Does a woman have to make a bedika if she sees a stain on colored underwear? Answer: There is no obligation to perform a bedika. However, is it proper to… Read more »
Category: Ask
Acropol Milky Dishes After a Year
I have a set of Arcopol dishes that have not been used for over a year. When they were used, they were for milk and now I want to use… Read more »
Blessing on Shalva
What bracha is made on Shalva cereal? Answer: The correct blessing is Borei Peri Ha’adamah. Sources: See Iggros Moshe Orach Chaim vol. 4, no. 44, 46; see also Vezos Haberachah,… Read more »
Smelling Incense
What bracha should be upon smelling a scented candle? Answer: Provided that natural fragrance is used, one should recite borei minei besamim. If the fragrance is synthetic, there is a… Read more »
Army on Shabbos
Does the Israeli army fight on the sabbath? Answer: Yes, and it is permitted to do so because the cocept of pikuach nefesh, saving a life, defers the observance of… Read more »
Asking the Cohen to Leave
Is it permissable for the Gaboim to ask a Cohen to leave the shul so they may call up a non Cohen for the first Aliya, during Leining, in order… Read more »
The name Isaac
What is the meaning of name Isaac? Answer: The name Isaac, Yitzchak in Hebrew, is derived from the Hebrew root meaning laughter. He was called Yitzchak, by Divine instruction on… Read more »
Organ Donations
When and what organ donation is permitted? Answer: The question is a little too general to be dealt with in this forum. Very generally, the main problem with organ donation… Read more »
Shir Hashirim and Perek Shirah at Night
CAN I READ PEREK SHIRA AND SHIR HASHIRIM AT NIGHT BEFORE MIDNIGHT? Answer: With regard to the study of verse at night (especially before midnight), some permit the practice, whereas… Read more »
Quiet Blessings to Prevent Unanswered Amens
Are you allowed to say a bracha out loud in front of others if you have a saffek as to whether they will answer Amen? After reading the story of… Read more »
Using More than one Sefer Torah
We have a shul with several sifrei torah. Is it appropriate to use one for weekday readings and the other for Shabbat, so they are both used as often as… Read more »
Digital photo frame
Can a digital picture frame, which has a slideshow of pictures, be kept on on Shabbos? Answer: Yes. Leaving the frame running on Shabbos does not involve any melachah, and… Read more »
Who Pays for (Insured) Wind Damage
7 years ago we enclosed our succah porch with a proper roof that comes up with a cable and crank handle device etc., enclosed by the Trisei Cohen contractors. They’ve… Read more »
Forgotten money/Returning theft
(1) I work in a store and someone took out money from an envelope to pay, and he forgot the envelope with the money in the store. The envelope is blank,… Read more »
Burning Challah Outside Israel
Is there a requirement to burn chalah taken from dough, or can one just throw it out? This question is for the US. What is the correct blessing for the… Read more »
Dealing with Public Funds (library)
I currently run the seforim library in my yeshiva. this consists of purchasing seforim etc. Is there a din that there has to be two gabbaim overseeing the funds (as… Read more »
Finding a Match
I just wanted to know if i will meet somebody good to get married with. Answer: The Talmud teaches that with regard to matters of this world, one should pursue… Read more »
Becoming a Rabbi
Please tell me the steps ancient Jews went through to become a rabbi? Has this changed, or it still the same? Answer: In ancient times, the concept of a rabbi… Read more »
Waiting for Milky after Tasting Chicken Fat
After I tasted chicken fat (licked off my fingers), is it permitted to drink milk? Answer: If you only tasted the fat, there is no need to wait before drinking… Read more »
Ate on Public Fast Day
Forgot to fast this morning. Should I continue to fast anyway? Answer: One who eats on a public fast day must continue to fast. Sources: Terumas Hadeshed 156; Shulchan Aruch,… Read more »
The Eye of God
What does it mean for “God’s eye to be upon you”? Answer: The concept of the “eye of God” refers to Divine supervision and guidance over the world. Therefore, we… Read more »
Wife at Funeral
Is it a requirement that a wife attend her husband’s funeral and burial? Answer: A wife is not responsible for the burial of her husband–this responsibility is placed on children…. Read more »
Fasting for Women
Do women have to fast all the fast days like asara b’teves and taanis esther? Answer: Women have to fast just as men, provided they are not overcome by weakness… Read more »
Jewish Position on Christianity
Do Jews accept that Jesus Christ came as a man, suffered, and died on the cross? Answer: Historically, there was certainly a man named Yeishu, a Jew, who lived towards… Read more »
Bar Mitzvah Tachanun
Does a Bar Mitzvah minyan push off Tachanun? Answer: No. Only a chassan, and the father and sankak of a bris, defer tachanun, but not a bar mitzvah. Sources: See… Read more »
Washing With Wet Hands
I have recently startde a new cycle of Mishna Berura learning, but cannot find the answer to this. When washing hands for, say, Moitze, do they have to be dry… Read more »
Ate milky after meaty
I ate fleishig then milchig unintensonally. What can I do? Answer: According to Nesivos Hamishpat, a person who transgresses a rabbinic mitzvah inadvertantly does not need to do teshuvah for it. Although… Read more »
The Term ‘Yemach Shemo’
Is it permissable to say “yemach shemo” on any goy or only on those who are known to have harmed the Jewish people. Answer: There are several precedents in Chazal… Read more »
Asara Be-Teves on Friday
Do we fast on Asara be-Tevet even though it falls on a Friday this year? Answer: Yes. Asara Be-Teves is a unique fast, in that we fast even when it… Read more »
Jewish Family Roots
I think that my family may have been Jewish before coming to Canada. I was reared as a Christian but keep the Holy Days as a Jew and also the… Read more »
Forging a Diploma
Am I allowed to make a false high school diploma if my school does not want to give it to me because my paerents owe tuition? I took all the tests… Read more »
Babysitter payments
I have a babysitter that I pay hourly to watch my child during the year. Having an hourly rate is benficial to us because sometime we need her more hours… Read more »
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
What is the process of the Bar Mitzva. Can a women and girl have one. Answer: A bar mitzvah refers to the ‘coming of age’ of a boy, upon reaching… Read more »
Rental Problems
Renter rents a house to a family with young children without giving the federally mandated documents regarding lead paint under Title X. Tenent lives in the house for three years… Read more »
Obligation to Try Technical Support
I signed up with a Jewish company for internet service with a filter, and the filter was not working properly. The company insisted that I call tech support before canceling, but… Read more »
Covering Hair for a Divorcee
My friends and I were having an argument whether a married woman even for a few weeks which is now a non virgin may uncover her hair when she divorces? I thought… Read more »
Extra money for suit
If a parent gave a child money to buy a suit, and the child assumed that the suit would cost at least 700 NIS. The parent would have wanted him… Read more »
Investing in Racehorses
I’m interested in buying a share in a racehorse as part of a syndicate and would like to understand the issues raised in terms of hilchos Shabbos. The basic details… Read more »
Writing with sour sticks on Shabbos
May one “write” happy Birthday on a cake on Shabbos forming the letters with sour sticks? Answer: No. Although this form of writing is clearly temporary in nature, it is… Read more »
Paying off Bank Loan
Reuven and Shimon jointly take out a bank loan at x% interest to invest in a venture they are both involved in, they acquire x% of the company through this… Read more »
Printing Flags With Moon and Sun
Please can you advise on the following. We have a company 100% owned by Jews that produces flags and banners. Numerous country flags have images of the sun, stars and… Read more »
Faulty Beis Din Decision
If one believes that the Beis Din didn’t act properly in a din torah, and the Beis Din has given its decision, what are the person’s options? Answer: This is a… Read more »
Lighting a Chanukah Wick
On Chanukah, my friend made 2 mistakes. First he made a bracha and lit the wick of his menora and then realized there was no oil. so the wick lit… Read more »
Birkas Hamazon for Slice of Pizza
If I usually make the beracha of mezonos on 1 slice of pizza and hamotzi on 2 slices,and I decided to eat 2 slices for a meal so I started… Read more »
New Year’s Shabbos Event
In a business partnership with a goy is the following allowed and if not how would one make it be permissible:- 1. An event run for Non-Jews for 31st December… Read more »
Whip Cream on Shabbos
Is it mutar on Shabbos to use a can of whip cream? It is liquid inside, and comes out as cream. the nozzle also giving it a shape. Answer: The… Read more »
Time of Lighting Chanukah Candles
When is the best time to light Chanukah candles in America. Meaning, how many minutes after shkiah. I have heard Rabbonim say 25 minutes and others say 50 minutes after… Read more »
Cheese Touched Meaty Dishes
I had a stack of my leftover shabbos (fancy china) plates on my counter after shabbos, and I made frozen pizza in a toaster oven on motzai shabbos. After the… Read more »
Working on Chanukah Night
I work night. Can you work first night chunuka? Answer: There is no prohibition on working on Chanukah, even on the first night. The only thing you have to ensure is… Read more »
Ner Chanukah over Ner Shel Chanukah
If a person changes his custom of saying “ner shel Chanukah” and says “ner Chanukah” does he have to nullify a neder. Answer: This would not require the annulment of… Read more »