Question: I have terrible low back pain. May I use Biofreeze Pain Relieving Roll on on Shabbos? Please let me know. Thank you very much. Aidel Kahn. Answer: I’m sorry… Read more »
Category: Ask
Using Office supplies at work
Question: Am I allowed to print out a document for personal use using the office’s printer, ink, paper… Answer: It really depends on what the boss would say about it…. Read more »
Using ma’aser money for wedding gifts
Question: Can I use ma’aser money for a wedding gift? Answer: There are times when one may use maser money to give a wedding present. First of all it is… Read more »
Steamed bread – mezonot or hamotzi?
Question: There’s a certain type of bread roll made in Asian cuisines called Bao, also known as steamed buns or baozi. They can either be stuffed with something, usually meat… Read more »
Follow-up Up on Baby Wipes
Question: To follow-up on your answer regarding baby wipes on Jan 13, ’17: If one saturates the baby wipe (or tissue for that matter) with water, then gently strokes the… Read more »
Gay Couple in Shul
Question: I live in Israel and go to a Shul that caters Baalei Teshuva and helps people to come closer. We started having a gay couple in the congregation, one… Read more »
Am i prohibited to a Kohen for marriage
Question: I am a single mother with a 12 year old child who was conceived using a self insemination method. The donor is not jewish but plays a very active… Read more »
Obligation to obey one’s parents
Question: Hi, I saw an question on the site in which you answered that when there is a loss, one need not obey their parents when it comes to things… Read more »
Amira le’akum
Question: Can one ask a non jew before shabbos to do a melocho derabonon on shabbos? Answer: Generally a Jew may not ask a gentile to do melacha for him… Read more »
Custom shade dispute
Question: My wife ordered custom shades. She feels the installer didn’t measure them properly or install them correctly and to move them will create costly damage to the walls and… Read more »
Is short-term renter chayav to replace damaged appliance?
Question: I rented out my literally brand new apartment in Israel. The short-term renter used the residential kitchen as an effective catering hall to serve 60-70 people each meal and… Read more »
Bracha for LICORICE
Question: Licorice is made from wheat. What is the bracha? Many say SHACHOL. Answer: That is true, it is almost universally accepted among the poskim say to say shehakol on… Read more »
Causing bruise to parent
Question: Is it a problem if father son are joking horsing around and son accidentally causes a bruise to father? If it is a problem how does one do teshuva?… Read more »
Makeup on Shabbos applied by gentile
Question: My daughter is a kallah. Since she became engaged she has broken out with a severe case of acne. Needless to say this has caused her a great deal… Read more »
Pareve Kenwood bowl washed in milky dishwasher
Question: If I always wash my pareve plastic Kenwood bowl and pareve metal attachments (dough hook & K-beater) in a milky dishwasher and then use them to make a cake:… Read more »
righty putting tefilin on right arm
Question: What if a right-handed person is in the hospital and has bandages on his left arm- can he put his Shel Yad on his right arm? Answer: He may… Read more »
heter iskah
Question: I am a 50% partner in an Israeli company(the other 50% partner is Jewish)and I have taken a private loan from the company. Prior to me having the Heter… Read more »
Checking grapes for bugs
Question: Do grapes, red or green, require checking. If so how? Answer: Please see the following link. http://dinonline.org/Bedikat/grapes/ Best Wishes
Jewish worker moonlighting
Question: We gave a friend a job about 2 years ago to assist in running one of the divisions of our property related business. At the end of last year,… Read more »
Staring
Question: I’ve notice people spying on me in shul and beis medrash either because of shiduchim or to find out about me since I come from outside the community. People… Read more »
Tefillin with iv tubes
Question: How should one put on the arm tefillin if a bunch of iv tubes are attached Answer: The main part of the arm that the tefillin has to be… Read more »
Brocho achroneh on mezones and shehakol
Question: Dear Rabbi When one eats something that requires the brocho mezones and also eats something that needs a brocho shehakol, does one need always need to make Al Hamichio… Read more »
Is this shaimos?
Question: If a posuk or part of davening is written on a paper, but using the letter “hei” instead of spelling out the name of Hashem or writing eloKai instead… Read more »
Making a temporary wall on shabbos
Question: Is one allowed to make a temporary wall on Shabbos from a blanket to separate one side of a room from another? Answer: It depends on the reason that… Read more »
Goy praying for yid
Question: My sister is quite sick and there are multiple goyim (catholics) asking to “pray” for her. Is it permissible to let a goy pray for a yid’s refuah shlemah?… Read more »
meat/milk
Question: if I use an air fryer for meat item, can i then use it for a parve item and mix the parve item with dairy? I am sephardic. thanks… Read more »
mouthwash on shabbos
Question: Is it ok to use antiseptic mouthwash such as listerine on shabbos Answer: It is permitted because it is not used to heal. Best Wishes
Is Tefillas Shmoneh Esrei a hefsek for seudah?
Question: Sometimes I’m working in my office and it gets time for Minchah — because of my location I most often daven in the office. At times I’m b’emtze seudah,… Read more »
Can one use hot water from a non-kosher store or on a plane?
Question: Can one use hot water from a non-kosher store in the airport to make a coffee or soup? What about on a plane? Answer: If the hot water source… Read more »
Are people sensitive to the cold allowed to close the window?
Question: what is the halachah in regard to who takes preference when one person wants to open say a window or door to a room because they are feeling hot… Read more »
Mincha Maariv
Question: Shalom. 1) Is there a maalah to daven mincha right before shekia (and maybe finishing right after shekia) and then wait a few minutes for shekia to daven maariv?… Read more »
Transport to hospital on shabbat
Question: If a women goes into labour on Shabbos while living in Israel, is it better to order a taxi where the driver might be a Jew or ask ones… Read more »
Listening to Rabbis regarding elections
Question: I live in Bet Shemesh. As you probably know from the last time there was elections (X2) it’s a very touchy subject. Anyways, as an American, i was always… Read more »
Does a food thermometer needs tevila?
Question: Does a food thermometer needs tevila? Answer: Essentially you do not have to tovel it, however it would be preferable to tovel it without a bracha. The reason for… Read more »
Saying a comment that makes someone say Lashan Hara
Question: Hello, If someone was about to say a story that was Lashan Hara, you made a comment, which in essence made him continue his story (a follow up question… Read more »
Waking up early and washing hands
Question: Dear Rabbi, If I wake up early to learn (before Alos hasachar), do I need to wash my hands again after Alos before I daven shacharis? Answer: Yes you… Read more »
Partially Being Machmir
Question: Rabbi, Is there a benefit to: 1 – trying to keep cholov yisroel when I can and it’s up to me – since my wife does the cooking and… Read more »
relationship
Question: Dear rabbi, 34 years old and single am I (no marriage so far). Being an artist,that influences my lifestyle. would it be good to be betrothed to a woman… Read more »
Cooked a parve food in a parve oven with a fleishig pan and parchment paper
Question: I made French macaroons on parchment paper in a parve oven. I accidently used a fleishig pan that hasn’t been used for meat in a while. Can I put… Read more »
Toiveling Earthenware vessel
Question: What is the biblical source for not being able to toivel a Kli Cheres? Answer: It is not that we can’t tovel it, rather it is that it is… Read more »
Why is one required to wait 24 hrs before using a vessel belonging to a gentile?
Question: Why does one need to wait 24 hours before being able to toivel a vessel belonging to a gentile, what is the purpose of those 24 hours Answer: It… Read more »
kesuba
Question: I’m not sure where my kesubah is…is that a problem? Answer: Yes it is, try to locate it, if not you may have to go to a Rov and… Read more »
Throwing out bread
Question: After Shabbos or on a weekday bread is left over from the meal. I like to eat and buy fresh bread. I’m afraid to throw bread out because of… Read more »
Building Rights
Question: Dear Rabbonim, Next door to our building is a plot allocated for use as a Synagogue. Is this something that the kablan should have told us before purchasing? The… Read more »
Can a person squeeze water from a can of tuna on Shabbos/Yomtov?
Question: Can a person squeeze water from a can of tuna on Shabbos/Yomtov? If yes, what is the most recommended or best way Halchically? Answer: My assumption is heat you… Read more »
Female hair removal
Question: Hi, As a single girl who has dark hair I have been using laser and other hair removal treatments. I was wondering if I’m allowed to remove hair on… Read more »
Can I throw out a plaque written by a goy with G d spelled with an O part of a Catholic poem ?
Question: Can I throw out a plaque written by a goy with G d spelled with an O part of a Catholic poem ? Answer: It is permitted to throw… Read more »
Post-Partum
Question: Shalom Rabbi, I am not a very observant Jew, but my wife and I try to keep most of taharat hamishpacha. She is G-d willing going to have a… Read more »
Kiddush by Mechale shabbos
Question: Can one be yotzei from a kiddush or hamotzei made by someone who is not always shomer Shabbos? He goes to a very modern open orthodox shul, but is… Read more »
Bracha on Tzitzis
Question: The Zman for putting on the talis for ex. Is 6 am. Can you hold the talis over your head at 5:59:30 or before in anticipation of the 6:00… Read more »