Question: I bought an apartment, and according to the contract the seller must leave behind anything that is permanently attached to the apartment. May I insist that he leaves the… Read more »
Category: Ask
Chipped Item in Store
Question: I bought a delicate vase and asked the store employees to wrap it up for me. They sent me back and forth and told me to bring a box… Read more »
Buying a “Tester” Bottle
Question: Is there a problem with buying an item (in this case a bottle of perfume) on an auction site (like ebay.com) that is described as being a “tester” (or… Read more »
The Gambler Who Never Loses
Question: I have a friend who is a mathematician and has developed a formula to win money on online casinos. It wins every time – there is no real betting… Read more »
Free booklets?
Question: I work in the receiving end of a Publishing House. We just received from our printers a shipment of thin pamphlets 320 per box. On the outside of the… Read more »
Tefillin bought on eBay
Question: A very old pair of tefillin were on sale on eBay for . The seller is from Israel. He advertised the tefillin as being made of leather and wood…. Read more »
Check that was passed on and then bounced
Question: About one year ago, I had paid for something I bought with a check. it took some time and then I found out that the check bounced. I returned… Read more »
Bought a broken bike and managed to fix it
Question: Because my wife has a bad back the Doc advised to buy an exercise bike. We found one selling for 400 shek. We tried it out and was good. The… Read more »
The Underpriced Dali
Question: My wife and I once sold really cheap what we thought were two prints, 1) a Chagal, and 2) a Salvador Dali. Mu mother-in-law, who gave them to us,… Read more »
Ani hamehapech – snatching a deal
Question: I approached the prospective seller of an apartment intending to close a deal to purchase it, only to find him seated with another person interested in the apartment. I… Read more »
Din or Peshoro?
Question: When litigants sign a Shtar Borrerus (Deed of Arbitration) in Beis Din, it usually states that the Dayanim are given the authority to rule either according to the strict… Read more »
Is a Beth Din required to provide a reason for its ruling?
Question: Is a Beth Din required to provide a reason for its ruling? Answer: According to the Halacha, usually a Beis Din is not required to provide a reasoning for… Read more »
Claim against a public company
Question: I have a dispute with Orange cellular phone Company in Israel. I want to go to the small claims court off Yaffo. I want to know if I have… Read more »
Differing languages in Beis Din
Question: Sholem uvroche, 2 Yiden come to a Din Toiro. Both speak russian. The claimant speaks Hebrew fluently, the defendandt understands Hebrew, but cannot defend his cause in Hebrew, because… Read more »
Claimant who refuses to go to Beis Din
Question: I am in a dispute with my contractor. He claims I still owe him money, however I dispute it. I have told him many times to take me to… Read more »
Employer owes money
Question: I did work for a jewish person.He owes a large amount but denies owing anything. Knowing that this person will not go to ” DIN TORAH” what my option?… Read more »
Serving a Secret Subpoena
Question: My co-worker and I are embroiled in a business dispute. We have split up but have not found common ground to resolve many issues concerning the division of assets,… Read more »
Kashering Stovetop
How should one kasher a stovetop if it was previously used for treif? The oven only goes till 550. Can one put the grates into the oven to kasher them?… Read more »
Question of Lashon Hara
I understand that to tell another person of someone’s weakness in halachah is lashon hara. However, I was recently describing my coworker to my husband. Everything I said was only… Read more »
Shul Payments and Mikva Prices
I am a member of a Shul and am behind with my payments. Being behind makes me a non-financial member and limits my rights. The Shul board has decided to… Read more »
Hugging Family Members
When it comes to forbidden relationships the rambam makes a distinction between certain family members when it comes to hugging them. For an aunt the Rambam writes that it is… Read more »
Using Single Sink for Meaty and Dairy
I was just wondering what the exact procedure is to change a single sink from meat to dairy and vice versa. Thanks so much Answer: In principle, a single sink… Read more »
The Much Suggested Shidduch
Recently my younger brother became a chasan. A couple of people feel they are owed shadchanus gelt because they came up with the match. However, their claim is complicated by… Read more »
Jewish Greetings
Is there an inyan to greet a Jew with ‘good morning’ or good eve’ rather than just ‘hello’ , since the former is imparting a ‘bracha.’ Regarding the ‘velt,’ I… Read more »
Manicure for Men
Is a man allowed to get his nails done in a manicure or pedicure? How much of society has to do an act to consider the act a non-womanly act?… Read more »
Gifts to Child Aveilim
Can a father give his children (older) a small birthday gift even though they are avelim toch yud beis chodesh, where normally they should not be given gifts? Perhaps a… Read more »
Why Is Milk Kosher?
How is it todays milk considered kosher? In the past chazal were matir milk because one could assume that the majority of cows are kosher and therefore the milk is… Read more »
Exercise Shorts
Are shorts that one uses for exercise considered begged ish, and therefore a women couldn’t use shorts for excercise, or do we say that since in general society both men… Read more »
Birchas HaTorah Before Eating
Is there an obligation for a woman to recite Birchas Hatorah before eating in the morning? Thank you. Answer: A woman should preferably pray Shemoneh Esrei before eating. If this… Read more »
Questions of Bal Tashchis
Regarding the issur of bal tashchis: 1)Is there anything wrong with using a potato in a game where the potato is thrown back and forth and made unedible by the… Read more »
Hating Someone
When is it halachically permitted to hate someone? I’m not asking what is recommended — there are actions that have already happened. I need to know the halachic ruling. Thank You…. Read more »
Facebook Advertising
I recently started a website marketing a certain product. Technically, Facebook advertising allows for me to target my competitor(s) “fans” on facebook (fans = those who in the past clicked that… Read more »
Maris Ayin
How do I know which action would fall under maris ayin and which would not? Answer: According to Iggros Moshe, maris ayin applies when “Someone thinks that I violated something, or… Read more »
Reusing Used Stamps
If one receives mail on which the stamps were not postmarked in any way is one allowed to reuse those stamps to mail letters of one’s own? Is this considered… Read more »
Folding Tallis After Davening
Can one fold one’s talis after davening at shul and replace it in the talis bag, or would this be considered preparing for the next Shabbos? If I cannot fold… Read more »
Libun for Grill
Does a Barbeque grill need libun gomur if one uses one that belongs to a non-Jew, or does it kasher itself from the fire it is in? If it needs… Read more »
Kashrus of Pizza Shop
There is a pizza shop in town run by a Jew who is not Shomer Shabbat. He claims that he is using only Kosher ingredients. May we rely on his… Read more »
Present-Day Ben Pakua
Why is the law of Ben Pekuah not utilised these days? Is there any Halachic reason that it can not be introduced for commercial production on a large scale? Answer:… Read more »
Dairy Onions
I cut up onions with a dairy knife and put them into dough which I then placed in a Challah Pan. It was baked in a dairy oven. Are my… Read more »
Filter on Faucet
Is there a problem on Shabbos of using a water filter on one’s sink in New York City where there are supposedly small bugs in the water? By Turning on… Read more »
Kashrus Boards
What are the main differences between rabbanut mehadrin, and, let’s say, Rav Rubin or Bedatz? Answer: The main differences between the different kashrus boards are in the level of supervision… Read more »
Obligation of Answering Amen
Is the obligation to answer amen a biblical or rabbinic mitzvah? If it is a biblical mitzvah what is the source of the obligation? Answer: According to most poskim, there… Read more »
Yichud in Car
What are the halachos with taking a ride home, to work or a ride to the mountains with a male workmate? Answer: In general, it is permitted to take a… Read more »
Chumros
Are chumrosa good thing to practice? An acquaintance pointed out to me that because Adam Harishon made a chumra on the eitz hadaas (Hashem said not to eat, Adam told… Read more »
Placing Soda in Freezer
Can one put a soda in the freezer on Shabbos so this soda gets chilled and then take the soda out before anything freezes? Answer: It is permitted to put… Read more »
Sleeping Alone
Is it permitted for a girl to sleep by herself (alone) in a house? Answer: A person (boy or girl) should not sleep alone in a house, but may do… Read more »
Lost Shoe
If I found 1 shoe. Do I need to return it or call it out? Answer: Before picking up the shoe, the answer to this question depends on where the shoe was… Read more »
Uncovered Water
What are the exact halachos of mayim megulim? How long can the water be uncovered? How large can the opening be for it to become assur? Is it only overnight?… Read more »
Washing Kiddush Cup
Can one rinse out the kiddush cup on Shabbos to prepare for the mitzvah of havdalah, or this is considered preparing for the weekday which is forbidden? Answer: If it… Read more »
Leaving Eretz Yisrael
As there is a problem leaving Eretz Yisrael except for work, for a shidduch, and so on, what are the connotations of just going there for a ‘holiday’ and then… Read more »