Question: If another person replaces the chazan during shachris on a Monday/Thursday after krias hatorah but before beginning Ashrei, who says the 4 Yehi Ratzon’s? The original chazan or the… Read more »
Category: Daily Living
Hand washing after a bath
Question: How many times of washing are required ? Answer: After taking a bath we only have to wash our hands once. We have to wash them because we touched… Read more »
Davening in a hotel room with a Jacuzzi
Question: Is one allowed to daven and learn in a hotel room that has a Jacuzzi in it? There is a separate room with a toilet and shower but the… Read more »
Benching after bathroom
Question: Is relieving oneself after eating the same as throwing up to be patur from Benching? Perhaps it’s worth washing and making a new brocho? Thank you Answer: The two… Read more »
Fallen tefillin
Question: Hi Rabbi, This morning, I dropped my tefillin from about waist height with the the plastic covering to the floor. I immediately picked it up and kissed it. In… Read more »
Tzitzis for children
Question: Do I need to make sure that my 4 year old’s tzitzis are actually kosher? Or are they too small to actually really be chayav in tzitzis hence I… Read more »
Tefilin Chatzitzah
Question: I recently got stitches on my head which is covered with a band aid. Thus, the Band aid is slightly Chotzetz between the Retzuah and the skin. 1#. Do… Read more »
Timing mikveh
Question: Dear Rabbi, If a man has an emission during the time of darkness after sundown and wishes to immerse, when should he time his immersion? Should he wait until… Read more »
Nursing Home shinui makom
Question: I work at a nursing home and wash resident certainly pays to stay there similar to an apartment building. However the management is free to change their rooms as… Read more »
Shin on Tefillin Shel Rosh
Question: Is there a din regarding the amount that the shin must be embossed above the bayis? One of the lines on the shin got chipped, so if you were… Read more »
Whats the phrase to say when you’re not sure if you may say that bracha?
Question: What’s the phrase to say ad-noi eloikainu melech haoilam in a bracha when you’re not sure if you are allowed to make that bracha? Answer: The text is “…בריך… Read more »
Accidently passed gass with tefillin
Question: What can I do to rectify this? Thank you Answer: First of all say to H-shem that you are sorry that this happened. After that, look if there is… Read more »
Bracha when seeing a Rainbow
Question: What bracha do you make on a rainbow? Answer: ברוך אתה ה’ אלהינו מלך העולם זוכר הברית ונאמן בבריתו וקיים במאמרו” Sources: Shulchan Aruch 229-1.
Tzitzis on a Tallis Torn on the Corner
Question: One of my Tzitzis strings tore at the point where it attaches to the corner. (I have attached a picture of the spot). Can I wear it in its… Read more »
Uncooked pasta
Question: What bracha does one make on uncooked pasta? (My kids like to sneak a couple from the bag to munch on while the noodles are cooking.) Answer: Shehakol, because… Read more »
Talis in bathroom
Question: 1) Why does one have to take off his tallis gadol when entering a bathroom and not a tallis katan? 2) Does one need to remove his kittel before… Read more »
Chosen people to receive the Torah
Question: ברוך אתה ד׳ אלקינו מלך העולם אשר בחר בנו מכל העמים ונתן לנו את תורתו ברוך אתה ד׳ נותן התורה – trans: blessed are you, Hashem, our g-d, king… Read more »
Bracha on gluten free bread
Question: Do you make shehakol on gluten free bread Answer: It depends on what the bread is made of. If it is from corn rice or potatoes, then the bracha… Read more »
Guf naki
Question: Hi, How much does someone need to be particular about having a guf naki for shmone esrei? I make sure to have an empty bladder before starting to daven,… Read more »
Borei nefashos
Question: A lot of times I take a coffee and sip it slowly during the coming hours. During that period, if I eat a fruit, do I make a borei… Read more »
Wiping after urinating
Question: Hi Rabbi, What is the Halacha in regard to Siman 3 in Shulchan Aruch. The law is that one may not have urine on himself while making a Bracha…. Read more »
Washing negel vasser over dishes
Question: May one wash negel vasser over dishes in the sink? Answer: One should be careful not to wash negel vasser over dishes in the sink, because they will have… Read more »
Used the bathroom after Borchu
Question: If one went to the bathroom after hearing Borchu but before he started birchas krias shma, is he allowed to make an Asher Yatzar? I ask because I know… Read more »
When to say vsan-tal-umatar-this-year 2018-2019
Question: when-do-we-start-saying-vsan-tal-umatar-this-year. 2018-2019 Answer: We already started saying it in the beginning of December. This essentially means that the shemona esrei’s that you said was not valid, and the next… Read more »
Followup Question To When To Say Birchas Hatorah
Question: To followup this question. If let’s say I went to sleep at 9pm and woke up at 2am to work and then went back to sleep at 5am for… Read more »
What bracha do I make on burgol?
Question: What bracha do I make on burgol? Answer: The bracha on bulgul would be the same as eating barley or wheat kernels. If the kernels are broken and not… Read more »
Drinking from a pot of water put up by a Yid that didn’t wash Negel Vasser
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 »
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 »