Is it halachically permissible for a Jew to be present at a wedding between a Jew and a non-Jew? If not, what is the source for the prohibition? Thank you Answer It is halachically prohibited to enter a non-kosher restaurant, even without the intention of eating. The reason for this is maris ayin — giving […]
Author Archives: Admin-EN
Maariv Time on Succos
Davening Maariv on Succos When is the earliest time one can daven maariv on Succos? I thought there is a hekesh between Succos and Pesach with the mitzvos of the night requiring one to wait until nightfall. Does this also apply to maariv or can you daven maariv on Succos before nightfall and just do […]
Hair-Covering for Women
I am a widow and would like to know what the halacha is. I now wear a hat with my hair completely covered. I feel a shaitels of todays times defeat the purpose as they are so pretty especially the Human hair shaitels you can’t tell that they are shaitels. Answer: The question of whether […]
Waiting for the Rabbi
If a shule puts up times when davening is to start and the Rabbi is consistently late, should the kehilla wait for the Rabbi to start davening or should the kehilla go by the times put up in the shule? I was looking in Shulchan Aruch siman 124 and thought that it is mashma that […]
Lost Inheritance
this is a question abut yerusa. my mother in law wrote out a will, and left her apartment to my husband. right before she was niftar my husbands sisters got her to change the will and leave it to the grandchildren. one of my husbands sisters married a siksha. they included them in the will. […]
Shutting Off the Gas
On a stove that is electrically ignited, if you left a small flame on Shabbos and it went out and you smell gas, are you allowed to turn the knob off? Answer: If the flame is out, and turning the knob will not have any effect other than shutting off the gas, it is permitted […]
Kol Isha For Teachers
If a female teacher teaches male children who have learning problems through singing songs etc, at what age child is there an issue of kol isha? What happens if a non jewish janitor walks into class can the teacher continue to sing the children song or does she need to stop? thank you Answer: Concerning […]
Closing Hot Water Faucet On Shabbos
Is it permitted to turn OFF a hot water faucet on shabbos? Answer: The answer to the question depends on how the hot water system works. For instance, if the system works on gas, so that turning off the faucet will cause a fire to be lowered or extinguished, it is prohibited to do so. […]
Shabbos Key Belt / Tie Pin + Disagreeing With The Igros Moshe
Dear rav, are there any poskim who allow to wear shabbos belt for keys on the tie or shirt? What are the best possible or halachically acceptable ways to wear such belts. If possible please cite the sources where I can look it up inside. The reason why I am asking this question is because […]
Getting Engaged In The 3 Weeks
getting engaged during the 3 weeks ideal yes or no. tried looking in shulchan aruch but no lekatchilah clearly Answer: One may get engaged during the 3 weeks, and even to have a small engagement do for family and friends. This should not be done in the 9 days. However, it is permitted throughout the period to […]
Jewish partner?
This is a practical question. I’m an options trader and wanted to hire somebody to help me during the yom tovim. This individual tells me that he is catholic. Then, one day, he tells me that his father told him when he was 17 that his mother, from Hungary, was Jewish. What is the halacha? […]
Tearing a package on Shabbos
Is it mutar to tear open a package on shabbos if there is a (good) chance you will tear the lettering? If it is assur, why is not considered a “davar sh’eino miskavein” & its not a pesik reisha? Thanks! Answer: If it is not a certainty or near-certainty that lettering will be torn, there […]
Overhearing a minyan
I was learning Torah in a room next door to the shul because I already davened in an earlier minyan, and I hear the Shliach Tzibbur say birkas hashachar, kedusha, chazaras of shmonei esrai and many kadishes. Do I have a requirement to answer Amen and stand for kedusha and kadish as if I were […]
Krias Shema in pyjamas
am i allowed to say krias shema in pajamas? Answer: Krias Shema al Ha-Mita may be recited with pajamas, because the entire enactment was made for bedtime. This is true even if the intention is to fulfil the Torah obligation of shema. Krias Shema that is part of prayer should not be recited in pajamas, […]
Fishing
Is one allowed to fish for entertainment purposes even he plans to throw back the fish if the fish is caught or is this considered improper? Answer: As part of fishing for food, a fly-fisher often releases fish back to the river. This is perfectly permitted, because the general purpose is for food. If, however, the entire […]
Written accounts
Choshen Mishpat 91 mentions the idea of “the storekeeper and his notebook.” My wife has a business which publishes an annual telephone directory like the publication, “Madreech HaChareidi” in Yerushalayim. She records with the date all charges, payments, phone calls for renewal, etc. by writing directly on the ad of the advertiser in a copy […]
Pregnant woman standing out of respect
Does a pregnant lady have to stand up for an old man or talmud chacham if it is difficult for her to get up? Answer An ill person need not stand up for a Talmid Chacham (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 376:1). Shvus Yaakov (1:26) explains that this is because the mitzvah is to stand in […]
Carrying a cane on Yom Tov
May a 90 year old man use a cane on Yom Tov in a Reshus Harabim if he is able to walk short distances without one but he wants to walk a longer distance on Yom Tov which requires the use of a cane? Answer Although it is pemitted to carry in the street on […]
Berocha on ice cream with cookies inside
What is the beracha on ice cream with pieces of cookie dough inside to enhance the ice cream? Answer One makes a “Shehakol.” Anything that contains “mezonos” ingredients usually requires a beracho “mezonos,” becuase if it there in order to satiate, or even to give significant taste, it becomes the “ikkar.” In this case, however, […]
Shilu’ach Haken
Is an American Robin considered a kosher bird for Shiluah HaKan? If the wild robin (if kosher) makes a nest on your front porch of your house, is there still a mitzva of shiluah haKan? Answer The American robin does indeed appear to be a kosher bird. Once one has acquired the birds and the […]
Tevillah of china dishes
Does china (dishes) require tevila? Answer Glazed china requires tevillah without a brocha
“Borrowing” from Ma’aser by giving in advance
If we already gave 20% of our income for the year to tzedaka and then someone comes to the door to ask for money can we “borrow” from next year’s maaser money to give to this person? Does it make a difference if they are asking for money for food vs. asking for money in […]
Missed Shacharis deliberately
If a person misses the zeman tefillas shacharis and wants to daven, what should he do? What if it was b’meizid (i.e., he was too lazy to get out of bed, or he wanted to stay with his wife etc..)? Can he daven everything like normal until chatzos? What happens after chatzos? He must daven […]
Maaser from gifts
Must one take maaser from gifts they receive. i.e. a chosson and kallah who receive tons of gifts and checks, how should they go about taking masser? Also, can one use maaser to pay membership dues at a shul? Answer One should give ma’aser from all cash that one receives, including gifts and inheritence. However, […]
Forgot Ya’aleh veyovo
I forgot to say yaleh veyavo by mariv what should i do? Answer If one forgets Ya’aleh Veyavo in Ma’ariv, if it’s Rosh Chodesh you need not daven again. However, on Chol Hamoed you must daven again with Ya’aleh Veyavo.
Guardian for Alzheimer’s patient
My grandfather has Alzheimer and he often does things which are not responsible. Since he can’t function responsibly who has ownership and control over his monetary belongings according to halacha. Can his children manage it. Answer According to the Halacha it is the responsibility of the Beis Din to appoint an apotropus – a guardian […]
Buying a wife clothes for Yom Tov
How exactly should one go about fulfilling the mitzvah of buying your wife clothing for Yuntif? Nowadays, women always buy their own clothing. And often, the husband and wife share one bank account which the both contribute towards. What should the husband do to fulfill his mitzvah? Answer There is no fixed amount that is […]
Wedding Photographer Lost Pictures
I had a photographer for my daughters wedding. She was originally order to come for 4 hours which was included in the price. I asked her to come for 1 hour earlier and stay for 1 hour later. She charged me $300.00 for 1 hour and $350.00 for the other hour. In the middle of […]
Yichud with two women, one of whom’s husband is in town
I am a home care therapist. I go to homes and do therapy with children. Is there a problem of Yichud where the mother is home and the husband is learning in a nearby kollel, but there is also a cleaning lady at the house while I am there? Answer Yichud is permitted with a […]
Replace yeriah in Sefer Torah
The Torah is finished. Can we replace the last yeriah in order to be able to write the last few letters & make a siyum? Answer If the final yeriah has already been sewn onto the others and the Sefer Torah is complete, one may not remove it simply in order to replace it with […]
Tznius for a young girl
what is the halacha regarding tznius for a 4 year old?when do i have to stop letting my daughter stop wearing short sleeves?pants? Answer There is a halachic basis for it from the age of three. The rules for modest dress are based on the requirements for davening. The Chofetz Chaim rules that a man […]
Harchokos on Yom Vesses
During the Onas Haveses, is only Chibbuk V’Nishuk Asur? May the couple hold hands, for example? And is a little kiss on the cheek included in “Chibbuk”? Answer The Halachah is that marital relations are forbidden, but many early authorities forbid Chibbuk V’Nishuk as well, and the Bach rules that “Hamachmir tavoh alav beracha.” (Other […]
Haircut on Friday Rosh Chodesh Sivan
If one keeps the second half of sefira, can he shave this Erev Shabbos lichvod Shabbos since he can shave Sunday for the Sheloshes Yemei Hagbaloa? Does the same sevara to allow shaving on the Erev Shabbos before Lag BaOmer apply here as well? Answer Magen Avraham and Chochmas Odom discuss the custom to observe […]
Harav Shmuel Meir Abuchatzeira
Yeshivas Panama – Panama
Harav Tzvi Ralbag
Rav of Congregation Bais Ephraim Yitzchok, Woodmere, NY
Harav Yitzchok Ze’ev Rosenblat
Moreh Tzedek – Boyan, Beitar
Harav Avraham Buterman
Rosh Kollel Chayim Shel Torah, Yerushalayim
Harav Yaakov Mendel Neilinger
Dayan – Beis Din Sha’arei Halacha, and Rosh Kollel Satmer, Yerushalayim
Harav Mordechai (Mizrachi) Bar Or
Dayan – Tel Aviv Rabbinical court
Harav Ami Mizrachi
Dayan – Beitar Beis Din, Beitar
Harav Shimon Shmuel Halberstam
Moreh Tzedek – Beis Hora’ah Dvar Moshe, Yerushalayim
Harav Moshe Teitelbaum
Rav and Moreh Tzedek – Satmar Yerushalayim
Avel at aufruf
I am in the year for my father who passed away, am i aloud to participate in the shabbos meal at the aufruph {shabbos before the wedding} Answer An Avel during the shivah: A man who is an Avel during the shivah may got to shul to participate in the Aliyah LaTorah of the Chassan […]
Pareve rice in an old milky pot
If I have a metal pot that was used a long while ago for milchegs – if I now us it to cook parave rice only – what is that status of that rice? Answer Pareve food that has been cooked in a milky pot which has not been used for 24 hours previously, may […]
Glue on tzitzit knots
Some tzitzis companies advertise that the knots never come undone. They put glue on the knots of the tzitzis so one never has to worry about fastening the nots. I heard someone say that this could be a problem because the glue in the end is mevatel the knot. Is this true? Answer R’ Vosner […]
Shehecheyanu on new tzitzis
The Shulchan Aruch says that when puts on a new pair of tzitzis one should say birkat shechiyanu. I have heard that some don’t say Shechiyanu today because we are spoiled and not as excited over new clothes today as in the past. Should one still say a shechiyanu on tzitzis today? Answer With regard […]
Maran Hagaon Harav Ovadia Yosef Shlit”a
Hagaon Harav Shmuel Kaminetzki Shlit”a
Hagaon Harav Baruch Dov Povarsky Shlit”a
Esrog of Shmittah
What should I do with an esrog of Shemittah that I received from Israel last Shmittah (I live in the US)? Answer You need not send it back to Israel. However, it should not be moved from place to place in the US. You may eat it, or wait until it rots and then dispose […]