if i made a egg (pareve) in a meaty microwave may i eat a milky ice cream thereafter? Answer: Yes, there is no obligation to wait after eating food that was cooked in meaty pots or a meaty oven or microwave. In fact, provided the microwave is not a ben-yomo, you could even eat the […]
Author Archives: Admin-EN
Hataras Nedarim for Cutting Both Challos
i have been makpid on the shitas Hagr”a for years by Hamotzi to cut both challas, but now i see that it is getting too much monetarily to handle, as well as being that my wife and i dont eat all the challa so it most of it goes to waste. am i i mechuyav […]
Severance Pay for Yeshiva Rabbeim
DOES A YESHIVA THAT CLOSES DOWN HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO GIVE SEVERANCE PAY TO ITS RABBEIM IF IT HAS MONEY AVAILABLE? Answer: Today it is generally customary to give severance pay, as obligatory according to secular law. However, there are several institutions that do not pay salaries “officially,” and which therefore claim to be exempted […]
Work Supplies for Personal Use
Is someone allowed to use work supplies for personal use, if it typically won’t detract from the item? For example, a computer game purchased to enhance students’ knowledge,szissors, CD’s… What about things which are consumable, but which most people would be mochel on (e.g. a little bit of glue, a piece or two of colored […]
Tzniyus In Front of Sefarim
To what extent is there an inyun for Woman to be tzniyus in front of sefarim? Does it apply to her clothing? Covering her hair? What if there is only her husband there? Or only her young son? In a small apartment, it is very possible that there are sefarim stored in almost every room. […]
Selling Sefarim
is it muttar to sell one’s private sefarim? 1) just for the money 2) to buy other sefarim he would rather have Answer: It it permitted to sell one’s sefarim for the money, but the practice should be avoided where possible. It is certainly permitted to sell personal sefarim for the purpose of buying other […]
Telling a Lie
is it muttar to lie to avoid an uncomfortable situation? e.g. you want to discontinue a business relationship (piano teacher or tutor etc..)& you don’t want to say that it’s because your dissatisfied with them u’kidomeh… Answer: It is permitted to lie for the sake of not hurting the teacher’s feelings. However, not every case […]
Kashering the Oven
About 15 yrs ago I had several baking pans I used for making bread….some of them were used as dairy pans and some as fleishig. We moved out of town and put our things in storage for over 7 yrs. When we finally got our things, I was not quite sure about some of the […]
Pyrex Pans
About 15 yrs ago we moved to a different country and left our things in storage for around 7 years. Nothing was used. When we finally received our household items, some of the pyrex baking pans were mixed up and I could not recall if some of them were used for milchig or fleishig. The […]
Fries in Meaty Oven
I baked uncovered french fries in an oven i only use for fleishigs. it is not a ben yomo. can it be eaten with or at the same time as pizza? toda rabs Answer: The fries may be eaten with pizza. One should not bake fries (or anything else) in a fleishig oven if one […]
Asher Yatzar for Catheter Insert
Does one who has a catherer inserted in the bladder make asher yotzar? When, upon emptying the bag? Thank you. TK Answer: One who has a catheter inserted to collect urine continues to make asher yatzar. He should make the berachah in the morning upon waking up as usual, and have intention that the berachah […]
Learning Le’Iluy Neshamah (how it works)
When one commits to learning mishnayos l’iluyi neshama, is he giving away his own schar for the mitzva of talmud torah to the niftar If not, then how does it work exactly? Answer: Dedicating a learning session for iluy neshamah does not imply that the person himself does not receive the reward of the Torah […]
Today’s Talmid Chacham and His Ways
Is there an exact definition or measure of what a talmid chochom is? For example the gemara in berachos (daf 43b) says that there are 6 things that are degrading for a talmid chochom. How is a talmid chochom defined? Also, do we pasken that a talmid chochom should not talk with his wife in […]
Credit Card Interest
if i lent someone a credit card am i allowed to make him pay the interst if he did not pay it in full. that credit card is used didstinctly for his one need and nothing else Answer: If the payment was made by somebody else, who did not pay it back in full, and […]
Mexican Fish
We moved recently to Mexico. There is a frozen fish here with a Mexican hechsher. the fish is filleted and has no scales that can be seen. I called the Rabbi in charge of this particular hashgocha because the fish comes from china and he said they send a mashgiach there to watch things while […]
Oven in New House
We moved recently into a new house. The real estate agents told us this house is brand new, was just built about a year ago, and have never been lived in or used. There was a stove in the kitchen which was apparently new (and it looked new) and there was a dishwasher as well. […]
On-Flight 17th Tamuz
B”H Shalom Rabbi, I have a question about the 17 Tammuz fast. I will be flying from Israel to Brazil on 17 Tammuz (leave israel on 28 June at 11:35 pm, arrive in Brazil on 29 June at 8:45 am). Should I fast in accordance with Israeli time or Brazilian time? I reside in Brazil. […]
Davening in Freshly Painted Place
can one daven in a place where its was just painted and varnished and there lingers a terrible and foul smell and some people of the minyan deem it to be harmful? what should be the psak in this case? Answer: If, as you write, the smell is “terrible and foul,” meaning an extremely bad […]
Need for Heiter Iska
I found a profitable investment which my daughter would like to invest in. 1. Can I make a deal where I get a percentage of her profits without a heter iska? Kol Tuv Answer: Provided there is no loan between you and your daughter, there is no problem in making a deal to receive a […]
Mezuzah Fixed by a Non-Jew
What are you supposed to do about a mezuzah that was put up by a non-Jew? Do you need to take it down and put it back up? If so, do you recite a bracha? Does it matter if you own the house? rent the house? if the house belongs to a friend or relative? […]
Mezuzah for Walk-In Closet
What is the minimum size room that requires a Mezuzah? I have a walk in closet & want to know if it requires a Mezuzah Answer: The minimum size room for a mezuzah is 4 amos by 4 amos, which is approximately 2 X 2 meters (1 amah equals approx. 48 cm, or 60 cm according […]
Tevilah of Plastic/Metal Spoon
i would like to know if i have to toivel my babys spoon, the top is metal and the bottom which he leaks is plastic thank you Answer: If the metal part comes into contact with the food, and the spoon cannot be used without it (meaning that the plastic part alone cannot function as […]
Ripening Tomato in Sun
Can one put a tomato in the sun on shabbos morning so the vegetable will ripen and hopefully be used for shalos shuedas? Answer: With the exception of un-dried figs and raisins, which become ‘disgusting’ (and therefore muktzeh) in the drying process, no foodstuff (provided it was detached from its place of growth before Shabbos) […]
Pronunication of Shema
What is the correct pronunciation of the word Shema in Shema Yisrael? The is the shva under the shin a Shva nach or Shva na? Given that is is under the first letter of the word I thought it should be a shva na but it seems the minhag is to say shma as if […]
Lottery for Sefer Torah
Is there any problem with having a fund raiser where everyone buys a ticket by giving a donation to a shule and the winning prize is a sefer torah? Is that being mezalzel a mitzvah or is there no zilzul as without the lottery no one would be able to afford to pay for a […]
Modern-day Pidyon Shvuyim
Does donating money to cover legal fees of Jews who are being charged with crimes which carry a prison term count as pidyon shvuyim? Does it matter if the country is western (US/Canada/UK) or not (Japan/Turkey/etc)? Answer: The concept of modern imprisonment would not fall under the category of pidyon shvuyim, because it does not […]
Mezuzah for Trailer
I have a 27′ long Trailer that sleeps 8 and when we travel to the east coast we sleep in it along the way. is it required to have a Mezuzah on it? Answer: I understand that the trailer is not intended for permanent dwelling, but only for temporary living, such as on trips and […]
Repaying Dollars
i borrowed from someone Caanadian money is there any problem in paying him back in US Dollars? Answer: At the time of writing, 100 Canadian Dollars are worth around 96.5 USD. This means that somebody who borrowed 100 Canadian Dollars may not pay back 100 USD, because this would involve a prohibited payment of ribis. […]
Airplane Bathroom
Can one daven shacharis with talis and tefilin in the bathroom of an airplane? Answer: it is prohibited to enter a bathroom with one’s tefillin. It is likewise improper to enter a bathroom with one’s talis. It is also prohibited to daven in the bathroom. Instead, In-flight minyanim involve several problems, and sometimes the best […]
Sister’s Singing
can an adopted girl sing in front of her biological brother…they havent grown up together Answer: The fact that the brother and sister did not grow up together does not bear on their halachic status of brother and sister. The question does not mention the age of the girl, so I will answer for all […]
Reciting Retzei After Havdalah
The Mishna Berura(Shulchan Aruch Siman 188 Sif Katan 32) brings down that if one would daven maariv motzei shabbos before bentching he should not bentch with retzai anymore. In another place(Shulchan Aruch 263 Sif Katan 67) the Mishna Berura leaves it as tzarich eeyin if one would say “hamavdil bein kodesh lchol” before bentching motzei […]
Washing Dishes on Shabbos
Is it muttar for my wife to wash dishes after shabbos lunch (or after 1st day yom tov lunch)even though the dishes will not be needed for shabbos- if it really bothers her to have dirty dishes. i.e. can we say that she is not doing hachana but rather it enhances her shabbos or yom […]
Eating Before Kiddush (for girls)
are girls allowed to eat before kiddush on shabbas if they did not daven yet? Answer: There is no difference in principle between boys and girls with regard to eating before kiddush. Like boys, however, the obligation to make kiddush, and the corresponding prohibition to eat before kiddush, is only incumbent after davening. For girls, […]
Forgiveness by Email
Is Mechila through email or instant message considered a complete mechila? Answer: There is a certain debate among authorities concerning whether mechilah requires an expression of forgiveness, or whether forgiveness of the heart is sufficient. Some point out the words of Rabbeinu Bachya (Bereishis 50:17) concerning Yosef’s brothers, who seems to imply that a statement […]
Moving Electrical Appliances on Shabbos
On Shabbos and Yom Tov, is it mutar to move lamps, fans, and clocks towards the direction one wants them? If an alarm clock goes off on Shabbos and one wants to move it to cover it up, may he do so? Answer: 1. Authorities dispute the status of electrical appliances: are they considered mukzeh […]
Filing for Divorce
If my wife wants a divorce is the bais din mechuyiv to try & stop it from taking place? I have allways heard that a get is nechrav the mizbayach so how if a woman (or man for that matter) wants out can they just say – OK – Answer: Everything depends on the circumstances. […]
Time for Krias Shema
I am always surprised that so much of the frum community follow the more maikel time for latest time for kriyas sh’man in the morning. Even your website shows the gr”a time, rather than the magen avraham’s. Why is this? Surely sh’ma is a mitzvah d’oraisa and so we should go l’chumra in this sofek […]
Newspapers on Shabbos
What exactly is the halacha regarding reading or looking at advertisements on Shabbos and Yom Tov? It seems that everyone is not very careful about this. Is there any room to be maykel? Answer: Mishnah Berurah(307:63) writes that there are those who are lenient concerning reading newspapers on Shabbos, but many acharonim are stringent because […]
Pronunciation
Is there a reason to be makpid to pronounce a cholam in the proper way, “Oh”, and not the yeshivish way, “Oy”? ALso, in general, is it important to be very careful with grammar in davening? (e.g. milera or mileail, sheva na sheva nach..) It seems that most people (Americans at least) are not. Answer: […]
Hamapil for Women
Should women say the beracha of Hamapil before going to sleep? Also, it seems that most people do not say the entire nusach in the siddur for krias shema she’al hamita and just say krias shema and hamapil. Is there any limud zchus for such people? Answer: Magen Avraham explains that the reason for which […]
Do 20+ Singles Violate Halachah?
Does the practice of 20+ year-old single men not in yeshiva violate halacha? Answer: In principle, the age for marriage is 18, as mandated by the Mishnah (Avos 5:21). By that age, a person is expected to have moulded his personality and studied sufficiently to enable his marriage. However, a person is permitted to delay […]
Mayim Acharonim for Women
I have never seen women wash Mayim Acharonim. I remember seeing in a question and answer book from R’ Scheinberg Shlit”a that women should wash mayim acharonim. Why don’t any women wash mayim acharonim? Is this correct? Answer: In principle, there is no difference in the halachah of mayim acharonim between men and women. However, […]
Order of Waking Up
What is the proper way (order) to wake up in the morning, wash netilas yadaim, say the beracha of al netilas yadaim and asher yatzar etc…? Answer: The common custom is as follows: After waking up, netilas yadaim is washed immediately — either by means of a bowl next to the bed (for those who […]
Bad music
Where is the gemara that talks about how bad music is and how it is asur to listen to music always? How is that to be undertstood? Obviously everyone nowadays listens to music a lot…. Answer: The Torah is very positive about music and the power of music. According to one opinion, the main role of […]
Pirya U’Reviah — Boy and Girl
Where is the source that to be mekayem Pirya Vrivya one must have at least one boy and one girl? Does that mean that all the many families I know that have all boys or girls have not fulfilled their mitzvah? Answer: The source of the requirement to beget a son and a daughter is […]
Spreading Perfume
When spraying perfume or cologne on Shabbos or Yom Tov, is it true that one may only spray it on the skin but not spread it around with one’s hand? Answer: There is no prohibition of spreading cologne or perfume after spraying on Shabbos. The prohibition of spreading cream and the like is on account […]
Foaming Soap
What exactly is the halacha regarding using liquid hand soaps on Shabbos and Yom Tov? Also, what about the kind becoming more popular nowawads- foaming hand soap, which foams as it comes out of the bottle? May these be used on Shabbos? Only on ones hands? What about the rest of the body? Answer: The […]
Commemoration of First Wife
what are the customs or halachas in reference to a widower who remarries,in reference to the first wife, how does he or does he observe the yartzeit, does he go to the cemetary, etc. Pnei Baruch (39:19) writes that a widower should not observe the yartzeit of his first wife in the presence of his […]
Daily Amen Quota?
Dear Bais Din: Although we are to recite 100 blessings daily, how many times must we answer AMEN? Thank you. Answer: Although there is no Talmudic source that indicates the number of times Amen should be answered each day, and it is no mentioned in the Ramban or Shulchan Aruch (see Orach Chaim 46:3 concerning […]
Soda Water Before Havdalah
The Gemara and shulchan aruch pasken that one can drink water before havdalah. Is sparkling water that is carbonated (seltzer)considered water in halacha or a different beverage? Answer: It is permitted to drink water before havdalah. Is carbonated water (soda) considered “water” or not? We make no blessing over water, unless it is drunk to […]