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 »
Category: Commandments and prohibitions
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 »
Lashon Hara and/or Rechilut through inference
Question: A not so uncommon scenario. Let us say that there are 2 companies. Company ‘A’ run by Reuven and Shimon (clearly a Jewish company) and company ‘B’ run by… Read more »
Sanctity of life for an animal?
Question: We know that under most circumstances we do everything we can to prolong life and certainly prevent death for people, but what about animals? Our goldfish was clearly on… Read more »
Who comes first, your mother or your wife?
Question: If you have two telephone calls coming through, who’s do you answer, your mother’s or your wife’s? Answer: Your question involves more than just knowing the cut and dry… Read more »
Halacha Learning
Question: Shalom, At times I get overwhelm in learning halacha. There’s much to learn and I have not found a proper guideline in how to approach the topic and seforim… Read more »
Souvenir figurine that might be an idol
Question: When I was in high school one of my friends went on a trip to India and brought me back a miniature statue of Buddha. My parents didn’t like… Read more »
learning while barefoot
Question: Is there a problem to learn torah while barefoot? Answer: It is permitted to learn torah while barefoot. There are many societies that the people only go barefoot. in… Read more »
Cut down a crabapple tree?
Question: Since crabapples are not usually eaten. And you also said, one cannot make a Birkas Ha’ilanos on it, since you considered it an Ilan Srak. Can one cut down… Read more »
Cow head and large bull head, could this be Ovoda Zara
Question: Hi, I would like to hang a large cow head and large bull head in my kitchen. These are faux taxidermies. They are made of plaster and come in… Read more »
Do you have a map of where kohanim are allowed to go in Teveria?
Question: HI. do you have a map of where kohanim are allowed to go in Teveria? Answer: Unfortunately I don’t but you can call 079-5738138, and ask them for one…. Read more »
Mezuza on door way without a crossbar
Question: Dear Rabbonim, If you have an entrance from a living room into a kitchen, both of suitable size, and the entrance has 2 walls but the משקוף is the… Read more »
fruit tree
Question: A tree that grows on it blackberries is it considered a fruit tree and is not permitted to be cut how about trimming the tree Answer: A tree that… Read more »
A book of all religions in the world with pictures as well, does it need to be burned, torn up or can it be sold?
Question: A book of all religions in the world with pictures as well, does it need to be burned, torn up or can it be sold? It has a section… Read more »
Do you confront boss when doing something unethical ?
Question: If a person is in a workplace and his boss is doing something unethical what do you do in a worker position ? Do you keep on working for… Read more »
Divulging confidential information when it could bring about a solution to the problem at hand
Question: A and B are brothers. their parents are C and D. A lives out of town and is currently struggling with parnasah. he is hesitant to move back to… Read more »
spaying
Question: Hello, We have a 3 mo old female puppy. We have her because we have kids with anxiety, and animals can greatly help with the healing process for that…. Read more »
Berchas and Bdikas Mezuzah
Question: I’m in an apartment for rent do I need to make a brocha by putting on the Mezuzahs? also how often one should be bodek his Mezuzahs? Answer: If… Read more »
Co-workers follow up
Question: Rabbi, what if while in a group of the co-workers they start to gossip, and I smile or make a comment that would appear like I agree with the… Read more »
Advice for co-workers
Question: Rabbi, Please help me with this situation. I was in a group spending time with co-workers and all of a sudden they started gossiping about other people working in… Read more »
Raising chicks
Question: kids came home with baby chick from day camp. Any issue with having a baby chick raised in our house. I understand that we need to take well care… Read more »
Tzaar Ba’alei Chaim
Question: During the hot summer months, taking the trash out too early (for pickup) could attract animals. Does spraying around the garbage bags (to repel them) with ammonia, other toxic… Read more »
Using Product with the symbol of the Swiss Flag
Question: Could I use pots by Swiss Diamond Co. It has the Swiss Flag symbol on the underside of the pan as well as on the handle? Thank You Answer:… Read more »
Women dancing at a wedding behid a mechitza when man is watching
Question: When women are dancing at a wedding on the women’s side, and there is a man at the entrance watching them, is it permitted for them to continue dancing… Read more »
Has a big Rabbi furnished you with an opinion regarding #47211 “Working with a Catholic priest”?
Question: On June 4, 2018 I received a message that included, “I am not sure if this is indeed a concern or not, and I had the point send to… Read more »
mezuzah on the Bungalow
Question: Mezuzah on a bungalow needs a bracha? Answer: The assumption is that you are asking regarding a bungalow located outside of E. Yisroel that is being rented for more… Read more »
Photography for non tznius fashion blog
Question: Hi Someone in my community asked me to take photos for them for their fashion blog. The clothing they are wearing are not tznius at all. Am I allowed… Read more »
Why is wrong to believe what someone says about someone else?
Question: Why is it wrong to believe someone when they say something about someone else? Isn’t that an example of judging unfavorably (assuming that the person is lying)? Why shouldn’t… Read more »
Burning sage
Question: Is burning sage to get rid of bad energy avoda zora? Answer: While I am not familiar with this practice so I can’t say that it is avoda zara,… Read more »
Is there any Avodah Zara issues involved in burning incense sticks made in India?
Question: Is there any Avodah Zara issues involved in burning incense sticks made in India? They are sold by www.darshanincense.com Answer: These incense sticks are often used as an offering… Read more »
Does Fifth commandment apply to adopted child!
Question: Does the Fifth commandment apply to a biological parent when the child is adopted? Answer: Yes it does. The main reason for the mitzva of kibbuds av v’em is… Read more »
Who has the greater merit from leaning?
Question: I heard that an ignorant person who had no opportunity to learn or observe, has greater merit in starting to learn than the scholar who continues to learn although… Read more »
Returning the eggs after doing shiluach haken
Question: I have read that after sending the mother away and taking the eggs, it is permissible to return the eggs to its nest, is that so? If yes, do… Read more »
Muscle testing
Question: Is It Permissible To Do Muscle Testing and/ Or to use A Pendulum To Test what foods allergic to ? And to test what emotional issues a person has… Read more »
Cutting down a fruit tree that doesn’t produce fruit anymore
Question: Can one cut down a fruit tree that doesn’t produce fruit anymore? Thank you very much! Answer: If it is clear that the tree does not produce fruits anymore… Read more »
Sick pet fish
Question: Can one take a sick fish out of water to end its suffering? Thank you Answer: During the week this is what should be done in order to minimize… Read more »
Working for a company that sells e-cigarettes
Question: Hi, I work for a company in Israel that is owned by Altria, a public traded company that sells cigarettes wine and e-cigarettes. Is their an issur in working… Read more »
Ameilis B’Torah for Working Person
Question: Rabbi, How can a person, who works all day and then has responsibilities at home and ends up having an hour to an hour and a half to learn… Read more »
Repenting for gossip
Question: Dear Rabbi, I need your help understanding something in Torah. It’s the issue of Lashon Hara. I am guilty of gossiping (a lot) throughout my life. I gossipped due… Read more »
Secretary in school and lashon hora
Question: What is the heter for the secretary in a school to type all the school grades (even the low grades and behavior problems) into the computer system. There is… Read more »
Working with a Catholic priest
Question: Dear Rabbi, Of course I realize that many members of the Catholic church have not always treated Jews well. Also I’m aware that many rabbis consider Christianity to be… Read more »
Meteorology book
Question: Dear Rabbi, Do I have to block out any pictures of the sun and moon in my meteorology textbook (and if so how)? Answer: This is a tough… Read more »
shiluach haken
Question: are American Robin kosher for shiluach haken Answer: Please see the following post where this was discussed. http://dinonline.org/2010/05/16/shiluach-haken/ Best Wishes
Re: the punishment of the person about whom lashon hara is spoken
Question: BH In the article about lashon hara, it is stated that even the person about whom lashon hara is said, is punished. What is the basis for this–especially, if… Read more »
New age objects and books (astrology, buddhism and feng shui
Question: Hi I am not a jew. I am catholic but no practicing. I found in Internet several Rabs (Yonathan Galed) and orthodox jew kabbalah masters (Albert Gozlan) and I… Read more »
Can the mitzvah of Shiluach hakan be performed with a Blue Jay?
Question: Can the mitzvah of Shiluach hakan be performed with a Blue Jay? Answer: The general rule is that if the bird is essentially kosher, even if we d not… Read more »
Tefillin and Mezuzot Issues
Question: I have my Tefillin and Mezuzot checked regularly (by a qualified Sofer). But how is it possible to determine whether Sta”m was written with the proper Kavannot (at the… Read more »
I kno that the speaker and the listener get son for speaking Loshon Horaah. Does the subject the person spoken abt also get sin?
Question: I kno listener n speaker of loshon horah get sin. Does the subject the person spoken abt also get sin? Answer: The Midrash says that loshon hora kills three… Read more »
shiva and child abuse
Question: A father is accused of child abuse. He is orthodox and keeps Halacha despite his failings. Are his children obligated to sit shiva for him on his death? Answer:… Read more »
Photography Of A Buddha
Question: Hi I am a product photographer, now i have a client who wants me to photograph a Buddha. Is it allowed? is it Lekatchilah? Thank you in advance. Answer:… Read more »