As we approach the onset of the second month of Adar – Adar Sheini – we dedicate the present article to the oft-confusing identification of the “true” month of Adar…. Read more »
Posts By: Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer
Yahrzeit in Adar on Leap Year
Shalom Kindly advise what the halacha is if one (mistakenly?) said kadesh for a grandparent who passed away on adar aleph, during this adar aleph, does one have to say… Read more »
Do you Make a Bracha for Chewing Gum
1. What is the common custom as to whether or not to make a Bracha on chewing gum? 2. Do you say a shehakol if you take a drink of… Read more »
Does Contract Need to be Signed?
I’m trying to work out an agreement with a client. I’ve sent him the agreement and asked him to sign it. He agrees with the terms, but he insists that… Read more »
Signing for Somebody Else
Someone asked me to fill out their visa application online for the US consul because he doesn’t speak English. This is permitted however at the end it says clearly that… Read more »
What is the Bracha for Tortilla?
What is the bracha for tortilla? Thanks very much. Answer: For corn tortilla, the berachah is shehakol. For wheat, it seems that the berachah will usually be hamotzi, because it… Read more »
What is the Bracha for Pasta
What is the bracha for pasta? Many thanks. Answer: The bracha for pasta, which is made of wheat, is “borei minei mezonos.” Best wishes.
Can you Get Married on Rosh Chodesh
Can you get married on Rosh Chodesh? Answer: Yes, it is permitted to get married on Rosh Chodesh. In general it won’t be permitted to fast on Rosh Chodesh (Nissan… Read more »
Can you Shave on Rosh Chodesh
Can you shave on Rosh Chodesh? Thanks. Answer: Those who are careful not to take haircuts on Rosh Chodesh should also preferably refrain from shaving on rosh chodesh. However, because… Read more »
Can you Take a Haircut on Rosh Chodesh
Can you take a haircut on Rosh Chodesh? Thanks very much for the great service! Answer: Some have the custom of refraining from taking a haircut on Rosh Chodesh. This… Read more »
Should You Fast / Daven on Yom Kippur Katan?
Should you fast or daven the special prayers for Yom Kippur Katan? I have never done this in the past, but my son, in yeshiva, urges me to do so…. Read more »
Yichud For Babysitter
Is it permissible for an uncle (over bar mitzvah) to babysit his 2 nieces and nephew at night? Details: girl 1-age 8, girl 2-age 6, boy-age 4. They all go… Read more »
Halachic View of Sudanese
What is your opinion regarding the Sudanese (religious law)? Answer: The question is not entirely clear, but I assume it to be: What is the opinion of religious law concerning… Read more »
Listening to Women Singing in Halachah
Is there a problem in halachah of listening to women singing? Answer: It is not permitted to listen to a woman singing if the performance is “live.” For recorded voice,… Read more »
Can Jews listen to non-Jewish music?
Can Jews listen to non Jewish music? Answer: In principle there is no prohibition of listening to non-Jewish music. However, this depends greatly on the nature of the music, and… Read more »
Selling Watch with Cross (Idolatry)
Is it permitted for me to sell online a wrist watch with a cross on the face and band of the watch? Answer: Yes, this is fine, and there is… Read more »
Can you Take Out Garbage on Shabbat
Assuming an eruv is present.Can you take out the garbage can with garbage to the front either on Shabbat or Yom Tov for pick up? Answer: If garbage has decomposed… Read more »
Can you Have a Brit on Shabbat
Can you have a brit on Shabbat? Answer: Yet, if the baby was born on the previous Shabbos – meaning from Friday night (after nightfall) until Saturday night (before sunset)… Read more »
Can you Say Tehillim at Night
Can you say Tehillim at night? Answer: For times of need, it is permitted to recite Tehillim during the entire night – at least for Ashkenazim. When there is no… Read more »
Can you Sit Shiva on Shabbat
Can you sit shiva on Shabbat? Answer: No, one does not sit shiva on Shabbos. The reason for this is that Shabbos is a time that transcends the sadness and… Read more »
Can you Flush the Toilet on Shabbat
Can you flush the toilet on Shabbat? Answer: Yes, it is permitted to flush the toilet on Shabbos. The reason for this is that the mechanical action of releasing the… Read more »
Are Garbage Cans Muktzeh on Shabbat
Garbage is being picked up in my area on Shabbos. Assuming i can put the garbage out onto the curb before shabbos. Can I then bring the empty cans back… Read more »
Can Jews Have Girlfriends
Can Jews have girlfriends? Answer: A girlfriend, in the modern sense of the concept, is a partner with whom one engages in a close and intimate boy-girl relationship. In Judaism… Read more »
Can You Mine on Shabbat
There is a big trend now that involves “mining” crytocurrencies. Crytocurrencies are digital mediums of exchange, or digital money. People can procure these currencies by “mining”. Mining is the term… Read more »
Being a Filmmaker in Halacha
BH Hello thank you for this service. You should only do more good and receive more blessings. I had a question regarding a certain predicament that I am in. Firstly,… Read more »
Relying on Signs and Omens
BSD Hi I had a shaila on an article on the website about nichush and omens in halacha. https://dinonline.org/2013/08/03/of-signs-and-lots/ I was confused on the Halacha le Maaseh . If one… Read more »
Wrote Ben in Place of Bat in Ketubah
Instead of writing the name of the kallah (bride) Rivka bat Chaim it was written Rivka ben Chaim. In such a case what’s the halacha? By a kasubah is it… Read more »
Comparison Between Islam Christianity and Judaism
To any rabbis I actually got two questions I would like to ask. 1)Which religion is actually closer to Judaism, Islam or Christianity? 2)Is Christianity the only religion so far,… Read more »
Can You Buy from Tax Evaders
Is it permitted to give business to someone (or a company) who you have confirmed does not pay income tax (works “off the books”)? Answer: It might be ‘formally’ permitted… Read more »
Water for Mishloach Manot
Can one use Perrier water for Shaloch Manos with one other item? Answer: This is an interesting question. Based on the Gemara (7b), all authorities agree that one can give… Read more »
Dividing Estates Among Siblings
2 brothers were left a piece of real estate by their father. Reuven wants to divide the land and sell while Shimon doesn’t. The reason Shimon wants to keep the… Read more »
Can You Wash Dishes on Shabbat
can you wash dishes on shabbat? Answer: If the dishes are required for use on Shabbos, it is permitted to wash them. According to some authorities it is permitted to… Read more »
Can You Ride a Bike on Shabbat
Can you ride a bike on Shabbat? Answer: It is not permitted to ride a bicycle on Shabbos. Please see sources for more details. Best wishes. Sources: A variety of… Read more »
Can You Run on Shabbat
I enjoy running on a daily basis, but I’m not sure it’s permitted to run on Shabbat. Can you run on shabbat? Answer: It is not generally permitted to run… Read more »
can you use an umbrella on shabbat
can you use an umbrella on shabbat? Answer: The universal custom is not to use an umbrella on Shabbos, and this follows the opinion of most authorities. It is customary… Read more »
What is the Bracha for Quinoa
What is the correct beracha for quinoa? Answer: Quinoa is a grain crop (related in a certain sense to spinach and beetroot) that is not one of the “five grains”… Read more »
The Two Months of Adar: Which is the True Month?
As we approach the onset of the second month of Adar—Adar Sheini—we dedicate this week’s article to the oft-confusing identification of the “true” month of Adar. As we shall… Read more »
What is the Bracha for Rice
If cooked and therefore soft and sticky, the berachah is mezonos. If uncooked, such as puffed rice, the berachah is ha’adamah. Best wishes. Sources: The opinion of Rabanan as recorded… Read more »
What is the Bracha for Bananas
What is the beracha for bananas? Answer: On bananas one recites ha’adamah. Please see sources. Best wishes. Sources: Bananas are perennial plants whose new fruit grows directly from the root… Read more »
What is the Bracha on Pizza
I sometime eat pizza as a snack. What is the beracha? Answer: The berachah on one slice of pizza, which is eaten as a snack, can depend on how the… Read more »
The Name Philip in a Get
If someone giving a get has the English name “Philip”, how is this written in the get? Traditionally there is no usage in Hebrew (biblical or rabbinic) of a “peh”… Read more »
Expenses Paid Upon Agreement later Broken
An opportunity to acquire a business presents itself to Reuven. He approaches Shimon to be 50/50 partner and lead negotiations with the seller. Shimon hires a lawyer and accountant to… Read more »
Timing of Derasha in Shul
I’ve been in a number of shuls where the Rov of the shul will get up before Krias HaTorah on Shabbos and say some sort of “drasha”. Sometimes it was… Read more »
Circumcised Before Eighth Day
I appreciate your sending me an answer regarding our 33 year old son and circumcision. We do understand that this is something that must come from his own heart and… Read more »
Inviting Non-Jew to Pesach Seder
Question: Can a non-Jewish woman attend a Pesach seder? Does it make a difference if she is studying to become Jewish and has renounced her born religion? Does it make… Read more »
Pregnant Women Stepping on Nails
Hi Rabbi! How are you? What is the story regarding pregnant women standing on finger/toe nails? I have seen the Gemora in Moed Katan but no po skim bring it… Read more »
Assorted Questions
Hi, can I use a towel used to dry myself after a shower to dry my hands after doing netilas yadayim to eat bread or to make any brache after… Read more »
Lechem Mishneh: The Double Bread of Shabbos
This article discusses the issue of lechem mishneh, the double-portion of bread that opens our Shabbos meals (commemorating the manna of the wilderness). Is lechem mishneh a full obligation? Are women obligated? Are complete loaves of bread required? Is lechem mishneh required even for cakes and pastries? These questions, and others, are discussed below.
Questions of Shabbos and Others
B”H Shalom Rabbi I am a fresh Jewish convert and I have 2 Non-Jewish grown-up children from a previous marriage and I would like to ask a few questions if… Read more »