Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a, Author at Ask The Rabbi - Dinonline

No roasted food on the night of the seder.

Question: Is sauce on the chicken or meat enough not to be considered roasted or do you need water? Answer: There is controversy among the Poskim if a little water will also be considered like a pot roast which is considered like roasting, or do we say that since it has some water in it, […]

Haircuts during the current situation

Question: Dear Rabbis, Due to the situation we find ourselves in, it has been at least four weeks since I last had a haircut and it has become quite uncomfortable. I have never cut my own hair before, nor had somebody other than a barber cut it. I ordered a hair trimmer a few days […]

Buying back the chometz

Question: Hi , I noticed that you answered a question about ‘buying back’ that you DO buy back the chometz but also regarding a question about acquiring it back in different time zones, that each person acquired it back at the individual time that he chooses to…how does that work exactly? Answer: If they wouldn’t […]

I ate kitniyos

Question: There is a bachur who brought meat to my house on pesach and after eating a little I looked at the package and discovered to my horror that it contains rice. What should I do? He did not look carefully. was I yotzi eating meat through eating it? Am I going to get punished and do we say […]

Passing tuma from not washing negel vasser

Question: I would like to know: If someone doesn’t wash negel Vaser and touches someone does he become tuma? If so what does a person do when working with non religious people? And are you allowed to give a non religious person to make a brocho if they didn’t wash negel Vaser? Thank you Answer: […]

Open fish in oven

Question: Baking uncovered fish in parve oven. May one broil meat uncovered afterwards? Answer: If the fish was baked dry then it is fine, and if the fish was baked with a significant amount of liquid, then it is controversial, but a number of poskim permit it.

tefilas tal when davening alone

Question: What is thee procedure regarding tefilas tal this year when so many of us will be davening without a minyan? Answer: Start saying it at tefilas mussaf,specially for those who say morid hatal, because one issoif heonlidmoordhl. Best wishe

Can we listen to music on isru chag pesach

Question: Can we listen to music on isru chag pesach ? Answer: There are different minhagim as when to count the sefira days, if the days that you count sefira include isru chag then you should not listen to ,music then. The poskim discuss listening to music on Chol Hamoed, and some say not to, […]

Meaty wooden spatula used in non stick milky frying pan

Question: Hi I used a meaty wooden spatula in a non stick milky frying pan. At the time no actual dairy or onions were being cooked in the frying pan. Can either of these items continue to be used? Thanks Answer: Were any of them used within the last 24 hrs. for how dairy of […]

clarification of previous question

Question: BH Thank you so much. Regarding the question of food delivery on Yom Tov ( I apologize I wasn’t more organized in my previous question), the food being delivered is not chametz, it is just being accepted via delivery on Yom Tov (the delivery was coordinated before Yom Tov ) because that is when […]

Extra Fruits and Vegetables

Question: I have a lot of extra produce. I would like to dehydrate them for later use. My dehydrator was not cleaned for pesach. It was never used for chametz mamash but has residue of kitnoyos on it. May I dehydrate the produce on it now Answer: Yes you can. The reason is because you […]

I ate what may have been a nefucha or kefulah

Question: If I ate what may have been a nefucha or kefulah, am I chayev kares? Is avoiding these a mere chumra or the letter of the law? Answer: If the matzoh was fully baked it is not chametz and you are not chayiv kares c”v, especially that it was baked before Pesach. Nevertheless we […]

Kasher utensils on unkosher stove range

Question: Can I kosher metal utensils by placing them on the stove range and turning up the fire until they get red hot? The range will not get red hot ever. Also it is impossible to get the entire utensil red hot at once you usually get one side and the other that come in […]

KOSHER FOR PASSOVER?

Question: is polyethylene glycol plastic 3350 kosher for passover Answer: The ingredient Polyethylene glycol plastic 3350 is synthetic and therefore categorically not chametz. Moadim L’simcha Sources:

Hebrew-English Siddur

Question: When using a Hebrew-English siddur, would reading a sentence in Hebrew and then pausing to glance at the English translation be considered a hefsek? Answer: No it is not a hefsek, because it is for the purpose of the davening. IN fact this is the correct thing to do, if you need to understand […]

I bought chametz

Question: I bought shampoo that’s chametz by mistake what. Should I do ? I put it in the chametz room that was sold Answer: PUtting it into the room that was sold to the goy will not help us at all, because what was already sold is his and what wasn’t sold isn’t, and putting […]

washing fruit in non kosher for passover sink

Question: BH Thank you for your help. If I wash whole fruit in a sink that has not been koshered for Passover (it is a porcelain sink), can I still eat the fruit over Passover (the soap is kosher) Thank you in advance. Answer: With the assumption that the water used to wash the fruit […]

Building for pleasure on Chol Hamoed

Question: I would like to build an outdoor couch today to keep me busy. I enjoy handy work. I’ll have to cut and drill wood Answer: Please see the following post https://dinonline.org/2020/04/13/making-photobook-on-chol-hamoed/ regarding doing melacha for pleassure on Chol Hamoed. Regarding your specific hobby, it sounds to me that building an outdoor couch is not something that […]

Making Photobook on Chol Hamoed

Question: Can I make an online photobook on chol hamoed, using pictures on the computer/internet and then designing different backgrounds and embellishments on the website (i.e. snapfish). I will buy the finished product for print after yom tov. Answer: There are different opinions regarding doing melacha on Chol Hamoed when it is for entertainment purposes, […]

Bitul Chametz

Question: I just read (on Pesach) that each person in the home should recite their own Bitul Chametz, something i did not know prior to Pesach. I did bedikat Chametz with my husband, and was yotzei his Bracha, as well as his Bitul, and he had me in mind when he recited his Bitul at […]

reading sad news on chol hamoed

Question: On Chol Hamoed, should one avoid reading the news, especially about who died, due to the mitzvah of vesamachta b’hagecha? If so, why are the Jewish news sites still posting on Chol Hamoed? Is one obligated to refrain from reading, or is it merely a middas chassidus? Answer: It might be a nice idea […]

Music in chol hamoed

Question: Can I listen to music in chol hamoed Pesach? Answer: It is permitted to listen to music on Chol Hamoed since it is simchas Yom Tov, and aveilus doesn’t apply to it, sefira doesn’t restrict it. Sources: Radvaz 2-687, Pri Chadash 493-3, Halachos of Pesach pg. 332, Kovetz Halachos ( Sefira) 8-8.

May one remove cholent from the crock pot with out taking it off the heat source?

Question: May one remove cholent from the crock pot with out taking it off the heat source? The crock pot is a flat rectangular bottom with a rectangular shaped pot. Answer: One should not remove cholent of any other food that is over the fire on Shabbos. The reason for this is that we are […]

Tefilin – chol hamoed

Question: Why in chol hamoed of pessach is not used tefilin? Answer: There are different minhagim regarding this, those who have the minhag not to is because Chol Hamoed which is part of Yom Tov is also considered an “os” symbol, and we don’t wear tefillin which is a also considered a symbol, because we […]

Minyan in stairwell

Question: Just for further clarification. The following is a copy of our communication: Question: My apartment building has a minyan. Two groups are in their apartments, have their apartment doors opened, and the shatz stands in the stairwell in between the two apartments, seeing . The third group is in the stairwell, one half of […]

E Cigarette for passach

Question: Can I use the lava 2 brand e cigarette For passach? Answer: I am not familiar with this product, but it needs kosher for pesach supervision in order to use it. Sources:

Minyan in stairwell

Question: My apartment building has a minyan. Two groups are in their apartments, have their apartment doors opened, and the shatz stands in the stairwell in between the two apartments, seeing . The third group is in the stairwell, one half of a flight up. The shatz does not necessarily see him. The steps in […]

chol hamoed shopping

Question: Can I order clothing online on Chol Hamoed if I don’t need it davka on Yom tov? Answer: Unless it is a rare sale that you would’t be able to get otherwise, it should not be done on Yom Tom. Sources: O:CH 539-1

Acne medication/cream

Question: Is cerave moisturizing cream, Differin gel (containing adapalene), and the following ingredients that are used in acne medication; clindamycin, tretinoin, azelaic acid kosher l’pesach? Answer: Both are permitted. Sources:

Eating parve with milch cutlery while eating fleisch with fleisch knife

Question: I accidentally got my cutlery mixed up! I ate some eggs with a milk spoon, while at the same time eating turkey sausage with a meat knife. Fortunately I realised my mistake before the spoon touched the sausage or the knife the eggs, but I still doubt my meal would be permissable. The eggs […]

hefker for tevilas keilim

Question: I couldnt get to the mikva because of the matzav right now and the rav said I should mafkir my keilim and use them without being koneh them, I asked him how and he said to get three guys together and mafkir in front of them and thats all, my question is as follows, […]

Porch Minyanim

Question: Regarding porch Minyanim, It is my understanding (correct me if I’m wrong) that the rabbonim in Yerushalayim haven’t come out against Minyanim in which everybody is on their own porch, a couple of questions arise. 1- If not all ten+ people can see each other but some of the people can see 10 people […]

e cig

Question: JUUL pods contain a mix of glycerol and propylene glycol, nicotine, benzoic acid, and flavorants.am i allowed to smoke this pesach Answer: It needs a hechsher in order to use it, because of the flavorings that it contains. Chag Kasher V’sameach Sources:

Selling Chometz

Question: I’m in contract to buy a house,I gave small amt of money to real estate agent for the contract.I don’t think I have ownership until closing, is there any reason to sell chometz( maybe oven) Is it considered I have portion in house -oven? Answer: Without seeing the contract, the usual is that you […]

Silica in lipstick

Question: If my lipstick contains silica, may it be used for pesach? I verified all other ingredients on askcrc.org/lipstick and they were fine, but they didnt have an item called silica. Answer: Silica is not chometz or kitnios. Chag Kasher V’sameach

Mashiv haruach during corona when there are no minyanim

Question: For a community that normally says mashiv haruach in the silent Shmoneh Esray of Mussaf on the first day of Pesach, but not in chazzaras hashatz, what should they do this year when there is no minyan anywhere in town? Should they say it in Mussaf or not? Answer: We start saying morid hatal […]

hairspray

Question: Is tresemme hair spray good for pesach Answer: Some. Look In R’ Blumenkrantz’s Digest. Chag Sameach Sources:

Is Dippity do Gel permitted to use on Passover?

Question: Is Dippity do Gel permitted to use on Passover? Answer: According to many poskim it should not be used as it contains Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein. Chag kasher v’sameach

Do I need an eruv tavshilin to light Shabbas candles from a preexisting flame this Pesach?

Question: Do I need an eruv tavshilin to light Shabbas candles from a preexisting flame this Pessach? Answer: Yes, because it is evident that it isn’t for Yom Tov ,but for Shabbos. In fact part of the nusach of eruv tavshilim is in order to light candles. If the flame not existing before yom tov then […]

Is differin ok to use on Pesach the ingredients is adapalene gel

Question: Is differin ok to use on Pesach the ingredients is adapalene gel Answer: It seems to be alright. Chag Kasher V’sameach

vitamins, supplements and other things

Question: Even if one doesn’t consume on pesach owned vitamins, supplements or other non medicines in pills (etc) does one have to worry if you dont know if they contain chometz? do you have to sell it with chometz? thanks Answer: As long as there is a chance that it contains chometz, it should be […]

Zohar speaking about Mashiach coming on the night on the seider

Question: I head from someone say the following: The Zohar states that Mashiach will come on the night of the seider – the fifteenth of Nissan. Where does it say that in the Zohar? What volume, page and text? Answer: I don’t know, but IY”H it will happen. As a side point we have to […]

Beer in pessach

Question: Is it allowed to drink beer in pessach? Answer: Most beer is made from malt, which is from barley and considered chametz gamur (pure chametz). Therefore absolutely no drinking beer on Pesach etc., unless you know 100% that it is made from something else and that it has a hechsher on it. Chag kasher […]

Kashering sink for pesach

Question: We were leaving our sink for 24 hours to kasher for pesach but then someone used the sink to wash out a bowl with cereal in it with warm/hot water. Do we need to restart the 24 hours? Answer: If the water theat got chometzdik was in the boel and then the water went […]

Wearing a surgical mask on shabbos in reshus horabim

Question: Can one wear a surgical mask in Reshus horabim nowadays because of corona virus on Shabbos? Answer: Why are you going out into reshus horabim on shabbos? Pikuach nefesh? Please explain. Sources:

Can one learn Pirkei Avos with or without commentary to make a siyum erev Pesach

Question: Can one learn Pirkei Avos with or without commentary to make a siyum erev Pesach, as to rely on the phone or Zoom is not poshut and Rav Shmuel Kamentsky did not recommend it? Answer: Most poskim however say that it is permittted, b’shas hadechak, such as this year to hear a siyum over […]

As measured in shabath

Question: I have a glass that has measurements in it, can I use it in Shabath? Attached: Attached file 1 Answer: Since we are not allowed to measure things on shabbos, therefore if the primary use of this cup is for measuring then it is a kli shemiplachto l’issur. (If it is used mostly for […]

Dry cleaning clothes for Pesach

Question: When not able to take one’s clothes to the dry cleaners due to the epidemic, could one wear regular chametzdik clothes and just try to shake them out as best as possible? Answer: Yes. There is no halacha that one must take clothing to the dry cleaners before Pesach. Just make sure that the clothing […]

Makeup kosher for Passover

Question: Hi, Please let me know if the below ingredients is ok to be used in makeup for passover. Ingredients: Talc, Zinc Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol. Thank you, Answer: They are all fine. Best wishes

Making up missed leining

Question: For those congregations that will miss krias haTorah for one or (c”v) weeks, should those parshiyos be read when IY”H shul resumes? What about the tircha detzibbura? Answer: There is a preference to hearing all of the parshios, however it is not required for more than one parcha that was missed. IY”H this terrible […]