Question: Hi Im curious, What are the halachos of people who had to close their business because of corona. ie returning payment made in advance Ie a school returning tuition… Read more »
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Refusing to Lein in a youth minyan
Question: Shalom HaRav I was until recently involved in a youth minyan in my area, I helped to organize the kiddush , I was chazzan many times , and I… Read more »
Clean with vinegar on pesach
Question: Can counter tops be cleaned for Pesach with white distilled vinegar that is OU but not OU-P? Answer: One of the issues regarding white distilled vinegar is that it… Read more »
Shmura Matzah
Question: I read online that some rabbis say that eating matzah throughout the holiday is commendable and praiseworthy and not just limited to the first two nights when it is… Read more »
Selling chametz online – one or two online forms for husband and wife
Question: When selling chametz online, do a husband and wife each need to submit an online form? Or is one sufficient? Answer: Generally one should be sufficient, however if the… Read more »
Mincha in a place received Shabath
Question: Can you pray mincha in a place that has already received Shabath in advance? Answer: A person that is in a shul that was mekabel shabbos early, even if… Read more »
what is the meaning
Question: What is the meaning of not being able to pray the mincha in a place that has received Shabbat in advance? Answer: This means that if a person is… Read more »
Kabolas Shabbos
Question: Hi when am I actually mekabel Shabbos? What I am wondering is are you able to say L’cha Dodi before lighting candles? Thank you so much Answer: For women,… Read more »
Selling chometz
Question: Dear Rabbi, My father puts the chometz in our basement and we do not touch it for a week. I am confused if I should sell it and the… Read more »
moser
Question: Is it lashon hara to discuss which souls are still open at this time and which people are going there? May one report them? Answer: Discussing shuls that are… Read more »
mesira
Question: Is it mesira to report shuls that are still functioning during this time? Answer: The poskim say that people that are not acting in a safe way are endangering… Read more »
Seder plate Tevila
Question: Thanks for your wonderful website!! I bought a nickel plated seder plate. Does it need tevila?? Answer: Assuming that it is a metal plate that is nickel plated, essentially… Read more »
Tefillah B’yichidus
Question: Now that we are davening b’yichidus, I heard that I may lain that week’s parasha from a chumash But may I say Hashem’s Name ? and if so ,… Read more »
corona – saving someone who puts themselves in danger
Question: What is the halacha regarding someone whose life is at risk because they didn’t follow protocol to prevent infection form covid 19? Is there a halachic obligation to save… Read more »
What to do about bedikas chametz if away from home for all of Pesach
Question: If I will be away from my home for all of Pesach, I understand that leasing the entire home exempts me from bedikas chametz. Assuming that I have understood… Read more »
balsamic vinegar and honey on the liver
Question: I know the whole method of kasherizing the liver, my question and about the seasoning, can I put balsamic vinegar and honey in the seasoning of my liver after… Read more »
Eating Chametzdik Matzah during Nissan
Question: Can one eat the year-round matzah that is chametz during Nissan Answer: Many have the minhag not to eat any matzah from Rosh Chodesh Nissan until Pesach. The poskim… Read more »
milichig spoon in fleishig dishwasher
Question: Dear Rabbi What is the halocha with a milichih spoon washed up in fleishig dishwasher? Thank you very much Answer: In retrospect it is still kosher, because the water… Read more »
milichig spoon put into hot meaty foods
Question: Dear Rabbi What is the halocha with a milichig spoon that touched hot fleishig food? Many thanks for your help Answer: Your question is very general, but if it… Read more »
Davening plag hamincha for a single man on erev Shabbos
Question: When attending an early Shabbos minyan (in pre- or post-Corona days), with Mincha right before Plag and Maariv right after, when should a single man light candles? He can’t… Read more »
Kashering preparation
Question: How well do pots have to be cleaned on the outside in order to kasher them, or use them as a kashering vessel. There is a tremendous amount of… Read more »
ground hemp seeds
Question: Are ground hemp seeds kosher for Passover? Answer: It is controversial. The OU and CRC write that it is kitnios, however the Star- K says that it isn’t. Sources:… Read more »
Psukei dzimrah and zman tefila
Question: Is it kdai to skip parts of psukei dzimrah in order to make zman tefila? Answer: Not only is it kdai, but we are obligated to do this. However… Read more »
In the current matzav are you still selling chometz?
Question: In the current matzav are you still selling chometz? Answer: Yes we are. There is work being done i to update the site, so the banner is not there… Read more »
Kashrut – blackberries
Question: Hi, I have been told that blackberries cannot be eaten because they are very difficult to check for bugs. I have heard the same about raspberries, but that it… Read more »
tashmish in a time of tzora
Question: We learn from Noah’s Ark and Yosef in Egypt that one should not engage in marital relations at a time of trouble. Is the present covid19 situation one which… Read more »
Marital relations during corona virus pandemic.
Question: Is one allowed to have marital relations during these difficult times? Answer: It is a hard question to answer. It is questionable if the current situation is strong enough… Read more »
Kashrut
Question: Isn’t it forbidden from the Torah of Moshe to cook and eat the fat of kosher animals? If so is one obligated to remove all the fat from the… Read more »
Use of Household Cleaning Products on Counters that does not have Hashgacha
Question: Can I use Mrs. Meyers cleaning products and soaps on counters and tables? It does not have a Hashgacha. If I can use the products, can I use them… Read more »
Shloshim ending early due to pesach?
Question: My father passed away last week and was buried on 20 March 2020. The Shiva has just ended and the Shloshim would usually end on 18 April (I think)… Read more »
Female purity
Question: Shalom, I would like some advice about how important it is to be a virgin before marriage. If someone is not a virgin, should measures to taken to have… Read more »
Pesach food
Question: Dear Rabbi It’s very slim here where I live to even get food shipped for Pesach and I don’t know yet about our local Kosher caterers, restaurants, stores about… Read more »
praying (location)
Question: Shulem Aleichem Rabbi. That everyone in mishpoche & kfar is with briut I hope. – Elijah ben Solomon Zalman said that it’s better to pray in one’s private chamber. is… Read more »
Relations while parent is sitting shiva
Question: Can I have marital relations when my mother is sitting Shiva? Answer: Yes it is permitted, as the restrictions on a person who has a relative sitting shiva are… Read more »
Hand sanitizer on Pessach
Question: In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic we have all been using alcohol based hand sanitizers. Will we be able to continue using this product and similar products like… Read more »
Is Timothy hay kosher for passover
Question: I feed my rabbits hay and wanted to know if it is kosher for use on Passover. Answer: Yes it is kosher for Passover use for the animals. Best… Read more »
mikve and corona virus
Question: In my country the law have forbidden the mikve’s use. Also is forbidden go in River, lake or sea. Is Allowed for a Wife make the tevilla in a… Read more »
Using masser money for bills
Question: If struggling financially with difficulty paying basic bills and behind with many bills, can maaser money be used? Answer: If you don’t enough for your basic needs you don’t… Read more »
Taanis b’Chor
Question: Unfortunately, we can’t go to shul before Pesach to hear the siyum? If I completed a meschecta on my own, will that suffice to avoid the taanis b’chor? Answer:… Read more »
Ta’aroves of a mattress and sheet
Question: Would a mattress with a fitted sheet on it be considered a ta’aroves with regards to borer? For instance, if one has a mattress with a dirty fitted sheet,… Read more »
disposing of item properly
Question: BH Thank you so much for your help My question is: If a persons name (for example: Daniel) has a reference to one of G-d’s names: (E—-l), is it… Read more »
Yichud if the door to landlords apartment is open and he is designated as a shomer
Question: Hello Rabbi, I have a question about yichud. I live in apartment that is connected through a locked door to my landlord’s house. A girl that I am seeing… Read more »
Borer in Diaper attached to clothes on shabbos
Question: When changing a child’s diaper on shabbos, the adhesive tab of the diaper might become attached to the child’s clothing. Is it a problem of borer to remove the… Read more »
Steeping non-heated tea on shabbas
Question: Dear Rabbi, There is a product which is a tea bag that works in cold water. Can it be steeped in shabbas if the tea bag is left in… Read more »
Outdoor minyanim
Question: Hi As to minyan outdoors, how far can people be away from eachother and still be part of a minyan? Answer: People davening outside in an open place… Read more »
Yichud
Question: A single man in his 70s, spending yomtov with his married brother. The wife’s adult brother will be there as well. Will there be any yichud situation when the… Read more »
Kohanim marriage
Question: If a girl had anal penetration with a Jew but never had vaginal penetration can she still marry a Kohan? Answer: If the boy was indeed Jewish then in… Read more »
Davening in Shul without a minyan
Question: There is a mitzvah to daven in shul even if there is no minyan. Therefore, in the current matzav, is it OK to come to shul and daven there… Read more »
Naming a baby without minyan
Question: Hi, If we can’t get a minyan for the foreseeable future, can the father name the baby on his own? And possibly make the kiddush later on? Thank you… Read more »
Pesach
Question: Dear Rabbi I usually have some Mexican housekeepers come and help me to deep clean for Pesach, but with the all the goings on in the world right now,… Read more »