Question: Dear Rabbis, My wife recently picked up a “lucky cat” decoration while shopping in a Chinwtown in the USA. It’s essentially a waving cat that some Asian cultures believe… Read more »
Category: Commandments and prohibitions
issue of crosses
Question: Is it assur for a diamond jewelry company to sell diamond crosses to goyim Answer: Please see the following post where a similar question was discussed. http://dinonline.org/2018/12/16/selling-christian-jewelry/ Have a gmar… Read more »
accidental lashon hara?
Question: Hello, Thanks so much for your help. I was recently at a restaurant and the person I was with began speaking with a family near us. He was speaking… Read more »
Lashon Hara Bal Teshuva
Question: Hello, Thank you for your help. My question is: Is it lashon hara for a bal teshuva to say in social settings that they are a bal teshuva, or… Read more »
Lashon Hara on a Non Jew
Question: Is it permitted to speak Lashon Hara about a Non-Jew, i.e. “The President of blank country is a very mean person” ? Answer: Lashon Hora does not apply to… Read more »
Buying non kosher food
Question: I work in a place where there are non Jews and Jews, I have been asked to do the lunch run which will no doubt involve buying non kosher… Read more »
Uber eats
Question: Can you deliver food for Uber eats if it’s treif meat or basar bchalav? Does it matter if it’s to a Jew or not? Answer: Please see the following… Read more »
Removing Mezuzot when selling home to Reform Jews
Question: We are selling house to a reform couple, where woman is not jewish according to Halacha (she has a jewish father and non jewish mother) and the husband is… Read more »
Basar shenisalem/lifnei iver
Question: Likvod Harav Shlita, At a business meeting, my friend was served a kosher turkey sandwich. Another businessman, who is Jewish but not observant, said to him, “I see you… Read more »
kosher work
Question: Hello, Thanks so much for taking the time to help. My question is: Is it ok to work in a stationary store that may sell non-jewish religious items during… Read more »
bowing: follow up question
Question: Hello, Thanks for your help. My question is regarding the concept of bowing down/ crouching down to greet/pet an animal. There is clearly no religious intent whatsoever, it is… Read more »
Avoda Zara picture at work
Question: A Jewish workplace has a picture of their product with an idol from asia in the background, is this forbidden? Should I do something about it? Answer: Although it… Read more »
Sitting shiva
Question: Must you sit shiva for a parent even if you have had barely any contact with them their whole life? Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem btoch shar aveilei tzion v’yerushalayim… Read more »
Giving a description
Question: Is it Lashon Hara and/or wrong to describe a person, yeshiva, or shul as ‘out of town’. (Not for Shidduchim purposes). Thank You! Answer: It depends on the circumstances… Read more »
Asking parents to buy something for you.
Question: I remember that due to Kibud Av ve Am, we are not allowed to ask parents to buy something for us. However, if I know for sure, that the… Read more »
Can I sell/distribute newspapers if they may have Lashon Hara in them?
Question: Can I sell/distribute newspapers or jewish magazines if they may have articles with Lashon Hara in them? Answer: We can assume that kosher newspapers are careful about these halachos,… Read more »
Leonardo hotel in Tiveriah, a problem for kohanim?
Question: We plan on going to Leonardo hotel in Tiveriah is it an issue cuz we are kohanim Answer: The hotel itself is alright, however some of the roads in… Read more »
Difference of rabbis opinion
Question: Shalom Rav what does one do when he hears of a rabbi in his communtiy who holds differrently to other but is a reputable talmid chacham? recently a rabbi… Read more »
Is this lashon hara (a sin) or t’oles (mitzvah)?
Question: Hello, Thank you so much for your help. My question is regarding if something is lashon hara. I prefaced the question to my friend who is a Rebbetzin saying… Read more »
assisting a mechallel shabbos
Question: On Shabbos, in a reshus harabbim, there is a Jew who is standing outside a shul because he does not know the password to open the door. The Jew… Read more »
Question: To the Rav, Is it permissible to send an email on Friday afternoon (when it is שבת in א”י already) to a not frum person in ארץ ישראל that… Read more »
Confused if this is permissible in Jewish law
Question: Is an Easter egg necklace pendant allowed to be worn if it does not have any religious symbols on it? It is a faberge egg. But it was originally… Read more »
Is it considered loshon hora to mention that someone cried (a woman)?
Question: Someone acted negatively to someone and caused them to cry. While rebuking the culprit, I mentioned that they caused the other person to cry. I later regretted mentioning that…. Read more »
Is street photography allowed?
Question: Dear rabbi, I enjoy the art of photography in my free time and document the world around me through the lense of my camera. I do not take untznius… Read more »
Discussing teacher with husband
Question: Thank you for this incredible service and harbatzas hatorah! It is halachically permitted for me to discuss my son’s teacher with my husband if there is not a specific… Read more »
Does one need a Mezuzah on doors to a narrow balcony?
Question: Does one need a Mezuzah on doors to a narrow balcony? Answer: you should put up mezuza there on the right side of the door when you come inside… Read more »
skeleton doctors office
Question: RE; skeleton in doctors office Q: I was in a doctor’s office and saw an infant’s skeleton. Do I have to publicize this to make kohanim aware? can I… Read more »
skeleton in doctors office
Question: I was in a doctor’s office and saw an infant’s skeleton. Do I have to publicize this to make kohanim aware? can I assume that it is NOT from… Read more »
Conversations with husband – Toeles?
Question: My mother in law is coming to town. I dont like how she intereacts with our kids sometimes. I want to know if I can halachically discuss my discomforts… Read more »
Mezuzah on porch
Question: Porch is 50 x 140 cm – do I need a mezuzah on it Answer: You should put a mezuza on it, but it should be on the right… Read more »
Can you rent an apartment in Chutz Laretz to someone who will bring in idols.
Question: Can you rent an apartment in Chutz Laretz to someone who will bring in idols. Answer: It is permitted to rent him an apartment, even if he will bring… Read more »
Informing regarding wrong item sent
Question: Hello, Thank you so much for your help, it is sincerely appreciated. I recently ordered something online and the wrong item was sent (there were two color options and… Read more »
Mezuzah on a mobile home
Question: Hi, If one lives (permanently) in a mobile home, does it need a mezuzah? What if he lives in it but not permanently (i.e. for a week-long vacation)? Thanks!… Read more »
Father might not say brachos
Question: My father who lives afar is coming to visit my family for a short time. If I remember correctly, he doesn’t always say brachos, sometimes doesn’t say the correct… Read more »
Wearing shoes while sleeping
Question: Regarding what it says in Gemara in yoma about sleeping with shoes – is it a problem to doze off on the train, or while learning, while wearing shoes?… Read more »
Can I look at Budhas if I am going on vacation to Thailand
Question: I am going to Thailand and the tour includes several Budhas and temples. Can i look at them? Answer: You would be well advised to avoid all such places…. Read more »
Siyum by both chavrusas separately
Question: My chavrusa and I finished Sanhedrin. Usually we make a joint siyum. Can we each make our own siyum separately if necessary? Answer: Mazal Tov! You can both make… Read more »
loshon hora and shidduchim
Question: The חפץ חיים writes מותר to ask people about this בחור in תורה, if he did not ask you directly, he just said tell me about this and this… Read more »
loshon hora
Question: If a בחור took off the door of his principle’s office before Purim, and now the Yeshiva is trying to figure out who did it, and the only one… Read more »
Sharing negative impression with husband
Question: Lichvod Harav We are considering playgroup options for our child and I’ve met several people with playgroups. Can I discuss my impressions with my husband openly even if it… Read more »
Possible lashon hara in blog comments and what to do exactly?
Question: Shalom aleichem kavod harav, I’m a middle-aged woman with a frum blog featuring articles relating to emuna & charedi politics & social issues from a frum perspective. I have a very… Read more »
Is it true not to let a baby looks at itself in a mirror before its teeth start to come out?
Question: Is it true that it is not proper to let a baby looks at itself in a mirror before its teeth start to come out? Thank you very much… Read more »
Stepping over child
Question: I hear that it is a problem to step over a child who is on the ground, and that the person should go back if he did. Is that… Read more »
Davening for cholim and saying tehillim at night
Question: Hi, I’ve learned that we are not supposed to recite tehillim after sunset, and was wondering if this extends to davening for cholim as well, or if it’s specific… Read more »
To buy house from a church
Question: Is it permitted to buy a house that belongs to a church the house wasn’t used for the purpose of a church Answer: In general, we should not be… Read more »
Tehilim at night with kabala
Question: I have a kabula to say everyday tehilim, and today I forgot, may I say it at night? Answer: While it is preferred to say the tehillim during the… Read more »
Kaddish for Siyum
Question: Does one say the full nusach of the Kaddish for a siyum, on Shabbos or on a day one does not say Tachanun? Answer: The kaddish said by a… Read more »
Should you kill a rodent/animal which is in severe pain
Question: Shalom Rabbi, I rent out a apartment in Jerusalem with a few other people. We have been affected by mice which come in on a daily basis. We get… Read more »
Study torah while having a Haircut
Question: Hi Is one allowed to study torah while he is having his hair cut ( without using kipa of course) Thanks Answer: One is allowed to think in learning… Read more »
loshon hora
Question: חפץ חיים כלל ב וְעַל כֵּן צָּרִיךְ לִזָּהֵר מְאֹד, אֲפִלּוּ אִם מְפֻרְסָם (כ) עַל אָדָם עִנְיָן אֶחָד לְרַע שֶׁעָשָׂה בְּנַעְרוּתוֹ, אַךְ מֵאָז וְעַד עַתָּה הוּא מִתְנַהֵג כַּשּׁוּרָה, אוֹ שֶׁמְּפֻרְסָם… Read more »