Question: Is there any responsibility that i have for my contractor’s damages to my neighbor? Answer: Under normal circumstances your contractor is responsible for any damages done by his workers. Sources: Mishnah… Read more »
Posts By: Rav Y Wiener
smoking an electronic cigarette on 17th tammuz
Question: Is this permitted Answer: There is a dispute amongst the poskim if one is allowed to smoke on a fast day particularly on the 9 Av. If there is… Read more »
Shehakol on ice cream
Question: If one said Kiddush on wine before a Seudah (Shabbos/ Yom Tov), does one say Shehakol on ice cream if it is served as dessert (for those who are… Read more »
Staining and the seven clean days
Question: Good morning, I am currently on birth control pills. I had a clean Hefsek a week after I started bleeding and got a clean bedika the next morning. The… Read more »
Diluting grape juice
Question: Follow-up question to “diluting grape juice” – As I indicated in my original question, I had a safek if I was yotzi (though my feeling is that the Kiddush… Read more »
Early shabbos
Question: Is it OK to make “early Shabbos” based on the zman (Plag Hamincha) of the M”A (even though the rav indicated earlier that the zman of the Gra is… Read more »
Nine days – meat and wine on shabbos
Question: One is eating meat and drinking wine during shalosh seudos during the Nine Days. One interrupts the meal to say Baruch Hamadvil and performs a melacha. May one continue… Read more »
Two kiddushim combined
Question: We’re IY”H making a kiddush for our son’s bar mitzvah this Shabbos. Our neighbor wants to make a kiddush for his new baby girl this Shabbos as well. (The… Read more »
Automatic watch on Shabbos?
Question: Can on wear an automatic watch on Shabbos? Answer: If the watch is running not a problem, but if it stops cannot be worn. Sources: Teshuvas Chelkas Yaakov 1:75, Tzitz… Read more »
Tefilin on shevasar b’tamuz
Question: Do you put tefilin on for schacharit on shevasar b’tamuz Answer: Yes you wear teffilin normally on the 17 of Tamuz. Only on the 9 of Av do we… Read more »
Diluting grape juice
Question: This past Shabbos, I was hearing Kiddush from someone who didn’t have much grape juice, so he diluted the grape juice with water. I know that this is problematic,… Read more »
Learning on a fast day
Question: Are you allowed to learn on A fast day? Like today, the 17 of Taamuz? Answer: No problem to learn on a the 17 of Taamuz it is even commendable…. Read more »
Three Weeks
Question: Dear Rabbonim, Should one take part in the opening of an furniture exhibit during the three weeks, which will have festivities (including music, drinks etc), is located in a… Read more »
Laundry on shiva asar be’tammuz
Question: Can one do laundry on shiva asar be’tammuz? Answer: Some opinions hold that the fast days might have the status of the nine days, but since these are opinions are… Read more »
Found kamaia (amulet)
Question: hi, I walked into shul and found a kamaia written on a klaf with the text that Reb Shayala Kerestirer ztz”l used to write on many of his kamaias…. Read more »
Yichud
Question: As part of my job, I will probably have to clean out a basement together with another intern, who is female, which presents a shaila of yichud. There are… Read more »
Intentions in Tefilla
Question: Hello, this question may be a bit odd, so please bear with me. When praying, I often lose control of my intentions. What this means, is that I will… Read more »
Am I fleishig? I was preparing chicken and accidentally tasted the spices
Question: I was preparing chicken for Shabbos this morning to marinate and I was rubbing the spices and olive oil over the raw pieces of chicken with my hands and… Read more »
Shabbos Halacha
Question: Dear Rabbonim, In the requirement of שביתת כלים if one is a partner with a non-religious Jew in a workshop; would I be correct in assuming it is only… Read more »
Hefsek tahara
Question: I’m on birth control and I have very little bleeding on the second day my bleeding already stopped do I still need to count 5 days or can I… Read more »
Cohen serving another cohen
Question: Is one kohein allowed to be “mishtameish” with another kohein or is he just as obligated to honor them by not being mishtameish with kohanim? Answer: It is a… Read more »
How many died at Ba’al Pe’or
Question: Rashi on 25:5 says each of the 88000 judges killed 2 people. Does this show in the census taken after this incident? Only Shimon shows a marked decline. Why… Read more »
Shabbat 17th Tamuz restrictions
Question: Dear Rabbis, When 17th of Tamuz falls on Shabbat, like this year, are we entitled to do everything we would normally do on Shabbat, for examplw, wearing new clothes… Read more »
Bilam’s prophecies
Question: How does Rabbeinu Bachya on 23:19 see Bilam prophecying the founder of Christianity? Answer: Rabenu Bechaya is quoting the Midrash Tanchumah and does not mention a particular person. All he says… Read more »
Three weeks
Question: 1. Can an ashkenazi buy new clothes that he would make shehechiyanu on during the 3 weeks but not wear them until afterwards? Would this be a problem for… Read more »
Men and Women sitting separately in shul
Question: Is there a Torah or Talmud source or reference that says or indicates that men and women should not sit together in shul? I know there are reasons. What… Read more »
Your Religious Experience
Question: Hi, My name is Bailey, and I’m a year 11 currently studying VCE Unit 2: Religion and Society. We are currently working on a class project where we are… Read more »
Bar meitzra
Question: Does the halacha of bar meitzra apply when the seller is a non-Jew allowing the Jewish neighbor to have first rights? Second question does hilchos bar meitzra give a… Read more »
Eating before maariv
Question: For those who make kiddush before maariv, is it OK to do so up until 40 or so minutes after shkia, since nightfall is 72 minutes according to Shulchan… Read more »
Ice cream machine parve or dairy
Question: Hi, how are you, I just bought an ice cream maker made of metal (cuisinart) for non-dairy parve desserts. However, I would like to know if I use it… Read more »
Kiddush Levana Tonight
Question: All the websites show last night as being the last time to say Kiddush Levana, but tonight (now) is Yud Daled. Can I still say Kiddush Levana with a… Read more »
krias shema
Question: In response to this https://dinonline.org/2010/06/02/time-for-krias-shema/ – I would like to note that the following poskim insisted on following the earlier zman of the MA: the Gadol Hador Rav Schach… Read more »
Drinking wine spilled from kiddush
Question: I know many people are makpid not to drink the wine spilled during the seder. Is there any source not to drink the wine that spills over from the… Read more »
Shachris
Question: Hello, Someone needs to do a few hours of work in the morning. These are the two options. Wake up very early(before sunrise), do the work, then daven at… Read more »
Kiddush before maariv
Question: For those who make kiddush before maariv, is it OK to do so up until 40 or so minutes after shkia, since nightfall is 72 minutes according to Shulchan… Read more »
Donate old taleisim and tefillin
שְׁאֵלָה: איך אני יכול לתרום או אחר תשליך taleisim ותפילין הישנים כמו שצריך? תשובה: מתן הם כשרים אולי אתה יכול לתרום אותם shule או באיזה מוסד ראוי אחר. אם לא… Read more »
Lashon Hara (specific)
Question: Hello, I have 3 short specific questions regarding lashon hara. 1. If the intent is good (making conversation, being nice) would it be fair to say the sentiment is… Read more »
Early shabbos (2)
Question: I do not understand the rav’s answer regarding early Shabbos (accepting Shabbos at exactly Plag). Could the rav please clarify and tell me when the wife should light candles… Read more »
Number of Neshamos
Question: Shalom. I have a tradition that there are only 600,000 ‘souls’ in Klal Yisroel. If so, how do we reconcile this number with the current estimate of 14.2 million… Read more »
washing for bread
Question: When one is in the middle of washing for bread (having washed one hand already), can he say Amen? What about after having washed both hands, and before the… Read more »
The three weeks
Question: Is it permissible for one to get a haircut, listen to music, etc. this coming motzoi Shabbos? Answer: Motzei Shabbos is already the 18 Tamuz so therefore you should… Read more »
Online Reviews
Question: Is there anything halachically or hashkafically wrong with writing a negative review online for a jewish establishment i.e. restaraunt etc. for which the customer had a bad experience? Answer:… Read more »
bleeding on shabbos
Question: If one accidentally gave himself a paper cut on Shabbos, or otherwise accidentally caused himself to bleed, is that an aveira, or is it misaseik? Does one need to… Read more »
Picknick on La”G BaOmer
Question: Bs’D Shalom Aleychem K’vod HaRabbanim, what is the background for the picknick – not this specifically RaShb”I connected tradition of fire and bow, but only picknick / nature time… Read more »
early shabbos – at exactly plag hamincha
Question: If a shul is mekabel Shabbos with “Mizmor Shir” at exactly Plag Hamincha, or a few moments thereafter (which is certainly permissible), when should the wife, whose husband davens… Read more »
Orthodox Judaism vs Conservative Judaism
Question: Shalom, I need to find out the following: what are the differences in beliefs and observances between Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism? Are there more differences or similarities? Is… Read more »
some matters for man to decide
Question: some matters are not for God to decide but are for man to decide two Jews were arguing and a voice came down saying that some matters are for… Read more »
E-cigarettes-kosher?
Question: Does the flavored juice/liquid used for e-cigarettes need a hechsher? The ingredients are usually Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerol (VG), Water, Nicotine and carefully selected flavourings formulated specifically for… Read more »
Knives and Fish
Question: A piece of salmon was purchased at a non-kosher fish store and cut initially with a non-kosher knife. It was washed off afterwards in the home, but not scraped…. Read more »
Men and Botox
Question: Is a religious man allowed to get Botox injections and other cosmetic procedures? Answer: Botox prevents wrinkles and stops perspiration so might not be a problem. Other cosmetic procedures might… Read more »