Question: I hired a sofer to write a Torah. I ordered based on seeing a sample of his writing. The klaf size I requested was 4cm shorter than his sample… Read more »
Category: Ask
Halachos pertaining to kids of parents sitting Shivah
Question: My mother is sitting Shivah on her brother A’H. Am I allowed to take a haircut before Shabbos / Yom Tov, listen to music ? I live in NY… Read more »
Cooked milchig in fleishig oven
Question: By accident I cooked my cheese cake in my fleishig oven. Can I use the cheese cake or is it now treif ? Do I have to kasher my… Read more »
disconnecting public property
Question: We had an electronic bulletin board installed in the lobby of our building. since there was no charge on the part of the tenants, we didn’t have a meeting… Read more »
electronic bulletin board
Question: is it permitted to have an electronic bulletin board in a public place? lobby of an apartment house where I live? one of the neighbors in the building keeps… Read more »
The seller would not sell if he knew why I am buying it
Question: May I buy many tickets for an event (e.g. concert) to resell them [if there is no rule/ law against it] if I do not live in that area?… Read more »
can we light a sterno on yom tov
Question: is lighting a sterno simular to lighting a match Answer: We are not allowed to create a fire on yom tov, but we are allowed to light something from… Read more »
Can I be moser someone who stole from me
Question: I gave a person a substantial amount to invest in a property. Because he had difficulties, he did not use it for the investment. I am choshed because of… Read more »
Meat wooden spoon
Question: I accidentally used meat wooden spoon while cooking a parve dish in a milk pot, and then washing the spoon with a milk sponge. Do I need to replace… Read more »
Meteorology book
Question: Dear Rabbi, Do I have to block out any pictures of the sun and moon in my meteorology textbook (and if so how)? Answer: This is a tough… Read more »
Having an investment property shown on Shabbos
Question: If a non-Jewish agent wants to show a property that I own on Shabbos is he allowed to do that? There would be no work performed. The agent is… Read more »
Can one use not pesach dishclothes for pesach?
Question: I have many dishclothes I dont use any more during the year. Can I put them away to use for pesach? Answer: Regarding your question, you may use them… Read more »
shiluach haken
Question: are American Robin kosher for shiluach haken Answer: Please see the following post where this was discussed. http://dinonline.org/2010/05/16/shiluach-haken/ Best Wishes
copying cards from the Hebrew version of a game I own in English
Question: We own the game Code Names in English. I’d like to have the word cards of the Hebrew game, to combine the two, but the Hebrew game is quite… Read more »
How to Connect with g-d towards prayer?
Question: How can a person fully show gratitude to the almighty, without even understanding the hebrew words (read out) straight from the Sefer Torah? I heard, that reading in the… Read more »
Menu for Yom Tov
Question: Is there any way one can read read a menu or list that helps organize yom tov meals on yom tov? Answer: There are two potential reasons why a… Read more »
Chassan Torah/Breishis
Question: The minhag in my shul is that when one gets chassan torah/breishis they give a kiddush – if i got this honor several times in the past but forgot… Read more »
Pan Used for Dairy or Meat Bread
Question: What is the status of a pan used to bake bread that is halachically forbidden as dairy or meat bread? Thank you Answer: According to most poskim to pan… Read more »
New oven kashrus
Question: When you buy a new oven, what are the steps that must be taken (other than toveling grates) before using it? Answer: When buying a new oven, and there… Read more »
Break Open Glass Oil Vial on Yom Tov
Question: Is it permissible to break off the top of the glass oil vials on yom tov? The vial already contains the oil and wick, and will not be reused… Read more »
Halacha of flags and banners
Question: Dear Rabbi, When King David established his kingdom, does the bible indicate he used a flag to denote its exist. There is only one verse in the bible that… Read more »
Kashrus
Question: If i touched steering wheel in car and other things in car with fleshig hands and its past 6 hours does if have to get cleaned? Answer: It can… Read more »
Inject on Shabbos to prevent blood clots
Question: I had a C-section on Tuesday and was given injections to inject myself every day for 10 days to prevent blood clot. (Lovenox (enoxaparin sodium) Injection is an anticoagulant… Read more »
Kashrus
Question: If fleshigs touched my phone / tzitzis does it come fleshigs or touching something with fleshig hands Answer: It should be wiped or washed off well, and then it… Read more »
Bar/Bat MItzvah
Question: How can a 12/13-year-old be considered an adult? What actually happens at the age of 12/13? Please answer in great detail. Thank you. Answer: The age of 12 (for… Read more »
Untiol when can one say Birchas Hamazon
Question: Washed For breakfast at 9:00 finished eating at around 9:30 and got busy in managers office until now. Am I still allowed to Bentch? Thank you Answer: The rule… Read more »
Re: the punishment of the person about whom lashon hara is spoken
Question: BH In the article about lashon hara, it is stated that even the person about whom lashon hara is said, is punished. What is the basis for this–especially, if… Read more »
Using Maaser Money for a Family Visit
Question: I live in Israel and my unmarried disabled sister lives in the United States. Except for another sibling who lives nearby, my disabled sister is very much alone (our… Read more »
Bruises on chicken
Question: I sometimes find small purplish bruises on the chicken or a bit of reddish, bloody looking spots. Especially if I buy chicken parts and they cut through the bone… Read more »
Making Raisins Without Bugs and Worms
Question: Thank you for your wonderful website. Your instructions to make raisins without bugs says to use a temperature of “2300-2500 F.” Do you mean bake them at 230 to… Read more »
Giving tzedaka to your own children for a procedure
Question: I owe tzedaka money from my parent’s (zl) yerusha. Our daughter and son-in-law, married several years already, are unlikely to have children without the help of IVF. He has… Read more »
Receiving tzedakah from “non-kosher” money
Question: May an individual/mossad receive tzedakah/maaser from a donor whom it is obvious he acquired his money through non-kosher means. For example maaser from a business venture that he operates… Read more »
Non obligated maaser
Question: I saw many questions here about someone who has student loan debts and other debts and they were answered that they don’t have to give maaser but should still… Read more »
plastic tefilin/tallis bag – considered a 2nd cover?
Question: When traveling and tefillin must be taken into the airport/terminal bathroom, we need a cover within a cover. Is the clear plastic bag, whose purpose it is to protect… Read more »
New age objects and books (astrology, buddhism and feng shui
Question: Hi I am not a jew. I am catholic but no practicing. I found in Internet several Rabs (Yonathan Galed) and orthodox jew kabbalah masters (Albert Gozlan) and I… Read more »
The name Leah
Question: Good afternoon, My wife has recently given birth to a baby girl and we are trying to decide on names. We both love the name “Leah” but the meaning… Read more »
Is there any reason to be an Agun?
Question: I am familiar with the difficult problem of being a Aguna of which there is much literature. what is the practical halachic process in a case where it is… Read more »
retzeh
Question: מספר ארחות רבנו ח”א שכח רצה בסעודת שחרית אומרו בסעודה שלישית ט. ספר לי הגרח”ק שליט”א ששכח רצה בסעודת שחרית ושאל את מרן החזו”א זצוק”ל אם לחזור ולברך ואמר… Read more »
Length of time for contraceptive pills
Question: If a woman is taking pills for the purpose of (halachically permissible) contraception, is she required halachically (or even if not required is it halachically recommended) to skip the… Read more »
hashovas aveida
Question: I was on the train and found a wallet that, based on the ID inside it, belongs to a non-Jew. After considering what I should do and consulting with… Read more »
Showering Yom Tov
Question: Hi, I would like to ask you since this year we will have many 3 day Yom Tov, and it’s very hard for me and my family that we… Read more »
Azazel / Yom Kippur
Question: Why is a goat thrown off of Azazel on Yom Kippur to atone for Klal Yisroel’s sins? I.e., why does the Torah deviate from the usual manner of sacrifice… Read more »
Haircut erev lag baomer in preperation for a chasuna
Question: is it permissible for a chassan and his immediate family to take haircuts on 32 baomer? Answer: For the choson it would be allowed, similar to taking a haircut… Read more »
Spaces between words in ketubah
Question: Are substantial spaces between words in a ketubah problematic? If so, how problematic? Thank you Answer: It is not meakev, and the kesubah is still kosher, however if they… Read more »
Using Food Processor for parve and cold milk
Question: I have a new food processor. Basically I want it to be able to make parve foods but I would also like to be able to make dairy shakes…. Read more »
Blank Check
Question: May someone who runs a private kindergarten take a blank check as a security? (The check should be signed but no date or amount filled in. Also the “To”… Read more »
Visitations without third person?
Question: Hi, I divorced a few months ago and I moved to a different city . Once a month my ex husband comes to visit the kids , and take… Read more »
Number of people that I can eat with
Question: When going to a restaurant for dinner how many couples can accompany me and my husband. I am in shloshim for my brother Answer: It isn’t a question of… Read more »
Can one put a tallis or tefiliin on top of chumashim? Torah shel bal peh?
Question: Can one put a talis on top of chumashim or torah shel bal peh? Can one put tefillin on top of seforim? Answer: There are five levels of… Read more »
Music during Sefirah for learning purpose
Question: May I listen to music for the purpose of learning? For example, a math or president song to remember it better. Thank you Answer: If the reason for listening… Read more »