prepare a dish towel ahead of time before the 9 days and used it clean (I forgot) during this time. Is this a big problem? Does anything need to be done? Answer: What was done is finished, but be careful that just in case these halachos are needed for next year, […]
Narcotics anonymous
Question: May one attend an NA meeting on Tisha B’av? Answer: If it is needed for the person’s health, it is permitted, like any other health related work. However if it isn’t needed then it is considered diverting one’s attention from the aveilus. Best wishes
Is changing linen allowed on Tisha B’av after chatzos?
Question: Is changing linen allowed on Tisha B’av after chatzos? Answer: It is allowed on the Tenth of Av after chatzos, but not on Tisha B’av itself. Best wishes
Taking painkiller on Tisha B’av
Question: I have a very strong headache. Happens to be I get very strong headaches when I fast. is it permitted to take a painkiller? Answer: Yes it is permitted to take a pill or suppository painkiller If you need to take a little bit of water to get the pill down, that is also […]
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 […]
Smoking on Tisha B’Av
Question: Is smoking allowed on Tisha B’av Answer: Manny poskim forbid it, however there are poskim that do permit it. The Mishna Berura (555-8) says that while it is incorrect, if one is addicted he can be lenient and smoke in private, but only after chatzos.
learning on erev tisha b’av and on tisha b’av
Question: Can I learn amud yomi on erev tisha b’av and on tisha b’av Answer: No. It is considered learning torah, and is not from the parts of torah that we may learn on Tisha B’av. Sources:
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?) […]
Is Tanning allowed during 9 days
Question: Is skin Tanning allowed during 9 days? Answer: Technically it might be permitted, but it is not a proper thing to do during the nine days. Best wishes Sources: Shemuos Moshe 550-1, Mah Tovu 1 pg. 68 in the name of R’ S. Diblisky zt”l and Ybchl”ch R’ A. Nebenzahl shlit”a who both said […]
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 […]
Pest control question
Question: B”H Thank you again. Is it against Halacha to exterminate mice if the animal will potentially feel pain? This is obviously not the goal, but what does halacha say regarding removing mice if they are in the house and it could (maybe?) impact the food etc, and to do so will kill them? Thanks […]
Trapping on Shabbat
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help. Regarding humane mice trapping (where the mice are caught in a cage and released), is there an issue if the traps are still set over Shabbat and the mice could be caught on Shabbat? What is the halacha to remove mice humanely if this is not […]
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 […]
Divrei Hayamim 1 chapter 20
Question: Please see Divrei Hayamim 1 20:3 Was this genocide? If so, was King David justified? Answer: See Ralbag who explains that the reason that David did this was to send a message to all of the other nations not to start up with the Jews. As a side point, the people of Amon worshipped […]
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 […]
ריבית
Question: shalom shavua tov thank you for your very informative response regarding the 2 questions you asked 1 how was the money was borrowed ? the money was transferred into my bank account and we wrote a shtar rayah definitely not a shtar kinyan 2 have I made a kinyan on the house ? no […]
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 […]