Question: If the person is moving and they have expensive mezuzos, can they replace them with less expensive mezuzos? In addition if the apartment is being renovated must they… Read more »
Category: Commandments and prohibitions
Rabbis doing good for others – Free of Charge
Question: Why does a Rabbi guide people free of charge? A Rabbi believes to do good in order to receive good from the – Almighty. Additionally, why free of cost?… Read more »
Prayer in multi-faith room
Question: I am traveling to USA and will be landing in Newark early morning and waiting for connecting flight a few hours later. It has always been difficult to find… Read more »
Obeying father after wedding
Question: I have a very close friend. Their family fostered me for the last almost 2 years. I come from a religious background but am currently not practicing. This family… Read more »
owning a round 7 branch candelabra?
Question: Is one allowed to own a Round 7 branch candelabra? Answer: According to most poskim the same way that we are not allowed to make a menorah of 7… Read more »
Visiting the Vatican
Question: I am travelling to Rome in a couple of weeks. Am I allowed to go into the Vatican and if yes where can I go and where can’t I… Read more »
Building a Fence
Question: Does a children’s playground/climbing frame require a fence of 10 tefachim, or would less be suitable – around 70cm as that would be sufficient for children’s safety. The platform… Read more »
Owning objects with idolatrous symbols
Question: Kavod Harabanim, I have an unusual hobby – I am fond of collecting and flying the flags of sovereign countries! I am also an observant Jew that tries to… Read more »
Leaving a Mezuzah When a Lease on a Storefront Ends
Question: My lease on my storefront shop is up and will not be renewed. The landlord is Jewish. We had put up Mezuzahs. Must we leave them up? We don’t… Read more »
Lashon Hora about person acting against the law
Question: Shalom, I became a Baal Tsuva many years ago during my service in the United States Navy. The United States military has it’s own legal system. On my ship… Read more »
Avodah zarah question
Question: Dear Rabbi, Can one wear a necklace with a cat on it. A silver charm but flat metal. Like a rectangular shape. Answer: I don’t see an issue with… Read more »
Avoda Zara in video game
Question: I am playing a video game where you have to take down a cult. During one part of the game , you get drugged but them and hallucinate things…. Read more »
Moldy bread
Question: CAN MOLDY BREAD BE THROWN AWAY without worry? Can a person cause old bread to become moldy so that it can be thrown away? Answer: Bread that is not… Read more »
Wishing Merry Christmas
Question: Hi, Is there, according to halacha, a problem with wishing someone a Merry Christmas? Does it matter if they say it first or if I initiate? Thank you very… Read more »
Are ashes from cemation mtamei in a house
Question: My brother unfortunately was cremated and my sister has a vial of his ashes in her house. Can I visit and sleep over at my sister’s house? Answer: This… Read more »
Meat chalah with fish
Question: I warmed up a Chayah on chulent pot. If the chulent is boiling can the Chalah be eaten with fish? Thank you Answer: According to most poskim, we are… Read more »
Can Jews attend work holiday party?
Question: Rabbi, can Jews attend work holiday parties if it is only food and drinks? No caroling or Christmas stuff. I need to bring a gift for White Elephant (random… Read more »
Selling Christian Jewelry
Question: Recently acquired a jewelry business – part of their catalog included christian religious medals worn as a necklace pendant. Is there any halachic issue selling this? My understanding is… Read more »
Water left overnight and secunah
Question: With those items mention in niddah eggs onions garlic and water. Do they effect the keli they were in? Does the keli have ruachrah? Answer: It is not an… Read more »
Talking on cell phone while driving
Question: Is it permitted to talk on a cell phone while driving a car? And if not, is it problematic because of the distraction of physically manipulating the phone, the… Read more »
Baby looking in a mirror
Question: Is there any problem for a baby to look at their reflection in the mirror? Answer: There are some people that have such a minhag. If it your minhag… Read more »
Renting to a church
Question: i have a building could i rent it to a church Answer: It is good that you asked because, no, we are not allowed to rent our property to… Read more »
Siyum Washing
Question: Shalom. What is the appropriate method when making a siyum and a seuda. Does one make the siyum first and then washes or washes then make the siyum? Thank… Read more »
Can I take a picture in front of a Christmas tree?
Question: Is it permitted to take a picture or have someone else take a picture of me in front of a Christmas tree at a shopping mall? Answer: Please see… Read more »
Holiday
Question: Rabbi, can one look in a store with Christmas decorations as long as I do not buy anything? And can I take pics in front of a decorated tree?… Read more »
Response to “Giving a secondary reason”
Question: You write this week “In addition, if you state that you didn’t participate because you were indisposed you are not telling the truth, since you would not have attended… Read more »
Hebrew birthday on December 25th
Question: My Hebrew birthday is 17 Tevet, which this year falls on December 25th, a major non-Jewish holiday on which we usually refrain from celebrating or studying Torah. May I… Read more »
Doing work for a Charedi client who is selling statutes on Amazon
Question: I run a U.S. business that files trademarks for frum businesses. We have a Charedi client from Monsey who sells a number of products on Amazon and has used… Read more »
Avoda Zara
Question: Is it Avoda Zara to learn about Catholicism because I was interested in parts of their religion and wanted to do it, especially catholic confession? Is it Avoda Zara… Read more »
Illusions
Question: Are magic tricks illusions) forbidden as entertainment? Answer: Good question- please see the following links that talk extensively about your question http://dinonline.org/2010/06/22/magic-as-innocent-as-it-seems/ http://dinonline.org/2017/07/07/magic-in-halacha-between-tricks-and-sorcery/ http://dinonline.org/2015/06/29/a-halachic-glance-at-magic/ Best Wishes
Obligation to obey one’s parents
Question: Hi, I saw an question on the site in which you answered that when there is a loss, one need not obey their parents when it comes to things… Read more »
Causing bruise to parent
Question: Is it a problem if father son are joking horsing around and son accidentally causes a bruise to father? If it is a problem how does one do teshuva?… Read more »
Goy praying for yid
Question: My sister is quite sick and there are multiple goyim (catholics) asking to “pray” for her. Is it permissible to let a goy pray for a yid’s refuah shlemah?… Read more »
Saying a comment that makes someone say Lashan Hara
Question: Hello, If someone was about to say a story that was Lashan Hara, you made a comment, which in essence made him continue his story (a follow up question… Read more »
Throwing out bread
Question: After Shabbos or on a weekday bread is left over from the meal. I like to eat and buy fresh bread. I’m afraid to throw bread out because of… Read more »
Working as a fashion designer, what to consider?
Question: Hi, I studied Fashion Design and became a Ba’al Teshuva at the same time. Now I would like to look for a job (outside of Israel). In terms of… Read more »
Nashim da’atan kalos
Question: Dear Rav, I never understood what the Gemara says that nashim daatan kalos hen and that’s why they shouldn’t learn Gemara. We see so many brilliant women who are… Read more »
Is it allowed to read and keep copies of the christian bible
Question: I found on the street booklets of missions to Christianity, Am i allowed to read them / keep them fro educational purposes or am i mechuav to throw them… Read more »
keeping 3d statues
Question: My parents have 3d decorative statues that they received from their parents. They seems to be clearly decorative. My parents are hesitant to throw them away, because of sentimental… Read more »
Honoring your parents in law
Question: My father in law talks loshan hora. As a matter of fact most of his conversation is name dropping and then talking in depth about them. He is an… Read more »
When is it permitted for an adult child to disobey their parent?
Question: Hi! I’m looking for a halachic answer to this question – not the musar perspective. I have an upcoming business trip abroad centered around a meeting that will take… Read more »
Should Jews do business with Argentina?
Question: Dear Rabbi, Yes rewards a jew. So does money. Argentina has a coin which depicts a sun. Yireh says I can not possess a coin with a graven image… Read more »
Do my mitzvos go to the person that I spoke Lashon Hora about?
Question: Dear Rav, Is what I heard true that if one speaks lashon hara, even once, on someone else, he gives away all his mitzvos that he has done in… Read more »
Listening to shiurim when one has an upset stomache
Question: If someone has an upset stomache to the point where they can’t wear tefillin, is he allowed to listen to shiurim online? It would be very hard if I… Read more »
Teshuva for Lashon Hara
Question: Rabbi, I have committed Lashon Hara against a number of people. When does one need to ask forgivness to another person? Also, how can I do Teshuvah for the… Read more »
Swimming in a pool in a conservative temple
Question: A conservative shul has a swimming pool with co-ed swimming but has hours for men only. Can a man pay money to swim there during men’s hours? Is that… Read more »
Moving into a new house
Question: Dear Rabbonim, A few questions on buying a new home On receipt of the keys for a newly built home I assume one would say Shecheyahu – but… Read more »
Kibud Av V’em and giving Charity above ones means
Question: My question relates to my elderly father may he live long and enjoy good health. He is 89 years old bli ayin hara and lives with my mother who… Read more »
Buying a house with idols/Avodah Zarah
Question: Looking at a house currently owned by a Hindu family. There are rooms in the house that have been set up as shrines to specific idols. While the house… Read more »
Kids not eating Crust
Question: Is it wrong for kids not to eat crust of bread if they only like the inside? Answer: Not eating the crust, which would cause it to be thrown… Read more »