Is it okay to sleep in the same bed as your brother? This is just for a stay in a hotel over Pesach. The brother is under bar mitzvah. Answer: Yes, this is OK, but you should preferably use separate blankets. Best wishes. Sources: The Mishnah (Kiddushin 82b) cites a dispute concerning whether two men […]
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Checking Cosmetics for Pesach
Question: Do I have to check hair care and acne products for chametz? Answer: No, these don’t need to be checked for Chametz. All such products are unfit for consumption and therefore don’t need to be checked. Best wishes.
sale of chametz (part 3)
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Selling 750 linen
Hi rabbi my question is: I bought certain bed linens from a company who buys bed sheets from different manufacturers. One of the brands they sold me is labeled as having a 750 thread count and they say it is from a reputable company, however when I feel the sheets and when I look at […]
Washing Tablecloths for Pesach
Question: For Pesach does one need to wash a material tablecloth that was covered by a clear hard plastic table cloth during the year? (i think the edge/tips of the cloth tablecloth which is very long over the side which hangs down might not be fully covered by the hard plastic). Answer: There is no […]
Lipstick on Pesach
Question: Dear Rabbi, I come from a family who practices more humrot in Pesah, comparing to my wife’s family, who are more mekel. I have learned from sefer Maamar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Elyahu) that although cosmetics in general don’t need to be Kasher LePesah, lipsticks need to be since they are put on the lips. […]
sale of chametz (part 2)
Maareh Mekomos: מראה מקומות גמרא נזיר יב א ותד”ה מ”ט מרכבת המשנה גירושין ו, יב אורח חיים תלו, א For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Heating Gravy on Shabbos
Heating up a congealed gravy on shabbat – is this permitted? Answer: Congealed gravy should not be heated up on Shabbos, since this involves changing the state from solid to liquid, and also a question of “cooking” the gravy by heating it up. If a food only has a small amount of gravy, it is […]
Berachah over Hallel on Seder Night
Question: Why ashkenazim don’t say the first berachah before Hallel on Passover seder night whereas they do say the berachah after the Hallel? Answer: This question is asked by the Ramban (Pesachim 117b), who proves from the fact that the last berachah is recited that the first one should also be recited. However, our custom follows […]
sale of chametz
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Vegetable for Karpas
Question: Is it preferable to use celery or potatoes for karpas? Or is something else preferable altogether? Answer: Both are fine. It has to be a vegetable of some kind, and according to some Rishonim it should be similar to Maror, so that there might be some preference for celery. However, the general custom is […]
El Maley Rachamim on Purim
Rabbi I have a question which arose on this Purim past. I had the honor of shlishi when I completed the the brach I asked the chazan to say “el molly rachamim” at which time he said that one cannot say it on Purim. Please reply, Answer: The “El Maley Rachamim” prayer is not said […]
Working on Friday Afternoon
My work is mostly emails, telephone calls and the like, and I work from home. Up until when am I allowed to continue working on Erev Shabbat according to the most lenient opinion. Thank you. Shabbat Shalom, Shimshon Answer: You can continue to work until two and a half hours (zemanios) before Shabbos. Please see […]
Halachos of Diverting Funds earmarked for specific Tzedakah on Purim
Maareh Mekomos: Nesivos Hamishpat 200 Shut Imrei Yosher Nedarim 29 Eruchin 6B and Tosafos Ketzos 212 Machane Efraim Tzedakah 7 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Ordered Books and no Longer Needs Them
A person in our street runs a Jewish bookstore from his house. A few months ago I asked him to order 2 copies of a sefer that I was planning to learn with my friend. The store owner took down my phone number and said he would call me when the books arrive. Meanwhile, my […]
Prayer and Bittul Torah
What is the source that Tefillah overrides bittul Torah? Thanks. Answer: The Gemara writes that we have to stop learning for the sake of prayer – with the exception of those whose “profession is their Torah study” – which does not apply to us (who waste plenty of time, even if occupied in full-time learning). […]
Paid More Maaser than Required
I gave 10% of maaser on all my net earnings of 2014. I filed my tax return now and had to pay additional taxes. Could I deduct that amount from my maaser payments in 2015? Answer: If you had to pay extra tax, this can be deducted from the net earnings of 2015. As it […]
Purim in Givat Masua
Dear Rav, what is the din regarding of date of Purim for the kium of mitzvos in the shchuna Givaat Masua in Yerushalaim? Thank you. Answer: Shushan Purim is practiced, Adar 15. Best wishes.
Quality of Mishloach Manos
How choshuv does mishloach manos need to be. Can one give some cookies and candy. Is that good for mishloach manos? Answer: Yes, this is fine. However, the food should ideally be of a respectable quantity according to the standards of the sender and recipient. Therefore, one should send a nicer package to a wealthy person […]
Mezuzah for Garage
Shalom, Does a garage door require a mezuzah? Does a detached garage require a mezuzah (at least on the entryway if not for the garage door)? Thank you. Answer: Yes, a door to a garage requires a mezuzah. The garage is used as storage space, and a storage room requires a mezuzah. Best wishes.
Nausea on Taanis Esther
I was wondering how important it is to fast on taanis esther. I have a lot of nausea on a daily basis, probably because of anxiety, and therefore chew mint gum and drink soda to just barely get through the day. Is that enough of a reason to be allowed to not fast? I am […]
Parshas Ki Tisa – Purim Shiur on Tzedakah Distribution
Maareh Mekomos: Nedarim 29 Eruchin 6B and Tosafos Ketzos 212 Machane Efraim Tzedakah 7 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Undershirt with Tzitzis on Shabbos
Shalom. There is a type of undershirt available on the market made of partially synthetic material with Tzitzit attached (http://www.mishkan-hatchelet.co.il/חולצתגופיית-ספורט/1187-חולצת-ספורט-מידה-s.html). This undershirt has snap-ons to connect. Is it permissible to wear this undershirt outside on Shabbos/Yom Kippur (provided that the Tzitzit are intact)? Are the snap-ons allowed to be snapped together on Shabbos/Yom Tov? Thank […]
Business with Jewish Businesses
We just learned the halacha in chumash that one should preferably do business with a jewish business if there is one. We were wondering if you had an article with the details of this halacha. E.g how much more should you pay at the jewish grocery if the non jewish supermarket is cheaper, how far […]
Water as Bishul Akum
Shalom, Why is cooking water not subject to bishul akum (especially being that, at least while the water is hot, this is considered to be a significant act of cooking on Shabbos)? Thank you. Answer: One of the prominent leniencies concerning Bishul Akum is that the prohibition does not apply to items that are edible […]
Coffee in non-Jewish Establishment
Is it permissible to drink coffee in a non-Jewish coffee shop? Regularly? Thank you. Answer: It is not possible to determine the kashrus of coffee prepared in a non-certified restaurant in a universal sense, since each establishment is different. The coffee might be Kosher, depending on the equipment used and so on, and this is […]
Rosh Chodesh in Times of First Churban
Do you know any sources regarding how the Jews determined Rosh Chodesh during the times of the first galus, between the two Batei Mikdash? It’s hard to imagine that it was through the typical process of testimony, and the conventional setup we use now only seems to be mentioned regarding this latter galus, post Bayis […]
Debt Money Stolen
If I owe a friend $5,000, and I have been saving up this money in a safe place, but one day someone steals all the money I have saved up so far ($3,000), and we did not catch the thief. I tried giving my friend the $3,000, but he told me to hold on to […]
Loan for Attorney
Alfred is a mergers and acquisition lawyer. He works independently and is just starting off in this field. Alfred lands a big client, but Alfred needs money to pay off his rent and for the resources for the case. His client offers him a loan; Alfred would have to pay back this loan plus 5% […]
Disembarking on Shabbos
Debarking a ship on shabbat What are halachic issues? Does it make a difference if boat docks Friday? Answer: There is no prohibition of disembarking on Shabbos. However, one issue will be the presence of an eruv between the ship / dock and the adjacent area, in which case carrying is forbidden. There is also […]
26 day Cycle
My wife has a 26 day cycle with ovulation regularly occurring a day or two before Mikva. What might be a solution? Answer: This can probably be treated with light hormonal adjustments. At the same time, ovulation a day or so before Mikvah is no necessarily a problem of becoming pregnant. After an egg is released […]
Eating in Restaurant without Hechsher
Can one eat at a restaurant which claims to be kosher but is not registered under the beth din. It is also the only establishment that claims to be kosher yet does not have a hechsher from the beis din. Please advise with sources. Answer: It is permitted to eat at an establishment if you […]
Crockpot on Shabbos
I have a question regarding the timing of cooking cholent in a normal crockpot where the heating elements are covered by the frame of the pot and heat from the bottom and up all the sides. The crockpot has High, Low, and Keep Warm settings. I have seen conflicting instructions regarding what state the cholent […]
Charity for Buying Apartment
In Israel it’s common practice that the parents of a chosson and kallah buy an apartment for the couple (or at least pay for part of it then have the couple pay the rest in form of a mortgage.) Often times the amount that the parents have to pay is in the $10,000s+ money that […]
Meat During Shiva
We are in beginning of the שבעה are we allowed meat/chicken? Answer: It is permitted to eat meat during the seven days of mourning. Best wishes.
Parshas Tetzaveh – Charitable Donations – Community Obligations
What Maaser money can and cannot be used for. Maareh Mekomos: Bava Basra 8B Ch”M 163 Yoreh Deah 259 Igros Moshe Y”D, vol 2, 113 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Lighting Fire on Shabbat in Temple
If you’re not allowed to light a fire on Shabbat, why did the priests add wood to the fire in the Bet Hamikdash to keep the fire going if that’s considered making a new fire? Answer: Although it is not permitted to light a fire on Shabbat, this was done in the Mikdash in order […]
Taking out Dog with Backpack on Shabbos
My dog has a backpack that I put on him to weigh him down to make the walks harder for him. This allows me to take him out for a shorter amount of time, but still give him the exercise he needs. In the backpack there are two water bottles which I don’t use, and […]
Candles for Divorced Man
Does a divorced man have to light candles on erev shabbos or yom tov. Answer: Yes, a divorced man who lives alone needs to light his own candles for Shabbos and for Yom Tov. Although the custom is that the lady of the house does the lighting, the obligation of honoring the Shabbos with light […]
Keriyas Shema until Chatzos
If someone missed KRIAT SHEMA in the right time (GRA, ect) due to not feeling well, or anything else. Are there opinions that KRIAT SHEMA can then be said until CHAZOT? Is THAT OPINOIN LECHATCHILA according to that opinion? Answer: No, there are no opinions that Keriyas Shema can be said until Chatzos. If the […]
Soul Pleasure
Does your soul feel pleasure when your body feels pleasure? For example when you go into a hot jacuzzi and you get that sense of euphoria and pure relaxation and your body feels such pleasure, does your soul get that feeling of pleasure as well? Answer: We do not know much about the soul and […]
Speaking in the Bathroom
I read that there is a halacha not to speak in the bathroom/toilet. This presents a big problem to me as follows; 1. I have irritable bowel syndrome and I spend an hour per day and sometimes more in the bathroom. I work whilst in there on the telephone and on my iPad/iPhone, and I […]
Cookies without Hechsher
Hi, can I order cookies for Purim from a woman if she keeps kosher and is shomer shabbos even if she doesn’t have a hechsher? Also, the cookies are vegan. Thank you! Answer: Yes, if you trust the lady you can order cookies from her, just as you would eat at her house. Although past […]
Saying Tehillim for Sick
I have a list of people I say tehillim for. When do I stop including someone if I have no way of checking his medical condition i.e. sometimes the newspaper or radio asks people to daven for someone who was hurt in an accident / terrorist attack and I had a long list of soldiers […]
Wood Kiddush Cup
According to Sefardic halaha laws: does a kiddish cup need to be silver? can’t be made of wood? Answer: A kiddush cup can be made of wood or any other durable material. It is better to refrain from a disposable cup. Best wishes. Sources: A cup used for Kiddush should be made of durable material […]
Requesting Support from Parents
My parents-in-law are in need of an increasing amount of my wife’s time to care for them. This makes it impossible for my wife to work. We have children who are learning in Kollel and need financial support. Is there a Halachic basis for asking my parents-in-law to financially compensate my wife in this situation? […]
Keriyas Shema based on Equal Hours
I said kiryat shema after the time of the GRA opinion, but finished before the opinion of the chasan sofer, the nekudas hakesef and shevus yaakov. – that is before 3hrs before chatzot. Bedieved, is it a valid opinion the 3hrs before chatzot that I would be considered to have fulfilled the obligation to say […]
Parshas Shekalim – The Halachos of Paying Another’s Debts
Maareh Mekomos: Nedarim 33 Bava Kama 57B Ketzos 248 Choshen Mishpot siman 128 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Powder with Wine Concentrate
There is a pre-workout powder designed to give athletes more energy. It is almost entirely composed of chemicals, but one of the minor ingredients in the powder is red-wine concentrate. Is there any leniency to consume this powder with water? Answer: Because this is red-wine concentrate, it can be assumed that it imparts taste to […]
Scanning and Copying Pictures
We had a photoshoot for our children and purchased a few photos. We were not given the CD of the files as this was an extra charge. Is it muttar to take the printed photos we purchased to a printers to scan them digitally and make copies for us. This is substantially cheaper than buying […]