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

corona – saving someone who puts themselves in danger

Question: What is the halacha regarding someone whose life is at risk because they didn’t follow protocol to prevent infection form covid 19? Is there a halachic obligation to save them? If there are limited resources, do they get lower priority according to halacha than someone who caught it despite doing their best to follow […]

What to do about bedikas chametz if away from home for all of Pesach

Question: If I will be away from my home for all of Pesach, I understand that leasing the entire home exempts me from bedikas chametz. Assuming that I have understood correctly, can I also do this through your services? If so, please advise how I can. Thank you I understand that you can sell chametz […]

balsamic vinegar and honey on the liver

Question: I know the whole method of kasherizing the liver, my question and about the seasoning, can I put balsamic vinegar and honey in the seasoning of my liver after it is kosher? Answer: After the liver has been properly kashered, it is permitted to season it any kosher flavoring that you like. Best wishes

Eating Chametzdik Matzah during Nissan

Question: Can one eat the year-round matzah that is chametz during Nissan Answer: Many have the minhag not to eat any matzah from Rosh Chodesh Nissan until Pesach. The poskim however say that it does not apply to matzos that are really chometz. Chag Kasher V’sameach Sources: M’bais Halevi 7 pg. 28, KOvetz Halachos (Pesach) […]

milichig spoon in fleishig dishwasher

Question: Dear Rabbi What is the halocha with a milichih spoon washed up in fleishig dishwasher? Thank you very much Answer: In retrospect it is still kosher, because the water was not kli rishon, and there was dishwashing detergent used to make the water pagum. Best wishes

milichig spoon put into hot meaty foods

Question: Dear Rabbi What is the halocha with a milichig spoon that touched hot fleishig food? Many thanks for your help Answer: Your question is very general, but if it touched hot fleishig food such as a hot piece of chicken, then the spoon needs to be kashered. If you have a specific question let […]

Davening plag hamincha for a single man on erev Shabbos

Question: When attending an early Shabbos minyan (in pre- or post-Corona days), with Mincha right before Plag and Maariv right after, when should a single man light candles? He can’t light before Plag, but he can’t light after also because he is in shul. Answer: This man is in a tough spot. He can go […]

Kashering preparation

Question: How well do pots have to be cleaned on the outside in order to kasher them, or use them as a kashering vessel. There is a tremendous amount of gook especially around the handle area. Please advise Answer: In order to kasher the pot you have to get rid of all the gook near […]

ground hemp seeds

Question: Are ground hemp seeds kosher for Passover? Answer: It is controversial. The OU and CRC write that it is kitnios, however the Star- K says that it isn’t. Sources:

Psukei dzimrah and zman tefila

Question: Is it kdai to skip parts of psukei dzimrah in order to make zman tefila? Answer: Not only is it kdai, but we are obligated to do this. However he should say at least boruch sheamar, ashrei and yishtabach (and on Shabbos -nishmas). See M:B 71-4. Best wishes

In the current matzav are you still selling chometz?

Question: In the current matzav are you still selling chometz? Answer: Yes we are. There is work being done i to update the site, so the banner is not there yet, but here is the link to sell chometz thru the site. Best wishes https://din.org.il/%d7%9e%d7%9b%d7%99%d7%a8%d7%aa-%d7%97%d7%9e%d7%a5/ Sources:

Kashrut – blackberries

Question: Hi, I have been told that blackberries cannot be eaten because they are very difficult to check for bugs. I have heard the same about raspberries, but that it is permitted if you make it into puree, does this also apply to blackberries? Answer: That is correct. If the way you want to eat […]

tashmish in a time of tzora

Question: We learn from Noah’s Ark and Yosef in Egypt that one should not engage in marital relations at a time of trouble. Is the present covid19 situation one which requires one to have tashmish with his wife? Answer: Please see the following post which discusses this question. https://dinonline.org/2020/05/20/prohibition-of-having-children-in-difficult-times/ Best wishes

Marital relations during corona virus pandemic.

Question: Is one allowed to have marital relations during these difficult times? Answer: It is a hard question to answer. It is questionable if the current situation is strong enough to be considered “dever”, but it is surely considered an es tzara. Best wishes Sources:

Kashrut

Question: Isn’t it forbidden from the Torah of Moshe to cook and eat the fat of kosher animals? If so is one obligated to remove all the fat from the meat before cooking it? פרשת ויקרא פרק ג Answer: What you are referring to is the prohibition not to eat “helev”- which is a type […]

Use of Household Cleaning Products on Counters that does not have Hashgacha

Question: Can I use Mrs. Meyers cleaning products and soaps on counters and tables? It does not have a Hashgacha. If I can use the products, can I use them on Pesach, as well. The products have flower oils. I do not believe there are any ingredients derived from ethanol. Answer: You can use them […]

Shloshim ending early due to pesach?

Question: My father passed away last week and was buried on 20 March 2020. The Shiva has just ended and the Shloshim would usually end on 18 April (I think) which is just after pesach. Question 1) does the shloshim finish on erev pesach? Question 2) under these circumstances when is it permissible to get […]

Female purity

Question: Shalom, I would like some advice about how important it is to be a virgin before marriage. If someone is not a virgin, should measures to taken to have virginity repair surgery? Also know as Hymenoplasty. Thank you. Answer: Your question is a sensitive one, and the answer depends on the person’s situation. A […]

Pesach food

Question: Dear Rabbi It’s very slim here where I live to even get food shipped for Pesach and I don’t know yet about our local Kosher caterers, restaurants, stores about if they will be able to fulfill any more orders other than the one they have pending. Rabbi, what if G-d forbid I could not […]

praying (location)

Question: Shulem Aleichem Rabbi. That everyone in mishpoche & kfar is with briut I hope. – Elijah ben Solomon Zalman said that it’s better to pray in one’s private chamber. is that right? stay healthy. all the best, Answer: Hoping that you and you family are also alright and safe. I don’t know who are […]

Relations while parent is sitting shiva

Question: Can I have marital relations when my mother is sitting Shiva? Answer: Yes it is permitted, as the restrictions on a person who has a relative sitting shiva are only regarding washing oneself, listening to music and attending a wedding, but not to this. Best wishes

Hand sanitizer on Pessach

Question: In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic we have all been using alcohol based hand sanitizers. Will we be able to continue using this product and similar products like sterilization wipes that contain rubbing alcohol on Pessach? Answer: In consultation with a kashrus professioinal, it is not an issue for Pesach because it can […]

Is Timothy hay kosher for passover

Question: I feed my rabbits hay and wanted to know if it is kosher for use on Passover. Answer: Yes it is kosher for Passover use for the animals. Best wishes

mikve and corona virus

Question: In my country the law have forbidden the mikve’s use. Also is forbidden go in River, lake or sea. Is Allowed for a Wife make the tevilla in a long shower? Answer: Our hearts and tefillot are with you in your difficult situation. Regarding your question. This is big problem because the only way […]

Using masser money for bills

Question: If struggling financially with difficulty paying basic bills and behind with many bills, can maaser money be used? Answer: If you don’t enough for your basic needs you don’t have to give maaser. However if you want you may separate it and take it for yourself. Best wishes

Taanis b’Chor

Question: Unfortunately, we can’t go to shul before Pesach to hear the siyum? If I completed a meschecta on my own, will that suffice to avoid the taanis b’chor? Answer: In a situation like this year, when it is not possible to attend the siyum, it will suffice to hear it over the telephone. Sources: […]

Ta’aroves of a mattress and sheet

Question: Would a mattress with a fitted sheet on it be considered a ta’aroves with regards to borer? For instance, if one has a mattress with a dirty fitted sheet, and one wants to remove the dirty fitted sheet (the bad) from the mattress (the good) . Would that be allowed? Answer: No, thy are […]

disposing of item properly

Question: BH Thank you so much for your help My question is: If a persons name (for example: Daniel) has a reference to one of G-d’s names: (E—-l), is it ok for this person to dispose of english text of their own name? For example if a bill is addressed to Daniel, can he discard […]

Yichud if the door to landlords apartment is open and he is designated as a shomer

Question: Hello Rabbi, I have a question about yichud. I live in apartment that is connected through a locked door to my landlord’s house. A girl that I am seeing is having an issue; since her college closed due to coronavirus, she does not have a suitable place to study for her hard classes. I […]

Borer in Diaper attached to clothes on shabbos

Question: When changing a child’s diaper on shabbos, the adhesive tab of the diaper might become attached to the child’s clothing. Is it a problem of borer to remove the attached diaper (the bad) from the clothing (the good)? Answer: It isn’t borer because they are two separate items that are touching each other, and […]

Steeping non-heated tea on shabbas

Question: Dear Rabbi, There is a product which is a tea bag that works in cold water. Can it be steeped in shabbas if the tea bag is left in the pitcher? It seems questionable or careful a good plan. Thank you. Answer: It can be steeped on Shabbos, however it is preferred to put […]

Outdoor minyanim

Question: Hi As to minyan outdoors, how far can people be away from eachother and still be part of a minyan? Answer: People davening outside in an open place can join together in a minyan if the ten people can hear the chazzan and they can see each other. Additionally, when davening outside, they […]

Yichud

Question: A single man in his 70s, spending yomtov with his married brother. The wife’s adult brother will be there as well. Will there be any yichud situation when the married brother goes to work and the wife is at home with her brother and brother in law? Answer: It is not yichud when the […]

Kohanim marriage

Question: If a girl had anal penetration with a Jew but never had vaginal penetration can she still marry a Kohan? Answer: If the boy was indeed Jewish then in most instances she may still marry a kohen, but not a kohen gadol. Best wishes Sources: Shulchan Aruch E:H 7-8.

Davening in Shul without a minyan

Question: There is a mitzvah to daven in shul even if there is no minyan. Therefore, in the current matzav, is it OK to come to shul and daven there without a minyan? Answer: In general it is better to daven in a shul even though there is no minyan there. The reason being is […]

Naming a baby without minyan

Question: Hi, If we can’t get a minyan for the foreseeable future, can the father name the baby on his own? And possibly make the kiddush later on? Thank you Answer: Yes. If under the circumstances, he has to be by himself and there aren’t other people there, he can give the name by himself. […]

Pesach

Question: Dear Rabbi I usually have some Mexican housekeepers come and help me to deep clean for Pesach, but with the all the goings on in the world right now, and the mandate from our dignitaries (Mayor and Governor) about staying home, social distancing and the like, is it wise to have them come at […]

Epidemic restrictions

Question: The world is implementing rapid and intensive responses to the Covid 19 viral epidemy. Shiurim, Minyanim, shuls and schools have been suspended in countless countries temporarily. Whilst obviously it is clear one has to obey to the instructions and guidelines set in that particular place, I wonder on a halachic basis what are the parameters […]

Tevillas Keilim in Current Pandemic

Question: Hi Does one have to tovel his keilim in the current pandemic seeming as other people might have been their and left behind the virus particle? Answer: The mitzva of tevilas keilim has to be done even in this situation. It is doubtful that there are germs inside the mikva water. In any case […]

Pitom haketores and akeidas Yitzchak

Question: Can a woman say pitom haketores and akeidas Yitzchak in Shachris without a minyan? Answer: Yes she can say it the same way a man can say it without a minyan. When saying Pitum Haketores, it should be said slowly and not rushed, and preferably read and not said by heart, because when we […]

Ribbis issue?

Question: Hi I went shopping for a friend. I paid for her things with my credit card. I accidentally had one of my own items on the receipt as well. So when she paid me back the total for herself and for my one item. It was 5 dollars. She said the item is on […]

Birchas Hachoesh when davening alone

Question: If not davening with a minyan, due to corona virus restrictions. 1. Do we say Birchas Hachodesh 2. And how do we compensate for a Torah reading Answer: The custom is that we do say birkas hachodesh even when we are not davening with a minyan, the same way women say it every month […]

Rental Contract

Question: I wire my monthly rent to the my landlord as stated in our contract. He notified me that every time he receives a wire transfer his bank charges him 100 shekel. I told him that the way most people from overseas pay their landlords is either by wiring it to them or the owner […]

Chametz that is not accessible

Question: One who has chametz at his shul or job and the place is locked up due to the epidemic, what should he do? Answer: If a person has chometz that he can not access, he should be mivatel (annul) it. Additionally he should include it in the rest of the chometz that he sells […]

virtual minyan

Question: Is there any significance to davening with a virtual minyan; i.e. everyone in the shul davening at the same time? Would that be a fulfillment of tefillah b’tzibbur? Answer: I can’t call it tefiiloh b’tzibbur, but it is davening at a time that other people are davening, besides, it is davening in the way […]

emailing before Shabbos

Question: May one send an email before Shabbos to a mechallel Shabbos Jew who might check and/or respond to it after Shabbos has begun? If not, what is the latest time on Friday afternoon that one may email him without transgressing? Answer: E- mailing him right before Shabbos is a problem because you are causing […]

Sending picture of a book in order to learn

Question: Hi, there is a book on the halachos of Pesach, which I own, but which my friend does not. We’ve been learning together over the phone and I send him pictures of the pages we are studying. The inside cover of the book notes that copy rights belong to the author. Am I allowed […]

Paying a Shabbos Debt

Question: On Shabbos, my brother offered to pay me $30 if I won him in a game of basketball. I played him and won. Now, my brother says he doesn’t have to pay because we weren’t supposed to make bets on Shabbos. Does my brother have to honor the bet and pay me? Answer: Thank […]

Leaving meat in a freezer Outdoors

Question: Hi, I have a fridge / freezer Outdoors and would like to know if there is a problem with the meat that will be in the freezer being that it is outdoors and it is not being watched or guarded by a jew constantly. Does it have to be sealed in any way? Thanks!( […]

Adding water to a Cpap machine on Shabbos

Question: My CPAP machine shuts off on Shabbos and Yom Tov when I add water am I allowed to halachically. Turn it on again or Do I need to find a goy? Answer: Turning on the machine yourself essentially is problematic, and if it would be permitted would depend on the severity of your case […]