Question: you wrote a park is a karfaf and prohibited from carrying most parks have water fountains once there is drinking water it should not be a karfaf – just… Read more »
Category: Shabbat
Cutting nails
Question: What days are you not supposed to cut your nails? Answer: Thursday before Shabbos. Some don’t cut on Rosh Chodesh. Sources: O:CH 260:1 Mishnah Berurah 6 & 7
Automatic watches
Question: Is one allowed to hand an automatic watch to somebody to look at on shabbos or are you only allowed to use it in the normal course of wear?… Read more »
Reheating something that was pickled on shabbos
Question: Is there yesh bishul achar kevisha just like yesh bishul achar tzli and afiya. Please include source. Thanks. Answer: There is bishul achar kevisha. Sources: Chidushey Rabbi Akiva Eiger… Read more »
Is a fence an eiruv?
Question: I go to a public park on Shabbos that has a 5 foot fence around it with open and shut doors for entering. Can I carry within those parameters… Read more »
Wearing a Hankercheif on Shabbos
Question: With no EIRUV, can a person wear a handkerchief or undershirt (new or old) around one’s neck on Shabbos to absorb sweat winter or summer? Answer: If the person… Read more »
Diluting grape juice
Question: Follow-up question to “diluting grape juice” – As I indicated in my original question, I had a safek if I was yotzi (though my feeling is that the Kiddush… Read more »
Early shabbos
Question: Is it OK to make “early Shabbos” based on the zman (Plag Hamincha) of the M”A (even though the rav indicated earlier that the zman of the Gra is… Read more »
Two kiddushim combined
Question: We’re IY”H making a kiddush for our son’s bar mitzvah this Shabbos. Our neighbor wants to make a kiddush for his new baby girl this Shabbos as well. (The… Read more »
Automatic watch on Shabbos?
Question: Can on wear an automatic watch on Shabbos? Answer: If the watch is running not a problem, but if it stops cannot be worn. Sources: Teshuvas Chelkas Yaakov 1:75, Tzitz… Read more »
Diluting grape juice
Question: This past Shabbos, I was hearing Kiddush from someone who didn’t have much grape juice, so he diluted the grape juice with water. I know that this is problematic,… Read more »
Shabbos Halacha
Question: Dear Rabbonim, In the requirement of שביתת כלים if one is a partner with a non-religious Jew in a workshop; would I be correct in assuming it is only… Read more »
Eating before maariv
Question: For those who make kiddush before maariv, is it OK to do so up until 40 or so minutes after shkia, since nightfall is 72 minutes according to Shulchan… Read more »
Drinking wine spilled from kiddush
Question: I know many people are makpid not to drink the wine spilled during the seder. Is there any source not to drink the wine that spills over from the… Read more »
Early shabbos (2)
Question: I do not understand the rav’s answer regarding early Shabbos (accepting Shabbos at exactly Plag). Could the rav please clarify and tell me when the wife should light candles… Read more »
bleeding on shabbos
Question: If one accidentally gave himself a paper cut on Shabbos, or otherwise accidentally caused himself to bleed, is that an aveira, or is it misaseik? Does one need to… Read more »
early shabbos – at exactly plag hamincha
Question: If a shul is mekabel Shabbos with “Mizmor Shir” at exactly Plag Hamincha, or a few moments thereafter (which is certainly permissible), when should the wife, whose husband davens… Read more »
kiddush before maariv
Question: Is it OK to made/ hear Kiddush before Maariv, begin the seuda, then leave to daven Maariv and then come back to finish the seuda? I understand that the… Read more »
late havdalah
Question: Yom Tov falls on Sunday night. Just before one is about to make Kiddush, one reminds himself that he forgot to make Havdalah on Saturday night. What should he… Read more »
Maaseh shabbos
Question: Is one permitted to eat, after Shabbos, food purchased on Shabbos by a non-religious family member? Is it necessary to wait the amount of time it took to buy… Read more »
Appraiser on Shabbos
Question: I am in the process of buying a house, the mortgage broker told me that the appraiser is going to appraise the house on Shabbos and said that he… Read more »
laundering on shabbos
Question: When washing hands on Shabbos, does one have to be careful that no water should get on his clothing/sleeves, due to the prohibition of laundering? Answer: Not a problem… Read more »
Plag hamincha
Question: Is it permissible to daven Maariv/ make Kiddush on Friday after the Plag of the Alter Rebbe/ Baal HaTanya, even though it is before the plag of the Magen… Read more »
warming up frozen challah
Question: I know one is allowed to warm up frozen challah on the cover of a pot on the blech. But is one allowed to cover the challah partially while… Read more »
Can a travel agent sell airline tickets to a Jew to fly on Shabbos?
Question: This is about a travel agent sells air tickets to anyone, in the United States. 10% to 15% of his clients are Jews, and not always is the travel… Read more »
Playing ball on shabbos
Question: Is it ossur (forbidden) for children to play ball on Shabbos? Answer: Children can play with a ball on Shabbos. Sources: O:CH 308:45 Ramoh Mishnah Berurah 158.
Shabbat
Question: I have a digestive condition whereby I am not allowed to eat within 4 hours of going to bed. If I don’t adhere to this now, I will end… Read more »
Touching foggy window on shabbos
Question: It is known that we are forbidden to write (with our finger) on a window on Shabbos, etc. May, however, one touch the window, etc. or put his hand… Read more »
Battery operated hearing aid on Shabbat
Question: I am hard of hearing in one ear, Can I wear a battery operated hearing aid on Shabbat and Yom Tov? Answer: Once upon a time there were certain… Read more »
Carrying in mail on Shabbos
Question: i live in a place with no eruv, can i carry in mail and other things to and from the elevated stoop in front of my doorstep outside my… Read more »
Koton and pasik reishah
Question: [When] may a koton be asked to turn on hot water on Shabbos? Answer: One is not allowed to tell a minor to do a malochoh deorysah on Shabbos… Read more »
Carrying on Shabbat
Question: I’d like to wear a decent watch that has a “sweeping second hand”. A Rolex is an example. I’d never spend that much on a watch, but a watch… Read more »
Elevator
Question: If this has already been answered, I could not find it, so please send the previous answer This is a modern building that I prefer for budget and location,… Read more »
Bathroom hygiene on Shabbos
Question: B’shas hadchak, may one use, on Shabbos, tissues that are connected to each other and pull them out of the box with his mouth? Also, if one notices that… Read more »
Kiddush on Shabbos morning
Question: If someone is making kiddush on a cup of grape juice on shabbos morning but does not want to drink most of it, and would rather be yotzei the… Read more »
Continuing Seuda Shlishis After Sunset
Question: If one desires to fulfill shalosh seudos by eating cake, fruit, or fish, is it necessary to stop eating them by shkia, or may one continue to eat them… Read more »
Carrying on Shabbos in Dangerous Places – No Eruv
Question: Hello, Am I allowed to carry a handgun or mace/pepper spray in an area/community that does not have an Eruv, yet is clearly dangerous for yidden to be walking… Read more »
Is a compass Muktza?
Question: I sometimes use a compass to help with finding directions for DAVENING. Can I use a compass on Shabbos/Yomtov for this purpose? Is a compass muktza? Answer: No, a… Read more »
Using Pinkies For Havdala
Question: Why is it that when people dip their fingers into the wine after havdalah, they use their pinkies? Why not their pointer? Thank You Answer: While this seems to… Read more »
Acne on Shabbos: pimples and blackheads
Question: Is it mutar to squeeze out blackheads on Shabbos and Yom tov? I understand pimples are more problematic since blood may come out but this is not the case… Read more »
Using a non-Jew on Shabbos
Question: A lawyer has a hearing in court scheduled for Shabbos. Can he appoint a goy to go in his place since no melacha has to be done? The goy… Read more »
Uncut Paper Towels on Shabbos
Question: On Shabbos, is one permitted to wipe his hands on paper towels still attached to the roll, without tearing them off, or are they muktza? Answer: They may be… Read more »
Time for Hafrashat Challah
Question: Must Hafrashat challah be done only on Thursday? And must it be done after sunset? Answer: No, hafrashat challah, removing “challah” from dough for baked goods, may be done… Read more »
Lighting Extra Shabbos Candles
Question: On a couple of occasions in the last couple of years my wife has missed the zman for lighting Shabbos candles and as a result has added two more… Read more »
Inserting Collar Stays on Shabbos
Question: Can one insert collar stays into a collar on shabbos (if it’s not the same ones that were in the shirt originally)? Answer: Yes, this does not pose difficulty… Read more »
Flying a Kite on shabbat
Question: Hello, I’d like to know if there’s any prohibition on flying a kite in shabbat, barring any problems with erub. Thanks. Moadim le-simcha! Answer: The actual flying of a… Read more »
Corkscrew on Shabbos/Yomtov
Question: Can one open a bottle of wine with a corkscrew (like a screwdriver that one turns into the cork and then pulls the cork out) to remove a cork… Read more »
Q- Tip on Shabbos
Question: I’d like to know if it is permissible to use a Q-tip on Shabbos to wipe away eye makeup from under the eye? Answer: Yes, this is permissible. The… Read more »
Velcro Rollers on Shabbos
Question: Can I put velcro rollers in my wig on shabbos if that’s what I do every time I place it on its head it’s to give it shape, not… Read more »
Erev Chatzeros with Neighbour’s Wife
Question: My neighbor sharing a driveway is ill. Can I do Erev Chatzeros with his wife? Thank you! Answer: Yes. In fact if you use your own matza [generally used… Read more »