I started negotiations with a dealer on a used car. The next day someone else did and they came to an agreement, but didn’t do anything formal. Am I allowed to now attempt to submit a higher bid? Would that be a violation of Ani Hamehapech or anything else? Answer: This is possibly a case […]
Author Archives: Admin-EN
Accepting Shabbos in Chazaras HaShatz
The halacha is that one should verbally accept Shabbos sometime before shkia. My question is, is it OK to make this verbal statement during chazoras hashatz of Mincha, or would it be considered talking during davening? Also, if one is running late, can one mentally accept Shabbos in-between brachos of the silent Amidah of Mincha, […]
Sefarim in Child’s Bedroom
If a child who has reached the age of chinuch has a problem with bedwetting at night, is it a problem for him to sleep in a room where sefarim are kept. The sefarim are mainly behind a glass door closet but there may also be sefarim lying around on the table. Answer: This is […]
Lighting Chanukah Candles Indoors Without Danger
If one lit ner chanukah on his kitchen table in his house, is he yotzi even if there is no danger (but that is the only place where he is able to light, or some other reason)? Answer: After this became the custom, based on an enactment of Chazal, it is hard to say that […]
Owning Chanukah Oil
My mother gave me a bottle of menora oil that was in the house. I know that my father is not makpid, and gezeila is certainly not a concern. The question is whether I was koneh the oil, or is there a problematic lack of daas makneh? Answer: There is no problem. Since this is […]
Parshas Vayechi – Passing the torch
Maareh Mekomos: Kesubos 69 and Tosafos Gittin 14 Choshen Mishpat 253 Mechaber and Rama Teshuvos Shvus Yaakov For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Davening Late after Late Awakening
Is someone’s alarm clock not ringing considered an onus (allowing him to daven after zman teffilah)? Answer: This is considered an “oness” for purposes of davening late (until chatzos) and for purposes of tashlumin. Even if one forgot to set the alarm clock, which would be a shogeg rather than an oness, this is sufficient […]
Benching After Long Meals
Sometimes on Shabbos or at a simcha one eats a kebeiyah of bread, and one continues eating the meal without bread until benching 2 or 3 hours later. What’s the best way to handle this situation so that one can bench? Should one eat another kezayis or kebeiyah at this point 2-3 hours later? Answer: […]
Investing in Poker
Hi, I would like to know if there is a problem with giving money to a professional poker player who plays for money, as an investment? Is poker assur al pi halacha? Even if this could be this case, the fact that I’m not doing the playing just me getting gains in it permissible? Thank […]
Purple Threat on Tallis
Shouldn’t we use a tallit with the purple thread. Answer: This is a delicate issue that many have addressed in recent years, and focuses around two questions: 1) Is there clear scientific proof that the techeiles used for the dye is the Torah-true form; 2) Given the answer to (1), is there enough justification to […]
Mechila from the Deceased
1)when asking mechila from a deceased person not by the grave but with a minyan,what if i am unsure if i need forgiveness?should i still say chatasi lashemetc., or should i just ask mechila?2)if i walked with tzitzis out in a bais hakevoros,do i need mechila?3)and since i dont know where exactly i walked,can i […]
Lowering the Flame on Yom Tov
Is one allowed to turn off the stove burner on yom tov while cooking to prevent the food being burnt? Answer: If it is possible to take the food off the fire, and to heat it up later on the same or different fire, it would not be permitted to turn off a burner on […]
Parshas Vayigash – Mechilas Chov
Maareh Mekomos: Rabbenu Bachai Kesubos 104 A Ketzos 12 Ch”M 246 17 Rama Kedushin 49 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Paying for Funeral Costs
I have 2 daughters both married and living in a different city/country than I do. I am on my own. We all struggle financially. I would like to ease their burden by planning and paying for my levayah (funeral). I can do this through the local funeral home who has a plan with an insurance […]
Lighting Chanukah Candles in a Hurry
Husband in another country. Staying alone in a house. I’m leaving to the airport before night. Afraid to leave chanuka lights in empty house. What do I do? Answer: One cannot light the candles with intention of extinguishing them before nightfall. Perhaps you can light the candles in a glass container? You don’t actually need […]
Conversion to Marry Kohen
What is the conversion status of a woman who converts to Judaism to marry a Kohen? Status of kids? Answer: It is not possible to answer without knowing more details. However, assuming that her conversion is valid (which is certainly possible), her kids will be Jews, though not Kohanim. Best wishes. Sources: Assuming that the […]
Performing Labor after Lighting Candles
Can I do Melacha after I lit Shabbos candles if I had in mind not to accept Shabbos with the lighting?Am I allowed to learn, daven , and eat using the shabbos candles without a shamesh or other source of light?Can I do melacha in Jerushalayim after the siren before shabbos goes off ? Can […]
Which Nusach to Teach?
Through the Partners in Torah program, I got a non-frum partner with whom I learn Torah with once a week over the phone (in my case we are learning Alef-Beis and soon will start reading from inside a siddur iy”H). I am learning with a 26 year old girl. Her father is not Jewish, but […]
Mint Snuff
Are mint leaves snuff considered kosher? They are not marked as kosher, but perhaps it is just an item that the rabbinate has not yet certified. They are to my knowledge just mint leaves chopped up with some added flavoring. I would like to use the product to end a cigar habit. It is non-nicotine […]
Peri Megadim vs. Chavas Daas
I have no clue whether or not you will answer since it is not a MOMUNIOUS claim but… when the chavas daas disagrees (or is more machmir) with pri megodim or vice versa when chavas dissgrees (or is more machmir) with sidrei tahara or vice versa how does one paaskan in practice is ther a […]
Hallways in Halacha
Halachic Status of Chatzer in today’s apartment buildings regarding Ner Chanukah and Nizkei Shecheinim. Maareh Mekomos: Bava Basra 20B and Ch”m 156 (2) Bava Basra 23A and Ramah 156 (2) Bava Basra 59B Orech Chaim 671 and Chazon Ish For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Yahrzeit Candles for Others
Are there any rules/prohibitions of lighting Yahrzeit Candles for a person other than a parent (i.e. grandparent)? Answer: No, there are no special rules or prohibitions concerning this. Although the custom refers specifically to parents and close relatives, a candle can be lit for others, too. Best wishes.
Beach on Shabbos
Am I allowed to go to the beach on Shabbos? Answer: Yes, this is permitted, and actual presence on the beach involves no prohibition. However, one much not sunbathe on Shabbos, and one should refrain from swimming in the sea. Best wishes.
Korbanos after Sunset
If i davened mincha and I was thinking of saying Korbanos after davening, and when it became dark already I remembered that I didn’t say Korbanos yet, can I still say them? Answer: Korbanos for Mincha share the same time as the Mincha prayer, and therefore they can be said until several minutes (13 or […]
Ner Chanukah
Do the words “Ner”, “Menorah” mean that Shabbat or Chanuccah candles must be not wax-candles but oil-lamps? Answer: No. A “ner” refers to the “candle,” which in the original sense means the vessel that holds the oil and into which the wick is placed, but which today will also mean the wax candle into which […]
Meat after Pizza in Oven
If one bakes pizza with cheese in a oven, can they then bake meat in the oven if 24 hours have passed? If no, is it permitted if you wrap the meat item so no steam escapes? Answer: Yes, this is permitted. An oven doesn’t become “dairy” after pizza (a dry food) is baked in […]
Sonogram for Post-Menopause Lady
Does having a sonogram of the uterus, with saline solution put in, render a post-menopausal woman (no period for over 10 years) a niddah? Answer: No, this would not be a problem. Best wishes. Sources: Although in principle we find that one has to be stringent for purposes of Dam Chimud and other matters (see […]
Problem with Kesuba
I have been told by people to check my kesuba, can you have someone do it, if i send a copy? Answer: In principle yes, but why should you check your Kesuba? A kesuba is not like a mezuzah, and there is no reason why it should become invalid or disqualified over time. If somebody […]
Partial Dayanim of Zabla
How ethical is zabla where each side chooses a dayan whom may then feel partial to the litigant that chooses them & may advocate for them? Answer: This is a valid point to raise, and experience shows that this is often a problem – the selected Dayanim prefer the litigant who selected them, so that […]
Boy for Mixed Swimming
At what age is mixed swimming forbidden for a boy? (eg swimming lessons) Thanks. Answer: There are no hard-and-fast rules in the matter, but it is correct to be stringent from the age of six or seven, when a child begins to understand the concept of gender separation and modesty. Please see here for further details. Best […]
Bar Mitzvah
What is required for a bar-mitzvah? Answer: When a person becomes bar mitzvah, the most important thing is that he begins performing the mitzvos of the Torah. Therefore, his parents must ensure that he has a pair of Tefillin. Beyond this, the custom is that the boy is called up to the Torah (for the […]
Following the Nitva
If someone issues a hazmanah to someone who resides out of town/country to attend din torah where the mazmin resides, is the muzman obligated to travel to attend the din torah? Answer: No, the principle halachah is that the nitvah – the person who is being summoned to Beis Din – can decide on the […]
Burn Marks as Pagum
Are burn marks on a pot considered pagum? What about hardened residue that is stale and probably won’t taste like it would originally? Answer: Burn marks are pagum and won’t pass on beliyos. Food going stale is not necessarily sufficient to become pagum, and this depends on the extent. If it has become stale to […]
PARSHA PONDERINGS-VAYEISHEV
JACK OF ALL TRADES!?! MY MASTER IS ONE!!! ויתן שר בית הסהר ביד יוסף את כל האסירים אשר בבית הסהר ואת כל אשר עשים בבית הסהר הוא היה עושה And the prison warden gave in the hands of Yosef all the prisoners whom were in the prison, and all that they do in the prison, […]
Denah Demalchusa and Shechem
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Shehecheyanu for Bringing out Sefer
B”H I have completed a sefer that has received haskomos from gedolei yisroel and it is about to be published. Is there an inyan to make a berocho shehecheyanu when it comes out? Answer: Certainly. The Shehecheyanu berachah to express gratitude for an occasion that brings a person gladness and joy. Certainly, publishing a book […]
Hypothetical Cases of Preference
I have a couple of hypotheticals based on the sugya of “ain ma’avrin al hamtizvos” that I’m curious about: 1) Michael – an attorney – is out of town, driving on a remote country road. He has his cell phone with him but it’s about to die with only enough power to take a one-minute […]
Glasses on Shabbos without Eruv
Hello , if I take off my glasses occasionally during the week , can I still wear them on shabbos without an eruv or is not a levush anymore? Answer: Glasses remain a levush even if you take them off occasionally during the week. They are “part of your wardrobe” and therefore they can be […]
Jewish Celebration of Thanksgiving
Sholom Harav, I have a couple of questions regarding the American Holiday of Thanksgiviing and Chukas Akum.(A Disclaimer: I cannot necessarily follow the Rav’s ruling but please try to respond). First of all, in times of old, pagans used to celebrate harvest festivals to their “gods”. Does this make all harvest festivals chukas akum? The […]
Train on Shabbos
Hi is one allowed to take a train on Shabbos provided he pays for the ticket beforehand and doesn’t use any electricity to get aboard? What makes it different from a cruise? Answer: It is not generally permitted to take a train on Shabbos, and this can only be permitted on an individual basis and […]
Late Reception of Shaliach Mitzvah Money
I was travelling to Israel and someone mailed me a dollar (for shaliach mitzvah gelt) which I only received upon returning from my trip…what should I do with the dollar at this point? Answer: Since the dollar was given to you for charity purposes, you should give it to tzedakah. The fact that you didn’t […]
Rented Inhaler for Insurance
A friend of my son’s needed an inhaler. He gave us some money for it…afterwards we realized it may be assur to give it to him as the insurance company surely doesn’t expect/want us giving away/selling the inhaler. 1) what should we do with the money we were given for the purchase? 2) What should […]
Soul in Chains
1) Since God is “Almighty,” why didn’t God deliver the children of Israel much, much sooner than to wait over 350+ years to bring them out of Egypt. 2) Psalm 115:18 (Joseph’s) feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron. Exactly what is the […]
Less than Kezayis of Bread for Meal
Does Hamotzi exempt foods eaten afterward if one eats less than a k’zayit of bread? Answer: No, if less that a kezayis is eaten, the bread does not exempt other foods. Best wishes. Sources: The reason why bread exempts other foods is because all foods are included in the meal, which is defined by the […]
Haircut at Night
I am I allowed to cut my boys hair at night? Answer: Yes, there is no problem in taking a haircut at night. Best wishes.
Property Outside Eruv
Is my entire property (outside included) an eruv even if it’s not totally fenced in or is the fenced in part the only part that is an eruv on Shabbos? Answer: Only property that is fenced in is part of an eruv (the fence creates the eruv). Property that is outside the perimeter fence is […]
Taking a Person off Life Support
When is it permissible in halacha to take a person off life-support? Answer: This is a very general question that cannot be answer in the Q & A forum. Please see the article we have written on the issue here. Best wishes.
Poured Hot Oil into Sink
I poured hot oil (pareve) from a non ben yomo dairy frying pan directly from the flame into a fleishig sink. does the sink need to be kashered? Thank you. Answer: No, everything is fine and there is no need for kashering. The pareve oil, though cooked in a dairy pan cannot impart the “dairy” […]
Halacha of Selling Christmas Decorations
Is a Jew allowed to sell kratzmach stuff on Amazon? Answer: Yes, this is permitted. Although the decorations are used on trees etc. the pagan origins of these customs have long been forgotten, and today they are merely part of the annual celebrations. There is no concern that they will be worshiped, so that it […]
Shalosh Seudos Before Mincha
Would it be better to eat shalosh seudos before davening Mincha, or to wash after Mincha and after shkia (which, according to the Chazon Ish and others, is assur)? Answer: Better to eat before Mincha. If you have a regular minyan for davening Mincha there is no problem in eating before davening, and this is […]