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Author Archives: Rabbonim of the Beis Hora'a

Owning stock in “Traife Companies”

Question: I listened to a Shiur about stocks and halacha, and I would like to know about the practical issue of investing in “Traife Companies” – namely, that they earn money from forbidden activities and distribute that money to shareholders. Also, what do you think about investing in index funds, which automatically give you exposure […]

Can I stop paying tuition if my child no longer attends the school?

Question: Our child attended a private Jewish day school. We provided post-dated checks at the beginning of the school year to be cashed by the school each month for tuition. In addition, we raised money for the school and brought in an additional $10,000 in donations. Our child has special needs (Aspergers) and it became […]

Sefardi -Ashkenazi in other one’s shul for Parshas Zachor

Question: Shalom Harav can a Sephardi fulfill his deorayta chiyv of Parasha Zachor in Ashkenazy shul /Baal koreh please? Ty. Lechatchillah or bedieved? Answer: A Sefardi should hear the reading from a Sefardi and Ashkezani should hear Parshas Zachor with a sefer torah that is according to their minhag, and is read according to their havara […]

Lo silbash- men pulling out hairs

Question: Regarding Lo silbash, while although doing things women do is assur, therefore shaving the body with a razor would be assur, is one allowed to pull out the hair through other means? Answer: The prohibition of Lo Tilbash is not limited to shaving the hairs, as shaving is only one of the ways that […]

A divorced aunt with her 10 yr old daughter, can an 18 yr old nephew sleep over?

Question: A divorced aunt with her 10 yr old daughter, can an 18 yr old nephew sleep over? Answer: This would be a yichud problem. According to most poskim even during the day it would be yichud, between the nephew and his two relatives. At night it is even worse because when one is sleeping […]

Shema during day/nap to be said? Passed Chatzot Layla should Shema be recited?

Question: Every person says bedtime shema before full night rest hours. Women say morning prayer with shema and women normally don’t say mincha (for it isn’t a must) yet some still do who have some spare time. I believe that shema is excluded from mincha (daytime prayer). 1. If a person fell asleep (daytime) like […]

Backing out of a “no contingency” Real Estate contract

Question: I recently entered into contract to buy an investment property. The contract had no contingencies. Since going under contract, the property has gotten damaged due to a leak in the roof which caused flooding on the upper and lower floors. The flooding is not a huge deal, but I would like to use that […]

Discourage someone to buy a business when it’s to my benefit

Question: If I know a piece of information that my competitors which is false to a potential buyer, am I allowed to let that buyer know when it’s to my benefit that they don’t buy it? Answer: There are five conditions to saying Recilus L’toeles, and the fact that you are a competitor, will only […]

Status of French Fries fried in a deep fryer used for dairy

Question: Can one eat french fries fried in a deep fryer used to fry dairy foods such as Mozzarella Sticks after having eaten meat? Does one have to wait the standard 6 hours or are the french fries permissible to eat immediately? Answer: Since the French fries were cooked in the same oil as the […]

Washing hands on Shabbos when there is a sponge in the sink

Question: When I am washing for bread in someone’s house and there is a sponge in the sink and I cannot turn on the faucet because it’s Shabbos (laundering), what should I do? I cannot take out the sponge because it is mixed with dishes and things (borer). Answer: There is no need for you […]

Are separate drying racks required for meat and dairy dishes?

Question: Are separate drying racks required for meat and dairy dishes? If so, why? Answer: They are not required, because the dishes are clean when they touch the rack. It is customary though according to some authorities. The reason being, that if you will put milky and meaty dishes on the rack, especially at the […]

Forgot Ya’aleh V’yavo on Rosh Chodesh

Question: At what point is it considered that one started modim (and thus has to go back to Retzei) is one forgot to say ya’aleh v’yavo? Once he said the full word or the first syllable? Answer: The poskim say that it is not considered considered starting modim until you say the first word, as […]

Borer in preparing for a meal

Question: If one wants to prepare a meal, one may do borer activities of selecting ochel mitoch pesoles if it takes place as part of the normal preparatory time for a meal that will occur immediately thereafter. For instance, if it takes 30 minutes to prepare for a meal, then one may start doing borer […]

Is a income that the government gives for baby siting need to be taken maser of?

Question: Hi, Is a income that the government gives for baby siting need to be taken maser of? The whole amount that the government gives goes for the baby sitter. Answer: According to R’ Eliyashiv (quoted in B’orach Tzedakah 9-34) that one does not have to maaser government money that one gets if it is […]

Can transportation for boys and girls to the Mosdos be paid from maser?

Question: Hi, Sorry, also i would like to know if transportation for boys and girls to the Mosdos can be paid from maser? Answer: I would assume that it is the same halacha as taking tuition off from maaser. The reason being that this is a requisite in order to teach your child, therefore it […]

Benefitting from Shabbat desecration

Question: BH Thank you so much for your help. My question deals with a bal teshuva and what obligation (if any) they would have to discard/ give away items that may have been purchased on Shabbat many years prior. The items in question are not for sure purchased on Shabbat, it’s just that they don’t […]

Anti Trust Laws (From the USA) and דִּינָא דְּמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא, cont.

Question: I want to give more detail. My question was from the employee’s perspective. This is the story. My wife quit her job from employer A and applied for a job at applied for a job at employer B, (She was not solicited by employer B, she reached out to employer B on her own). […]

Sefardim vs Ashkenazim

Question: Shalom, Why is there a difference in halacha rulings in some issues between Sefardim and Ashkenazim . Does race and geography not matter ? Shouldn’t religious law be the same regardless ?? Answer: You are right, race and geography does not matter here. The difference between the Sefardi custom and the Ashkenazi one is […]

Someone is blocking the driveway- can you call police to ticket and tow?

Question: Someone is blocking the driveway- can you call police to ticket and tow? Answer: If you can’t contact him and you need to drive in or out yes because of עביד אינש דינא לנפשיה  but if these two conditions are not fulfilled no bec one has to try as much as possible to not […]

Anti Trust Laws (From the USA) and דִּינָא דְּמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא

Question: Dear Dinonline If someone violates consumer protection laws and /or employee protection laws, does that mean that he/she is also violating Torah law? I specifically would like to know if employers are halachically allowed to make a non-hire agreement (or no-poaching agreements) between themselves. It seems (as a general rule) to be against the […]