Question: DO MAVARTA CUTS on tefillin need to be blacken in? Answer: In Piskei Teshuvos 32 ftnt. 463 he brings from Zichron Eliyahu chap. 20 that the cuts should be… Read more »
Category: Ask
Shemoneh Esrei Changes during Aseres Yemei Teshuvah
Question: Dear Rabbi I am always confused on the minhag to change to saying oseh hsalom at the end of the Shemoneh Esrei during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah. My siddur… Read more »
Losing one’s place in middle of shmoneh esrei bracha
Question: If one is in the middle of an individual bracha of shmoneh esrei and loses focus and doesn’t remember where he is up to in that individual bracha, what… Read more »
Beginning to give ma’aser- Do I have to give retroactively?
Question: At the recommendation of others and a few years after having become frum, I’ve decided that I would like to give tzdaka in the format of ma’aser. My question… Read more »
ice on cold sore on shabbos
Question: Can one place ice on cold sore on Shabbos? Answer: Cold sores are treated with medication, therefore placing ice on them if the sore is outside of the mouth… Read more »
Do tzitzis need to have any white strings at all?
Question: There is a dispute among the Rishonim regarding the minimum number of strings on tzitzis that must be tekheles in order to fulfill the mitzvah (Tosafos says two, Ravaad… Read more »
Preparing seforim for learning
Question: I have a CHAVRUTA during the week. I prepare on Shabbos. Can i set aside SEFORIM with bookmarks and all materials necessary on Shabbos for this weekday learning? Is… Read more »
guest
Question: If one is eating by someone on Shabbos and one is not served a certain dish that there is a halacha or an inyan to eat (e.g. fish, or… Read more »
Yichud – Assuming the husband is in the city
Question: In a city where most of the inhabitants work locally, is a repairman/specialist allowed to assume that a husband is located in the city and therefore work in a… Read more »
Which Countries do the checking guide apply to?
Question: Regarding the extremely informative resource, “Practical Methods of Checking Foods” by Rav Moshe Vaye: Does all of the information presented there apply to products in the USA? Answer: Yes… Read more »
13 middos
Question: Why is emes a good thing to mention in the 13 middos when we’re trying to get rachamim, in light of the gemara in AZ daf 4b says emes… Read more »
Washing spoon on Shabbos for the next Shabbos
Question: I use a spoon specifically for CHOLENT on Shabbos. I rarely use it on the weekdays. If I wash in on SHABBOS, I’m actually washing it for Shabbos but for… Read more »
suing another Jew in secular court- lose olam abah?
Question: Hello, Thank you for your help. I learned that it is prohibited to sue another Jew in secular court. (would this be informing?) My question is if a company… Read more »
Vestos after aygestin
Question: I took aygestin to delay my period (with Halachic guidance) because of which my periods (2x) were spaced very far apart/ What do I do regarding old vestos and… Read more »
Rinsing Baby bottles in meat sink
Question: Someone visited me and rinsed the remainder of the milk left in their baby’s bottle in my meat sink although the milk is kosher (dairy). Do I need to… Read more »
Accepting non jewish contributions to jewish buildings
Question: Quoting Nechemiah 2:8, Arachin 6a discusses what contributions can be accepted from a gentile towards a jewish building. The verse is talking about the gates of the castle belonging… Read more »
kosher work
Question: Hello, Thanks so much for taking the time to help. My question is: Is it ok to work in a stationary store that may sell non-jewish religious items during… Read more »
Using A Milchig Bread Maker To Make Bread That Will Be Eaten With Meat
Question: Shalom, is it possible to use my breadmaker for a recipi containing milk….and then use it later for a parve bread (to be eaten with meat) ? p.s. –… Read more »
Using someone else’s coffee
Question: I used coffee thinking it was the public’s and then notice it said a name on it, I’m. It sure how many cups of coffee I took from it… Read more »
Can one ever NOT give a poor person money when he asks?
Question: Whenever i daven in the shtibel here, there are always alot of beggars that come ask for money. I once heard that a certain gadol( don’t remember who, and… Read more »
Saying Dayan Emet
Question: Is this blessing recited upon hearing bad news in general? Death of innocent gentiles? Righteous gentiles? Answer: This bracha is only meant to be said when the person had… Read more »
Is heckling considered shaming the performer?
Question: Is booing, expressing disapproval or dislike of the performance, and similar gestures, considered shaming someone in public, or does it “come with the territory”? Answer: If the performer realizes… Read more »
Tashlumim for Maariv for Women
Question: If a woman usually davens Maariv and forgot one night does she need to daven Shachris twice? Answer: In the sefer Peninei Tefillah (Psakim in the name of R’… Read more »
Acquisition of meat/dairy status from contact with clean utensil
Question: If there is a container of cold, pareve food (such as a bag of flour or a jar of peanut butter), does using a clean dairy or meat utensil… Read more »
Davening Shemone Esrei While Scrolling
Question: If one doesn’t have a siddur and the only way to daven shemone esrei is by accessing an online siddur, is one allowed to continuously tap the mouse to… Read more »
bug checking for oat bran?
Question: Does oat bran (oats grinded up really small) need to be checked for bugs? Answer: According to the kashrus professional that I consulted, you should look it over. If… Read more »
Shaving on chol hamoed/3 weeks
Question: My son is 18 years old and he has down syndrome. He doesn’t speak much. He doesn’t have the mental capacity to understand mourning the bais hamikdash nor shabbos… Read more »
Ketchup on cholent on Shabbos
Question: If you put hot cholent on your plate.Can you add ketchup to the cholent on Shabbos. Answer: R’ Moshe Feinstein zt”l writes about this in Igros Moshe, and he… Read more »
Can a non Jewish housekeeper turn on a toaster oven to cook?
Question: Can a non Jewish housekeeper turn on a toaster oven to cook? Does a toaster oven have the same prohibition of bishul akum? Answer: A toaster oven or any… Read more »
Touching 9 year old
Question: Me and wife are taking care of our nine year old nephew. Could my wife give him a hug? Could she touch him (I.e. to cut his nails)? Answer:… Read more »
Use of a virtual receptionist on shabbos and yom tov
Question: If a person calls my business and no one answers the phone, the call gets automatically forwarded to a virtual receptionist service. A live person working for the service… Read more »
Do I need to toivel used glass jars?
Question: Do I need to toivel used glass jars (mayo, coffee, etc) before using them for food products? For example, using a used mayo jar to store soup? Answer: According… Read more »
bowing: follow up question
Question: Hello, Thanks for your help. My question is regarding the concept of bowing down/ crouching down to greet/pet an animal. There is clearly no religious intent whatsoever, it is… Read more »
Can musaf be said during bein hashmashos like mincha?
Question: Can musaf be said during bein hashmashos like mincha? Also, which should be said first, mincha or musaf? Thank you! Answer: We should be careful to say mussaf… Read more »
tefillin
Question: When I take off my tefilin shel rosh, I very often notice a significant amount of dandruff (white specks) on the retzuos and sometimes on the box itself. Do… Read more »
laws of mourning
Question: Hello, Thank you so much for your help. The question relates to a daughter of a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father. When the father passes away, is the daughter… Read more »
Haftorah on klaf
Question: If a Shul has a Klaf to lain the Haftorah from and there is a Bar Mitzvah in shul and the boy doesn’t want to lain from the Klaf… Read more »
Pledged money to a yeshiva, and then found out that I made a mistake
Question: I learnt at a bein hazmanim kollel and received “X” amount of money. I already said that I will give 10% back to the yeshiva for ma’aser. The problem… Read more »
gentile employee
Question: I recently hired a person to work during the week and to also be on call over Shabbos to respond to urgent computer issues. I thought he was a… Read more »
Shoveling snow on shabbos
Question: Regarding shoveling snow on Shabbos, in an instance where snow could cause danger to pedestrians, would one even be able to shovel the snow to clear a path? What… Read more »
Prescription Sunglasses on Shabbos
Question: Can a person wear Prescription sunglasses for distance on Shabbos in an area without an ARUV? To protect the eyes from the sun. Without sunglasses its very uncomfortable. It… Read more »
Going to a close friend’s son’s aufruf
Question: Going to a close friend’s son’s aufruf 1. The kiddush in shul – not a sit down. 2. A luncheon with several tables. Answer: My apologies that it took… Read more »
Avoda Zara picture at work
Question: A Jewish workplace has a picture of their product with an idol from asia in the background, is this forbidden? Should I do something about it? Answer: Although it… Read more »
Dairy Utensil used to Cook Pareve in Fleishig pot.. with some davar charif as well
Question: I shallow boiled (using a large flat pan and used water in place of oil on the bottom to cook pareve in a meat pan with a dairy utensil… Read more »
Amazon Delivery Shabbos
Question: Can one order a package from amazon that will specifically be delivered on shabbos? Thanks. Answer: If you specifically request that it be delivered on shabbos then you are… Read more »
Eating before mincha for a woman.
Question: I’ve been learning the halachot of tfillah and just learned that it is prohibited to eat before davening mincha, from the time that zman tfillah begins until you have… Read more »
Anxiety about mistakes in davening
Question: Hi, I have a question regarding mistakes in the amida – I suffer from a postpartum anxiety disorder, and I find that many times while davening the amida, I… Read more »
Sitting shiva
Question: Must you sit shiva for a parent even if you have had barely any contact with them their whole life? Answer: Hamakom yinachem eschem btoch shar aveilei tzion v’yerushalayim… Read more »
Giving a description
Question: Is it Lashon Hara and/or wrong to describe a person, yeshiva, or shul as ‘out of town’. (Not for Shidduchim purposes). Thank You! Answer: It depends on the circumstances… Read more »
Mistakes in amida
Question: After a long tiring day, I was davening mincha and was became unsure that I recited the last line of a Bracha in the amida. I repeated the Shmona… Read more »