Hello, I have a question for a Rabbi. Here’s the situation: there is a small shop within an establishment. There is an owner of the establishment, and a separate owner of the small shop. The small shop has a sole employee who is responsible for operations and stocking. This employee neglected the shop, but provided […]
Author Archives: Admin-EN
Parev Vegetables in Dairy Pot
After eating some parve vegetables cooked in a dairy pot (‘dairy equipment’), I tasted quinoa straight from a parve pot with a parve spoon, without washing my mouth in between. Is that parve spoon now dairy? It’s not clear to me how many ‘steps’ you have to go to transfer taste. Thank you. Answer: No, […]
Beracha on Food Before Meal
Dear Rabbi I was wondering on the following halacha. If one eats an appetizer in a restaurant before washing for the main meal (say for example they eat some vegetables and have some water), do they have to be concerned about making a bracha achrona? Also, say for example on Shabbos one has heard kiddish […]
Birthday of Ger
When is the birthday of a ger? Answer: Although a Ger is considered to be “born anew” when becoming Jewish, this is a halachic concept that relates to family relationship and the like, and it is not a “biological fact.” The Ger’s birthday thus remains the date that he was physically born on. Note that […]
Time for Tallis
Shalom, When is the earliest time that bracha over tzitzit is valid bedieved? Is there a period of sefek before that time? Thank you. Answer: In this matter there is no period of essential doubt, though there might be a period of technical doubt. The time for the berachah over tzitzit is the time of […]
Tallis for Mussaf
Shalom, Need a tallis be worn for mussaf (for example if a person took it off after shacharis knowing that they’d only be able to daven mussaf later on)? If so, should a bracha be recited? Thank you. Answer: The Tallis is traditionally worn for the entire Shacharis service, including Mussaf. There is no obligation […]
Temple Stones
What happened to all the large stone’s of both Temples? Were they cut up or buried? Could all the temple stone’s been used for the outer walls we see today? Answer: There is no tradition concerning what happened to the stones of the Temples. The Temples were destroyed, burned to the ground and ruined, and […]
Parshas Mishpatim – Under oath in Beis Din – The Sacred Seven
An overview of Dinei Shvuah Maareh Mekomos: Bava Metziah 2 & 3 Shavuos 44B Ch”M 87 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Alon Hamishpat #58
השפעת המנהג בדיני הקניינים Piskei Din – real estate part 1
Alon Hamishpat #57
דיני ממונות – 4 מינים Piskei Din -שדכנות part 5 A שידוך that was canceled before a Wedding.
Alon Hamishpat #56
Piskei Din -שדכנות part 4 Who pays the שדכן. Resaleing – מדין הממוני and the Halachas of ריבית part 2.
Alon Hamishpat #55
Piskei Din -שדכנות part 3 a שידוך made by two People. Resaleing – מדין הממוני and the Halachas of ריבית.
Berachah for Mezonos Dessert
Dear Rabbi I tend not to make mezonot when having dessert as I usually have dessert to be satiated, rather than for the sweet taste and also if its not Pas HaBah Bekisnin. Is this the correct thing to do? Also, would there be a requirement to make a bracha on wafers or cookies which are […]
Yitro-The Princess & the Pauper: A Lesson in Faith
In this week’s parsha Hashem gave the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people. In the last commandment Hashem ordered us not to covet. Let us try to analyze with the following example: We can understand when a parent tells a child not to take away his brother’s bicycle, that this is a normal demand […]
Parshas Yisro – Beyond the Letter of the Law – Lifnim Mishuras Hadin
Maareh Mekomos: Bava Metziah 30B and 24B Rama CH”M 259 and Ketzos CH”M 173 and 103 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Damaged Neighbor When Trimming Trees
My gardener trimmed my trees. I have trees near my property line, and the branches extend over the property line into my neighbors property. My neighbor claims that while the trees were being trimmed, a branch that was trimmed fell down into his property and damaged his pool heater. My gardener denies it. Am I […]
Revealing Who Boy has Dated
Is it permitted for a shadchanit to reveal other girls that a prospective boy has already gone out with or is it lashon hora? The information may help to clarify if the boy is suitable for the girl. Thank you. Answer: This is permitted, and it is not lashon hara. The conditions for permitted such […]
Hefsek after Shkiya
We keep זמן רבינו תם only, today Wednesday 01/28/15 was the שקיעה at 5:09.06 I made the הפסק טהרה not later than 5:25.36 is it still good? Answer: If you are from a community that keeps Rabbeinu Tam not only as a stringency, but even as the principle halachah (which can sometimes be for leniency), […]
Naming Like Uncle
My name is Yehoshua. Is there any problem with my brother naming his new baby Yehoshua? I don’t know if it matters, but I don’t care at all if he would do so. Thank you. Answer: No, there’s no problem at all. Among Ashkenazi communities the custom is not to name a child after his […]
Asking Non-Jew to Turn On Lights in Shul
Shalom, Can arrangements be made for a Goy to open up a shul if this entails melachah (e.g. electric lock, alarm)? What about turning on lights? If so, how should they be asked and may they be asked on Shabbos itself? Answer: It is permitted to make regular arrangements for a Goy to open up […]
Reading from Torah with Six Listening
is there tchumin on a bridge over the water (higher than ten tfachim) and do you know about the bridge from willumsberg to manhattan in new york? if you walk outside a city and the next city starts more than 70 amos later does the tchum end in middle of the next city? is there […]
Calling up Substitute by Name
Shalom, If a Cohen is called to the Torah and is not present, and there are no other Cohanim there, may a Levi or Yisroel be called up by their name? Thank you Answer: No, he should make the berachah without being called up by name. The Shulchan Aruch (135:11) rules that this is done […]
Father and Son for two Aliyos
Shalom, May father and soon or brothers both receive aliyot if they’re not called up one immediately after the other? Thank you Answer: Yes, this is fine. Best wishes. Sources: The Shulchan Aruch (141:6) notes that although it is permitted to call up father and son for consecutive aliyos, we refrain from this out of […]
Charged VAT Unnecessarily
I recently moved to Israel and started working as a translator for a company. Not knowing the procedures for taxes, I was somehow led to believe that I have to be an “osek murshe” and pay VAT. It turns out that I did not make enough annually to have to pay VAT, and I could […]
Pizza in Parve Over
Hi, My housekeeper mistakenly warmed up pizza (uncovered in an aluminum tin) for herself in my pareve oven. What is status of oven now? Can I revert it back to being pareve through running self clean for instance? Can I still use it for pareve food that I eat together with fleishigs? Answer: Yes, you […]
Davening Late in Medical Condition
I am a disabled man with some broken bones that will not heal. I cannot undergo surgery as I nearly died last time from an infection. I am in a lot of pain and sometimes have to take narcotic painkillers to manage my discomfort. Either way, I sleep very poorly due to the pain and/or […]
Placing on Walls of Boat
Are you allowed to hang a towel on the side of a boat that the walls are 10 tfachim high on shabbos? Answer: Yes, this is permitted. Best wishes. Sources: See Aruch HaShulchan 355:11. Although it is not permitted to throw something overboard (this is transferring from a reshus hayachid to a karmelis), it is […]
Parshas Beshalach – Plundered Art and Hidden Swiss Accounts
For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Collective Punishment in Halachah
After nine plagues were not enough to redeem the Jewish People, Hashem brought upon Egypt the tenth and the final plague – makas bechoros. Moshe first warned Pharaoh of the oncoming terror: “Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of […]
PARSHA PONDERINGS-BESHALACH
HOLD YOUR HORSES אשירה לד’ כי גאה גאה סוס ורוכבו רמה בים I shall sing to God for exalted has He, horse and its rider He cast in the sea God had just performed the the greatest miracle of all time, splitting a raging sea, allowing an entire nation of besieged nomads dry passage, and […]
Velcro for Mezuzah
Can I use Velcro for attaching mezuzot? Answer: Yes, this is fine, though it is better to use nails or strong double-sided tape. Velcro seems to be better than scotch tape, because Velcro is often more “permanent” than scotch tape. Poskim write in general that scotch tape can be used, provided it will hold for […]
Sorting Plates after Meal on Shabbos
Is it a problem to sort the dirty dishes in the kitchen after taking them off the table on Shabbos? For example, to put the big plates in a pile, small plates in a pile, cups all together etc. Thank you very much! Sara Kory Jerusalem Answer: You should take plate by plate, from the […]
Parshas Bo – Shlichus -All for One and One for All
Maareh Mekomos: Kedushin 42 Tosafos Rid Ketzos 182 Ketzos 188 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
PARSHA PONDERINGS – BO
“MINE”ING GOLD ויאמר משה בנערינו ובזקננו נלך בבנינו בצאננו ובבקרנו נלך כי חג ד’ לנו Moshe said: With our youngsters and with our elders we shall go, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flock and with our cattle we shall go, for the festival of God is to us In all too […]
Cards for Sheimos
I volunteer for a small kiruv organization who gives out weekly on Thursday and/or Friday shabbos candles for free. In the bag is: information on Hadlakas Neiros written in English and Russian, the Brocha in Hebrew, Russian, and English transliterated. Kiddush for at night and day and Havdallah in Hebrew, Russian, English Transliterated. I wanted […]
How to Write Kayla
One of my relatives spells her name in hebrew – kuf, yud, lamed, heh (KAYLA). I was told that this is the wrong spelling and it should have two yuds and end with an ayin instead of a heh. My relative says that this is how others spell it and she doesn’t want to change […]
Putting on Tefillin after Accepting Shabbos
If a person accepted Shabbos early and then remembered that he didn’t put on tefillin that day, and it’s still before shkia, what should he do? Also, if he accepted Shabbos early but now has the opportunity to put tefillin on another Jew for whom it’s still Friday (and that person cannot do it by […]
Heter Iska for Interest Loan
i am buying a home from my father he is giving me a private loan with interest charging current interest rate, how can i make payments to avoid ribbis? Answer: The way to do this is by making a heter iska and applying this to the loan. This has to be done at the beginning […]
Turning Up Heater When Off on Shabbos
shalom, Is it permitted to turn an electric radiator down or up whilst the timer switch is off but coming on later? If the problem is muksah then perhaps one could do it with there elbow/teeth etc? Is this permitted? Answer: It is permitted to turn it down. Under extenuating circumstances, such as somebody who […]
Abolishing a Marriage
What is הפקעת קידושין ? How does it work? And why is this not a good solution for an agunah (was I’ve heard..) Answer: This is the concept of uprooting a marriage so that the bond is broken retroactively, and it is considered as though the couple was never married. There are different means of […]
Investigation of Creation
Hi I was learning the other day and came across someone who said it is forbidden to learn astronomy and theories that suggest a reality before the world existed. I did some research and found this. Source: “יכול ישאל אדם קודם שנברא העולם ת”ל (דברים ד) למן היום אשר ברא אלהים אדם על הארץ יכול […]
PARSHA PONDERINGS-VAEIRA
DRINK? NOT UNTIL YOUR EYES ARE BLOODSHOT! ויאמר ד’ אל משה אמר אל אהרן קח מטך ונטה ידך על מימי מצרים על נהרתם על יאריהם ועל אגמיהם ועל כל מקוה מימיהם ויהיו דם בכל ארץ מצרים ובעצים ובאבנים God said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your arm over the […]
Women who Become Forbidden to Kohanim
Dear Rav, I have asked a question on your site in Hebrew, and I fear my Hebrew is not good enough either to make myself understood, or to understand the answers, so I am trying in English. The discussion thus far can be found here: התגובה ממוקמת ב: http://www.din.org.il/2014/12/31/%d7%9b%d7%94%d7%a0%d7%aa-%d7%a9%d7%a0%d7%91%d7%a2%d7%9c%d7%94-%d7%9c%d7%a4%d7%a1%d7%95%d7%9c-%d7%90%d7%a1%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%94-%d7%9c%d7%90%d7%9b%d7%95%d7%9c-%d7%aa%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%9e%d7%94/comment-page-1/#comment-28700 I would like to understand who […]
Money to Affiliated Charity
If a person who is affiliated with a charitable organization makes you a Shali’ach (messenger) to give tzedaka (charity), can you return that money to that person? As an example, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt”l, used to give everyone a dollar, with the request that the recipient give the dollar to charity. Could the recipient have […]
Parshas Shemos – No Hands Please!
Maareh Mekomos: Sanhedrin 58B Bais Yosef and Rama CHM 34 Teshuvas Maharitatz Tumim CHM 87 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Relying on Majority for Shatnez
Shalom, It seems that the vast majority of suits are not shatnez. If so is there a chiuv to have suits checked? If so, why? (Please provide sources). Answer: The question is what type of suit goes into the calculation of the “majority.” We cannot pool all suits together, because there might be a significant […]
Dressing Baby Together
Shalom, is there any problem for 2 people to dress a baby together? Answer: There is no problem at all in this, and I am not aware of a halachah or custom relating to the practice. Best wishes.
Ketubah for Deaf Marriage
Both of my parents were deaf, but they both spoke. I recently located their ketubah and noticed that the language in the text has some variations. For example, instead of the term “V’amar” it says, “U’remiza” – “signed”. I also noticed that there are 3 signatures vs. 2. I researched Ramba”m on the halachot of […]
Brother Who Went Off the Derech
My brother and I were raised in a Shomer Shabbat home. He is no longer Shomer Shabbat, intentionally. When he visits us for Shabbat, he intentionally travels on Shabbat. He also scoffs at our practices and our “overly religious” practices. Several years ago, a High School rebbe whom I still contact and knows my brother […]
Pesukei DeZimra on the Way
Shalom, If one is running late is it better to say pesukei dezimra on the way to shul, putting on teffilin and tallis on arrival in between pesukim and complete all of the pesukei dezimra or not say it on the way and to skip and only say ashrei etc? Answer: If you won’t have […]