In my parents’ home we always said Kiddush standing. I continued this tradition for some years after getting married. I then changed to saying Kiddush sitting (I do not recall… Read more »
Category: Ask
Naming a Child Whose Father is not Jewish
When the mother is Jewish, but the father is not, how should the baby be named? Rema to Shulchan Aruch states that the baby should be named after the maternal grandfather…. Read more »
Drinking with Tefillin On
A minhag in my shul is that when one of the members is having a yartzeit, he brings a cake and an alcoholic drink for the mispalelim to say a… Read more »
Benching from the Computer
Is there anything wrong with reading Birkhat HaMazon from a computer? E.g: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/birkat_hamazon.pdf I often use that link to make birkat hamazon after having a meal by the PC and… Read more »
Safek for Meat and for Pots
If one had pieces of meat that are chashuv, and one unkosher piece mixed into the 5 kosher pieces of meat we don’t say bitul because the pieces are choshuv…. Read more »
Swallowing Skin From Peeling Lips
Is the skin of a human lip considered unkosher. If someone has chap lips do they have to worry about the skin being eaten? If the skin fell into food… Read more »
Mishloach Manos to Creditor
I have a friend who lends or gives us money to help us out. Am I allowed to give him mishloach manos on Purim – or would this be considered… Read more »
“Chiyuv” for Sephardim
Is there such a thing as “chiyuv” for sephardim during the year of aveilus and yaertzeit, for being a shaliach zibur, as is the ashkenazic minhag? Please indicate source. Answer:… Read more »
Temple Mount as a Child
At the age of 7 years old I visited Israel with my parents. Being traditional, we were unaware of the prohibition of going up to the Temple Mount. Do I… Read more »
Eating Together for Zimun
Chazal say that when 3 people eat together they are obligated in a zimun: I am having trouble defining what it means to be kovua seuda together. In Yeshivas people… Read more »
Heating Challah on Upside Down Pot
An upside aluminium tray is placed directly over the flame on the blech and reaches yad soledes. Is one allowed to place a chalah on top of this tray in… Read more »
Perutos in Half a Shekel
How many times can one take maaser on a 50 agarot coin. Answer: Based on the current value of silver, one could use the coin five times, provided that the… Read more »
Hyphens and Vertical Lines in Krias Shema
In Kriat Shema, what is the difference between the straight vertical line and the hyphen between the words. Answer: The hyphen between words indicates words that are read together, and… Read more »
Maaser for a Levy
If a Levi buys produce in Israel from a vender without a hechsher, assuming there is no problem with orla, shevi’it and chadash, and assuming he sets aside a portion… Read more »
Bridal Shower in Three Weeks
May a kalah have a Bridal Shower during the 3 weeks? there is serious timing problem of having it before or after the 3 weeks. thank you Answer: Having a… Read more »
Returning cost of phone call
I rent office space from another Yid. He uses his office on certain days and I on differnt days. We each have our own telephone lines. On a day I… Read more »
Fully Cooked Cholent
On friday evening, I often like to eat chulent from the chulent pot. I know before even thinking of doing chazara the food must be fully cooked. At what stage… Read more »
Betting on Shabbos — Don’t Bet On It!
What is the halacha with regards to making a wager on Shabbos? That is, while I’m fairly certain that one should not bet on Shabbos (or maybe any other time… Read more »
Conversion/Informing the Muslim World
Respected sir,I want to convert into Judaism and serve the Jews. What should I do? I want to tell the Muslim world that Jews are not bad as they read… Read more »
Selling chametz in rented apartment
Question: Hello, does putting a “no sub-rental” clause in a rental contract cause a problem for selling chametz? I know that my rav rents (if a renter is selling the chometz)… Read more »
Aveil at Chinese Auction
Can an aveil go to a chinese auction. Answer: If the chinese auction is a type of social function, which one goes to in order to meet friends and so… Read more »
Yahrzeit for Ashkenzaim/Sephardim
My brother and I share the same Ashkenazi parents but there are a few differences in observance because of where we live. I celebrate one seder, he two; Pesach is… Read more »
Adar Yahrzeit
I have yahrzeit in Adar Rishon. The shul I attend proposes to change the custom of the last 70 years (when it was established) so that any Adar yahrzeit will… Read more »
matanot levyonim how much?
What is the accepted amount of money to be given in order to fulfill the mitzvah of matanat l’evyonim 1. as an adult 2. as a child – mitzvah of… Read more »
Fire and Driving
On which holiday is it permitted to light a fire but not to drive? Answer: On the three major festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot) it is permitted to transfer a fire… Read more »
Names for Hashkava Ceremony
Dear Rabbi, My mother in law passed away — the levayah and Shivah were both held In Israel. At the hashcava, should one use the mother’s name, and her father’s… Read more »
Uncovered Hair at Hairdresser’s
I am a divorced grandmother. I keep my hair covered at all times with a sheital or a snood. My hair is seen, at the hairdresser once a month. I… Read more »
Forgiveness for Intentional Sin
Numbers 15:30-31 says there is no forgiveness for intentional sins. Is there forgiveness for intentional sins? What can we do to make up for them? thank you Answer: The verse… Read more »
Purpose of Race
My wife is learning hebrew. I was told that every one was created with or for a reason. In your view, what were the blacks created for ? Please answer,… Read more »
Hugging in Shul
The Shulchan Aruch says that one shouldn’t kiss a child in shul. Does this apply to any form of affection or just kissing. Can a friend hug a friend when… Read more »
Who Decides Over the Window?
During the winter, who has priority – those who want to open a window or those who want the window closed (In shul or a work environment)? Answer: In the… Read more »
Torah and Muhammad
Respected Sir, by birth I am a Muslim and I respect Judaism more than Islam. Right from childhood I have heard from the Muslim monks to hate the Jew. They… Read more »
Buying Counterfeit Items
Is it permitted to buy counterfeit items in any circumstances? For instance, in a country where it is widespread, and one would not be able to purchase the real item…. Read more »
Kabbalah from Bible
My humble reading tells me that kabaalah is from the Bible, but where can I find a clear reference? Is it something annexed and manipulated with the Bible? Answer: Although… Read more »
Avraham’s Last Name
Father Abraham had a last name. I believed it meant “of G-d”. What was Abraham’s last name other than Ben or Bar-something? Answer: Abraham is known as Avraham Avinu (Abraham… Read more »
Jewish Fasts
How many hours does a day’s fast consist on for the Jewish nation? Answer: There are 6 fast days in the Jewish religion. Yom Kipur and Tisha Be’av (the Ninth… Read more »
Hagomel for Wife
Can a husband say “birkat ha’gomel” for his wife, or must she recite it herself in front of a minyan or in public in shul during “leining”? Thanking you in… Read more »
The Simcha of Adar
Chazal says that when Adar comes one should increase in simcha,what does this mean exactly? Is there anything specific one can do? Chazal are usually specific in how to fulfill… Read more »
Cutting Off Tzitzis Strings
When one needs to replace tzitzit on a garment – is one allowed to cut them off with a shard of glass? Answer: There is a custom not to cut… Read more »
Found Screw Bit
Approximately 2 years ago I found a screw bit (that fits on a battery powered screw driver) on one of the paths in our neighborhood. It is a good quality… Read more »
Blessing a Non-Jew
I recently reached a Taz in Shulchan Aruch about changing the text of birkat hamazon when a gentile is present at the table. The Taz says that blessing a gentile… Read more »
Men’s Pajama Pants for Women
Hello, is it permitted for a woman to wear a man’s pajama pants and a mans undershirt to sleep? Answer: If the pants and undershirt are clearly menswear, they should… Read more »
Tzitzis Touching Flesh
Is it true for those who prefer wearing their Tzizis tassles on the inside of their beged it’s assur because the tassels touch the naked flesh of their skin? Answer:… Read more »
False Identities
Do I have to be truthful if I want to submit a question in a newspaper? Can I fake that I’m, say, a grandmother, and make up an issue that… Read more »
Too Late for Amen? (Blessing of Boneh Yerushalayim)
After the third blessing of boneh yerushalyim in Birkat Hamazon, the gemara says it is praiseworthy to say amen even by the one saying the bracha. If one says the… Read more »
Ointment for Lips on Shabbos
Is it permissible to use a soft jell from a tube on the lips for a herpes viral infection on Shabbat. Answer: Two issues need to be addressed: Medicine/Treatments on… Read more »
Pronunciation of “Old Hebrew”
Is our Hebrew language today different in pronunciation than the old Hebrew? Answer: There are many different ways in which the “Hebrew,” or rather the “Lashon Ha-Kodesh” of today is… Read more »
Shaping the Fish on Shabbos
On shabbos can one cut the gefilte fish in a way where the fish looks like a fish. One makes a triangular cut and then takes the triangle and puts… Read more »
Boys and Girls in One Room
At what age should you seperate brothers and sisters sleeping in the same bedroom for lack of enough space in apartment? Answer: There is no hard and fast rule for… Read more »
Personal Requests in English/Singing before non-Jew/Walking in front
1)during shemona esrei am i allowed to say personal bakashos (in english) not by shema koleinu- randomly- example:by rifaeinu? 2)what exactly is th e halacha about not walking in front… Read more »