Question: 1) Can one read his rebbi’s notebook (e.g. cheshbon hanefesh notebook) if it is labeled “private”? The sevara to permit it would be based on the gemara of “torah… Read more »
Category: Commandments and prohibitions
Blowing out candles on a birthday cake
Question: 1) Is it true that the practice of blowing out candles on a birthday cake may stem from avoda zara practices? Is it permitted? 2) How about “making a… Read more »
Uncovered liquids in refrigerator
Question: Greetings: Does the problem of “uncovered liquids” apply to uncovered liquids left inside a refrigerator? thank you Answer: Nowadays according to most poskim we do not have to be… Read more »
kohanim in tiberias
Question: is there a map of where kohanim are permitted to travel in Tiberius Answer: I would advise you to call R’ Munk who runs an advisory hotline for kohanim… Read more »
texting while driving
Question: Am I obligated or allowed to tell the police about a driver that texts or disobeys traffic rules while driving Answer: The Minchas Yitzchok 8-148 discusses a very similar… Read more »
Typing Out the Word “Ch..st”
Question: I am a frum woman, and I work for a Police Department. I am putting together a substance abuse resource packet that is delivered by Police officers to goyish… Read more »
Bullfights
Question: Were going on vacation to Spain and would like to know if its permissible to watch a bullfight. Answer: My apologies that I didn’t get to answer you… Read more »
Is it permitted for kohanim to visit amukah?
Question: is it permitted for kohanim to visit graves as long as they stay outside the building (like in amukah) Answer: According to R’ Munk, as of now Kohanim may… Read more »
kohanim in meron
Question: is there a map available of where kohanim are permitted to go in meron? Answer: I don’t know about any maps of meron. According to Rav Munk, an expert… Read more »
BUying from a thrift shops that is run by a church.
Question: CINCINNATI SEPT 2017 I have halachic question to ask. One of the thrift shops was run by a church called St. Vincents. They run it just like the thrift… Read more »
Visiting the Amish
Question: Is someone allowed to go to visit the Amish people and ask them questions about their beliefs or is it prohibited because he is investigating another religion? Answer: We… Read more »
The Geder of Smicha in our days
Question: Hi I would just like to know what is the smechia of our days? Didn’t the smicha from Moshe Rabeinu stop? Based on my memory the Rambam doesn’t require… Read more »
Dina Demalchusa Dina on Everything
Question: Does dina demalchusa dina apply to all government laws, such as traffic laws? In other words, if someone drives over the speed limit or crosses the street (when no… Read more »
Trimming beard
Question: shalom aleichem,Can the moustach be trimmed or shaven according to halacha?also can other parts of the beard be trimmed or shaped? Answer: According to Halacha it is permitted to… Read more »
Ovdei Avodah Zarah
Question: Is there a concept of tinok shenishbah with regard to goyim who are ovdei avodah zarah? Answer: If the person is a Jew, it is possible that he is… Read more »
Reiki
Question: Is REIKI allowed to be learned/practiced? And is one allowed to have REIKI done on them? Answer: Having RIEKI done on oneself or practicing REIKI (spiritual energy healing) is… Read more »
viewing women dancing at a frum wedding
Question: is there any serious heter to allow a male photographer to take pictures and to fim the women dancing at a wedding or would it be an isour of… Read more »
Saying you are a goy
Question: If a person makes a wrong turn into an Arab neighborhood (for example) and he is asked if he is a Jew, can he respond “no”? Based on Shulchan… Read more »
Exercise
Question: I learn for 1 hour in the morning. and 1 hour in the evening however i am overweight and want to go to the gym. i want to know if… Read more »
Lookling at an eclipse
Question: Dear rabbi, There was no rabbinic precaution that I noted on my online searches this year to avoid looking at an eclipse through protective lenses. Should we consider this… Read more »
Buying cigarettes for a minor who already smokes
Question: My brother in law who is 17, asked me to buy him cigarettes in duty free in America. I said no because the damage of cigarettes is well known… Read more »
Slandering on the web
Question: 16 Av 5777 – August 8, ’17 I am working at a Kitchen Cabinet place, where there are set rules that I cannot allow delivery of merchandise before receiving… Read more »
parameters of kibbud av
Question: Mother-in-law asked son-in-law to do something in her home, something that could take only a few minutes but could also end up taking much longer. He said he would… Read more »
Endangering yourself physically
Question: Is there a direct Torah-prohibition to put yourself into (unnecessary) physical danger? Answer: Yes there is. It says in Deuteronomy 4-15 “and watch your life very carefully..”. There is… Read more »
Making a “cross” shape
Question: Is there any halachic issue with making a picture of a cross? How about making a straight “t” (some curve the bottom for this reason)? How about shaping your… Read more »
Smoking hookah
Question: Is it assur to smoke hookah? Is it the same as smoking cigarettes? Answer: I cannot consider myself to be an authority on hookah smoking, but my understanding of… Read more »
Fish and meat
Question: halacha states that fish and meat is dangerous and one can get tzara’as. how should this danger be explained to a non frum Jew? Answer: You can simply tell… Read more »
Visiting the vatican
Question: Hi. I am planning a trip to Italy very soon. I wanted to know if I can go to the Vatican and/or the Sistine Chapel. Can you please provide… Read more »
Solar Eclipse
Question: Am I allowed to take a digital picture of the solar eclipse on August 21? Answer: This is an interesting question. You are allowed to take a picture of… Read more »
TV show that contains Idolitry
Question: Is it a problem if I watch the TV show iron fist. It has some stuff related to Buddhism in it. The main character does a lot meditation and… Read more »
Loshon Hora being equaled to all sins combined
Question: The Chofetz Chaim says that loshon hara is equal to all sins combined. He does quote the Yerushalmi 1:1 which says, “ותלמוד תורה כנגד כולן”. The Yerushalmi does not… Read more »
Avodah Zarah related game
Question: I was paying this game which had a story of the creation of the world with different figures that helped create the world in this game. This is inspired… Read more »
Teaching Torah to others
Question: Shalom. Can a Jewish male (Orthodox) person without a Semicha teach other males publicly? I have seen this a number of times, whether an assistant Rabbi or just someone… Read more »
Loshon Hora
Question: One rabbi constantly talks loshon hora about 2 other rabbi’s for various reasons. He tried slandering 1 rav for the fact that some of his kids went OTD and… Read more »
Teaching Torah
Question: Shalom. As we have laws for everything, could you please tell me the source for: “one doesn’t have to be a Rabbi (i.e. have a Smichah) to teach Torah”… Read more »
Fufilling honoring parents even when not speaking
Question: I need to break away from my parents. The relationship has turned toxic, and being around them is so triggering i end up not giving proper kavod. Am I… Read more »
Teaching boys to study Torah beginning with Chumash Vayikra
Question: Is the minhag to teach boys just beginning to study Torah all of Chumash Vayikra or just Parsha Vayikra? Thank you Answer: The minhag is to teach them part… Read more »
Cosmetic surgery
Question: What did R’ Moshe Feinstein zt”l have to say about cosmetic surgery? Is there any halachic problem with it and if so, what is it? Answer: R’ Moshe Zt”l… Read more »
shaving /women
Question: Can women use a razor for shaving legs, under arms..?? thank you, Answer: Women may use a razor on any part of their bodies. The prohibition against using a… Read more »
Teaching Yoga in a school?
Question: There are a number of types of yoga all of which come from Hinduism and definitely include spiritual teachings that contradict the Torah. Almost always such spiritual teachings come… Read more »
Are we allowed to wear/have amulets such as hamsa and gemstones?
Question: We are prohibited from engaging in magic in sorcery. But are we allowed to wear/have amulets such as hamsa and gemstones that are supposed to have certain beneficial (to… Read more »
Sealed food under bed
Question: If the food under the bed was in a sealed container is there still a problem eating it Answer: The halachos of food that was left under a… Read more »
Is it halachically permissable for women to use a dermaroller?
Question: Is it halachically permissable for women to use a dermaroller? A dermaroller is a small roller w small needles rolled on the face and neck it wounds the skin… Read more »
Nosejob for men
Question: Hi Rabbi, Is it permissible for a man to get a nosejob if his nose is not severely deformed, but he’s self conscious about it and would like to… Read more »
Can a Jew sell property in Israel to a Druze?
Question: Are Druze considered ovdei avoda zara or may one sell Israeli property to them? Thanks Answer: We may not sell land or an apartment in Israel to a gentile…. Read more »
Selling house and want to take mezuzahs
Question: Selling our house to a non Jewish family who would remove them and probably throw them away We have 4 mezuzah and we would like to take them and… Read more »
Pregnant women and stepping on nails with bare feet
Question: Hi, I am in my first trimester and I am always extremely careful about disclosing nails. However, as I was getting out of the shower I happened to step… Read more »
Religious worship place
Question: Shalom aleichem, Is it allowed to go to place where other religious pilgrimage takes place, yet not attending the pilgrimage spot or the church. ex: if there is a… Read more »
Removing a mezuzah when selling a house.
Question: If a person sells his house to a Jewish family, but they don’t want the mezuzot that you have, are you able to take off your mezuzot? Thank You… Read more »
Giving up dog to shelter – know they will probably euthanize it
Question: Hi, Due to circumstances I can no longer keep my dog. It is old, 15 years old, and if I give it up to a shelter, I know they… Read more »