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Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a

Poured crushed garlic salt from container over pan with hot dairy

Question: If there is hot dairy being cooked in a pan, and I pour crushed garlic salt from a plastic container over it while it is cooking, is there an issue with using that crushed garlic salt container with meat? Answer: It is for this reason that essentially it is preferable to have different spice […]

Woman dying her hair during the 9 days.

Question: Can a woman dye her hair during the 9 days? Answer: It should be done before the nine days. Although I haven’t seen anyone speak about this specifically, a number of poskim that I have been in consultation with said that it is similar to showering, which we don’t do during the nine days. […]

Responsibility To Refund Charges

Question: in 2015 I entered into a contractual agreement with a client (not Jewish) to provide CPA services for her. Per the contract, I was to charge her account $250 per month as a retainer towards future work. The contract states that the charges will take effect even if the client fails to provide us […]

Bishul Akum of a non Shomer Shabbos Jew

Question: Hello Rabbi. I am Jewish on both sides, have grown up in a conservative household with strong Jewish values throughout. My girlfriend is a modern orthodox shomer shabbos and kosher Jew, and we are conflicted with the varying answers we can find online in regards to Bishul Akum, and my ability to turn on […]

Could one deliver food for a non-kosher restaurant?

Question: I have a talmid who is from a very weak family and himself just starting to get into yidishkeit. He is back in NY and would like to work delivering food for a non-kosher restaurant, is this a problem? Answer: Please see the following post, which discusses a very similar question. https://dinonline.org/2019/07/15/coming-in-contact-and-delivering-with-not-kosher-food/ Best Wishes

Tweezing–3 weeks

Question: Is it allowed for women to tweeze facial and other stray hairs during the three weeks? Answer: According to most poskim, it is permitted for a woman to tweeze facial hair during the three weeks. Sources: Emes L’yackov ftnt. 512, Halichos Shlomo 122 ftnt.9, Shevet Helevi quoted in Nitei Gavriel (Bein Hametzraim)  19-6 ftnt. […]

Shaving in three weeks for medical reason

Question: I am using cream bought from the pharmacy for dry skin on my face. I have been keeping my beard very short because otherwise it’s virtually impossible to get the cream in. Is it motor to shave during the three weeks so I can continue to use the cream? Thanks Answer: Dry skin is […]

Taking cholent or soup from a pot on the fire on Shabbos

Question: Is one allowed to take cholent from the pot while it is on the fire if it is fully cooked? Is soup any different? I know some people do this is it allowed? Is it preferable not to do this? Thank you Answer: We don’t take cholent from the cholent pot while it is […]

Destined soulmate for secular switch to observant Jews

Question: I’ve a deep thought question. 40 days before a person is born into the world the heaven decides who will be the partner of whom. In addition, it also depends on the person actions, if they’re deserving of one another. For instance, if A becomes bad in life and B who is good (the […]

Are pajamas considered an article of clothing for aveilus?

Question: Are pajamas or a nightgown considered an article of clothing for aveilus? Answer: My assumption is that you mean to ask if an avel is allowed to wear a new pair of pajamas. If it is needed an avel is allowed to wear a new pair of pajamas without having someone else wear them […]

Putting up a netting during 3 weeks

Question: I have a persistent pigeon problem that has worsened in the last week. Can I have someone place a netting of some sort surrounding the open areas to prevent them from entering? We cannot go on our mirpeset otherwise Answer: There is no problem with putting something up in order to prevent them from […]

Cutting a Shaitel during the three weeks

Question: Am I allowed to trim my shaitel during the three weeks? Answer: Although we do not take haircuts during the three weeks, nevertheless, it is permitted to trim or cut a shaitel or wig during the three weeks. Although it looks like a person’s hair, it isn’t part of the person’s body, and no […]

Kiddush Levanah when the moon is partially blocked by a tree

Question: After reading the entitled article, https://dinonline.org/2019/01/11/the-halachos-of-kiddush-levana/ I ask… By reason of urban geography, the view of the Moon is often partially blocked by a building or the leaves of a tree. From the moonlight requiremenf for blessing when confined indoors, it seems that an obstructed view is not a bar to blessing. Is that true? […]

Clarification on possible chatzitza

Question: Some background information, Initially I went to the mikvah motzai shabbos. I came home and noticed what might have been an issue and did not want to call our local halacha hotline or go back to the mikvah because it was midnight. So i stayed separated. I called the hotline about the issue Sunday […]

Practicing music during the three weeks

Question: Can one practice playing an instrument during the three weeks? Answer: In general it is better not to practice playing musical instruments at all during the three weeks, however there are instances It depends on why it is being practiced. If it is because the person wants to earn a livelihood from playing, then […]

People in shul who refuse to wear a mask

Question: I daven in a certain shul in Yerushalayim and I have asked people to please put on a mask. There is a sign in the shul that the mask is obligatory. Many have refused. No reason given. They refused to give a reason. “I don’t want.” I and others cannot daven there any longer. […]

Maaser on Inheritance

Question: Received some money as inheritance from a parent who passed away, must separate maaser? Obligation or just “nice to do”. Same 10% and treated as income? Thanks, Answer: Inheritance that was received is included in income, which is exactly what it is. However you would only have to take maaser from the amount that […]

Shabbos and Removing Eye Makeup

Question: Can I rub my eyes or remove eye mucus/crumbs/”sleepies” on Shabbos? What if in the process I will be removing black eye makeup that got stuck to the mucus and is now unwanted because its off my eye? Answer: You may rub your eyes and remove any dried mucus. Additionally you may also remove […]

Eruv techumin

Question: Would you be to able to define the approx. boundaries one can walk of this place: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fedwr+Gog+Cottage/@52.984814,-3.4805812,1887m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!3m7!1s0x0:0x6585b74322ed5eda!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d52.9835609!4d-3.4765479 Many thanks ! Answer: What you have to do it is the following. Right click on the cottage that you are staying in, and find where it says Measure Distance. Then depending on what you minhag is […]

How much am I obligated to pay for braking a phone screen I borrowed

Question: Sholom Dayonim, I borrowed a phone to use for zoom from someone who runs an internet filter who received the phone as a donation so they could test out their filter on the device. I received it with a crack in the screen which was exterior and didn’t affect the usage of the phone. […]

Can a seller refuse to extend a sales contract?

Question: If a Jewish seller and a non-jewish buyer enter into a sales contract, and the deal does not close on time due to the buyer’s failure to meet all required obligations (such as obtain financing for the full purchase price), is there any halachic issue if the buyer refuses to extend the contract term […]