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 »
Category: Commandments and prohibitions
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 »
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 »