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 »
Category: Various matters
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 »
Disconnection
Question: I don’t know how to properly connect with other people. I am distant. I am constantly glued to my phone/computer (Internet) 24/7 and if not for Shabbos I would… Read more »
Mad imprints
Question: Dear Rabbi, I was a failure of a student in my eyes today because as a child I loved the video arcade. I find that today in davening I… Read more »
Can a Noahide man marry a non Noahide woman?
Question: Can a Noahide man marry a non Noahide woman? Answer: Yes he may. Being a Noahide is not a different type of religion, because according to Jewish law, and… Read more »
Writing Sefer Torah for a nonpracticing jew
Question: Can you write a Sefer Torah in honor of a deceased nonpracticing Jewish child Answer: It is permitted to write a sefer torah in honor of a deceased non… Read more »
Permissibly of prostate biopsy
Question: Is there any Halacha issues with having a biopsy of the prostate? Answer: There might be a potential issue, of making the man a krus sufcha, which is a… Read more »
Geneivas Daas with a non-Jew
Question: I ordered something expensive from an online store. I found the item hefker in the lobby of the building I reside in. Am I allowed to tell the retailer… Read more »
Toiveling and using items from before becoming a ger.
Question: I wanted to get clarity around toiveling as I’ve been getting mixed answers. Some people are saying that I cannot toivel items that I used prior to my conversion,… Read more »
Hataras Nedarim
Question: 1) if I spaced out for a couple of words by hataras nedarim – but I knew the general inyon of what i was saying is that fine? Or… Read more »
orlah
Question: hello, if one was not careful in laws of orlah may he still eat the fruits of that tree after the fourth year? thank you Answer: The actual fruits… Read more »
Mesiros Modah
Question: If one will not have 3 people with him, can he say the moser modah privately to himself? Answer: Yes he can say it privately, although it is better… Read more »
“Birthday”
Question: Good day, So far the question was not found by me in the archive. Traditionally Birthday wasn’t celebrated. Nowadays… Isn’t partying birthday only hedonistic? sincerely Answer: You are right…. Read more »
Conversion without sincerity
Question: In many traditional but secular Jewish communities, although shabbas and kashrus are not kept, marrying a Jew is of utmost importance. Many Jewish singles I know are dating non… Read more »
Annul Vow Emergency Important
Question: How can a Noahide have a vow annulled? I do not want to sin by breaking them. In a moment if weakness, I vowed or promised I would not… Read more »