Is lanolin allowed to be used on shabbos/yom tov. The way it’s used it that the cream is squeezed unto the finger and then rubbed so it becomes liquidy and then applied. Answer: Spreading lanolin cream (and other creams) raises a concern of memare’ach, and it should not be done in the normal fashion on […]
Author Archives: Admin-EN
Decoration Hanging Down from Sukkah
If one has decorations hanging down in one’s Sukka below 4 tefachim and within 3 tefachim of that to the sides is additional decorations to we apply lavud to say that whatever is below that is not longer a kosher part of the sukka? Answer: No, as a general rule we do not say “lavud” […]
Covering Sefarim in Bedroom
Is it OK to keep seforim in a bedroom of a married couple? Answer: This can be a problem. Sefarim in a bedroom should be covered when engaging in marital relations. For printed and bound sefarim it is sufficient to have a single covering, such as a blanket or sheet that covers them up. Although […]
Time of Tzeis
What are the different shitos regarding Tzeis Hakochavim (nightfall) as per how many minutes it begins from Shekia (sunset)? Answer: There are several opinions concerning this matter. According to the Geonim the time of tzeis is determined by a number of minutes after sunset as we see it. The number of minutes is three quarters […]
Attending Child’s Wedding in Aveilus
there is a woman that is during the avel’s year for her father. Around, 6 mounths After kvurà, the daughter of this woman will be married. The daughter, that is not in avelut status, would like do a regular wedding, whit music,dance and everything. For my knowlegde, the mother can go to the wedding party, […]
Inserting Supplication in Shema Kolenu
I once heard that a person can insert any Tefilla he desires, into Shema Koleinu of the weekday Shmonai Esrai (or alternatively right before Elokai Netzor). If this is true, are there limitations? Can a person insert paragraphs of Tachanun on Friday afternoon, right before Shabbos when of course we don’t say Tachanun on Erev […]
Stolen Bicycle (Shomrim)
Someone received permission from his friend to leave his bicycle left in his friend’s locked yard. The yard – which is normally locked – was left unlocked by the homeowner on Rosh Hashana and then stolen. Is the property owner obligated in any way to pay for the stolen bicycle? Answer: Sorry to hear. This […]
Deodorant on Yom Kippur
Can one use deodorant on Yom Kippur? What if the reason is to remove sweat? Can you give us the source of the psak? Answer: It is permitted to use deodorant if you will feel uncomfortable without it. Spray, rather than stick deodorant should be used. Sources: Some authorities are mentioned as being stringent on […]
Hatarat Nedarim at Night
Ketiva V’Chatima Tova. Can Hatarat Nedarim be performed at night? Thank you. Answer: Yes, this is fine. Hataras Nedarim does not have the full status of a Beis Din procedure, and therefore it can be done at night. Best wishes. Sources: Rambam, Shevuos 6:5; Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 228:3. See Kol Nidrei Chap. 13 concerning […]
Shaitel that Never Arrived
Kavod Rabbonim, A woman purchases 2 shaitlach at a buy one and get 1/2 off for the 2nd. sale. She pays for both in full and leaves with the 2nd, 1/2 off shaitel. The 1st, full price shaitel, is to be ordered and the purchaser is told to wait 6-8 weeks for the special order […]
Medical Condition for Yeshiva
Now I am filling out my application form for a Yeshiva where I want to be accepted to study Torah, and the application form asks about medical conditions/medications. When I had spoken earlier to one of the Rabbis who teaches at that Yeshiva that I am on medications, and we discussed the nature of these medications, […]
Guns as Begged Ish
Are toy guns beged ish? Answer: No, they are toys. Moreover, even real guns are not “begged ish.” Although in the past weapons such as a sword might have been begged ish, women today wear guns as police officers and soldiers, and this is the normal way for them just as for men. Best wishes.
Ne’ilah after Nightfall
from the rishonim it is clear one should finish neila by tses the shagas aryeh and magen avraham say ein limchos if a tzibur cont. neila after tzes. where did the minhag/halacha originate that we may cont. neila after tzes thanks and kesiva vchasima tova. Answer: The Mishnah Berurah notes that “there are those to […]
Swallowed Small Piece of Meat
if I ate a tiny piece of lamb, for sure less then a kezayis am I fleishig? Answer: The halachah is that a person has to wait after eating meat, even an amount that is smaller than a kezayis. Authorities dispute the halachah after tasting meat without swallowing (please see here). However, if meat is […]
Pruzbul Document from USA
Can you explain what a pruzbal is? Does one need to make one before ROSH HASHANA of this year? Can one have one made through your INSTITUTE even if one lives in the usa? And how? Answer: In principle a person needs to sign a pruzbul document at the end of the Shemittah year – […]
Woman who Thought she Became Nidda
My wife saw what she thought was blood and told me that she is a niddah. upon going to the gynecologist it was discovered that it was def not blood rather an infection that needed antibiotics. the question is if she is now a niddah after she erroneously called herself one or is she clean. […]
Niddah for C-Section Birth
At what point is a Yoledes a Nidda LeBa’alah in a c-section surgery? Answer: The general rule for a C-section birth is that a woman becomes a Niddah from when the bleeding begins (provided she didn’t go through regular labor). Although bleeding is often less in cases of a C-section birth, current procedures involve an […]
Buying Clothes in Aveilus
What is permitted for purchase during aveilus for instance are shoes or boots permitted to buy? Answer: It is permitted to buy clothes that do not have special importance (after the Shloshim). If you are in need of shoes or boots this is okay; you should refrain from buying extravagant shoes. Best wishes.
Bracha on Smelling Coffee
If I wish to take a whiff of coffee grounds do I make a blessing? Is it preferable not to do it at all? Thank you. Answer: It is fine to take a whiff and to recite a blessing on the scent. This is only the case where you take the coffee and intentionally take […]
Wife’s Blanket in Niddah Period
During the Nidah period, may a husband sleep with a blanket that his wife usually uses, but is not using at the moment? Appreciate if you can include mekoros and if there is a way to rectify if this was already done and was ossur. (i.e. would it help if the wife says she will […]
Bugs in Puree
Hi Rabbi, If you purée anything that it’s not possible to have a whole bug in it. Is that allowed to be used without checking? The Halacha applies to eating a bug in its entirety in its natural form. Is that correct? Thank You. Answer: Yes, this is correct. However, with regard to foods that […]
Returning Ring after Broken Engagement
Hello. Thank you for taking my question. Unfortunately I have a broken engagement. My question is if there is a halacha stipulating who gets to keep the engagement ring? Thanks. Answer: Yes, in cases of a broken engagement each side returns the “gifts” he received to the other party. The reason for this is that […]
Chemical Sterilization of Cat
Is it possible to use chemecal sterilization for a cat ? Thanks. Answer: In general this is not permitted. Sterilization of animals is a full Torah prohibition (certainly for males, and possibly even for females), so that we do not permit this even when done by an indirect means of chemical ingestion. However, because it […]
Wearing Artificial Leather Shoes on Yom Kippur
Can man made material shoes that look like real leather be used on yom kippur regading maris ayin? Are you also michsal others who might judge you wrongly thinking the shoes are real leather? Answer: Today it is well known that there are many shoes that look like leather but are not in fact leather, […]
Taking Hammer on Shabbos After Use
After I finish cracking nuts with a hammer on Shabbos, can someone take the hammer from my hand and return it to my tool room? I saw that the Mishna Brura in the case of the knife of a Mohel permits another person to receive the knife and place it in a safe place. Answer: […]
Ribbis in Extra Payment for Late Salary
I did some work on a project for someone else. When the project was complete the employer was late in sending me my paycheck. After a few months he wired the payment directly to my account and within the deposit he included extra money because he felt bad for the delay. Is this Ribbis? Do […]
Throwing Away Coin
Is there is issur of throwing away money (i.e. sweeping before Shabbos and discarding a few cents/agurot found on the floor)? Answer: The prohibition of Bal Tashchis applies to all things that are of value and use, so that in principle it is forbidden to throw away money. However, if the effort required to retain […]
Fish with Dairy
Can someone fry fish in butter? Answer: Yes, there is no problem (for Ashkenazim) to fry fish in butter for those who are not particular for eating fish with milk. According to some Sefardi customs, based on the Beis Yosef (Yoreh De’ah 87:5), one should refrain from this because of health concerns of mixing fish […]
Approaching Clients after Leaving Job
Dear Rabbi, I have been working on a part time basis for a business that offers specialized training services in a limited industry (i.e. there are not many possible clients in the pool) for about 15 years. one of the main owners is a frum jew. I feel he/they underpay the staff and overcharges clients […]
Loans from Banks with Jewish Shareholding
Can you please explain why we borrow from publicly held banks, despite that there are stockholders who are Jewish? Answer: There are a number of reasons why this is not a problem. 1. Only a minority of stockholders are Jewish. We follow the majority, which is not Jewish, and therefore the bank is not considered […]
Getting Married in Cheshvan
Hello, Is there a halachic basis for not organizing happy events, such as wedding in the month of cheshvan? Or is it just a minhag in some communities? Some say, it would bring “bad luck” Thanks. Answer: I don’t know of any issue in organizing happy events during Cheshvan. Many get married etc. in Cheshvan […]
Inviting Guests in Israel
Shalom Rav I live in Ramot Bet Shemesh Israel. I come from St. Louis MO and I remember all the rabbi’s (which very very frum and pious people learning in kollel for 30-40 years straight) had families over for shabbos, both non religious, in the process and those that were always religious. Upon coming to […]
Sending Boy to Yeshiva in South of Israel
A former talmid of mine who is raising his family in New Jersey, is hesitating sending his 18 year old son to learn in an excellent Yeshiva located near Ashdod in the South. I am convinced that a year at that Yeshiva would make a tremendous impact in Torah & Yirah on the young man, […]
Middle Name for Kesuba
Rabbanim, My husband’s English name is “Brett”. He has always believed his Hebrew name is “Baruch”. Recently we came across a Hebrew naming certificate from his Bris that said his Hebrew first name is “Baruch” and his Hebrew middle name is “Yaacov”. Our Ketubah has his name listed as “Baruch ben Reuven” (without “Yaacov” and […]
Teivllah for Gifts and Appliances
Hi, How are you, I just purchased a waffle maker similar to a sandwich maker but the ceramic plates are not removable. I just wanted to know how to kosherize it since i cant really dip it in the mikveh, or do I leave it on for one cycle, etc. I’m not sure what to […]
Changing the Mazal
Is there any way to change one’s mazel? I have been afflicted with illness, loss of income, sick children, lack of success and much pain and stress. I had our mezuzzahs checked and they are fine. Thank you. Answer: The Gemara writes (citing one opinion, which is the mainstream opinion for later commentators and authorities) […]
Kashering Kitchen
I’m going to visit my wife’s brother and he doesn’t have a kosher kitchen what would I have to do to kasher the oven and the stove top the oven is self cleaning also the microwave please email me at [email protected]. Answer: For the self-cleaning oven you can simply run the self-cleaning cycle on full […]
Getting to the World to Come
If a person does not get the world to come, what happens to him? Answer: The Mishnah (Sanhedrin 10:1) teaches that every Jew has a portion in the world to come. This means that eventually all will get there, though the route will be different for the righteous and for the wicked, for the tzaddik […]
Telling Collector to Get a Job
May a potential donor tell the person requesting financial help “take a job and support yourself”? Answer: Although it might be true that somebody ought to be finding gainful employment rather than collecting money, it is not always the place of the potential donor to point this out. Collecting money for oneself is a shameful […]
Donation to Shul by Freemason
I am chazar b’tsuva. Ex-American. I live in Haifa 23 years, most of the time chilloni. I am Ashkenazi, but after being asked to complete a minyan in a Sefardi Morrocan synagogue across the street, I never stopped going. There is a macher in the synagogue, who leads service many times as the SHATZ, who […]
Yichud – Somebody Coming Home
A yichud situation at a house with no one else there- does pesach pasuach help, it’s on a very populated street. Also, does it help that a person is coming back to the house and an unannounced time, can that be considered a shomer? Answer: Pesach pasuach helps if the door is left slightly ajar […]
Hair Covering After Civil Marriage
Is a woman obligated to cover her hair if she is married with a civil marriage to her Jewish husband, but not married with chuppah, kiddushin and has no kesuba? Answer: No, the full obligation to cover hair applies specifically after a Torah marriage. Since civil marriage is not generally considered Torah marriage (we have […]
Maakeh for Swimming Pool
Does one need to build a ma’akeh (or place a pool cover) for their swimming pool if it is already in a fenced backyard? What is the minimal height of a staircase to require a ma’akeh? Thank you. Answer: There is no actual obligation to make a maakeh for a swimming pool. We find an […]
Payment for Cutting Down Tree
My Jewish neighbor is flattening his front garden to make it street level. There was a three story tree on the boundary that belongs to me. We knew that al pi din he can remove all roots in his garden. However, he cut the ball root under our boundary as well since he claims that […]
Forgiveness for Theft
Dear Rabbi, Can one forgive a thief? I took something from a place some time ago, and did not return it. I recently sent them a letter about this and offered to pay them back, but they said that they are me מוחל? What is the הלכה in this case, am I still required to […]
Going into Bathroom with Siddur
If I place a small siddur/bencher/sefer inside an envelope or Ziploc bag and then inside my jacket pocket, would that be sufficient protection in order to enter a lavatory? Would the same apply to a Klaf with Shem HaShem written on it? Answer: Yes, this is fine, because the material has two covers. Best wishes. […]
Returning Different Brand of Cigarette as Ribbis
Hi, I was wondering, if someone gives me a carton of cigarettes on condition I give him back a carton, may I give him back a better brand,better quality cigartettes, is there a problem of ribis on this matter? Thank you. Answer: Yes, giving him a different brand will involve a problem of ribbis. You […]
Loading CD onto iPod
Good Morning, I was wondering whether you can help me. I recently became aware that there might be an issue with me loading my iPod with cd’s that my mother buys. My mother buys these cd’s with intentions that they be for her grandchildren (my kids) and me as well. Being that I am an […]
Bleeding in Pregnancy for Veses
If a woman knew she was pregnant and weeks later starting seeing lots of dam, so that she is now tameh — does this also need to be considered for a veset (in a case that it was indeed a miscarriage and she was no longer pregnant afterwards.) Answer: Under the circumstances there is no […]
Entering Church Basement for Jews
Hello, I was curious if the prohibition of entering a church extends to going to areas of the church that are not used as the sanctuary for 12 step program meetings. These meetings are almost exclusively held in church basements and are very important for people dealing with addiction. Thanks. Answer: If the meeting is […]