Question: 1) When wiping oneself of feces after using the bathroom, to what extent must one wipe themselves to remove all traces of feces? Often times, one can keep finding additional amounts upon every additional wiping. 2) When changing a baby’s diaper, it is sometimes difficult to remove all traces of feces, as the baby […]
Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a
Why do we end davening the same way as four Mesechtos are ended?
Question: Many have mentioned the segulah these days of reciting pitum haketores. I was wondering why is it that specifically Brachos, Nazir, Yevamos and Creisos that are ended with the conclusion of Pitum Haketores? There must be something unique about the paragraph when relating to those Mesechtos? Answer: You are asking an interesting question, why […]
Bridal Veil
Question: I recently saw a question asked on your site about a bridal veil not being required at a second wedding- is it required al pi halacha at a first wedding? I got married a few years ago, and while i had a veil and had a bedekin, between the bedekin and the chuppah, i […]
Ribis on credit card bonus
Question: If I spend a certain amount of money on my credit card within the first 3 months I get a cash bonus from the credit card company. if I let someone use my credit card do I need to give them the cash bonus percentage of what they spent(assuming that I needed their spending to reach my goal that I […]
Flowers for Shavuot
Question: B”H Thank you for your help. Regarding decorating with flowers for Shavuot, is it ok to have dried (real) flowers, or does it need to be cut flowers in water? Thanks very much. Answer: The custom to decorate the with flowers on Shevuos is to commemorate the fact that Mount Sinai grew flowers during […]
Claiming unemployment
Question: I lost my job 2 months ago due to covid-19. I have been claiming unemployment. Every time I recertify they always ask if I am ready, willing and able to work of which I always say yes. In the interim I had a baby so I didn’t claim 1 week. Because I felt physically […]
Does the seller owe me a commission for helping me sell his business
Question: Thanks for “hearing” my sheilah. A few weeks ago I saw an ad in a Jewish newspaper for a small online business for sale. I called and spoke to the seller (lets call him Abe) a few times & was interested in possibly buying it. He also emailed me the business tax return & […]
Gomel on zoom
Question: Can gomel be said on zoom? Also, are there any sources that the reason gomel needs 10 men is because of pirsum hanes? Thanks Answer: 1. Unfortunately we can not say hagomel over Zoom, because it has to be said specifically in the presence of ten men. Although you may have ten men hearing […]
Chabad, Rebbe, Moshiach
Question: Believing that Rebbe is Moshiach Are decompressing some halakha? Answer: This is a very controversial question, and it is not for discussion in this forum. However I can give you some sources to look at Rambam -Melachim 11-3,4, 12-2, that part of believing that the Moshiach will come is that he will be a […]
Yayin Nesech by Muslims and Christians and irreligious non-jews
Question: Outside of idolatrous places like india, is there a true Yayin Nesech issue these days, or is it just something nice to do? There seems to be zero or extremely rare cases where any goy used wine or grape juice in an avoda zara ritual. Answer: You are correct, we don’t really have true […]
Assembly of jigsaw puzzle with photo of church
Question: I purchased a puzzle with many photos of places around the world. Among those photos are at least one of a church, as well as others that may be idols. Is there a problem with assembly of this puzzle? Answer: Thank you for your question. A church is not an idol, but a place […]
lashon hara
Question: I was discussing with another bachur who we can go to for a Shabbos seuda. When the name of a certain person came up, I said that I won’t go there because I only eat by people who are bnei torah. Is this lashon hara? I have nothing against that person, but I am […]
Kaddish for 1st wife
Question: I was married for many years to my first wife who died childless. Since her death 5 years ago I have been saying Kaddish daily. I remarried almost 3 years ago and now that we have “mirpeset minyanim” my new wife hears me saying Kaddish for her. I know it bothers her. Is one […]
Food under an airplane seat
Question: Can one put food l’chatchila under a seat on an airplane & is there a difference between first class where the seat becomes a bed? Answer: It is controversial if the idea of not putting food under a bed applies to the seat of an airplane or not. Most poskim say that it is permitted […]
Is there a chiyuv of kriyas ha-torah when davening without a minyan?
Question: Is there a chiyuv of kriyas ha-torah when davening without a minyan? This is relevant at the moment when many can’t daven with a minyan because of corona-related restrictions. Is there a difference between kriyah on weekdays and on Shabbos? If there isn’t a chiyuv m’ikar ha-din, is it praiseworthy nonetheless? Thanks and keep up […]
Boiling water for (iced) tea
Question: I am new to keeping a kosher kitchen and have a question: If I want to boil water to make tea, and I boil the water in a dairy pot (I don’t have a parev pot), do I have to drink the tea only with dairy? what if I put the tea in the fridge […]
Wearing shoes, slippers for davening
Question: Should one wear shoes for tefilla? If so, are slippers sufficient? If it is permitted for some parts of tefilla and forbidden for other parts of tefilla, please specify? For example, forbidden for the amidah but permitted at other times. Is there a difference between men and women? For example, forbidden for men but […]
Masser
Question: If I got money from Trump due to the Corona but I presently don’t have an income (I’m still supported by my parents but not living with them) do I need to give masser on the money I received from the government? Answer: The money that you got from Trump is the same as […]
Tevilas Keilim
Question: Yesterday, my wife received 2 glass pots that were ordered online. Before I had a chance to “sell the Keilim to a Non-Jew” (as we are not allowed to use Mikvaos yet), she cooked a couple of dishes. I did not partake of the food. Once I “sell” the pots, what happens to the […]
Tallis over coat
Question: Is there any reason to wear a tallis gadol over your outer coat? or is it fine if its under Answer: It is fine to wear your tallis gadol under your coat when walking outside, in fact, the minhag in a lot of places in Chutz La’aretz, is specifically to wear it under the […]
Ben Eretz Yisroel saying Tehillas H (the last part of shir hamalos) when in Chutz l’aretz
Question: If i’m not mistaken, the main minhag for bnei Chol is to say “tehillas H” (the last part of shir hamalos) before benching, whilst the main minhag for bnei EY is not to. When a ben EY is in Chol, should he say tehillas H? If the answer is no, is it permitted for […]
Sleeping on one’s back
Question: Is it forbidden to sleep on one’s back? If one sees their spouse sleeping on the back, should they wake them to tell them to roll over? Thanks Answer: It is forbidden for a man to sleep on his back (or stomach), rather he should go to sleep on his side. If you see […]
Poured milk into jar to get out choco, did the Jar need tevila
Question: Hello, Earlier today my wife made a hot Choco from leftovers of a chocolate spread. The sheilah we have is as follows: She boiled milk in a pot on the fire, then took the glass jar of chocolate spread (that still had some leftovers inside, but not enough to scrape out) and poured the […]
Money received in my account
Question: B”H Shalom! Some days ago noticed that a insurance company which days before deposited a smaller amount after medical expenses,deposited more money. I did not receive any communication about this second deposit. Do I have to inform the company about that,or may I “wait and see”? Answer: With he assumption that the insurance company […]
Chazak
Question: We are planning al pi the rabbonim to make a backyard minyan this Shabbos, and to make up Kriyas Hatorah from Vayakhel. Should the tzibbur and the baal koreh say chazak and the end of sefer shemos (which is still in middle of the kohens aliyah)? Answer: When consulting on this question some of […]
Lag BaOmer
Question: BH Thank you for your help. 1. Can Sephardic celebrate Lag BaOmer on the 33rd day, or are supposed to wait until the 34th day of the Omer? 2. If supposed to wait, would mourning practices be lifted for someone Sephardic for the 33rd and 34th day or just 34th day? 3. Do we […]
PERSONAL PRAYERS IN SHAMONA ESRI
Question: GUTA VOCH and GOOD HEALTH BEZRAT HASHEM. Where in ALOKAY NAZUR is a proper place to make personal requests? The best place. IS IT BEFORE LMON SHMECHA or before YEHU LARAZON, or after? BE ELABORATE as to the best place. THANK YOU. Answer: Thank you for your question. Where exactly in Elokay Nitzor is […]
Opinion of the MB on drinking or speaking about something important after shema al ha-mita
Question: Can you help me understand the words of the MB in simun 239, 4. First, the MB says if you want to drink and speak about something important, it is motur, so long as you repeat the paragraph of shema afterwards. Then, the MB says however if you have already said the bracha ha-mapil, […]
A hefsek after saying shema al ha-mita
Question: If you have a hefsek after saying shema al ha-mita, Rav Chaim Kanievsky says not to say bircas ha-mapil again. I think this is because there is a machlokes whether one should and sufek brachos l’hakel. Would this also mean that one shouldn’t say asher yatzar after using the bathroom due to the same […]
Is affiliate marketing kosher?
Question: Dear Din Online, A popular source of extra income in Israel these days (because who couldn’t use some more?) is affiliate marketing. I do not engage in this myself but — having provided services to some of these companies — I understand how it works. However, I have always wondered whether — halachically — […]
Decaffeinated Coffee after Pesach
Question: I purchased a jar of DECAFF coffee (with OUT a Pesach hecsher) about 2/3 weeks after Pesach from a store that did not sell its Chometz. Is that an issue ? Can the DECAFF coffee be used? Answer: Yes you can use the coffee. The reason is because it is only a small safek […]
Chometz after pesach
Question: I purchased a jar of DECAFF coffee (with a Pesach hecsher) about 2/3 weeks after Pesach from a store that did not sell its Chometz. Is that an issue ? Can the DECAFF coffee be used ? Answer: Decaffeinated coffee needs to have Kosher for Passover certification, and if it does, then it is […]
Sefira After Alos Hashachar
Question: Are there any deios that one can count with a bracha after even after alos as long as its before nets? Answer: Not that I know of. There are opinions in the Rishonim that even by day we count with a bracha, but that is not the halacha, see O:CH 469-7). If you are asking […]
How to be makabel Yom Tov
Question: How can one be makabel Yom Tov? Unlike on Shabbos, where there are certain parts of davening that can be said, I’m not aware of an equivalent with Yom Tov. Thanks Answer: Kabolas Yom Tov for women it is when they light the Yom Tov candles (if they are lighting before Yom Tov). This […]
How clear does the moon need to be to say kiddush levana?
Question: How clear does the moon need to be to say kiddush levana? For example, is it clear enough if it’s fuzzy because it’s behind a thing cloud. Answer: This is a common issue. The rule is that we can say kiddush levana if the moon is giving enough light to us that (if we […]
Wooden spoon fell on oven
Question: A hot wooden spoon being used in a fleishig pan fell onto stovetop, is this a problem (is the stovetop considered treif if used for both meat and dairy?) Answer: My understanding of your question is that it didn’t fall on to the grats under the pot, but on to the part between the […]
Giving Gifts to aveilim.
Question: Are you allowed to give a gift to someone that is in aveilus for their father? And if not, is a photo book considered a gift that one is not allowed to give? Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem b’toch aveilei Tzion v’Yerushalayim. In most instances we do not give gifts to a person who is […]
Late maariv
Question: Dear Rabbi, Due to health, some days I may sleep the evening until after 11pm. Is there a time top late to do maariv? If I am up all night, besides the bedtime shema, is there other ways to daven if we are on odd shift schedules? When is Hallel or Mussar made? Should […]
Pesach sheini dinim
Question: Do we say shir ha Malos when benching birchat hamazon on Pesach Sheini? Answer: The rule is that we say Shir Hamaa’los before bentching on days that we don’t say tachanun. There are different opinions and inhagim if tachanun shouldbe said on Pesach Sheini or not. therefore saying Shir Hama’alos will depend on what […]
Are credit unions permitted
Question: I know there was a particula credit union recently for which there was an issue about obtaining a loan through. Are credit unions in general a problem or can one safely sign up for one? Answer: Please see the following post, which deals with you question. https://dinonline.org/2019/02/25/borrowing-money-from-a-credit-union/ Best wishes=
Minyan during Covid19
Question: The minyan I can participate in at this time of covid19 is me in my backyard, with a minyan about 3 houses distance away that I can see parts of the members. I find the general environment makes it difficult for me to focus on davening for a few reasons, the weather can be […]
If one missed Mincha and Mussaf, should one say three Maariv Amida prayers?
Question: If one missed Mincha and Mussaf, should one say three Maariv Amida prayers? Answer: No, he will only say two. This is because Mussaf does not have a tashlumin, only Shacharis, Mincha and Maariv. The reason being that Mussaf is for the Korban Mussaf which can not be made up, whereas the other tefios […]
Yichud with cleaning lady
Question: Is there a problem of yichud with my cleaning lady if i am unsure of my brothers schedule (as his schedule changes from day to day) Answer: It isn’t clear, because there can be certain times when you know that he won’t be home, therefore it would be best for you to keep the […]
Cutting down a vine
Question: My backyard is overgrown with weeds & vines. Some of them grow inedible (for humans) berries (seeds?). Seems to me (not 100% sure) that the birds like to eat them. Is it permitted for me to uproot them? Answer: The prohibition not to cut down fruit trees only applies to trees that give fruit […]
What bracha on mixed flour muffin
Question: Making muffins with a mix of flours, 3 cups almond flour &1 cup spelt flour, which bracha&bracha ach-arona do we say on the muffins? Answer: The bracha would be Mezonos and Al hamichya, since there is spelt flour in the recipe, it becomes the ikar here regarding the bracha. Best wishes
Electric beater for both dairy and pareve
Question: If only used for cold foods and cleaned in between Can I use same electric mixer and beaters for dairy and for pareve? Answer: It is permitted to use a pareve mixer to mix cold dairy, since everything here is cold, as long as you are careful that it should stay clean. There are […]
May a woman wear sweat pants for exercising in front of her husband when in nida
Question: May a woman wear sweat pants in front of her husband while she is a nida? Answer: From a technical halachic standpoint we can’t say that it is not permitted, because she isn’t uncovered. On the other hand the oposkim say that if his looking at her in this way will cause him hirhur, […]
Giving food to orchim
Question: I am living now separate from my parents due to corona concerns. My parents bring me food for me to eat. Is it permitted for me to invite bachurim to my dira and share the food with them? My parents would not approve (they are not frum), but perhaps we can say that once […]
Using someone else’s Wifi
Question: May one use neighbour or someone else Wifi if they don’t know about it. It has a password but the person finds it out. Do we say theres no loss ( I don’t think that there is extra cost). Are we worried it might slow it down? I think this is a great chosen […]
Using Microwave water for hagala
Question: Would one be able to bring water to a boil in a utensil using a microwave, then insert an even meluban into the utensil to overflow the water in order to kasher the utensil? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch O:CH 452- 4 says that we can not do haga’la with water from chamei Teveria, because […]