Question: My Hebrew birthday is 17 Tevet, which this year falls on December 25th, a major non-Jewish holiday on which we usually refrain from celebrating or studying Torah. May I… Read more »
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Motzaei Shabbos
Question: Dear Rav, I wanted to know whether what I’ve been doing is correct: I finish Shabbos at 72 minutes as a chumrah, but I do derabannans from 60 minutes,… Read more »
Investing in a non-kosher establishment
Question: I was wondering if one is halachically allowed to buy stock in a company that sells some kosher and some non kosher products, even if I wouldn’t eat there…. Read more »
What brocho do u make on wheat/rice cakes
Question: What brocho do you make on rice cakes 60% whole wheat Answer: According to most poskim the bracha is hoadomo, even though it is mostly from wheat. The reason… Read more »
Reasons for Conversion to Judaism
Question: Is it a valid reason for the mother to convert to Judaism “to see what the Jewish religion is like because the child wants to be Jewish, i.e. for… Read more »
Who was Eliyahu
Question: I’m looking at Melachim 1 17:1. With most prophets in Tenach, I believe we’re told their father’s name or tribe. Why are we told nothing about Eliyahu? 16:1 tells… Read more »
Sous vide on shabbos
Question: Does one need to toivel a sous vide machine? It does not touch the food, but rather just a means of cooking. and also, could one leave it on… Read more »
cat in the house
Question: Our cat wants to go outside but we dont let it go because it gets into fights with other cats. I dont know if this cat is domestic but… Read more »
Hashkafah of Rashi
Question: When Rashi says in the beginning of Bereishis that the world was created for Torah and the Jewish People, does that really mean that the rest of the world… Read more »
Doing work for a Charedi client who is selling statutes on Amazon
Question: I run a U.S. business that files trademarks for frum businesses. We have a Charedi client from Monsey who sells a number of products on Amazon and has used… Read more »
Washing mouth out after eating
Question: Its more then 6 hours since I ate fleshigs but i never washed my lips after eating and licked my lips and maybe swallowed too. Can I eat Milk… Read more »
playing piano during aveilus
Question: I am at the beginning of my aveilus for my father, z”l and I am a piano player. I’m not a professional, but it is s significant hobby. When… Read more »
Does Hashem ever unforgive?
Question: If I sincerely do teshuva and ask for forgiveness and H-shem forgives me, but then I have a change of heart in a bad way and start thinking of… Read more »
Chanukah get together
Question: What is the halacha if we want to get together on chanukah for a supper siblings and children in the year for our father Answer: R’ S. Z. Auerbach… Read more »
Divorce Obligations
Question: Halachikly speaking, are there additional financial obligations to the wife besides the kesuva amount? For example, paying for her apartment rental or moving expenses back to her city. Or… Read more »
Currency Ketuva Amount
Question: Is the written tosefet ketuva amount that is written in the ketuva debatable? Meaning that the tosefet ketuva was specified in US dollars & not the currency where the… Read more »
Davening in front of a picture of a woman
Question: Is one allowed to say a bracha in front of a picture of a woman who is not tznius, and by scale it would be more than a tefach,… Read more »
Bris / Pidyon Haben
Question: I know the issue of inviting to a bris as opposed to just informing. Why is there no issue when inviting to a Pidyon Haben? Answer: The source of… Read more »
בשר בחלב
Question: לכבוד מו״ר הרה״ג שליט״א שלום וברכה! מישהו חתך בצלים עם סכין פרווה. אח״כ נתן הבצלים ומים כו׳ לתוך יורה בשרי שאינו בן יומו. לאחר שנגמר הבישול לקח המרק ונתן… Read more »
Saying the birkas baal habayis for spouse
Question: in benching after al yichasreinu there is an option to say a tefilla for the baal habayis. should one say this for his spouse? Answer: It is not customary… Read more »
What happened to your website?
Question: it was down for like a week! Answer: The Ribono Shel Olam wanted this to happen. I guess it was partially in order for all of us to appreciate… Read more »
Maaser Question
Question: My wife is a makeup artist by profession. She has been doing a great chesed recently, by providing makeup service free of charge for brides who cannot afford to… Read more »
Zilzul Beit haknesset?
Question: Shalom Kavod haRav, I recently attended a well established shiur in my home city, outside eretz yisrael, that is given on a week night by a prominent rav and… Read more »
Benching on Crackers
Question: I like to Bench at least once a day, BLI NADR. I can’t always find bread. How can I be KOVEIA Seudah on crackers? How much must I eat… Read more »
Chanuka Lighting & Travelling
Question: hi It looks like i will be travelling iy’h for a simcha on chanuka. However the travel is long, I will be leaving on erev chanuka with a stopover… Read more »
Tefillin from maser for grandchild
Question: Can I use maser money to buy my grandchild tefillin. My son is jobless for awhile and low on funds generally. I know for a child its questionable. How… Read more »
Prayer upon entering & leaving the synagogue
Question: Dear rabbi, Hoping that i don’t send you questions too often (the l.o.r. is away for mishpacha yom tov), i like to ask regarding beis knesset. It seems clear,… Read more »
Are the yorshim allowed to read private letters written by the deceased?
Question: Is the cherem applicable after the death of the letter writer? Are the yorshim allowed to read private letters written by the deceased? Answer: My apologies that it took… Read more »
Avoda Zara
Question: Is it Avoda Zara to learn about Catholicism because I was interested in parts of their religion and wanted to do it, especially catholic confession? Is it Avoda Zara… Read more »
Marital Relationship after Shiva
Question: Can one have sex as a woman during shiva? or how long after shiva can one have sex? Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem b’toch shar aveilei tzion v’yerushalayim. Regarding your question, the laws… Read more »
Amount of wine for Havdallah
Question: How much of the Havdallah wine should a person drink? If its less than a Reviis, should a Bracha Acahronah be made? Answer: Essentially one has to drink male… Read more »
Washing hands before davening
Question: Is there a limud zchus on the many ppl who aren’t makpid to wash hands before davening Mincha/mariv? Answer: Interesting question. I don’t know. Maybe if they think that… Read more »
Kosher Investment Fund
Question: I inherited an IRA account. From what I can tell, the investment company, Vanguard, invests the funds in a wide range of stocks in various stock markets around the… Read more »
Which arm for tefillin?
Question: I use my right hand for tasks that involve precise control such as writing. However, my left hand and foot are used for most sports, since they are more… Read more »
Shatnetz
Question: Dear Rabbi, Can a pair of trousers with 50% wool, 49% polyester and 1% spandex be bought? Very viral concerns about shatnetz. Thanks. Answer: Generally it should be checked… Read more »
Does a wife need to ask her husband before she spends money
Question: Must a wife ask her husband before she spends money? What if she wants to go for therapy or to a Rav and he won’t respect it? He never… Read more »
Playgroups
Question: My pediatrician advised me to pull my 24 month old child out of his playgroup due to serious concerns about his well being while he is there (He does… Read more »
Illusions
Question: Are magic tricks illusions) forbidden as entertainment? Answer: Good question- please see the following links that talk extensively about your question http://dinonline.org/2010/06/22/magic-as-innocent-as-it-seems/ http://dinonline.org/2017/07/07/magic-in-halacha-between-tricks-and-sorcery/ http://dinonline.org/2015/06/29/a-halachic-glance-at-magic/ Best Wishes
Maaser Money
Question: A single unmarried teenage girl is asking whether she can give her maaser money to her single mother whom she lives with in order to help her with paying… Read more »
Tachanun
Question: Do you say Tachanun on Eruv Rosh Hodesh? Answer: We say tachanun by shacharis of erev Rosh Chodesh, but not by mincha. Sources: Shulchan Aruch 134-6
Does an Ovel daven for the omud on Rosh Chodesh
Question: Does an Ovel daven for the omud on Rosh Chodesh? Answer: An ovel does not daven on Rosh Chodesh since it is a day that we don’t say “lam’natzyach”…. Read more »
brachan on doughnuts
Question: What bracha do i recite on sufganiot? Answer: The bracha on doughnuts is controversial, but the minhag is to make mezonos on them. Sources: Shulchan Aruch O:CH 168-13
No Tefillin
Question: What do I do if I don’t have Tefillin and can’t borrow someone else’s or get them Answer: You should do whatever you can to get tefiilin. If you… Read more »
maaser
Question: We are living a kollel life in Yerushalayim; money is tight. Can my single sister in America buy for my toddler some clothing with her maaser money? Answer: Yes… Read more »
Beracha of ceasar salad
Question: Shalom , what is the beracha for ceasar salad – which includes “crouton” (bread cubes) may be considered tafel to the salad even if the quantity is considerable Thanks… Read more »
humour
Question: dear rabbi, regarding the topic of humour, i wonder if it is important. probably it can – as all kind of laughther be good or be bad. do you… Read more »
Terrible migraines
Question: I recently started having terrible migraines. The pain is very intense even with medication. I have one now and the pain is blinding. I can’t focus on anything else…. Read more »
Must one return change of over-payment
Question: The lessor received payment from the lessee of $260 when the charge (beknowen to the lessee) was $257, does change need to be returned? Answer: It depends when the… Read more »
Ashomnu everyday
Question: 1. Can a person say Ashomnu every day? 2. A person wanting to do Tshuva. Can it be said on Shabbos as well? Answer: There is nothing wrong with saying… Read more »
Diary fork made treif and kashered too early
Question: A dairy fork was used for hot chicken. My wife then tried to kosher it by putting it in a boiling pot. She did not wait 24 hours. What… Read more »