Question: I am a sofer and write many mezuzos. Can I give some of the mezuzos to an organization – a shul or yeshiva and consider it as if I gave the worth to tzedakah. If yes what is the worth? The amount I usually sell them for? Answer: you can donate some of the meziuzos to an […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Maaser and Sleepaway Camp
Question: Is it permissible to partially pay for sleepaway camp for a teenage daughter with maaser money. Especially because of Coronavirus, it is evident that she really needs to get away. No scholarships are being offered by the camp at this time, understandably. If she does not go away, there really is nothing at all […]
Beyond meat during nine days
Question: Dear Rav, Is it muttar to have a beyond meat “burger” on the nine days (is it an issue of maris ayin etc.)? Answer: The rule with marius ayin is that it only applies if the permitted version is not so common, however if it a common occurrence, it doesn’t “look bad” because people […]
Restitution payment
Question: Does Ha’anaka applies to a part time worker too? Answer: The halachos of Ha’anaka do not apply nowadays, because this mitzva only applies to to a master giving his Eved Ivrei (Jewish slave) presents when his six years of work are finished. It does not apply to any workers nowadays, (even if you feel […]
Haircut on night of 17 Tamuz
Question: My wife typically cuts my hair, in general as a way to save money and this year also as a distancing precaution against COVID. Her mikveh night is the night of 17 Tammuz (meaning the night before the fast) and I was wondering if she may give me a haircut at night after she […]
Moving into a new house in the 3 weeks
Question: Shalom Harav What’s the Halacha regarding moving into a new house within these 3 weeks please? Chazak Baruch Answer: Thank you for your question. It depends what kind of house it is. If it’s your new home, then it is not the correct thing to do during the three weeks, unless there is a […]
Kilayim with bananas
Question: Why is bananas not considered as a hybrid fruit? And no isur of klaiem? כלאים Answer: Bananas are permitted for us to eat. On one hand our bananas are a hybrid of two different type of bananas, and it is possible that the prohibition of kilayim won’t apply to the mixture of the two of […]
Verbal agreement in Halakha
Question: Reuven hires Shimon to do a job. Reuven and Shimon have known each other a long time. Shimon wants Reuven to sign a contract but Reuven says it’s not necessary and promises to pay Shimon. Shimon does not want to do the job but Reuven insists. Shimon is an independent contractor and has to […]
Insect repellent on bugs on Shabbos
Question: Is one allowed to spray insect repellent on or toward spiders and centipedes in the house/bedroom on Shabbos? He/she will not have any Oneg Shabbos if they know the insects are running loose around the house? Answer: We are not allowed to kill insects on Shabbos, therefore spraying an insecticide on bugs is not […]
Home improvement/new purchases during the 3 weeks
Question: We recently moved into a new home and have been buying small appliances and home decorations to have. They do bring us joy to have our home be coming together. Should we avoid buying these things during the 3 weeks? Should we avoid using/hanging/installing our purchases? Answer: Things that are needed are permitted, however […]
Giving presents during 3 weeks
Question: 1. We plan to give someone a thank you gift but it will probably only be available once the 3 weeks begin. We hope it will bring them simcha. Is it okay to give it during the 3 weeks? Does it matter if pushing it off would not be as good for shalom? 2. […]
shatnez
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help. My question is: Is it ok (due to the quarantine, etc.) to use/ wear items that have not yet been tested for shatnez with the intention to have them tested (bli neder) after corona? Would it be sufficient to rely on the fabric tags which indicate […]
Is tarnish on a silver utensil a chatzitza by tevillas keilim?
Question: Is tarnish on a silver utensil a chatzitza by tevillas keilim? Answer: You should clean the utensil and try to get off as much of the tarnish as you can. After trying to get off whatever is possible, the rest would be considered part to the utensil and would not be a chatzitza. Best […]
Wearing a mask
Question: Hi, Am I required to wear a mask? I am young and healthy. Additionally, I see many respected people (like rabbonim) not wearing a mask in shul. Answer: I can’t answer for any specific situation, which would have to be asked to the local poskim. In general though the idea of wearing a mask […]
Holding the cos in palm of hands
Question: For kiddush and havdalah should you hold the cos in the palm of your hand? If so is it a chiyuv or just a praiseworthy thing to do? If it is uncomfortable for someone, can they not? What is the reason for this? Answer: According to Shulchan Aruch there is no obligation on how […]
Not carrying in an Eruv
Question: 1. Where is it that the Biur Halacha says that a ben Torah should not rely on an eruv, and what does that mean? 2. What is the source for the minhag of many who do not use an eruv to allow their wife and children to use the eruv? Answer: 1. To the […]
Shiur reviis for Shabbos day Kiddush and it bracha achrona
Question: For Shabbos day kiddush and havdalah should you use the smaller shiur (86ml) or bigger shiur (150ml) for a reviis? I heard that there are shitas that you are chiyav in a bracha achrona after drinking only half a reviis (quickly enough). Does that mean when saying havdalah or Shabbos day kiddush (And then […]
Completing painting the interior of your house during the three weeks/9 days
Question: Can you complete painting the interior of your house during the three weeks/9 days if you started beforehand? Answer: During the three weeks it is permitted, however during the nine days in general it should not be done even if it is only continuing the job. In special circumstances it can be permitted, speak […]
Purchasing new clothes during 3 weeks and nine days for a kallah
Question: Can a kallah whose wedding is immediately after Tisha b’av buy new clothes during the 3 weeks? Answer: The issue with buying new clothing during the three weeks is the we don’t say shehecheyanu then. For those who only say shehecheyanu when wearing the new clothing for the first time, (which is the minhag […]
Alcohol
Question: Dear Rabbi, Alcohol is not allowed to consume. not good for health, in Vedas, in the highest scriptures of Sanatana Dharma ( misnomer as Hinduism these days)? Is it Halal in Judaism? Thank you Answer: In Judaism it is permitted to drink alcohol, but it is frowned upon to get drunk. Have a good day […]
non californian prunes
Question: Do non californian prunes need to be checked for insects and if yes, how do you check them? Answer: According to R’ M. Vaye they should be cleaned first. This is what he says to do. “Wash the outside well. It’s a good idea to halve the prune and wash inside”. Best wishes
Made a meat pizza with dough that had dry powdered milk in it in my oven.
Question: I mistakenly made a meat pizza with dough that was dairy (it had dry powdered milk) in my oven. Do I need to kasher my oven? Answer: Yes you do. The hot meat absorbed the taste of the milk and gave off trief steam to the oven. If you have a self cleaning oven […]
Stopping someone from doing an aveira
Question: Is it permitted to “steal” someones internet device if I know they are doing aveiros with it? I am the only one who knows about the device and the person doesn’t know that I do. Answer: Let’s be practical here. Stealing his device is not going to stop him. The same way he managed […]
Moving someones property
Question: If someone moves someone else’s belongings making them an aveida is he called a ganav? To be clear the person does not want to keep it and did not destroy or change the item at all, only its location. If it is a question of shinui reshus what if its in the same reshus, […]
Eating food cooked in a milky pot after eating meat
Question: If you are meaty, can you eat food that is chezkas milky and vice versa? (I am understanding chezkas milky food to mean parev food that was for example cooked in a clean bein-yomo pot… if I’m misunderstanding on this point, please do clarify). If you don’t know whether a pot is bein-yomo or […]
Pulling out Peyos
Question: Hi While removing peyos even one hair is an issur, if one accidently plucks out one hair from the area of his peyos, is he oveir the issur? And are there any sources for this? Thank you Answer: Pulling out hairs from one’s peyos is similar to cutting it, and included in the issur according to […]
Woman in nidah lighting Shabbos candles
Question: BS”D Can a woman light the Shabbath candles while she is in nidah? Answer: Definitely. This is one of her mitzvos, and being a nidda does not change it at all. As a side point both mitzvos are an atonement for the sin of Chava, that were given to women to keep. Best wishes
Vaad Bayit obligation of empty apt for cleaning vs infrequent repars
Question: In our building one of the neighbors unfortunately passed away about a year and a half ago. The yorshim have not yet been able to sell the apartment which has been sitting empty the whole time. We have two shaalos. Are the owners obligated to pay the monthly vaad bayit payments, which cover cleaning […]
Ripped cds from the past
Question: Shalom, I found copies of cds that I made for myself as kid, by borrowing cds from the library, copying songs that I liked, and making mixed cds for myself to listen to…(of course I returned the cds to the library) is the copying part gniva? And is there something I should do to […]
Duplicate product sent
Question: Shalom, A seller who has a small company in Europe, sold me a product from his company (in such a small company he’s both owner and customer service guy) I bought it online and it didn’t arrive for 3 months. I wrote to the seller to notify of this and he sent another package, […]
Drinking after Shalosh Seudos on Shabbos
Question: It is after sunset and after reciting birkat hamazon on the third meal on Shabbos. Is one allowed to drink soda or only water and is water also forbidden? Thank you Answer: According to the Shulchan Aruch, after Birkas Hamazon after sunset, we may not eat or drink anything except for water. Although regarding other […]
Early Shabbos with minyan or no minyan
Question: If the choice is to daven early Maariv Friday night in a minyan of asara (or more) mispallelim, or to daven at tzeis (or at least after shkia) in a place where there won’t, or might not be, asara mispallelim, which should one do? (Early Shabbos is not the most l’chatchila.) Answer: It is […]
Cash back from maaser
Question: I have a bank account which gives a certain amount of cash back for every transaction, similar to most credit cards which offer 1-2% of each transaction as cash back. I use this account exclusively for my maaser money. What is the status of the cash back that I get from this account? Does […]
Permissibilty of incense
Question: There are very popular types of incense originally used in buddhist and hindu ceremonies. They are now manufactured en masse. Is it permissible to use this incense? Answer: Please see the following post, which addresses an issue similar to yours. https://dinonline.org/2018/06/12/indian-incense-sticks/ Best wishes
Vow annulment for not eating meat during the three weeks?
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help, it is tremendously appreciated. I became more observant almost six years ago, and I wasn’t sure if we were allowed to eat beef/ chicken/ turkey during the three weeks or the nine days, so for a few years, I’ve been trying (bli neder) to not eat […]
Brachos during seuda
Question: By shalosh seudos, a person ate bread, herring, wine, and an apple. Does the apple require a bracha? Answer: The minhag of many is to make a bracha on the apple, unless you will eat it together with bread. Best wishes
milk spilled on pareve cutting board
Question: Milk spilled on a pareve cutting board. Is it sufficient to wash off the cutting board, or do I have to be concerned that, because of the bumpy surface of the cutting board, it’s not completely cleaned of milk? Thank you Answer: Wash it off well with soap, and you can assume that it […]
Bracha on tea
Question: Does one make a bracha when drinking a bland tea (there is sugar and corn syrup, etc., but when I drink it I don’t feel any taste)? Answer: Yes you make a bracha on it because it has a taste – although it is bland, and it isn’t just plain water. Additionally, it has […]
Halakha about tolaas
Question: About halakha when it forbids eating worms(tolaas) , what is this halakha, and how is it reflected in the question of fermented milks, (yakult and others) live lactobacilli, which medicine says are good for the intestinal flora, like Halakha see this? Answer: Eating tolaim (bugs) only applies to bugs or insects that can be […]
Sweat/water in mustach or beard on Shabbos
Question: What should one do to clear sweat or water from one’s mustache or beard, or eyebrows by hand on Shabbos? Answer: We do not squeeze hair on Shabbos, therefore it can not be cleared using one’s hand, because it will be squeezing the water out, which is sechita on Shabbos ( others say that […]
Shavuah in modern Beis Din
Question: Is modern-day beis din allowed to impose shavuah? If yes, is this actually done? Thank you Answer: In general it is not actually done. Best wishes
Pareve Food on Meat/Dairy Sheet
Question: Hello, If I recently cooked meat in the oven, and then immediately afterward wanted to cook or bake a pareve item, may I use a dairy pan or sheet to place the pareve food? Do I have to heat the oven to a higher temperature and wait 15 minutes before doing this? Thank you. […]
Drinking during shacharis
Question: Are women allowed to drink during psukei d’zimra? Are men allowed to drink at any points during shacharis, for example after the amidah or after tachanun? Thank you Answer: We are not allowed to make a bracha on food during pesukei d’zimra, if the bracha was said before starting to daven, and it is […]
Helping only one Torah institution
Question: Can I just help only one Torah institution? I once heard that one can not and that one should diversify his maaser money. Is there a halacha forbidding to help only one institution? Answer: Yes there is such a halacha, that one should not give all of his maaser money to one place, so […]
pesachim 112
Question: The Gemara Pesachim 112 says not to wear clothing until eight days have passed since they were laundered. Are we obligated to comply with this, and if not why not? Answer: The gemora is referring to washing clothing from lice. See Sefer Shmiras Haguf V’hanefesh 73-3, that nowadays we are not makpid on this […]
Violating Shabbat to help pet
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help. Thankfully, this question is theoretical, but realized I should know what to do in case…Regarding a family pet dog- if the animal becomes ill over Shabbat, to the point that it seems the animals life is in danger (showing symptoms that seem life threatening), what is […]
Covered Meat and Dairy Utensil in the Oven
Question: Hello, Can I put in meat and dairy utensils (such as pans) in the oven at the same time? As long as both foods are pareve, do I have to cover the food and pan? Thank you. Answer: Technically you would be allowed to, but I would not advise it. Technically the steam that […]
Washing before eating wet foods
Question: What is the halacha regarding washing before eating wet foods? Thank you Answer: Essentially this is what it says in Shulchan Aruch O:CH 158-4, However there are many people are lenient with this because there are opinions that it is not needed nowadays. See M:B 158-20. If you have a specific question about this […]
Mold in rental apartment caused severe respiratory issues – Follow Up Safek
Question: This is a follow up question to your previous answer which I will paste below: The issue regarding not vacating at the time the mold was discovered was due to the fact that there were so many variables such as severe food as well as seasonal allergies shortly diagnosed after moving in. There were […]
is my oven still parve?
Question: Hello Rabbi, I appreciate your time taking my question. I have an oven that I’ve kept parve by double wrapping all dairy and meat items. on Wednesday, I baked hamburgers forgetting to cover them. The oven was on the standard 350 degrees. I didn’t have any spills, and there did not seem to be […]