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 »
Category: Commandments and prohibitions
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 »
Can a mezuzah be placed on a headstone?
Question: Can a mezuzah be placed on a headstone? My husband recently died and i’ve Sold my house to a non- Jewish family. I took my Mezuzah down and would… Read more »
Is reporting a bad Amazon seller מסירה
Question: Hello Rabbi Thanks for the service. I am an Amazon seller in the Judaica field. One of my competitors is hurting us by undercutting our prices. This is defiantly… Read more »
Jews and Christmas
Question: Hello Rabbi! I was born and raised in a Jewish home. In college I met a girl that was not raised in a Jewish home. She became interested in… Read more »
LASIK in Halacha
Question: Is it permissible to undergo surgery to correct one’s vision, where the sole purpose of the surgery is to alleviate the need of glasses or contact lenses? Answer: It… Read more »
Combs
Question: Dear Rabbi, I had just bought a wooden comb online for my beard. It was noted to be a peach tree comb which I selectively now wonder the halacha…. Read more »
Predating forms for business
Question: Kavod HaRav I often have to fill in forms for my company which take a long time to do so. Recently I filled in a parking form while waiting… Read more »
Lying for Shalom
Question: if somebody lies for shalom bayis, does that mean that they have to keep that loe? for “i am not going etc” can he actually go afterward? Answer: The… Read more »
kohanim and corpses
Question: Are medical students who are Jewish kohamim allowed to dissect cadavers for the medical training purposes under Halachic law? Answer: A kohen has to be careful not to become… Read more »
Getting into situations where I probably will be hearing Lashon Hara
Question: If I know I’ll probably be hearing Lashon Hara while doing an act of chessed and I know that it’s very possible that I won’t have the courage to… Read more »
Christian gospel music, ok?
Question: Christian gospel music: Assur? Discouraged? Would there be a difference in how clearly the lyrics are associated with Yashka? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch 142-15 writes that it is forbidden… Read more »
Lashon hara
Question: Is it lashon hara to say the name of a person that choked in your school today? Answer: A person that unfortunately choked is not an embarrassment to the… Read more »
Feelings about kabbalah
Question: Dear Rabbi, As a jew matures, his mysticism may develop. Does he discern whether he has an inner kabbalah he may learn? How much will a jew learn in… Read more »
teaching torah to goyim
Question: In a few days from now, I have an assignment for school where I have to bring in a cultural artifact and do show and tell. Can I show… Read more »
May one purchase products made by Amish people?
Question: May one purchase products made by Amish people? Answer: We are allowed to do business with the Amish, the same way we are allowed to do business with any… Read more »
Rising for a woman
Question: Is there ever a time when one would rise for a woman? Thank you Answer: Here are a number of times when one should stand up for a woman…. Read more »
Avoda Zara
Question: I saw this on Wikipedia.(see attached screenshot). Because of this would there be any problem with buying a Mazda? Attached: Attached file 1 Answer: This would not pose a… Read more »
Saying names of Greek gods
Question: May one say names of ancient gods, such as Hercules, Zeus, etc.? Does it make a difference if they are no longer worshiped? Answer: Regarding saying the names of… Read more »
Double Wrapped Fish in Cholent
Question: Someone accidentally put double wrapped gefilte Fish in their meat cholent (thinking it was kishka), and it cooked all night. Can they eat the fish and/or the cholent relying… Read more »
writing merry xmas
Question: Hi. I’m a graphic artist that works for a product display company. We are designing holiday displays and they want me to write Merry Xmas (full word) on the… Read more »
Shidduchim and mental illness
Question: Hello, I have a close friend which I have known for many years and I want to set her up with potential shidduchim bh. However, she was diagnosed with… Read more »
paintings
Question: I got some paintings. Some may have images of angels and people. Also pictures of sun or moon. Is this a problem Answer: Although there is a problem with… Read more »
renting commercial space to a church
Question: Hello, Is one permitted to rent space to a church? I would imagine this would present numerous issues, including (i) deriving benefit from avodah zarah, and (ii) enabling a… Read more »
No kippah at work and studying torah
Question: Hi, my work enviornment is not conducive and I dare go to say non Jewish friendly at all. Environment that I’m in actually has no idea I’m Jewish (Security)… Read more »
Concerning listening to non-Jewish music, or Christian music
Question: Listening to Christian music is downright forbidden, and listening to non-Jewish music in general is within a spectrum of being muttar, to frowned upon, to assur depending on the… Read more »
Listening to a song with Christian lyrics
Question: 1) May one listen to a song with Christian lyrics? The song contains strong references to Christianity (e.g. Yoshka being hanged on a cross). Is it allowed to be… Read more »
Prostate cancer and ejaculation?
Question: It is possible that frequent ejaculation reduces the risk for prostate cancer (https://www.healthline.com/health/prostate-cancer/ejaculation-prostate-cancer#risk-factors3). If that was found to be conclusively true (or maybe just due to the possibility of… Read more »
כל התורה כולה
Question: What parts of Torah fit into the definition of כל התורה קולה? What exactly would one have to learn in order to complete it? Answer: It is impossible to… Read more »
share a picture
Question: Is it permissible to show a picture of a friend to my mother who is interested in a shidduch for my brother, without my friend knowing about it? … Read more »