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 »
Category: Various matters
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 »
Kedoshim
Question: Those murdered in the Holocaust are known as “kedoshim”. What is the source for this title? Answer: The term kedoshim does not refer only to those killed specifically in… Read more »
Buying a potted plant in Israel
Question: What halachot do I need to be mindful of in purchasing a gift of a plant for a friend in Israel Answer: In a year that isn’t shmitta, there… 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Jewish parents adopt a non Jewish boy and he converts
Question: If Jewish parents adopt a non Jewish boy and he converts. What is his Jewish name? Example Moshe ben ?. Answer: Essentially his name is ben Avrohom Aveinu. However… Read more »
Receiving rebuke
Question: A rav I’ve confided in for several years gave me harsh rebuke tonight. It still stings. I’m trying not to be defensive. What is the right approach to take… Read more »
cat food
Question: What does it mean that one cannot eat before feeding his cat? In the morning it makes sense because you just woke up and didn’t ear anything yet. But… Read more »
feeding cat
Question: Shalom we feed the cat in the morning before. My question is for lunch and dinner. we don’t have a specific time to feed it. is that okay Answer:… Read more »
Confessing using different words
Question: Is Viduy allowed to be said like this: “Hashem I’m sorry that I did xyz…” instead of “I did xyz… Hashem, I’m sorry!” Stating just the sin first and… Read more »
Kidnapping in modern times
Question: When Beit Din grants full custody of small children to one parent and the other parents steals the children from school and disappears with them, is this biblical kidnap… Read more »
hachnosas
Question: What is the actual meaning of the word “hachnosas” Answer: To help enter, or to help bring in. it is used in the context of helping a bride get… Read more »