Question: There is a Gemara somewhere that says there were 3 sages that went out to sea. Their boat broke apart.Thankfully there was an island nearby. They went to that… Read more »
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Hugging Sister
Question: Is it forbidden to give my sister a hug, and does it make a difference if she is married or not? Answer: Please see the following post, which discusses… Read more »
Taharas Mishpacha during Postpartum time
Question: Hi Rabbi, I am 7 weeks postpartum and have already visited the mikveh. During this postpartum time, what are the rules? How do I know if I need to… Read more »
Face shield on Shabbos
Question: With covid19 , we are allowed to wear masks on Shabbos. In shul face shields are not good as they must be worn with masks to prevent germs. My… Read more »
Scale question
Question: B”H Thanks in advance for the clarification- I also wanted to ask: Is it ok to buy and use a digital scale for purposes of measuring body weight? Thank… Read more »
Accurate Weights and Measures
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help. My question is: I have a bathroom scale that uses a dial (not digital) to display weight. Sometimes, the starting amount… Read more »
Misibah, Hazkarah, Kaddish, Visit the grave when Yom Tov cancels Shloshim
Question: If someone passed was buried erev chag Shavuout, I understand that the spouse mourning ends before 30 calendar days (shiva 1 day=7 days + chag = 7 days, +… Read more »
Need to reimburse/mechila for ‘small’ damages?
Question: Hi, I’ve two choshen mishpat questions regarding from a while ago when I was a counselor at a special needs camp. 1) I used someone’s watergun whilst which I… Read more »
lashon hara?
Question: B”H Thank you so much for your help, it is sincerely appreciated. If a father asks daughter 1 if she spoke with daughter 2 and daughter 1 says no,… Read more »
Is there a problem with Birth control
Question: Is there any problem with using continuous birth control, that makes it that a woman never gets her period? Answer: There certainly is an issue with it. The reason… Read more »
Payment for apartment rental during Corona
Question: Shalom, Every year at about Rosh Chodesh Nissan, I go to visit my in-laws who live in South Africa. I personally live in Sanhedria Murchevet. This year, with fear of… Read more »
Recording Hair course
Question: I purchased a Jewish online hair stylist course for apx $700. . It features about 12 instructional videos. Once each video is open to watch it lasts for a… Read more »
Does issur kol isha include speaking?
Question: Does one need to be chosheh for this gemara- נשדר ליה מר שלמא לילתא א”ל הכי אמר שמואל קול באשה ערוה If a woman was offered a job recording… Read more »
Moving trippers of a Shabbos Clock
Question: I live in Eretz Yisroel, and I am sure the Rov is familiar with our timers. It is the type that the trippers do not separate from the clock… Read more »
Bosis Question
Question: I inadvertently left a sefer I wanted to use on Shabbos on top of my computer. Make I take the sefer off on Shabbos, given it’s not really a… Read more »
Teshuva for doing melacha b’shogeg on Shabbos
Question: What t’shuvah may I do if I did a melachah b’shogeg, besides strengthening my learning of the halachos and being more careful. Can I give Tzedekah, preemptively, to avert,… Read more »
Can I use a peeler to peel a carrot on Shabbos?
Question: Can I use a peeler to peel a carrot on Shabbos? Answer: Using a peeler on Shabbos is controversial if it is considered a specialized instrument of borer, or… Read more »
Organic vs Non Organic peanut butter and other nut butters and spices
Question: I am vegan so I do eat Organic peanut butters and other nut butters and I do like spices as well and they are organic also. Is there ANYTHING… Read more »
Negiah after marraige
Question: Is it Asur to hug or hold your wife’s hand in public? What’s considered public Answer: The Rema (E:H 21-5) says that a couple may not show affection to… Read more »
Hataras Nedorim
Question: Hi I made a neder 8 years ago and only remembered it recently. Could I meikar hadin rely on the the fact that when I made Hataras Nedorim on Erev… Read more »
ORGANIC peanut butter from Trader Joes
Question: Does Organic peanut butter contain insect parts? Answer: This is something you would have to ask the company. From a halachic angle though, even if it did contain insect… Read more »
What’s considered ba’al tishaktzu?
Question: Hi, how badly does a person need to use he bathroom for him to reach the level of ba’al tishaktzu? Thank you. Answer: The Shulchan Aruch Horav says that… Read more »
Nedarim made by a katan
Question: Hi, do I have to keep nedarim that I made when I was a katan, Thank you so much. Answer: If you made the neder within a year of… Read more »
Tefillin
Question: Question: Hi. I know that there is a din that the Tefillin shel rosh must be behind the hairline, but does that mean that all of the shel rosh… Read more »
What kind of Heter Iskah do I need
Question: Shalom, My brother is taking a loan which he is passing on to me to help us put down a downpayment on a house. He will be paying monthly… Read more »
Place of Tefillin Shel Rosh regarding ones hairline
Question: Hi. I know that there is a din that the Tefillin shel rosh must be behind the hairline, but does that mean that all of the shel rosh must… Read more »
Thinking a Neder
Question: Hello, I was mekabel a chumra in my mind, and I didn’t do it three times- is it a neder? Thank you. Answer: The kabala of the neder doesn’t… Read more »
Fasting when yartzheit is on Shabbos
Question: For someone who is Ashkenazi and usually fasts on one’s father’s yartzheit, if it comes out on Shabbos this year, do we not fast at all or do we… Read more »
Using a pasul sefer torah where there isn’t another one available
Question: In the current situation, many minyanim don’t have a Sefer Torah available to them. A minyan had one, but found several psulim in it. There is not another Sefer… Read more »
Is wearing tzitzit necessary when working at cemetary?
Question: Shalom. I work at a cemetery, that’s why I always wear my tzitzit inside my pants. Besides, that my work involves a lot of sweating and I feel it… Read more »
Ripping kriyah at the kotel
Question: Do some/all poskim allow ripping kriyah at the kotel on the same garment on multiple visits? Do some/all poskim allow more than one person to rip kriyah at the… Read more »
Latest time for shema and amidah
Question: Do most non-chassidim follow the Magen Avraham or Gra for the latest time of shema and amidah? Thanks Answer: Most people follow the Gr”a in this regard, as is… Read more »
Havdalah from Shabbos to YT and vice versa
Question: Is there havdalah from Shabbos to YT and YT to Shabbos? If so, what is said and what isn’t said? Thank you Answer: There are two type of services… Read more »
Aliya after 40 days
Question: Regarding point #3, if the woman’s section is already open, is it better if the women goes to shul after 40 days when her husband gets the aliyah or… Read more »
HaMapil
Question: Shalom, How should one approach HaMapil when there is a chance of tashmish being requested? Can one engage in tashmish after HaMapil, especially since talking will be necessary? Kol tuv!… Read more »
Opening a sefer while I am reviewing my learning by heart
Question: When I review my Torah learning, I like to verbally speak it out to myself quietly. Sometimes I am embarrassed to do this in front of other people. A… Read more »
Throwing out bread
Question: In regards to the halacha that a piece of bread that is at least the size of a kezayis must be covered and thrown out, is it sufficient to… Read more »
Postponing a contractual work
Question: Hello Rav, I had a question regarding paying a contractor a cancellation fee/push off fee that he is charging us. We are in the process of purchasing an apartment… Read more »
Yichud with Sephardi Woman and 2 Ashkenazi Men
Question: Is it yichud for a Sephardic woman to be alone with 2 Ashkenazi men? Generally, it is not enough for 1 sephardi woman to be alone with 2 men…. Read more »
Hagomel for a stillborn and aliya
Question: Does a woman have to say Hagomel for a stillborn baby boy? If yes, if it is after 30 days, does she still need to say it? If yes, how?… Read more »
Minyan in shul now during Covid19
Question: Hello I am wondering what to do regarding minyan. At this point, the shuls are more open. However, I am extremely concerned regarding this because it seems more to… Read more »
In Israel. Candle to light Friday night candles at end of Shavuot blew out
Question: One day (Thursday night and Friday) Chag Shavuot. Friday night & Saturday are Shabbat. We lit a big candle to light the Friday night candle for Shabbat. That candle… Read more »
How long is availus for a brother?
Question: how long is availus for a brother? Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem btoch shar aveiliy Tzion V’yerushalayiom. The aveilus period for all relative, except a parent, is for thirty days…. Read more »
Fasting for teshuva
Question: Dear Rabbi, I have given more thought to fasting to do teshuvah and to ask Hashem more health and reasonable biblical placement. Can you help me choose with a… Read more »
Haircut in barbershop
Question: BS”D Cutting hair in a barbershop, should I bury or burn, or don’t I have to do anything? Answer: There is no need to do anything with them, according… Read more »
Eating hybrid vegetables and fruits
Question: B”H Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it. Is it ok to eat “grape tomatoes” and “mixed cherry tomatoes” or is there an issue of different types… Read more »
Israeli on Yom Tov Sheini
Question: Davening with a minyan of ten people and one of the people is Israeli (this is on Yom Tov Sheini, but for him it was Isru Chag) What should… Read more »
Hamapil and then cannot fall asleep
Question: If one said hamapil and then cannot fall asleep, was it a bracha l’vatala? Answer: No it wasn’t, because according to most poskm, the bracha essentially is on the… Read more »
Money received for Yom Tov expenses
Question: Someone gave me money for Yom Tov expenses. (He gave me more than necessary, especially since I ate out by some of the meals.) May I spend whatever is… Read more »
Meah Brachos on a fast day
Question: It says that one is permitted to fast a taanis cholam on Shabbos. When doing so, how does one reach meah brachos? Answer: He should find different besomim to… Read more »