Question: Does an etrog need ‘ma’aser’ before use in ‘arbah minim’ Answer: Yes, an esrog that grew in E. Yisroel needs have terumos u’maasros taken from it before it can… Read more »
Category: Ask
nedarim
Question: Shalom thank you for answering my questions so quickly. Do I need to say bli neder after I say I am going to do something or I will? If… Read more »
Vows/Promises to Hashem
Question: I have OCD/Anxiety Disorder and Hypochondria. A few years back, I got my hair dyed. I had read a story about a woman who suffered a severe allergic reaction… Read more »
Do I have to worry that my employers scales are not correct?
Question: Okay so I am in a workplace that is a restaurant and I use scales to measure how much meat there is. Is it my responsibility to check the… Read more »
Checking tefillin if they were left in the heat
Question: I am super paranoid of tefillin checking. I checked my tefillin after I just got it and they said the writings inside were of lower quality than what I paid… Read more »
Donation instead of a raise
Question: Similar to the question found here: http://dinonline.org/2018/06/18/asking-for-a-raise-in-order-to-give-it-to-maaser/ I’m wondering what if an employer was more inclined to give a donation on my behalf to an institution than giving me… Read more »
Taking medication on Shabbos
Question: Shalom, I am told by the doctor to take medication for bipolar. If I don’t take it the next day or so I became very agitated and sometimes feel… Read more »
Left the lights on in the shul
Question: Hello, if I usually learn in a shul and the one in charge of the lights asked me to turn off the lights when I leave and I agreed…. Read more »
The blessing beneath a new house
Question: Good day Rabbi, Does exist the Jewish tradition or requirement to bury a bottled text beneath a new house for good auspice? Does “Heaven Pina or Even Pina” ring… Read more »
Repenting for taking interest on a loan
Question: Dear Rabbi. My husband some years ago (maybe 18 years ago) took ribit on a loan for around 3 years without a heter eska from another Jew. We were… Read more »
Do my mitzvos go to the person that I spoke Lashon Hora about?
Question: Dear Rav, Is what I heard true that if one speaks lashon hara, even once, on someone else, he gives away all his mitzvos that he has done in… Read more »
Crass algebra
Question: Dear Rabbi, When we study the reform today, we note so many who are off the kilter of even basic jewish tenets. There is nil mikveh use and full… Read more »
Bar Mitzvah for convert
Question: My entire family had a conservative conversion. We attend a modern orthodox shul. We don’t keep kosher and we drive to shul on Shabbat, but our kids attend a… Read more »
When to light candle for Yizkor
Question: Dear Rabbi, I was wondering on the precise time to light the Yartzeight candle for yizkor. I have seen a view which states it should be lit after nightfall… Read more »
Can I mochel somebody if they borrowed money and didnt pay it back
Question: Can I mochel somebody if they borrowed money and didn’t pay it back? Ribit and debts are not good to have but what if you don’t remember if you… Read more »
Is paying interest to a gentile considered ribit?
Question: Is paying interest to a gentile considered ribit? Does it have to be a Jew to be forbidden, or also if its to or from a non jew? Answer:… Read more »
If I stole and borrowed and didn’t pay back under thirteen am I still liable?
Question: If I stole and borrowed and didn’t pay back under thirteen am I still liable? I don’t really know how much I stole and and I wasn’t religious yet…. Read more »
ribit and loans
Question: Does ribit only apply to loans? If not what else does it apply to? thanks Answer: You are asking an important question. Yes, ribit does not only apply to… Read more »
Toyvelling a bread machine
Question: How do you toyvel a bread machine. Answer: Remove the paddle before toveng the bread machine, insert the machine into the water at an angle so that the whole… Read more »
Dropped Lettuce in grocery Store
Question: While shopping, I picked up a bag of a few heads of lettuce to look at it, and it fell out of my hands and hit the display surface… Read more »
Accidentally put meat in parve pot
Question: I accidentally put ground turkey (cold) into a metal parve pot to mix it. It was probably in there for about 90-120 minutes, cold the whole time. Do I… Read more »
Raising hands after washing for bread
Question: How does one raise his hands after washing for Bread? How high? IS there a problem if the water runs down ones arms and back to the hands? Whats… Read more »
Listening to shiurim when one has an upset stomache
Question: If someone has an upset stomache to the point where they can’t wear tefillin, is he allowed to listen to shiurim online? It would be very hard if I… Read more »
Teshuva for Lashon Hara
Question: Rabbi, I have committed Lashon Hara against a number of people. When does one need to ask forgivness to another person? Also, how can I do Teshuvah for the… Read more »
Can I buy a merchandise for 1 dollar and sell it for two or three dollars?
Question: can i buy a merchandise for 1 dollar and sell it for two or three dollars? I want to know if there are any laws of pricing. if one… Read more »
Why no bracha on Hashuvas Aveida
Question: Why don’t we say a bracha on the mitzva of Hashuvas Aveida Answer: There are a few reasons for this . One reason is because we don’t make a… Read more »
Can you kasher a second hand espresso machine?
Question: how, Just let it run for a bit because of the heat of the hot water will Kasher it and just kasher the porta filter in a pot like… Read more »
What Bracha do you make on pureed butternut squash soup?
Question: What Bracha do you make on pureed butternut squash soup? Answer: The bracha on any pureed soup if there aren’t any pieces will be shehakol, this is because the… Read more »
Severe OCD, disturbing thoughts of vows and oaths, accidentally saying “yeah”
Question: I keep getting disturbing, unwanted thoughts of vows and oaths I for sure never want to keep because they are so horrible. I made sure never to verbalize them…. Read more »
unify the name yud-kei with vav-kei
Question: In counting the omer, unify the name yud-kei with vav-kei in perfect unity what is the meaning “yud-kei”and :vav-kei” Answer: One of the names of H-shem that we may… Read more »
Taking Challah
Question: Hi, thanks so much for this amazing site!! A few questions regarding “taking challah”: 1. When is the proper time to be mafrish the challah? I have seen it… Read more »
Vitamix and greens
Question: Hello Do I have to check my greens if I will blend them in a high powered blender? Thank you Answer: Yes you should check the greens even if… Read more »
Understanding Tznius/Erva of a Woman
Question: Shalom Rabbi, I’m confused when it comes to tznius/erva of a woman. Is the problem that a woman shouldn’t allow her erva to be seen by men or is… Read more »
Women’s voting rights and vote
Question: Dear Rabbi, I have some odd thoughts these days that our world in the early 1900s which granted women the right to vote may have been a pure liberal… Read more »
Swimming in a pool in a conservative temple
Question: A conservative shul has a swimming pool with co-ed swimming but has hours for men only. Can a man pay money to swim there during men’s hours? Is that… Read more »
Is it allowed for me to see my mother or sister in leggings?
Question: is it allowed for me to see my mother or sister in leggings (very tight pyjama trousers) and do you have mekor? Answer: It seems that technically it isn’t… Read more »
Hug from Professor
Question: Hi, Thank you for helping. I have a professor (non jewish) that I was speaking with on the last day of class. Other students had left the room as… Read more »
The difference btw. Heart and soul?
Question: ואהבת את ה׳ אל׳היך , בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך, ובכל מאדך: והיו הדברים האלה אשר אנכי מצוך היום, על לבבך: ושננתם לבניך ודברת בם בשבתך בביתך , ובלכתך בדרך,… Read more »
Is it permissible to have a pedicure on Wednesday
Question: Is it permissible to have a pedicure or a manicure for that matter on Wednesday or is there an issue of nails growing on Shabbos? Answer: There is a… Read more »
Bracha on Essential oils
Question: Does smelling essential oil require a bracha Answer: When we smell fragrances, or even oil that has fragrances mixed into it or fragrant plants soaking in it, and it… Read more »
Barbecue sauce containing fish
Question: I used a certain type of barbecue sauce for meat that contains anchovies. If the fish content is more than 1.66 percent (not batul b’shishim) will the meat be… Read more »
Medication and Eating Before Shacharit
Question: I take medication and when I wake up in the morning I am hungry and thirsty. I dont have the energy to pray or say all the words in… Read more »
Head covering according to R’ Moshe
Question: When Rav Moshe Feinstein permits a tefach (8-9cm) of hair to be shown regarding a woman’s head covering, what does that look? Is it measured from the hair line… Read more »
The reason why not wearing “Techeles”
Question: Some people wear “Techeles” Tztitzis. I understand that we don’t know for sure whether it is THE RIGHT Techeles.. But maybe it is.. So why do we see Gedolei… Read more »
6 year old mixed swim
Question: Hi. is it permissible for a 6 yr old girl to be in a pool that her 25 year old uncle is in? The uncle is a lifeguard and… Read more »
Relationship with Hashem after Chilul Hashem
Question: I wrote things about Torah observance that are wrong and misleading and wrote about idolatrous practices as if they are equally valid. My writing went very far and can… Read more »
Essential oil on Yom Kippur
Question: Is one permitted to smear essential oils on body for health reasons on Yom Kippur? Answer: Anointing oneself is one of the 5 “afflictions” and things that we are… Read more »
Father and son going to the mikvah together
Question: Can a father and son go to the mikvah together Answer: The Rema says that a father and son should not bath together, which would include going to the… Read more »
How many required to answer for minyan
Question: For maariv is it ok to have 8 people answering or do you always need 9 besides BT (and the baal tefillah is never counted)? Thanks Answer: For… Read more »
Moving into a new house
Question: Dear Rabbonim, A few questions on buying a new home On receipt of the keys for a newly built home I assume one would say Shecheyahu – but… Read more »