In Parashas Vayetzeh, Yaakov goes to Lavan’s house, but prior to his arrival he meets up with Rachel. Shockingly, the Pasuk says that he kissed her and cried (29:11). How exactly are we to understand this episode? Do we not say that the Avos kept the whole Torah before it was given, and can we […]
Author Archives: Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer
Drinking Human Milk
In says in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 81 SIf 7 that it’s muter to drink chalav isha as long as it’s “pirush” from the body However for a gadol to nurse from a woman is like nursing from a “sheretz” and is ossur. The question is if that which Shulchan Aruch says it’s muter […]
Yom Tov Sheini for Israeli
Hi. So basically we live in Israel and so obviously I keep one day while I’m here. But our family are going to visit my grandfather in England for Pesach, so what do we keep? What are Halochos? Publicly/Private? Etc… Answer: You will have to keep the second day of Yom Tov (even privately, according […]
Entering Church and Mosque
What is/are the Torah, Rabbinic and halachic source(s) for the prohibition against going into a church? Does this prohibition apply to a Moslem mosque as well? Answer: The primary source for the prohibition is the Gemara in Avodah Zarah (11b), which states that it is forbidden to enter a house of idolatry — a ruling […]
Away for Chanukah
Schalom Rabbi I will be on a business trip in India during Chanuka and I cannot light the candles in the hotel room and most probably also not in the lobby. Can one of my sons living at home be “joizer” for me when he light the candles? Answer: In general, making an envoy to […]
Kiddush on Beverages Other Than Wine
This week’s article we discuss the issue of Kiddush, and in particular the question of which beverages can be used for Kiddush. When is it permitted to make Kiddush on beer, and other beverages? Can whisky be used for Kiddush, and how much needs to be drunk? Can one make Kiddush on bread? These questions, and more, are discussed below.
Brushing Hair on Shabbos
Hello, I am Sephardic, and I know that the Shulchan Aruch forbids combing or brushing one´s hair on shabbat and yom tov, however, I’d like to know: is there any Sephardic posek that allows that action? Another question: I am aware that during the three weeks it is possible to recite tikkun hatsot during the […]
Being Fan of Sports Player
Is a yid allowed to be a fan of a non Jewish ballplayer since there is an issur of lo techanem not to praise a goy for his prowess or other attributes? Answer: This depends on the nature of the support. It is permitted to support a team, and even a player, but not to […]
Using Rope to Tie Down Sechach
If one has a sukkah where the schach will stay up in a ruach mezuyah without anything tying it down, and then one uses rope to tie down the schach so that in case of a ruach sheeyna mezuya, the schach won’t blow away, does the rope need to from material that is kosher to […]
Tying Tubes as Contraception
I was recently asked a very challenging question: Is it technically Mutar for a woman to have her “tubes tied” to prevent her from ever having children again? There is no physical danger to the woman but the sheer difficulty her family is having raising the children they already have would not allow her/them to […]
Double Cover for Food
I read in many seforim that when using a non kosher oven (i.e. on holiday) one should double wrap (some say hermetically) the container with food and it would be then allowed to be used in that oven. where is the source of the double wrapping since the remoh clearly allows to bake in the […]
Accepting Yom Tov Early
Can a person start Rosh hashana early after plag hamincha on the first night, and pray maariv later? What about the second night? Answer: It is possible to start Rosh Hashanah early (after plag), and to daven later. Like on Shabbos, this will be problematic according to the Vilna Gaon, who writes (in Maaseh Rav) […]
Helping to Carry a Stroller
In regards to helping a young woman carry her baby’s stroller together with her up a large set of stairs, where she can get up the stairs by herself by bumping it up each stair at a time, but it would be a great help to her for you to help her: Do we say […]
Speaking Divrei Torah in Shower Room
In terms of the halachos in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 85 (which places is it ossur to say Krias Shema) would a small room with just a shower head have the same dinim as a room with a toilet or a room with just a bathtub? Answer: Although the Rashba (7:418) writes that the […]
Truth in One’s Heart
Hi, I am a Rebbe in a high school. I was offered an additional responsibility in the school which would mean an increase in compensation. I was originally told it would be 1,000$ if I decided to accept. I said that I would get back to my boss. I asked around and spoke to different […]
Forgot Vayechulu in Kiddush
If someone recited borei pri hagefen on Shabbos night and forgot to say vayechulu, should he go back and say vayechulu or just continue with the rest of kiddush, drink the wine and then recite vayechulu later? Answer: If one forgot to say Vayechulu, and began the berachah of Borei Peri Ha-Gafen, one should carry […]
Inviting Non-Observant Jew for Shabbos
What are the sources that deal with the question of inviting a Jew for Shabbos in the knowledge that he will drive to your house? Answer: Two sources that are stringent concerning this issue are Rav Moshe Feinstein (Iggros Moshe, Orach Chaim 1:99) and Rav Elyashiv zt”l (cited in Chashukei Chemmed Pesachim p. 189). The […]
Berachos on Various Mitzvos
How come we don’t say a bracha on giving tzedaka, doing kibud av va’am, and moving to isreal when they are all mitzvas? Answer: There are many mitzvos that we don’t make a berachah over, and authorities suggest different reasons for this. Please see sources below. Sources: The Rashba suggests (vol. 1, no. 18 and 254) that the […]
Taking Muktzeh Toy from Child
If a child who is not yet the age of chinuch (still 4 years old) is playing with a muktseh toy a) Are we obligated to take it away from him or can he continue to play with it? b) Are we allowed to touch the muktseh toy in order to take it away and/or […]
Keriyah at the Kosel
Where does it come from the “minhag ha’olam” as it seems to be makil to not tear kriah by the Kosel even for one living outside of Yerushalayim (but still in Eretz Yisrael.) I realize some people will be makneh their begadim to others however even this is seemingly “less and less”…Is there any reasonable […]
Wearing Shabbos Belt
Wearing a key belt on Shabbos: does the belt need to have a purpose? I.e. if worn on a jacket should the buttons be left open? Can it be worn simply over a shirt? With 2 belts the poskim seem to say that the reason behind the Remo that prohibits, is because the second belt […]
Fruit Pits in Compost
My family has a modest vegetable garden, and we compost from our kitchen year round in order to have enriched soil. Sometimes food trimmings are not fully composted when we mix them into the soil in the Spring. When there are seeds in the compost, plants can grow unexpectedly. While weeding my garden one day […]
Asking for Basic Provisions on Shabbos
It says in Shulchan Aruch OC Siman 323 Sif 4 that one may go to a store owner and ask for a number of beitzim on Shabbos as long as the price is not mentioned. Why, even without mentioning the price is there not a gezera that one might come to write? Answer: For basic […]
Court Case and Beis Din
An attorney Levi drafted a trust document that lists him and Reuven as co-trustees for Shimon Shimon claims that there was an irregularity (or even a forgery) in the execution of the trust which Levi and Reuven deny. Shimon sued Levi in secular court without a heter bais din or even a attempt to issue […]
Taking Suppositories on Shabbos
If one is suffering from constipation on Shabbos, can one take a suppository? Answer: It is forbidden to take medicine or use suppositories to aid a condition of constipation on Shabbos, unless this causes suffering to the degree that the person is unable to function. Sources: See Mishnah Berurah, 328:118, 140; Shulchan Aruch 328:49 and […]
Paying for Tarring Roof
Our vaad bayit tarred the roof, at the cost of 900nis to each of the apartments. Is this the responsibility of the tenant or the owner to pay? Answer: This is the responsibility of the owner to pay. Although everyday maintenance of the apartment is the responsibility of the tenant, for major matters that require […]
Buying from Jewish Establishments
Is there a Halacha that state one is obligated to support a Jewish owned business by purchasing either goods or services? Is there an obligation for one to at least give the Jew an opportunity to provide a quote for the goods or services? Is it an obligation for one who is financially comfortable and […]
Giving a Get in Bein Ha-Shmashos
Is it permitted to divorce a woman (give a get) during bein ha-shmoshos? Answer: A get may not be given during bein ha-shmashos, for two reasons: 1) The Rema rules that a get should not be given at night. Although poskim are lenient under extenuating circumstances, the same principle will apply to bein ha-shmashos, which […]
Shalosh Seudos Until What Time
On Shabbos, what time should you wash for Shalosh Seudos by? Some people I have asked say say shkia, while others say you can wait until half an hour before Shabbos goes out. Many thanks. Answer: The simple wording of the Mishnah Berurah (299:1) is that a person can wash bedieved until the time that […]
Tzitzis: The Garment and Wearing It
Parashas Shelach concludes with a section familiar to us all as the third paragraph of Krias Shema, which presents the mitzvah of tzitzis. The particulars of the mitzvah of tzitzis are many, and address the types of garment that are obligated in tzitzis, the way in which the strings are made and hung on the […]
Using Chalalim of Building
On the other side of the wall of our machsan there is a chalal. We are the only ones who theoretically could have access to the chalal. Do we only need permission from the tenants on our side of the building or all the tenants in the building in order to take down the wall […]
Saying “Thank You” for a Loan
When paying back a loan, is saying “thank you” ribbis? Answer: No, saying “thank you” is not considered ribbis. Sources: The Gemara and the Shulchan Aruch write that if a person was not used, prior to the loan, to greeting his creditor, and he begins to greet him after the loan, this is considered ribbis […]
Questions of Wife’s Property
* Do mitzva payments (like yizkor money, kapparos, matanos l’evyonim, etc.) or pledges to tzeddakah (like “18 shekel to Poseiach if I find my keys before I’m late for my appointment or the test results are positive”) that a wife makes fall under the category of the parnassah a husband provides for his wife or […]
Paying Mezonot with Ma’aser Money
Would you say that I can put my maaser money towards the Mezonos that I was maskim with my ex about, meaning to say is there a minimum halachic limit, and I am paying more than that. Is the rest of it maaser applicable? I’m not trying to get out of paying anything, just trying […]
Parshas Shelach – Settling the Land—Then and Now
In the episode of the meraglim, which we read this week, the nation of Israel is described as having “despised the Land.” On account of the people’s despising the Land, and rejecting the Divine promise of inheriting it, the Land was denied them, and given instead to their children. In the present article we will […]
Using Towel that Absorbed Milk
If milk spilled on a kitchen towel and dried out. Then later a person mistakenly used that towel to pick up a hot meat pot is there any problem with this? Answer: If the milk was completely absorbed by the towel, and the towel is now dry (meaning that both the towel and the pot […]
Donation from Non-Jews for Aliyah
What is the halacha regrading taking money from Christians who promote aliyah? More specifically, my wife’s grandmother is currently in the process of making aliyah, but doesn’t seem to be able to afford bringing a lift. There is a non-missionary Christian organization that gives grants for Jews to be able to bring lifts here to […]
Jumping the Line
My friend and I waited in line for four hours to buy tickets to a show. There were a limited number, so each person was allowed only two. We were approached by a man who offered us a $100 bonus to each buy an extra ticket. What should we have done? Answer: To explain the […]
The Halachic Ban and its Laws (Part II)
After beginning to outline the basic idea of the halachic ban, in the article of two weeks ago, we turn this week to the particular halachos of declaring a ban—and also to discuss a number of bans that were actually made over the generations, such as the ban against studying foreign languages in Jerusalem. How is a ban declared, and what are its halachos? What is the jurisdiction of those making the ban? How is a ban cancelled? We will address these issues, and others, in this week’s article.
Early Kiddush and Candle Lighting for Shavuos
Can one make kiddush and shechiyanu after plag hamincha on shavuos night, and daven marriv later after tzas hacochovim? Can a women light candles likewise after plag? Answer: On Shavuos night a person should not make kiddush early, before plag ha-minchah. This is ruled explicitly by the Magen Avraham (494), and is likewise implied by […]
Catching Up on the Missing Parashah
Many Bnei Torah returned to Eretz Yisrael this week from Chutz L’Aretz and faced the problem of being one week behind on the parsha. Some have the eitzeh in the morning to lein 2 parshiyos. Others have the eitzeh to lein the parsha they are missing by Mincha time. One eitzeh I heard was to […]
Donating Maaser Money to Kollelim
Harav Yosef Fleischman brings in his article on maaser kesafim that maaser kesafim should only be donated to the poor. Would donating to kollels or yeshivas considered to be donating to the poor? Thanks. Answer: Yes, donating to kollelim is considered giving to the poor, because those who study in kollelim are generally poor, and […]
Money Back for Cancelled Summer Camp
Last year we paid a person $500 for payment for our young son to go to summer camp , after we paid in full, a week later we changed our mind and we asked for a refund. The lady wrote to us a e-mail promising us a credit for next summer instead of a complete […]
Lighting Candles with Lights On
I have a question re siman 263 seif 8. Rav Berkovits shlita (in the Mishna Berura Yomi shiurim) mentioned that, certainly l’chatchila, Ashkenazim should switch off the lights before lighting & switch them on l’shem hadlakos neiros. We see that the Mishna Beura brings down that we are somech on saying a brocha for tosefes […]
Women in Birkas Ha-Mazon
After eating a meal – Someone that is in sofek if they said birchas hamazon and his wife didn’t yet say birchas hamazon may she be motzee him? If an isha forgets to say Yaleh V’Yavo in bentching on Yom Tov, realizing there is a maklokes in this, what’s the psak halacha l’maseh. Answer: If […]
Hanging Bread in Schoolbag
Based on the Gemorah in Pesachim Daf 111b is there any problem for children to hang their bags with bread inside of it by a Talmud Torah? Answer: There is no problem in hanging bread from a bag, and certainly by means of a school bag. This is “normal,” and does not indicate any disrespect […]
Explicit Intention for Mezonos in Meal
Is there such a halacha that someone can have kavana by the bracha of ha-motzei to patur all the of the mezonos (including cake, cookies, etc) that they might eat in the middle (or end) of the seudah? What about when someone is eating a Shabbos seudah where only the baal habayis is going to […]
Bought New after Guardian Misplaced Software
I left a friend an expensive set of software. Later, I asked for it back. He responded that he had returned it to me. He’s an honest friend, so I assumed I had misplaced the software. I needed a set, so I purchased a new set at great expense. Some time later, he can back […]
Giving Hachic Rulings
Two questions in derech hapasak: 1. Nowadays a rov may look at a shailo with many poskim that were don in the shailo on either side and pasken according to who is “bigger” among the achronim that dealt with the shailo and go with that based on their own understanding of who was bigger or […]
Warm Shower on Yom Tov
Dear Rabbonim Shlita The Halocha is that it is forbidden to bathe or shower during the 9 days. I understand that the basic allowance is to wash hands, feet and face in warm water, and only in certain cases of sweatiness or for health reasons, may one wash ones entire body in hot water with […]