Question: Can one drink from a kettle of hot water that was put up by a Yid that does not wash Negel Vasser Answer: If the person that didn’t wash… Read more »
Category: Daily Living
Can I say shema if I’m not tznius
Question: Can I say shema if I’m not tznius Answer: It is preferable to be tznius and that one’s chest be covered when saying kriyas shema, but technically you can… Read more »
Davening in front of a picture of a woman
Question: Is one allowed to say a bracha in front of a picture of a woman who is not tznius, and by scale it would be more than a tefach,… Read more »
Saying the birkas baal habayis for spouse
Question: in benching after al yichasreinu there is an option to say a tefilla for the baal habayis. should one say this for his spouse? Answer: It is not customary… Read more »
Benching on Crackers
Question: I like to Bench at least once a day, BLI NADR. I can’t always find bread. How can I be KOVEIA Seudah on crackers? How much must I eat… Read more »
Washing hands before davening
Question: Is there a limud zchus on the many ppl who aren’t makpid to wash hands before davening Mincha/mariv? Answer: Interesting question. I don’t know. Maybe if they think that… Read more »
Which arm for tefillin?
Question: I use my right hand for tasks that involve precise control such as writing. However, my left hand and foot are used for most sports, since they are more… Read more »
brachan on doughnuts
Question: What bracha do i recite on sufganiot? Answer: The bracha on doughnuts is controversial, but the minhag is to make mezonos on them. Sources: Shulchan Aruch O:CH 168-13
No Tefillin
Question: What do I do if I don’t have Tefillin and can’t borrow someone else’s or get them Answer: You should do whatever you can to get tefiilin. If you… Read more »
Beracha of ceasar salad
Question: Shalom , what is the beracha for ceasar salad – which includes “crouton” (bread cubes) may be considered tafel to the salad even if the quantity is considerable Thanks… Read more »
When to say birchas hatorah
Question: When does the chiyuv for birchas hatorah start? I work transcribing Torah shiurim and sometimes I work after chatzos at night. Do I need to say birchas hatorah after… Read more »
Does a very wide scarf need tzitzis or a rounded corner?
Question: I am buying some fleece fabric to make long & wide scarves for the family. The bolt of fabric is 60 inches wide (152 cm). That would be the… Read more »
Steamed bread – mezonot or hamotzi?
Question: There’s a certain type of bread roll made in Asian cuisines called Bao, also known as steamed buns or baozi. They can either be stuffed with something, usually meat… Read more »
Bracha for LICORICE
Question: Licorice is made from wheat. What is the bracha? Many say SHACHOL. Answer: That is true, it is almost universally accepted among the poskim say to say shehakol on… Read more »
righty putting tefilin on right arm
Question: What if a right-handed person is in the hospital and has bandages on his left arm- can he put his Shel Yad on his right arm? Answer: He may… Read more »
Tefillin with iv tubes
Question: How should one put on the arm tefillin if a bunch of iv tubes are attached Answer: The main part of the arm that the tefillin has to be… Read more »
Brocho achroneh on mezones and shehakol
Question: Dear Rabbi When one eats something that requires the brocho mezones and also eats something that needs a brocho shehakol, does one need always need to make Al Hamichio… Read more »
Is Tefillas Shmoneh Esrei a hefsek for seudah?
Question: Sometimes I’m working in my office and it gets time for Minchah — because of my location I most often daven in the office. At times I’m b’emtze seudah,… Read more »
Mincha Maariv
Question: Shalom. 1) Is there a maalah to daven mincha right before shekia (and maybe finishing right after shekia) and then wait a few minutes for shekia to daven maariv?… Read more »
Waking up early and washing hands
Question: Dear Rabbi, If I wake up early to learn (before Alos hasachar), do I need to wash my hands again after Alos before I daven shacharis? Answer: Yes you… Read more »
Bracha on Tzitzis
Question: The Zman for putting on the talis for ex. Is 6 am. Can you hold the talis over your head at 5:59:30 or before in anticipation of the 6:00… Read more »
Rubbing hands after washing for bread
Question: When does one rub his/ her hands after washing for bread? After the washing, but before the Bracha or after the Bracha but before the drying? Answer: The Chayei… Read more »
Feeding my pet before eating
Question: in the morning we give our cat food before we eat. what about lunch? what if the cat eats later at 2 or 3. should we not eat until… Read more »
Tal U’motor for visitor to E. Israel
Question: Chalom I will travel to E. Israel next week on Oct 16 (7 cheshvan). I will stay 2 weeks. My question is regarding saying tal umotor (in E. Israel… Read more »
Bracha on Almond flour muffins
Question: My wife baked some muffins with the main ingredient being White Almond Flour which is ground Almonds she also puts some Pumpkin puree my question is what bracha do… Read more »
Left Handed Cohen – birkat kohanim
Question: Dear Rabbi, I understand that in Birkat Kohanim, the Cohen raises his right hand slightly higher than the left. Does the same apply to a left-handed Cohen, or does… Read more »
Davening before neitz for a woman
Question: Hi, Is a woman allowed to daven shachris before Neitz (but after alos)? Answer: If you won’t be able to daven otherwise then it is permitted, as it is… Read more »
Tashlumin for shachrais and musaf by mincha
Question: If a person was sick and did not daven shachris and musaf and now it is time to daven mincha (and there is enough time to daven all the… Read more »
Regarding brachah achrona, at what point is item not considered whole?
Question: If eating a single grape etc and one wants to avoid questions of bracha achrona, does biting the grape in half first suffice to render it not whole? Does… Read more »
Netilat Yadayim for french fries with ketchup?
Question: hello, does a person have to wash his hands (netilat yadayim) when he dips food that are meant to be dipped in a liquid. For instance french fries in… Read more »
What Bracha do you make on an acai bowl?
Question: Hi, What Bracha do you make on an acai bowl? Here’s a link for reference: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/acai-breakfast-bowl-3363448 Thanks! Answer: It seems that this bowl is made of pureed fruit, therefore… Read more »
End of Shabbat
Question: Many shuls in the U.S. start maariv around eight minutes before Shabbat is over, so that by the end it will be time for maariv. Doesn’t this create a… Read more »
What name I should use when I am called to the Torah?
Question: Shalom Staff, This is my second attempt to receive an answer about this question. My original question to you was not about what I’m called at this point because… Read more »
After which word do you release the tzitziot when saying Sh’ma of Arvit on Yom Kippur
Question: My question is: After which word do you release the tzitziot when saying Sh’ma of Arvit on Yom Kippur? During Shacharit throughout the year, it says to kiss and… Read more »
Do the tzitzit string have to hang off the side of the cloth or the bottom?
Question: You know the strings that come out of the hole on the corner of the zizit? I learnt that it has to be coming out from the side and… Read more »
Can an individual in his home say Anim Zmirot or Avinu Malkenu?
Question: Can an individual in his home say Anim Zmirot or Avinu Malkenu? Answer: Regarding Anim Zmiros, I haven’t seen anything on this, however it is usually only said with… Read more »
Kaparot and adoption
Question: Hi and Shana Tova. We are preparing for kaparot and we have been asked to submit the names of our family for the berakhot. My husband is adopted but… Read more »
Called Up To Torah When Father Doesn’t Have a Jewish Name
Question: Shalom Rabbi, What is the solution when a jew has a father who is also jewish but never had a bris and was never given a jewish name. Does… Read more »
kadish
Question: can one say kadish for a young jewish singer who was not shomer torah and mitzvot if he passes away because you know nobody is capable of saying it… Read more »
How can I find out where is the upper limit for placing the tefillin shel rosh?
Question: How can I find out where makom shemocho shel tinok rofeis is with regard to the upper limit of the tefillin shel rosh? Answer: The Tur writes that makom… Read more »
Davening neitz
Question: What is significance/ chashivus of saving at neitz? Answer: The preferred time to daven is exactly when the sun begins to rise over the horizon, as the Posuk says… Read more »
Tightness of First Tzitzis Knot
Question: I recently strung a tallis using some rather low-quality threads. After I was done, I noticed that for two of the double knots closest to the beged (which we… Read more »
Checking tefillin if they were left in the heat
Question: I am super paranoid of tefillin checking. I checked my tefillin after I just got it and they said the writings inside were of lower quality than what I paid… Read more »
Raising hands after washing for bread
Question: How does one raise his hands after washing for Bread? How high? IS there a problem if the water runs down ones arms and back to the hands? Whats… Read more »
What Bracha do you make on pureed butternut squash soup?
Question: What Bracha do you make on pureed butternut squash soup? Answer: The bracha on any pureed soup if there aren’t any pieces will be shehakol, this is because the… Read more »
Bracha on Essential oils
Question: Does smelling essential oil require a bracha Answer: When we smell fragrances, or even oil that has fragrances mixed into it or fragrant plants soaking in it, and it… Read more »
Medication and Eating Before Shacharit
Question: I take medication and when I wake up in the morning I am hungry and thirsty. I dont have the energy to pray or say all the words in… Read more »
The reason why not wearing “Techeles”
Question: Some people wear “Techeles” Tztitzis. I understand that we don’t know for sure whether it is THE RIGHT Techeles.. But maybe it is.. So why do we see Gedolei… Read more »
How many required to answer for minyan
Question: For maariv is it ok to have 8 people answering or do you always need 9 besides BT (and the baal tefillah is never counted)? Thanks Answer: For… Read more »
Birchat hamazon HARACHAMONS
Question: If a person says BIRCHAT HAMAZON alone, can he say the HARACHAMONS out loud like the rest of Birchat hamazon? Answer: As far as I know it is not… Read more »