Question: Hello. My son’s birthday is during the nine days and we are postponing his birthday party until after Tisha B’Av. During the nine days are we permitted to buy… Read more »
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Eating before Maariv for a woman
Question: I know there is a halacha about not eating mezonot/hamotzi from 30 mins before tzeit hakochavim until one has davened Maariv. Does this halacha apply to women who have… Read more »
Brochos and challah on an oatmeal-banana mixture
Question: I was wondering what is the appropriate brocha for the following item. Instant oatmeal (whole oats) are mixed together with mashed bananas and are then baked forming a cookie…. Read more »
Boat during the nine days.
Question: I have a work event and it is on a boat. Am I allowed to attend. Answer: If I understand the situation correctly, a work event is going to… Read more »
Book that fell and possibly got damaged
Question: Hello Rabbi, If, in a store, I drop a book from its bookshelf, do I have to pay for it ? What should I do if I can’t tell… Read more »
Studying on Tisha baav
Question: Is studying for a test (for credits for a degree) on Tisha baav considered something that you won’t see brochah from? Answer: If it is included in what it… Read more »
Electric Mosquito Zapper On Shabbos
Question: Can we use an Electric Mosquito Zapper in the Sukkah on Shabbos/Yom Tov Answer: If it is turned on before shabbos or Yom Tov, it is permitte because you… Read more »
Washing dishes on Tisha B’av
Question: can one use freshly cleaned towels, kitchen towels and table cloths, if the prepared ones became dirty or too overused and replacements were not prepared prior to the 9… Read more »
Might owe money
Question: About 20 years ago, I recall a friend of mine borrowing about $100 from my parents. We were both single at the time. I believe that she may have… Read more »
Breaking fast on Tisha ba’av
Question: If one breaks their fast on Tisha B’av because they have a really bad headache or are feeling sick. Is there any merit in drinking water only and carry on… Read more »
Kid drinking havdala
Question: Please let me know your opinion about the following I would really appreciate it My wife will not be fasting on Tisha B’av. I would like to make Havdalah,… Read more »
Not tipping the counselors
Question: My son is in a day camp but he is comes home crying. He is getting picked on a lot. He is not enjoying it at all. Are we… Read more »
Installing phone line on Tisha Bav
Question: May I call the Phone company to install a phone line on Tisha Bav? Does it make a difference before and after Chatzos? Also, it is in Israel, where… Read more »
Nail polish in the nine days
Question: Is it permissible to get a manicure including nail polish in the nine days Answer: This year, since Tisha B’av is on Sunday, it is permitted to cut nails… Read more »
Mourning and sefardim when Tisha bav is a nidcha
Question: This year Tisha Beav is pushed to Sunday. Its a NIDCHA. Do Sefordim this year keep any laws of the “9days”? Usually Sefordim keep the laws of mourning for… Read more »
Undergarmets/socks/towels and 9 days
Question: check up better Undergarments, socks, and towels get soiled readily/constantly because of the hot weather and sweat. These items are worn not for pleasure, but to absorb sweat and… Read more »
library book
Question: A half page in a public library book was torn out by us and is missing; can i return ti without mentioning it? ty Answer: Does the library usually… Read more »
halachah status of pareve pan
Question: I accidentally sautéed (pareve cut) onions, in a pareve pan, using a spatula that I’d just used to (in a dairy pan) make eggs with cheese. there was still… Read more »
Deodorant on Tisha B’av
Question: I read in a sefer by Rabbi Belsky that if you will sweat and smell you can put on deodorant on Tisha B’av. Is there a difference between roll-on… Read more »
delaying people
Question: One who is being driven to the mountains and suddenly remembers that he did not daven Maariv, and he can tell the driver to pull over and wait 15… Read more »
Washing Dishtowels during the nine days
Question: I don’t have anymore dishtowels. Can I wash a few for use? Answer: The leniency to wash dirty clothes during the nine days is when the item is dirty… Read more »
Difference of rabbis opinion
Question: Shalom Rav what does one do when he hears of a rabbi in his communtiy who holds differrently to other but is a reputable talmid chacham? recently a rabbi… Read more »
Withholding wages
Question: My company just put in a new payroll system and instead of paying us every two weeks, they are going to delay the first paycheck by one week so… Read more »
Haftorah Scroll Ink Color
Question: a) Do all the letters on a kosher haftorah scroll have to be in black ink? b) What if the words and letters of one pasuk iare colored in… Read more »
Women allowed to do eyebrows?
Question: I’m a married woman (almost a year), may I clean my eyebrows and shave my legs during the 9 days? Answer: Your question really applies to the three weeks… Read more »
Sharing good news during the nine days
Question: May one share good news with close family during the 9 days? Answer: As far as I know, it is permitted. Best Wishes
Fitness during 9 days
Question: Is it acceptable to go to the gym during the 9 days? Not for the purpose of weight loss Answer: It is permitted, as you are doing it not… Read more »
Taking pills on Tisha B’av
Question: Dear Rabbi, I have an issue with anxiety and depression and I wanted to know if and how I can take my prescribed medication on Tish’a Beav. If I… Read more »
manicure in the nine days for shidduchim
Question: Can a girl in shidduchim get a manicure during the nine days? Answer: This year, since Tisha B’av is on Sunday, it is permitted to cut nails during the… Read more »
9 days receiving a gift
Question: I am graduating college this week, family members will have gifts for me – do I need to wait until after Tisha bav to open them? Answer: According to… Read more »
Davar Charif Inside a Mixture
Question: We used Jalapeneo peppers with a blender that is milchig. The peppers were added after all teh other ingeredients were in. But the end result is still a hot… Read more »
Is this lashon hara (a sin) or t’oles (mitzvah)?
Question: Hello, Thank you so much for your help. My question is regarding if something is lashon hara. I prefaced the question to my friend who is a Rebbetzin saying… Read more »
Covering illustrations on a HafTorah scroll ?
Question: In an earlier question/answer you said that colored illustrations are not a good idea le’chatchilah on a Haftorah scroll, but be’di’eved their presence would not make the scroll unkosher…. Read more »
The 9 days
Question: Is it permissible to buy a car during the 9 days? Our car died and we need to get to work. We need one immediately. Answer: If it is… Read more »
Online Purchase During 9 Days
Question: Is it permitted to order clothing online during the 9 days if it will arrive and be worn only after tisha baav? What if the stuff is needed directly… Read more »
Can I buy a camera lens during the 9 days?
Question: I am looking to buy a camera lens during the 9 days and wanted to see if Sepharadim allow it. Thank you Answer: We shouldn’t buy expensive items during… Read more »
Browsing without buying
Question: Gut voch, Can I look at and select to buy online if I don’t make the purchase until after Tisha B’Av? Thank you! Answer: It is permitted since you… Read more »
Hashem’s name on T-shirt
Question: Someone was attempting to personalize a t-shirt with the name יהודה and unfortunately erred and put the ד at the end after the ה, thus unwittingly causing the name… Read more »
assisting a mechallel shabbos
Question: On Shabbos, in a reshus harabbim, there is a Jew who is standing outside a shul because he does not know the password to open the door. The Jew… Read more »
Question: To the Rav, Is it permissible to send an email on Friday afternoon (when it is שבת in א”י already) to a not frum person in ארץ ישראל that… Read more »
Mikva for man during 9 days
Question: I’ve been consistently going to the mikva every Erev Shabbos & Erev Yom Tov for several years. However, I wasn’t able to use the mikva one Friday this year… Read more »
Washing baby clothes
Question: Shalom, 1) We have baby clothes to be washed for my baby. Are there any limitations to washing her clothing/linen? Do I need to wait and count exaclty how… Read more »
9 days
Question: During this period are you allowed 1. to buy mezuzahs 2. or small household items 3. book a flight to Israel 4. have urgent repairs or deliveries for the… Read more »
Water and Bracha
Question: In the summer its hot. I like to drink SELTZER for 2 reasons hydration and thirst. I am thirsty when I drink the seltzer and am refreshed. Can I… Read more »
Laundry during the 9 Days
Question: If all of one’s shirts are dirty during the 9 days and one also has brand news shirts never worn. Is it preferable to wash the shirts needed and… Read more »
Covering Shel Yad Tefillin
Question: Dear Rabbi, Does one need to cover the shel yad tefillin with his sleeve from jacket/tallit as well as the protective box? I see lots of people who do… Read more »
Confused if this is permissible in Jewish law
Question: Is an Easter egg necklace pendant allowed to be worn if it does not have any religious symbols on it? It is a faberge egg. But it was originally… Read more »
Family videos during 9 days
Question: Every once and a while I send my parents and parents in law cute videos of my children to give them pleasure and nachas. (They often share with the… Read more »
Tevila during 9 days
Question: Are there any differences to chafifa and tevilla for a woman during the 9 days? Answer: No, a woman does her chafifa and tevilah in the regular manner during… Read more »
breaking minyan
Question: What should a person do when he is “stuck” in a shul – being the tenth man there, and there is no baal korei, and the person who is… Read more »