Question: When do I go to the mikvah if I’m supposed to go Tuesday night Answer: We do not go to the mikvah on Yom Kippur eve, since we do… Read more »
Category: The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
Applying eye drops on Yom Kippur
Question: I have Glaucoma and am required to take eye drops twice a day to control eye pressure which could increase if not applied. Increased pressures can worsen my condition… Read more »
Medication on Yom Kippur
Question: Dear Rav, I have an anxiety disorder which my psychiatrist proscribes medication and when I even mess up the dose I can get severe depression. How can I take… Read more »
Nicotine Patch and Caffeine Patch on Yom Kippur
Question: Hi, Is it allowed to stick on a patch with caffeine or nicotine on Yom Kippur or is that like taking medicine. Thank you. Answer: It is controversial. Some… Read more »
Yom kippur swallowing supplements
Question: Hey Rabbi my question is on yom kippur, Let me start , generally I take herbal supplements such as Ashwaganda daily because I believe my cortisol levels rise where… Read more »
Essential oil on Yom Kippur
Question: Is one permitted to smear essential oils on body for health reasons on Yom Kippur? Answer: Anointing oneself is one of the 5 “afflictions” and things that we are… Read more »
A girl asking a boy for Mechilla
Question: If a girl knows that she embarrassed a boy in-front of someone else (and hurt his feelings), and now it’s uncomfortable for her and maybe inappropriate to call him… Read more »
Is lady alowed to go to mikvah
Question: Is a lady that’s in middle of counting allowed to go to the Mikvah for erev Yom Kippur? Answer: It is controversial, and it is better not to. Sources:… Read more »
Fasting on Yom Kippur 5 days after birth
Question: My wife gave birth on Monday. 5 Tishrei. What is her obligation regarding fasting on Yom Kippur? She is generally not a strong faster. She is primarily nursing, but… Read more »
Enema on Yom Kippur
Question: Is one allowed to do a water enema on Yom Kippur? Is it any different than doing it on Shabbos? Thank you Answer: If you are enough of a… Read more »
Is one allowed to swallow saliva or phlegm on Yom Kippur?
Question: Is one allowed to swallow saliva or phlegm on Yom Kippur? Answer: It is permitted to swallow ones saliva or phlem on Yom Kippur, and one does not… Read more »
Chalav yisrael during aseres y’mei teshuva
Question: Does the hakpada of not having pas akum during the aseres y’mei yeshuva include that one should also not have chalav stam during this time, only chalav yisrael? What… Read more »
Davening a long shemona esrei during neilah
Question: If one davens a long SE on YOM KIPPUR and misses the prayers (Selichos) that are said during chazora, does he need to make them up later? May one… Read more »
Taking caffeine supplements on major fast days
Question: Is it permitted to take caffeine supplements by mouth on Tisha Bav? Yom Kippur? What are the guidelines for each? Answer: I am assuming that you are not taking… Read more »
Fasting on Yom Kippur with anxiety and high blood pressure
Question: I am currently on psych medications for chronic anxiety, depression and high blood pressure with chest pains. What are my fasting options on Yom Kippur. Answer: I am… Read more »
Beyond hope for teshuva if I transgressed a Chiuv Kares?
Question: BS”D I’m in a very very dark place. I’m a frum, Gd-fearing person but not long before Yom Kippur I succumbed to the Yetzer Hara and behaved in a… Read more »
Fasting on Yom Kippur
Question: I am recovering from breast cancer surgery and preparing for radiation. Nurses are telling me not to fast because I need to keep my immune system strong and still… Read more »
Fasting on Yom Kippur may damage my body
Question: I always fast on Yom Kippur, but I’m not sure what to do this year. I’ve recently been diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease. I’m told that it… Read more »
Washing the nose in yom kippur
Question: Can a person wash his nose with a syringe on Yom Kippur? Can he swallow this liquid ?! Answer: Since he is not permitted to swallow the water he… Read more »
Fasting
Question: Dear Rov. I have been diagnosed with a mental disability and high blood pressure, chronic anxiety and depression taking numerous medications with chest pains. I believe that I am… Read more »
caffeine suppositories
Question: Are caffeine suppositories permissible on Yom Kippur? Thank you Answer: Although one is allowed to use caffeine suppositories on erev Yom Kippur to make the fast easier, on Yom… Read more »
Le’eil Yom Kippur
Question: Aside from learning, reading etc…, would it be permissible to do exercises (sit ups, push ups, etc…) on the night of Yom Kippur to remain awake (L’Siba Noda’at) as… Read more »
Wearing crocs and thongs
Question: Hi, if I am living in a city with no Eruv, am I allowed to wear crocs on yom kippur that don’t have a strap at the back? And… Read more »
Treif for pikuach nefsh
Question: A father refuses to eat something treif, although the doctors have ordered him to. His son tries to trick him and says that it is not treif. The father… Read more »
Mistaken Eating on Yom Kippur
Question: Nursing woman felt strong weakness during Yom Kippur and husband commanded her to eat & drink and she did. If this is permitted or she did aveira? Answer: Presumably… Read more »
Nursing and Pregnant on Yom Kippur
Question: Regarding my wife’s fast on Yom Kippur. My wife is (bsha’ah tova) in week #12. She still nurses our 16 month old daughter 3-8 times a day, who can… Read more »
Medical Issues on Yom Kippur
Question: I need to take important medicines everyday. What do I do on Yom Kippur? My husband has sleep apnea and he needs special machine to sleep (cpap). Is he… Read more »
Eye Drops on Yom Kippur
Question: I am scheduled to get lasik eye procedure the day after Yom Kippur. Am I allowed to put in eye drops on Yom Kippur? Thank you. Answer: Yes, this… Read more »
Avel Chazan on Yom Kippur
Question: Can an avel lead the service (daven for the amud) on Yom Kippur? Answer: No, he should not daven for the amud. If he is the only available chazan who… Read more »
Fasting Difficulty
I am finding it increasingly difficult to fast the entire Tisha B’Av and Yom Kippur. I’m 50 years old but haven’t fasted the minor fast days since the years of… Read more »
Brother Died in Ne’ilah
Inside the bet-akeneset, at mincha/neillà time, arrived a news that to a men is died a brother, (in the same city and near to the bet akeneset) is better that… Read more »
Heating on Yom Kippur
Is one allowed to place permissible (dry) food on top of a blech/hotplate on Yom Kippur for children to eat? Answer: Concerning a regular electric warming plate, which can be… Read more »
Deodorant on Yom Kippur
Can one use deodorant on Yom Kippur? What if the reason is to remove sweat? Can you give us the source of the psak? Answer: It is permitted to use… Read more »
Shiurim on Yom Kippur
For a person who needs to eat and drink on Yom Kippur, what are the Shiurim for eating and drinking? Answer: A person who is eating shiurim must drink no… Read more »
Nursing for Yom Kippur
My wife be 43 yrs old, this is our first baby, we have no precedent in terms of knowing how she will handle a fast, how the fast might impact… Read more »
Ne’ilah after Nightfall
from the rishonim it is clear one should finish neila by tses the shagas aryeh and magen avraham say ein limchos if a tzibur cont. neila after tzes. where did… Read more »
Fasting after C-Section
A woman in the community might have the C-section on Monday or Wednesday before the Shabbos of Yom Kippur. In those situations, what would be her requirement to fast? Answer:… Read more »
Wearing Artificial Leather Shoes on Yom Kippur
Can man made material shoes that look like real leather be used on yom kippur regading maris ayin? Are you also michsal others who might judge you wrongly thinking the… Read more »
Happy Yom Kippur
Is it appropriate to wish a person Happy Yom Kippur? Answer: Interesting question. The Mishnah (end of Taanis) actually writes that the day of Yom Kippur is the most joyful… Read more »
Kissing on Yom Kippur
Is it permitted to kiss (one’s wife or somebody else) on Yom Kippur? Answer: One must not kiss one’s wife on Yom Kippur. Although the principle prohibition is on marital… Read more »
Chewing Gum on Yom Kippur
It is permitted to chew gum on Yom Kippur? Answer: No, it is not permitted to chew gum on Yom Kippur. Tasting and expelling food is not permitted on Yom… Read more »
Yom Kippur Commences
When does Yom Kippur of 2013 commence? Thanks. Answer: Yom Kippur begins at sunset of Friday, September 13, 2013. One must refrain from eating and drinking and from performing all… Read more »
Deodorant on Yom Kippur
What is the scope to use anti-perspirant deodorant on Yom Kippur. Does it make a difference if it is a spray deodorant and whether it is scented? Answer: It is… Read more »
Haircut Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Is it permitted to take a haircut between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? Answer: Yes, there is no problem in taking a haircut during this period. However, there is a… Read more »
Fasting with Spasm Condition
My son recently became bar mitzvah. I am writing to ask you as to what he should do in the future about fasting on the six annual fasts. Three years… Read more »
Custom of Money for Kaparos
What is the earliest makor for using money for “Kaparos” on Erev Yom Kippur? Answer: It appears to be a new custom. See Mo’adim Uzmanim, Yom Kippur 52, who speaks… Read more »
Leather Shoes on Yom Kippur
With regard to wearing leather shoes on y”k and t”bav, if the sole is not leather but the top is , is this still a problem? Thank you. All the… Read more »
Fasting Yom Kippur
If my wife is 1 month pregnant, does she have to fast on yom kippur? Answer: Yes, a woman at one month pregnancy must fast on Yom Kippur, unless there… Read more »
Non-Jew Doing Preparation for Break-Fast
Hi. We are having an outreach learners service and after our nei’la service we’ll be having a break-fast. What is the earliest a non-Jew can begin preparing for a Jew… Read more »
Using Inhalation Device on Yom Kippur
Is someone who suffers from asthma and needs to use a nebulizer to make it easier for them to breath (not pekuach nefesh) allowed to use it on Yom Kippur?… Read more »