Is it true your not allowed to cut your toe/hands nails on the same day? if so why? Answer: The Mishnah Berurah (260:6) cites from the Magen Avraham (in the… Read more »
Category: Ask
Pregnant Woman Stepping on Nails
Is it true if a pregnant woman steps on nails, her child will die? if so, why? and does this apply stringency apply to both man/woman/under bat/bas mitzvah? Answer: Chazal… Read more »
Taanis Dibbur
can you explain what does Tanit Hadibor mean? Answer: Taanis Dibbur means a “fast of speech.” Rather than the conventional fast, where a person abstains from eating and drinking, a… Read more »
Sins that carry Kares
is there any way to repent for a sin that causes karet? if so, how? and what are the sins that can cause karet? Answer: There are several sins that… Read more »
Idle Chatter in Shul
do you know, if its true or did you ever hear about if someone who talks in the shul he has to fast for 40 days? (during the praying services… Read more »
Illegal Construction
My neighbor extended his apartment. According to the city plans, besides the area of expansion that was allocated to him by law – he built about 80cm sideways into the… Read more »
Performing Shilu’ach Haken
Can you explain the dinim of shiluach hakan? I found a nest with four birds on my porch-the mother bird was going back and forth feeding her chicks all day,… Read more »
Electric Shavers
Can you explain how and why electric shavers can be used? Answer: Some permit the use of some electric shavers, the main reason being that they work by a scissor… Read more »
Physical Contact Before Marriage
Shalom Rabbi, I’m going out with some guy for about 9 months. Couple days ago he said that he loves me and wants to get married. I love him too… Read more »
Waiting Between Meat and Milk
Sorry to bother you again. I have looked but cannot find what I am after. Can you explain please how long we wait between milk and meat and why in… Read more »
Deductions from Ma’aser
Regarding Mayser Ksafim, If lets say I make 5000 dollars a month from my job, but I spend 150 dollars a week on baby sitting and spend 80 dollars a… Read more »
Driving to Airport Before Davening
If my brother needs a ride to the airport (which is around 30 minutes round trip), may I travel and come back afterwards and daven. The trip will start during… Read more »
Genetically Altered Foods
Are genetically altered foods kosher, such as seedless watermelon? Answer: In principle, there is no problem in eating genetically engineered foods. Although in an abstract sense, one might think to… Read more »
Participating in a Wedding of Jew with Non-Jew
Is a religious Jew allowed to go to the wedding of his Jewish friend if his friend is marrying a non-Jew? Answer: There is no “formal prohibition” of attending an… Read more »
Cakes for Dessert
If some one eats cake during a meal that hamotzei was made does a bracha have to be made? Does it matter when the cake is being eaten? Answer: If… Read more »
Saying Kaddish Together
Hello and thank you for providing such high quality output. My question relates to a discussion which comes up at shiva houses, lo aleino. I have heard that many aveilim… Read more »
Berachah on “Razzle Shake”
What bracha does one make on a “razzle” shake whicch is basically ice cream shake with blended cookie crumbs (pieces still visable) and crushed nuts. Answer: If the cookie crumbs… Read more »
False Teeth/Braces for Meat and Milk
I was asked the following question and wanted to hear the Rav’s answer. Why don’t people have to wait 24 hours between meat and milk in certain occasions. Even if… Read more »
Tochen (Grinding, Mashing, Cutting) on Shabbos
b’h’i Tochen – 1- why does mashing fruits require both a) shinui and b) miyad? Even according to the opinions that m’yad doesnt work at all (see Chazon Ish when… Read more »
Definitions of Jewish Books
What is Tanach, Chumash, Pentateuch and haftorah? Are they all the same thing ? Answer: Chumash refers to the Pentateuch–the Five Books of Moses. Tanach refers to all the canon… Read more »
Non-Jewish Friends
Is it okay to have a Non-jewish friend? if not, why not? Answer: There are several examples in the Talmud and Chazal of friendships between Jews and non-Jews, and this… Read more »
Kashrus of KC Sauce
I just used a kc masterpiece marinade steakhouse for meat that I realized after eating does not bear a kosher symbol. I looked at the star k website where I… Read more »
Reliace for Kashrus
b’h’i If I have a freind who is not religious but raised modern orthodox can I stay and eat by him on Shabbos? Can I assume food is kosher? they… Read more »
Berachah on Seaweed
Whats the bracha for dulse ? Its a type of seaweed? I like to eat it plain? Answer: As a type of seaweed, the berachah would be shehakol. Seaweed is… Read more »
Items Left in House
If I rent out a house and the old tenant leaves food or other items, am I allowed to take it or do I have to search and find… Read more »
Paying Maaser in Advance
If I receive a weekly salary, am I allowed to pay the maaser before i get the money if i know that next week im going to receive a quantity… Read more »
Carry on Eating
b’h’i 1- if one is unsure as to whether he had said bircat hamazon but did not eat to satiety and therefore doesn’t require to say it m’deorayta and only… Read more »
Wrapping the Tallis
Can an ashkanazi put on tallit according to sefardi minhag? Answer: The general Ashkenazi custom is to wrap both the head and the body in the tallis after making the… Read more »
A Non Shomer Shabbos Kohen
Can a non shomer shabbos Kohen duchan? Answer: If he desecrates Shabbos publicly, it is preferable that he should not duchan. However, if he acends to duchan, he should not… Read more »
Interrupting Between Tefillin
Are there any situations when one can answer amen between tefillin shel yad and tefillin shel rosh? Answer: There are no situations in which one should answer amen between the… Read more »
Covering Tefillin Shel Rosh
While wearing tefillin shel rosh, is one allowed to cover it completely with his talliis? Answer: There is no prohibition in having the tefillin covered. However, this is not recommended,… Read more »
Picking Hadasim from Yard
Hundreds of hadasim grow in the front yards of a number of buildings in my area. These yards are common property of the tenants of the building. I would like… Read more »
The Status of Daniel (2)
BH Lichvod HaRabbanim Shlita. Shalom Brochoh! You recently responded to someone that we do not consider Daniel a full Navi. Can you please explain more? If Daniel is not a Navi,… Read more »
Responding to Zimun and Eating
b’h’i If 2 of 3 people in a zimun want to bentch can all 3 do zimmun and the 3rd continue eating without a safek of requiring to wash again… Read more »
Travel Agency Withholding Money
Hi! I am iy”H going to learn in Israel next year. When I received my acceptance letter to the seminary, it said to send $300 toward the group flight. Several… Read more »
Cutting Umbilical Cord
Can a husband cut a wifes umbilical cord during birth. assuming the tznius issues are taken care of is there still a problem of negia? Answer: There would not be… Read more »
Obligation to Wear Stockings
Does a woman have to wear stockings? Answer: There is a dispute among authorities concerning the statement of the Gemara whereby the shok is considered an erva: Many maintain that… Read more »
Otzar Beis Din Esrogim
I know the gemara in Megilla distinguishes between certain mitzva items needing geniza and others not needing geniza. Are esrogim from eretz yisrael that are otzar beis din because of… Read more »
Yichud with Brother-in-Law
Regarding yichud, my brother is coming to town, can he stay in the home with my wife if I am in the same town but not at constantly at home…. Read more »
Cooking on Yom tov
to what extent can we cook on the chag? If all I do is transfer fire from an existimg fire (I do not create a new fire) I can bake,… Read more »
Standing Up for Torah Scholars in Shul
Re standing up for Torah scholars and elders What does one do when one finds oneself in a shtieble and every 3rd person is a Torah scholar or elder. With… Read more »
Drinking a Revi’is for Havdalah
Does one have to drink a revi’is of wine after havdalah? Answer: It is sufficient to drink a melo lugmav of wine. However, it is preferable to drink an entire… Read more »
Hilchos Aveilus
Is there anything wrong with: 1) Learning the halachos of aveilos when one’s parents are getting old, so that he will be prepared for that eventuality? 2) To write notes… Read more »
Standing Up in Respect
It seems that there are many that are not makpid to stand out of respect for their elders. This is probably due to the fact that standing for someone else… Read more »
Davening Maariv Early on Friday Rosh Chodesh
When one is mekabel shabbos early and friday is rosh chodesh, should one say yaleh v’yavo in the shabbos davening? Is it best not to make early shabbos so as… Read more »
Price of Peruta
What is the current value of a pruta? (5.6.11) Answer: The current value is approximatley three cents. This is based on the current price of silver. Note that it is… Read more »
Waiting Extra 5 Days
hello My wife and I came to Toronto from Israel last week on Thursday night, it was a long day of traveling and she forgot to take her birth control… Read more »
Sheimos on Pictures of Sefarim
I sometimes receive sefarim cataloges with sample pages of sefarim displayed or pics of yeshiva boys with their gamaras opened. If one were to enlarge the picture you could probably… Read more »
Lo Tikom in Giving Discounts
A family friend is a contractor and has done work on my house. He charges me full price for his work without any type of discount. This is all fine,… Read more »
Tying Shoes for Lefties
How does a lefty tie and untie his shoe? Answer: If he’s also left footed, he should tie the right shoe first. If he’s right footed, he should tie the… Read more »