Maareh Mekomos Rambam Sefer Hamitzvos 284 Sefer HaChinuch 414 Shaarei Yosher 5 Kuntres Hasfekos 1 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Author Archives: Admin-EN
Hebrew in Bathroom
I recently bought a washing cup for nagel vassar or washing, the cup has some Hebrew words like YERUSHALAYIM, EREZT YISRAEL, JUDAICA in Hebrew, Rimon, ect . ALL written in Hebrew. CAN I LEAVE THE CUP IN THE BATHROOM? Some of these words like YISRAEL have EL or YERUSHALYIM have shalom , ect. ALSO generally […]
Eating Before Tefillin
Is there any prohibition to eat before having put on tefillin (for example, if one recited the morning prayers without tefillin, and he will be putting on tefillin sometime in the afternoon)? Answer: No, one may eat as long as he has recited morning prayers.
Avel Davening for Amud
I am in aveilus for my father. I live in a community where unfortunately have many aveilim. It is not always easy to get the amud. My question is when I don’t get the amud, should I try to leave and come back for a later minyan to see if I will get the amud […]
The Third Temple and Korbanos
When Moshiach comes, and there is a 3rd temple, is it expected that animal sacrifice as described in the Torah will resume, or will davening as we do it now continue instead or both? Answer: It is expected that animal sacrifice will resume. This is clear form the many prayers instituted for the return of […]
Wiping Shoes on Shabbos
Can a person wipe shoes on Shabbos or yom tov with a dry cloth to wipe off dirt, ect? CAN the cloth be moistened? Answer: Dust and dirt may be wiped off with a dry cloth. The cloth may not be moistened as this would lead to the prohibition of “sechita” squeezing out liquid from […]
Swimming During 9 Days
Being That there is no Shevua shechal bo this year, would it be permissible for me, being that I am divorced and living by myself and I am going through a lot of mental stress, but it be permissible for me to go to Tiberius and spend a little time in the water to be […]
Questionable Eruv
Am I obligated to ascertain the truth of rumours that the eruv in my town is not being maintained properly; this was supposedly said by an eruv expert who was involved in the eruv’s construction several years ago, if a) it is hard for me to get to speak to this expert, b) the certifying […]
Mattot-Massei Our True Protection is Prayer
In this week’s parsha, Bilaam, the wicked prophet who had been hired by Balak, King of Moab, to curse the Jewish people, finds his ignoble death, as the Torah tells us[1]: “…and Bilaam son of Beor they slew with the sword”. Rash”i seems to be bothered by the Torah’s need to tell us that […]
Motorized Home on Yom Tov
Can an Orthodox Jew stay/live in a non motorized home (5th wheel) during Yentif? http://www.jayco.com/products/fifth-wheels/ Thank you Answer: As long as it is not in transit, it may be lived in on Yom Tov. This is assuming that there are no other prohibitions involved with the general use of the home. Such as electronic activated […]
Parshas Matos – Hataras Nedarim
Maareh Mekomos Nedarim 78A Rosh and Ran Ibid Yoreh Deah 228 3 R’ Akiva Eiger Ibid For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Missing Mincha for Woman
A woman/girl who davens Shacris and mincha but forgot mincha one time. does she have to daven two maarivs? Answer: A woman who is careful to daven Mincha and misses, should make it up by davening Maariv Shmone Esrei twice. see Mishna Brura 263:43
Using Tefillin Pouch
If a person replaces the straps of Tefillin with new ones, can the old ones be stored in the same pouch as the Tefillin? Answer: Yes, it may be used for tefillin straps. Sources: See Pri Megadim O:C 153:15 and MIshna Brura 154:6 who rule that something which services “tashmishei kdusha”, things which themselves are […]
Missed Krias Hatorah
May a man daven straight through krias hatorah, in order to avoid missing zman tefilla? Does he need to go to a later minyan to hear waht he missed? Answer: If one will miss zman tefilla he should daven through krias haTorah. Krias Hatorah is a “chovas tzibbur” a communal responsibility, so if one davens […]
Artificial Insemination While Nida
Is a woman permitted to undergo artificial insemination while she is still a nida? If she does, and a pregnancy results, is there any implications for the child? Answer: A woman may undergo this procedure when she is a nida, the child is unaffected by this. Sources: See Bach Y:D 195, sv. vlo yashav, Ta”z […]
Late Wake Up
Hi I’m not feeling well and I woke up after chatsos so now what do I daven when I put on tefillen? Answer: After Chatzos one would no longer daven Shachris, at mincha one would daven shmone esrei twice. When donning tefillin the custom is to say the parshiyos of krias shma.
Online Course Purchase
I appreciate your taking the time to answer my question, I told someone to purchase an online course with the understanding that ill be able to help them along with it. After it was bought I realized that they changed the content and therefore would not be able to help him with it. It has […]
Sefardi Tzitzis for Ashkenazi
For Ashkenazim who opt to tie tzitzis with Rambam/Yemenite chulyot (typically using techeiles, but also with all-white) would it be advisable to add a double knot before the efardi hulyos, after the chulyos or both? Answer: In fact an Ashkenazi should not be wearing tzitzit according to the Yemenite tradition at all. Rather they should […]
Birkas Hatorah After Nap
Dear Rabbi, I was just wondering about what to do in the following case. I often work a night shift and then go and daven Shachris (without having slept). As I have been up all night I don’t say birkhat h’torah and try and find someone to motzie me. In cases where I cannot find […]
Dyeing Hair During 3 Weeks
Can a woman of marriageable age dye/bleach facial hair during the 3 weeks? Thank you! Answer: Yes, this is not included int he custom of not taking haircuts during the 3 weeks.
Credit Card Points
If you use someone’s credit catdand you pay the bill Who owns the points Answer: Unless some agreement was worked out in advance, the points would belong to the cardholder. Letting someone use his card is no indication that he wants to give away benefits that come with purchases from using the card.
Pareve and Dairy Pots
I would like to use a dairy pot to heat water in so I can make a water bath for another metal container (metal bowl of the kitchen aid). meaning I will not even have the kitchen aid bowl touching the water in the pot it is only to create steam for dissolving the sugar […]
Parshas Pinchos – Yerusha, Chok and Mishpat
Maareh Mekomos Bava Basra 111 Rivash 207 Rambam Nachlos 1 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Forbidden Preparations on Shabbos
Hi On shabbos I took a crockpot and put some potatoes meat and spices on it and after shabbos I added more am I allowed to cook it now and eat from it or is it considered eating food prepared on shabbos? Answer: If you are refereing to raw ingredients, this is certainly prohibited on […]
Inadvertently Moving Trees on Shabbos
If a person is walking outside on Shabbos, and with his head/ hat he brushes against a tree branch or against the leaves of a tree that hang low, thereby jostling them/ causing them to move, is this a problem? Answer: There is no problem with this. Moving muktzeh items inadvertently in the course of […]
Parshas Balak – Windows of Kedushah
Maareh Mekomos Bava Basra 59B Bava Basra 60A For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Alon Hamishpat #59
How to protect information or trade secrets by contract. Piskei Din -Brokers – Part II brokerage jobs that dont need to be payed fore
Counting People
Hi Rabbi, Thank you for your services. My question comes in regard to counting jewish people. I am in a work place where people arent so well versed in Torah laws and when we get together for a minyan during minha time, some of the people start to count everyone by numbers so to make […]
Earliest Time for Shma
If a person is sick (bad cold, sinus infection etc.) what is the earliest he can say kriyas shema shel arvis in order to go to bed as soon as possible? Answer: The earliest time for Krias Shma is halachic nightfall, at the emergence of three mid sized stars, known as Tzeis Hakochavim. This time […]
Kippah for Women
Can women wear a kippah in an Orthodox synagogue as long as they also observe the dress code for women and sit in the section for women? Same thing for the Tzitzit? Answer: With regards to a Tallis the Rama in O:C 17 writes that while strictly speaking it may done, practically it may should […]
Waiting for Kiddush
If a person follows the pious practice of not eating/ drinking outside the sukkah at all (on Sukkos), and right now he doesn’t have access to a sukkah (he will have a sukkah only later in the day), should he refrain from eating/ drinking (even if it means that he will be fasting past chatzos, […]
Tailor Damages
I am a middleman between a dry cleaners and a yeshiva. a bochur sent in a jacket for cleaning. When he got it back he claimed that the cleaners “opened” up the inner lower seem of the jacket. He had to pin it with a safety pin to wear for shabbos. He dose not want […]
Parshas Chukas – Forgotten Territory
Maareh Mekomos Gitten 37A Tosafos Sukkah 30B Nesivos Hamishpat 371 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Tallis Katan in Bathroom
Hello, Is it proper to remove tallis katan for עשיית צרכים if possible? Thank you Answer: There is no need to remove the tallis katan before using the bathroom. Common practice is that there is no hiddur as well. Some Chassidim have the custom to remove them. see Mishna Brura 21:3:19
Underpaying for Property
The שמאי estimated the apartment at 2.3 Is it permissible to offer a lower bid, say 2.25, based on the agent’s comment “they are desperate to sell”? Is there any issue of אונאה or can we say (despite the estimation of the שמאי, that in real estate there is no אונאה? Answer: One may bid […]
Concept of Hefker
what is the meaning of hefker? Answer: Hefker refers to an object which is ownerless, either by means of the owner actually relinquishing ownership, or something that never had an owner.
Women Barber
Can a man take a haircut by a woman Barber? Answer: A man should not take a haircut from a woman barber. Physical contact with the opposite gender is prohibited. Although the accepted practice is to allow using a doctor of the opposite gender, even when it involves physical contact, see Shach end of Y:D […]
Reciting Kidduch Twice
My husband would like to make kiddush for my housebound mother on Shabbos night on his way home from schul. (She’s unable to make it alone.) He doesn’t want to be “Yotzei” because he wants to include himself in the Kiddush he will make at home for the whole family. Is this halachically possible or […]
Parshas Korach – Sacred Wages
Maareh Mekomos Ketzos 243 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Fish and Meat
In today’s world, is not eating meat together with fish a halacha, a minhag, or other. If a minhag, does it apply to particular groups: Ashkenazi, Sefardi, Chasidic. Any other information you can relate regarding this practice would be appreciated. Answer: Not eating fish with meat is a halacha, mentioned in the Talmud and codified […]
Meaty Plate in Dairy Dishwasher
I found a meaty porcelain plate washed up in the milky dishwasher. The plate did not have meat on it originally. Please can you advise the status? Answer: The plate should be left for 24 hours unused, then kashered through hagalah [immersing in boiling water].
Business Break Off
Hi, What’s the halocho if a person who works for somebody who sells online jewellery wants to leave and set up his own company using the same suppliers and sell in the same places (ebay/amazon etc) at a cheaper price. Is it considered stealing? Does it make a difference if this same owner set up […]
Parshas Shelach – Making the Minyan
Maareh Mekomos Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah Vol. 2, 70 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Kohein Married to Divorcee
Can a Kohen who marries a gerusha give eidus, and does a Mashgiach have a status of an eid? kol tov Answer: A kohein marrying a divorcee violates a Biblical prohibition, ans as such is disqualified from legal testimony [eidus]. A mashgiach is not giving eidus per say, yet he certainly has to be an […]
Parshas Behaaloscha – Semicha and Mesorah
Maareh Mekomos: Sanhedrin 2B Gittin 88B Choshen Mishpat 1 and Nesivos Yevamos 46B For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Bird Feces and Davening
Can one learn or pray in front of bird “poop’ or dung? Answer: As long as there is no foul smell emanating from the feces there is no problem to learn and pray in front of it. See Shulchan Aruch O:C 79 4-7 that the feces of animals generally do not pose a problem in […]
Dictionary for Aramaic
What are reliable dictionaries for translating hebrew/aramaic seforim from the Mishna onwards? Answer: The dictionary of Marcus Jastrow has been the most widely used one for Aramaic to English, it is available in most Jewish book stores.
Parshas Naso – Connect the Debts
Maareh Mekomos: Choshen Mishpat 87 Ketzos and Nesivos Ibid Kesubos 19 Meiri Bava Kamma 40B Kiddushin 16 For download the file: right click on Download and choose “Save traget as”
Second Wedding Service
Is it possible to repeat a wedding service in full? For example, if the man wanted a small service with his Rebbe but this was a location / environment that the bride’s family could not attend could there be a second service where she can still be walked to the chuppah with her family, circle […]
Evil and Good
Question 1: Yeshayahu 45:7 describes the fact that Adonai created rah. Bereshit 1:31 tells us that Adonai did watch all that he had made and saw that it was tov me’od. If something like rah is created and one of the components of that which is called tov me’od then.. What is rah good for? […]