Question: hello i would like to ask if someone is dating can they sit in the living-room and dining room were there is (no one else in the house) a) large windows and can be easily seen from the street by anyone passing by (its a busy street) b) same set up would leaving the […]
Author Archives: Rav Y Wiener
Mezuzah
Question: A male relative of mine unfortunately, rachmana l’tzlan, married a non-Jewish woman. She had a huge inheritance from her late father and bought the house they presently live in. Is there any requirement for mezuzot to be put on the doors of their house? Answer: There is a big halachic dispute regarding a house […]
Black removable spot on bedika cloth
Question: Good morning. I am a kallah getting married soon iyH! I am now doing the bedikos of the 7 clean days before going to the mikva. I am also on birth control pill. Upon one of the bedikos i found a small black removable dot- looks like a follicle. What could this be? Answer: […]
Money
Question: If someone owes you money and does not want to pay is it permissible to take it from them without their knowledge Answer: Under normal circumstances one must go to Beis Din and not take the law into his own hands. There are exemptions when one is allowed to fend for himself. In your case if […]
Telling a child to stop misbehaving BaRabim
Question: If a school-aged kid is not behaving in class, or is being chutzpadik, is it permitted to tell him out loud to stop (when the rest of the class will hear), or is it considered Halbanas Panim BaRabim? Answer: There are many variables to your question i.e age of child, if it was a […]
Tzniut for Men
Question: I read your response about pants not being Tzinut for women. Shouldn’t pants be immodest for men as well, since very often, especially when sitting, the male organs protrude at the crotch? Indeed, pants for men were a relatively modern invention originating in European culture. Previously, in all cultures, including Jewish, men also wore […]
Baking
Question: Can you bake chicken and fish uncovered in same oven in the same time Answer: Lechatchila one should not bake fish and meat together in the same oven unless one of them is properly covered. Sources: Pesachim 76b, Y:D 116:2
after brocha
Question: Does one recite an after brocha when drinking from a water-bottle? what about a water fountain? Thanks! Answer: If one is thirsty and drinks a reviis (R. Chaim Noah 86 c.c., Chazon Ish 150 c.c.) of water quickly one does make an after brocho. Sources: O:CH 210 Mishnah Berurah 1 & 613:10 Mishnah Berurah […]
Taking down mezuzot?
Question: Hello, I am currently renting an apartment with roommates in Israel. When I moved in, there was a mezuzah on my bedroom door, but there wasn’t a mezuzah on the front door. Upon moving in I immediately put one of my own mezuzot up on the front door (it’s a mezuzah from my old […]
Will I ever be a Jew given my circumstances? What must I Do?
Question: Dear Rabbi, I live in a country where a synagogue has been closed for decades, and the last Hannukah celebrated was in 1948. There are very few Jewish people here, and its impossible to meet them, given the nature of my circumstances. I have been wanting to convert to Judaism for years now, to […]
Permitted intimacy options when there are medical issues
Question: Hi Rav, My wife and I have 2 children Baruch hashem. She is also currently 18 weeks pregnant. However due to complications we are not allowed to have intercourse involving penetration of any sort. Additionally if this fetus makes it (Bezrat Hashem at the right time and all will be healthy) my wife will […]
Tefillin bag
Question: A rabbi is putting tefillin on a non-religious Jew. The rabbi gives this Jew his yarmulke to wear. Is it permissible for the rabbi to cover his (the rabbi’s) head with the tefillin bag in the meantime, or do we say that the tefillin bag is designated for holding the tefillin and cannot be […]
Grapes
Question: Is it permitted to eat grapes during the Nine Days? Answer: Only wine or grape juice is not permitted but grapes can be eaten in the Nine Days. Sources: O:CH 551:10
Meat
Question: The poskim mention that a sick person who needs to eat meat during the 9 Days should preferably avoid doing so on 7- 8 Av. Does the same apply to making a fleishige siyum, that one should avoid doing so on 7 – 8 Av? Answer: It is permitted to make a fleshing sium […]
Bracha on tzitzit when putting on a new pair
Question: When I exercise, I usually change into a pair of new tzitzit. Am I required to make a new bracha? After I have finished, I usually put on my original pair. Do I need to make another bracha? Answer: When you put on a new pair of tzizit you are required to make a […]
Zeah
Question: halacha l’ma’ase, what is the chashash of zeah in terms of the bottom item? are we only worried about drops falling down on it or are we also choshesh that the zeah coming out of the bottom item transfers ta’am to the upper item, and at the same time the ta’am from the upper […]
Bosis
Question: There are two tables in the room. I know that there were candles (and only candles) standing on one of them when Shabbos began, and the table became a bosis. However, the candles were taken away by an aino Yehudi and I don’t know which table they were on. Are both tables muktzah? Answer: […]
Playing in a Poker Tournament on Shabbat
Question: I have a very interesting and unusual Halachic question. I am planning a vacation with some friends and I am thinking about playing in a poker tournament. The cash buy in to enter the event takes place during a weekday but the tournament which extends over a few day period has a possibility of […]
Meat metal utensils on dairy side
Question: I work in a commercial kitchen with a dairy side and meat side. Sometimes when I come in the morning I find utensils between the other utensils which are the wrong kind. Do I have to kasher them or can I say it’s a safek sefeika..if it was used for meat and if it […]
Egg white left overnight
Question: Is it mutar to use an egg white left overnight? e.g. if I separate an egg to use the yolk in a recipe, can I leave the egg white in a cup in the refrigerator overnight (or few days) for later use? Answer: Lechatchilah you should add salt or sugar to the egg white […]
Dishwasher
Question: you wrote dishwasher is ok acc. to rav moshe for meat and milk Rav Moshe only allowed meat after milk or vice versa, and required separate racks for meat and milk the question asked is a sefardi psak based on rav ovadia yosef that allows meat and milk keilim together at the same time!! […]
Israel check – Israeli currency – Ribis
Question: May the lender lend money to the borrower with an Israel check and ask to receive repayment in Israeli currency in Israel? Answer: If the currency received is the exact exchange rate of the check (i,e minus the commission) it is permitted. Sources:
Buying
Question: Are Ashkenazim allowed to eat from a Sephard home that uses a dishwasher for meat and dairy together? Answer: Rav Moshe Fenstein allows the same dish washer for meat and dairy utensils. Sources: O:CH 2:28,& O:CH 3:10-2
Rental contract 9 days
Question: Hi, I have recently come to a disagreements with my roommates and have to move out. Is it possible to find and apartment and sign a rental contract during the 9 days? I have a couple of months to move however since we decided I will leave I feel like I need to do […]
Travel on Shabbos in robot car.
Question: These new robot cars, in which one sits studying one’s Gemara as the car zooms along the highway of its own volition, already exist. They will soon be normal all over the world. If one’s robot has already been programmed, can one go to shul in such a thing on Shabbos? Questions here might […]
pareve knife used for cold meat
Question: I used a pareve knife to clean cold chicken. is the knife fleshing or is it still considered pareve? Answer: The knife is still considered parve, just clean it well with soap and water. Sources: Y:D 121:1
Tisha Be’Av
Question: Is one allowed to apply sunscreen, insect repellent or deodorant on Tisha Be’Av? Answer: No problem. Sources: O:CH 554:15 Biur Halachah ד”ה סיכה
havdalah Tisha baav
Question: How does on make havdalah when tisha baav falls on motzei shabbos? Answer: On motzei shabbos one only makes a brocho on the havdallah candle and on motzei Tisha Beav one makes havdalah without spices, starting from borey pri hagofen. Sources: O:CH 556:1
Painting in the 3 weeks
Question: Is it permitted to repaint a wooden and leather chair during the 3 weeks and 9 day? What about drawing and painting for recreation (on paper or canvas)? Thanks Answer: On is permitted to repair broken items even in the 9 days. If the chair is unusable without being painted it can be repainted.But if […]
Small party in the nine days
Question: Can one have small gathering for the couple and a few family members without music to honor that couples wedding anniversary? Answer: It is permitted if the gathering bears an atmosphere of seriousness and has a tone of solemnity. Sources:
Sprinkler park in nine days
Question: Can I take my children to a sprinkler park in the nine days? Answer: If they are little children you can take them. Sources: Shearim Metzuyanim Behalachah 122:12, Leket Yosher Page 109.
Can I use my maaser to help someone pay off their debt to me?
Question: Someone owes me money and can’t afford to pay it back. Can I use some of my maser to pay off the this debt on their behalf. Do I need to let them know about every bit I apply or only when loan is paid in full? On a very big loan , how […]
Can some of our tuitions be paid from Maaser money?
Question: If there are other yeshivas and Bais Yakovs available in my city that charge lower tuition, can the difference that we have to pay be paid from our maaser funds? Answer: You can use masser money to pay the difference between tuition fees. Sources: Teshuvas Michas Yitschok 10:85, Igros Moshe Y:D 113, Emes Leya’akov […]
The Nine Days
Question: Dear Rabbi, Are we allowed to cook with wine during the 9 Days? From a practical point of view, I would imagine the answer to be “no”, but I’d rather be certain that I mustn’t cook with it. Thank you for your help and BE”H may this be the last year we need to […]
Terms, Prayer and salvation questions.
Question: Hi. I am a non-jew (and have no religious affiliation whatsoever) who is curious about Judaism and it’s beliefs, and I would like to ask questions about Judaism that include the topics of prayer and salvation. Using the same words Judaism uses for concepts, ideas, etc helps me be “on the same page” with […]
Yichud
Question: Is a Jewish man permitted to seclude himself with a non-Jewish woman together with a non-Jewish man, or non-religious Jewish man? Answer: A Jewish man is not permitted to seclude himself with a non-Jewish woman together with a non-Jewish man, or non-religious Jewish man, because they are not considered valid shomrim (guardians). Sources: E:CH […]
Pain mess on Shabbos
Question: Can I take painkillers on Shabbos. I am in pain from oral surgery last week and root canal yesterday with ear pain as well. Answer: First of all a refuah shlemah. If the pain is severe enough to justify bed rest it is permitted to take painkillers on Shabbos. Sources: O:CH 328:3 Mishnah Berurah 8, ibid […]
Yichud on the highway
Question: May one drive from one township to another on a date if he must drive through a highway to get there? Answer: If there are cars constantly on the road there is no problem of Yichud. Sources: Teshuvos MInchas Shlomo 1:91-21, Igros Moshe E:H 4:65-3, Tzitz Eliezer 6:40 Chap.15
Early havdalah
Question: If one makes Havdalah early (starting from Plag Hamincha) which in some cases is permitted, is it permitted for him to eat meat afterwards (during Nine Days), since technically it is still Shabbos and he is forbidden in doing melacha? Answer: The Achronim write that one should not make an early havdalah even under […]
A wedding question
Question: A Chabad rabbi who I know got a Jewish divorce a few years ago. A few months ago he had what he called a wedding with photos online that showed a ring presentation and family photos. He at that time had not even filed for a civil divorce. Is this really a wedding??? Are […]
Nine days
Question: If one has a job interview during the Nine Days, is one permitted to put on a nice suit (even though during the weekdays he does not usually wear suits)? Answer: Since a person is also judged by his appearance it is permitted to adorn a nice suit for a job interview in the […]
Parev items from a basari restaurant
Question: Could I be considered basari if I ate parev items from a basari restaurant? It was a felafel in pita, so I’m not sure if the same salads are used also to add to shwarma’s (I’m presuming they are). I was not the one who went into the restaurant, my husband got take-outs. Answer: […]
Can I give my maaser to myself
Question: If my monthly income is 10000 and expenses are 11000 (I need to borrow or collect donations from relatives $1000 monthly) can I give my maaser to myself? Or should I look to borrow $2000 and give away $1000 to other charities? Answer: If your expenses are greater than your income you can take […]
Cholov Yisroel
Question: There are several Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks that advertise selling coffee with “Cholov Yisroel available upon request”. My question is as follows. If there is no mashgiach on premises, as long as there are no Jews able to see what’s going on behind the counter, what’s to prevent them from pouring Cholov Stam into […]
partially nursing mother fasting tisha bav nidche
Question: Dear Rav, Does a partially nursing mother of a 1 year old baby required to fast this tisha b’av nidche? Thank you. Answer: If the fast might effect the milk supply on a permanent basis it is not required to fast. Sources:
karfaf in park
Question: About your analysis of the question of water in park: the halacha you quoted – m”b 44 refers to water which was a later development and so does not retroactively fix the mechitzos [hukaf ulvasof pasach] if the water was there from the beginning [or intended as such] it would create hekef ldira as […]
Amein
Question: Reuven makes hamotzi at the Shabbos table on behalf of the oilam. Shimon is sitting and waiting to be passed a piece of challah by the baal habayis. Levi comes late and makes his own hamotzi, having in mind only himself. May Shimon answer Amein, even though he has yet to eat the challah? […]
Shaving in 3 weeks
Question: is it mutar to trim hair on the neck – below the “beard” area that is looking ugly? Answer: You should refrain from trimming the hair on the neck until after Tishah Beav. Sources: O:CH 555:4
Fruit wine in nine days.
Question: May one drink pomegranate or passion fruit wine in nine days? Label says its shehakol. Answer: It is permitted to drink pomegranate or passion fruit wine in the nine days, like whisky and beer. Sources: O:CH 551:11 Shaarey Teshuvah ibid
Goji berries
Question: what is the checking process for checking dried goji berries please? Answer: I am afraid I do not know what are goji berries. Perhaps contact a reliable kashrus organization or Rabbi Moshe Viya 972-2-5325588. Sources: