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 »
Category: Daily Living
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 »
davening brochas/korbanos at home
Question: Can I daven brochas and korbonas at home and then continue davening in shul starting with Boruch Sheamar? Thanks Answer: This seems to be fine. However if the shul… Read more »
Whats the beracha of a baked home made protien bar
Question: ingriedients:5 cups oat flour – 700g 2 cups peanut butter 100% – 500g 1 cup silan 100% – 340g ½ cup almonds – 50g ½ cup walnuts – 60g… Read more »
After blessing when drinking
Question: After eating or drinking you normally say an after blessing. Some people informed me that when you had a drink, for example coffee, that after a certain ammount of… Read more »
daily sacrifice
Question: dear rabbi, It is said “Torah study is of more value than the offering of the daily sacrifice” [Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 63b]. Reciting the Shma, however is obligatory (at… Read more »
Lifnei Iver non frum or off the derech
Question: If one generally says brachos out loud, is it better to say a bracha silently when in front of a non frum or off the derech person if one… Read more »
Discussing arms for tefillin use
Question: Dear Rabbi, Are there instances why a man may put his tefillin on over his right arm rather than his left? Curious if this has come up. Medical studies… Read more »
Minhagim for Baal Teshuva
Question: About a year ago I walked into a Chabad house, with no intention to become a Lubavitcher, but to become more observant. Ever since then I got Chabad tefillin… Read more »
Davening Barefoot
Question: I recently saw a ruling that davenning barefoot is not permitted (in response to a question about learning Torah barefoot). Does that hold for davenning at home without a… Read more »
Davening during punishment
Question: If chas vshalom a person is being punished and they are suffering from the punishment, is it okay to daven for help, or is that chutzpadik? Answer: When we… Read more »
When heading the catskills from Boro Park where is the correct place to say Tefillas Haderech?
Question: If one is headed to the catskill mountains from Boro Park where is the correct place to say Tefillas Haderech? Thanks Answer: You should say Tefilas Haderech either after… Read more »
Prayer said after chatzos (midday)
Question: If a prayer was said a few minutes passed chatzot, does it still count in G-d’s eyes or simply not anymore? (In terms of Shacharit). Answer: The time for… Read more »
Eating and Drinking while extended cycling
Question: While on extended bike rides lasting 2 hours or more without stopping , sometimes over 4 hours, we are constantly eating dried fruits or other sources of carbs including… Read more »
What if someone missed saying Kaddish?
Question: What if someone missed saying Kaddish? Answer: If someone missed saying kaddish it is still possible to say kaddish at another minyan. If there isn’t any other minyan, I… Read more »
Using two hole Tallis koton
Question: Hi, I was at a sale of tallisim recently and the supply was low. I found begadim for a tallis koton, but they were the Chassidishe type (two holes… Read more »
Negel vasser
Question: Hi, first thank you so much for your website, it’s an invaluable resource and service. Since I moved to a new apartment 2 years ago I’ve been filling up… Read more »
A single wearing a Tallit
Question: Can an older Ashkanazi single male wear a tallit to shul, and can he cover his head with the tallit during Shomana Esrei and other times when married men… Read more »
Answering Amen to Berichu in Kadish for ashkenaz in nusach sefard shul
Question: Hi, If I am davening in a nusach sefard or nusach Ari shul and they answer in Kadish to berichu amen, am I allowed to answer amen in an… Read more »
anus in tefila
Question: hello, my job , a night shift , starts at 2 pm i am permitted to take time for only one of 2 tefilot, either micha or maariv ,… Read more »
Wetness on body during tefilla
Question: Does a person have to make sure when going to the bathroom before davening and in general that the מקום המילה is clean and what about shabbos? Is it… Read more »
Selfish davening
Question: Is it okay to say anything in davening? I don’t have much to say right now in davening other than selfish requests and selfish venting. Mainly I just want… Read more »
Checking Teffilin to make sure that they are black
Question: Does a person have to keep checking his ritzuas and battim to make sure their black or his he יוצא as long as פרשיות are כשר Answer: A person… Read more »