Question: A group of women would like to do a Women’s only Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat in a synagogue hall , is this allowed? Some communities do allow it however,… Read more »
Category: Various matters
May a her attend a relatives funeral who is not Jewish.
Question: May a ger attend a relative’s funeral who is not Jewish? What about a Church funeral? What if it’s not a relative? What if it’s open casket? Thank you… Read more »
Should I still say bli neder?
Question: Due to my frequently making nedorim/shevo’us when angry and then regretting them, my Rov told me to say “any neder or shavuoh that I make should not take effect”… Read more »
Nazir permitted or required to drink wine after Nazirus
Question: Is the Nazir at the end of his term permitted or required to drink wine? Answer: He has to cut his hair at the end of his nezirus, because… Read more »
Is seeing a therapist kosher – in general?
Question: Dear Rabbis, I see that aspects of seeing a psychotherapist (particularly the potential yihud issue) have been discussed here before, but I wanted to ask more generally if there… Read more »
Holding Grudge/ Proper Behavior Advice
Question: Hello, Thank you for your help. My question is: I was recently walking in a large city and was asked by a stranger if I “had a minute.” I… Read more »
Halacha and modern slavery
Question: A lot of the world’s chocolate and coffee is made from raw ingredients that were harvested using slave labor. What are the Halachic sources forbidding the use of cruel… Read more »
Mozart for Babies
Question: Hi, Thank you for this forum. I heard that listening to Mozart, Beethoven, etc. is good for babies brain development. (Is there any truth to this,) and on a… Read more »
“Shomer Shabbat” on Challah bag
Question: Hello, Thank you for taking the time to help. My question is with respect to store bought challah bread. Sometimes on the bag it is written “Shomer Shabbat.” How… Read more »
Chayav karies
Question: I slept with a single girl who as being single was a nidda. Am i chayav karies? What does this mean for me now? Is it possible to rectify?… Read more »
kilayim: grape vine and nana
Question: Is it a problem of kilayim to have a grape vine running over a nana (spearmint?) plant, I think the Iranian Jews eat nana ? Answer: Nana is mint,… Read more »
Status of children of a convert who never kept mitsvot
Question: B”H Shalom K’vod Ha Rav, I am writing you to ask you a question regarding my situation. My father Z”L was Israeli and halachically Jewish. He wasn’t observant however,… Read more »
Cleansing a synagogue sanctuary
Question: What does a congregation do when an animal soils the inside of a shul? Answer: It should be cleaned up as soon as possible. There are certain animals that… Read more »
Shul
Question: Is there a mitzva of just sitting in shul and not davening or learning? Just being in shul. Thanks Answer: You are asking an interesting question. I once heard… Read more »
If one is learning In a Bais Midrash may he drink or even eat something
Question: If one is learning In a Bais Midrash may he drink or even eat something Answer: A person that is learning in a Bais Midrash may eat or drink there… Read more »
Memory Loss
Question: Dear Rabbi, My close friend is suffering from memory loss. Are there any segulos in the Torah brought down to help improve memory and/or prevent forgetfulness? Kol tov Answer:… Read more »
Yoga lessons of irreligious people
Question: Dear Rabbi, My brother and sister are both intermarried and practice yoga. Neither is kosher or a practicing jew. Does this help perpetuate harm feelings in Jacob and his… Read more »
Delaying a bus to catch a last-minute passenger
Question: Is it permitted to delay/stop a bus you or someone else is rushing to catch? (You know how people running up to the bus signal & call out to… Read more »
How can the son’s of Haman convert?
Question: We are taught that the son’s of Haman learned Torah in Bnei Braq. How can this be? Isn’t there a Mitzva to wipe out Amalek? Answer: You are bringing… Read more »
Firstborn daughter “Bechora”, in yiddishkeit
Question: What significance is given to a firstborn daughter “בכורה” in yiddishkeit? I know the Chazal “בת תחילה יפה לבנים”. Are there other relevant Chazal? Is there even such a… Read more »
Navi on Klaf
Question: We are almost finished writing Sefer Yeshayah on klaf for Shabbos Haftorah use . Is there any concept of making a Seduah once its completed. If not , would… Read more »
Appropriate way to approach mechila?
Question: I have a teshuva question. When I was in yeshiva, shortly after becoming more religious, Rav Eliyashiv z’l passed away. The yeshiva went to be melaveh Rav Elyashiv, along… Read more »
Shmarya or Shmaryahu?
Question: What is the correct name – Shmarya or Shmaryahu (also Yeshaya or Yeshayahu)? Also, what is the source and meaning of the name? (On the Chazon Ish’s matzeiva it… Read more »
What should I do with my old and repetitive loved ones Pictures?
Question: I had the luck to have with us our grandparents and parents in our marriage, in our sons Bar Mitzvahs, in a lot of events. Now the passed away… Read more »
Proper set up of synagogue
Question: Dear Rabbi, I have been noting some synagogues appeal to try to open their doors to a gay manner and gay humor in the clientele to enjoy services. Stained… Read more »
G-D in the bathroom
Question: Can non-Jewish literature with “G-d” (without the dash) be brought into a bathroom? It’s not in the context of pesukim or any other religion, just dealing with G-d in… Read more »
Tinok SheNishba
Question: Shalom. Recently we’ve been discussing the term “tinok shenishba” and are looking for a clear definition of it and how it applies today halachically. Furthermore, at one point does… Read more »
Shul selling sefer torah
Question: A shul is running short on money, with an aging membership. May they sell a kosher sefer torah as a means of raising money to keep the shul going?… Read more »
What name to use when davening for a sick person
Question: Shalom Many people do have 2 names: a jewish name and a civil name. These people are mostly called on an everyday basis by the civil name. When one… Read more »
One who sees five generations
Question: What is the source that one who merits to see five generations goes straight to Olam Haba? Answer: My apologies, but I am not aware of such an idea.
Age of person in olam haba on his/her birthday
Question: Hi I was “told” that when it is the birthday of a deceased person one doesn’t say that they would have been for eg. 100 today…? Thanks! Answer: I… Read more »
moshiach
Question: I know rabbi yeshuda hanasi was thought to be the moshiach by his students, also the Arizal and many more. My question is what does the halacha say about… Read more »
Taking a picture of a rainbow
Question: Dear Rabbi, How does halacha treat a jew who might take a photo of a rainbow. Is this halachaic legal and can the photo be shared? Thanks. Answer: I… Read more »
Doubt about circumcision
Question: I’m not Jewish, my mother is not Jewish. I want to convert to Judaism. I have to do the blood covenant ceremony the dan b-r-i-t Answer: What you need… Read more »
Pasta with chicken with grated cheese
Question: Shalom, I usually cook pasta, tomato sauce and some kind of fish cubes, as tuna or salmon. Then I eat it with grated cheese, as it is usual here… Read more »
Obligation to help OFD friend
Question: Shalom Rav A friend from high school recently was in contact with me asking to meet up. He has strayed from the path in recent years and I’m not… Read more »
Chassidei Umos Haolam
Question: Dear Rav, When the Rambam says that a goy who keeps the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach because of logic and not because of the Torah that he’s not one… Read more »
Does this website need to be closed down?
Question: I know this is a funny question, but how is it Muttar to publish peoples questions (and then your answers) that are asked on this site? Isn’t it a… Read more »
Chatas vs asham
Question: Hi Rabbi, Can you pleae explain the difference between a korban chatas and a korban asham? They’re both brought for aveiros, so what are the general criteria for an… Read more »
Authors of book that live a life of toeiva
Question: It has happened many times that I’ll read a fantastic book, only to discover later on that the author led a life of to’eiva. Case in point: the late… Read more »
Maasrot and terumot
Question: When buying pure fruit juice do we need to be concerned whether the fruit used to make it is from Israel. Answer: If it is possible to verify where… Read more »
The Earth and other planets
Question: Why might the Earth be the only inhabited planet in our galaxy? Out of the planets in our solar system (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto), Earth… Read more »
Reasons for Conversion to Judaism
Question: Is it a valid reason for the mother to convert to Judaism “to see what the Jewish religion is like because the child wants to be Jewish, i.e. for… Read more »
Hashkafah of Rashi
Question: When Rashi says in the beginning of Bereishis that the world was created for Torah and the Jewish People, does that really mean that the rest of the world… Read more »
Does Hashem ever unforgive?
Question: If I sincerely do teshuva and ask for forgiveness and H-shem forgives me, but then I have a change of heart in a bad way and start thinking of… Read more »
What happened to your website?
Question: it was down for like a week! Answer: The Ribono Shel Olam wanted this to happen. I guess it was partially in order for all of us to appreciate… Read more »
Zilzul Beit haknesset?
Question: Shalom Kavod haRav, I recently attended a well established shiur in my home city, outside eretz yisrael, that is given on a week night by a prominent rav and… Read more »
Prayer upon entering & leaving the synagogue
Question: Dear rabbi, Hoping that i don’t send you questions too often (the l.o.r. is away for mishpacha yom tov), i like to ask regarding beis knesset. It seems clear,… Read more »
humour
Question: dear rabbi, regarding the topic of humour, i wonder if it is important. probably it can – as all kind of laughther be good or be bad. do you… Read more »
Terrible migraines
Question: I recently started having terrible migraines. The pain is very intense even with medication. I have one now and the pain is blinding. I can’t focus on anything else…. Read more »