Question: If a person made someone else feel bad and embarrassed him unintentionally, is he obligated to ask him for forgiveness? Answer: If the embarrassment was caused to the person… Read more »
Category: Various matters
Mechilla not wholehearted
Question: If someone is mochel me and he “mostly” means it, but there still is some “kepeida” against me, does the mechilla work? I am not discussing a case where… Read more »
Embarrassing a student
Question: Is a teacher allowed to tell a student out loud in front of the class to stop talking, to pay more attention etc. if it will cause the student… Read more »
Looked at immodest video’s when pregnant
Question: I am very shamed to say that when I was pregnant with my son I looked at immodest images/videos. I want to do teshuvah, however I feel like there… Read more »
bookmarks with pesukim
Question: Is it permitted to use a bookmark with pesukim written on them in Hebrew, i.e. Ivdu es H’ b’smicha (no actual shemos) Thank you. Answer: The bookmark would be… Read more »
Sheva Mitzvos
Question: I know this is a big issue but what is this organization’s shitah about teaching the sheva mitzvos bnei noach to non-jews both on a personal and communal level?… Read more »
The Spirit of the Halacha
Question: I have been told that certain things are not exactly assur, but are not in the “spirit of the halacha.” What are the sources to support this idea that… Read more »
Forgiveness for repeated sins
Question: Does HASHEM forgive repeated sins or sins that have already been repented for? Answer: H-shem does forgive sins that the person did repeatedly, (unfortunately almost everyone as certain avreiros… Read more »
Tzniyus with eidim
Question: Gemara in baba basra 56 says “achas bgaba viachas bkraisa” and the rashbam and tosfos learn that aidim check to see if the girl is a Gedola. Isn’t this… Read more »
Transporting a sefer torah
Question: I am looking for sources on halachos relevant to transporting a sefer torah, such as 1) must it be held the entire car ride, 2) are there anythings which… Read more »
Flying with a sefer torah
Question: If one is flying on a plane with a sefer torah must it be held the entire flight? Is putting it carefully and respectfully in the overhead compartment b’dieved?… Read more »
yehi ratzon for cholim
Question: How sick does someone need to be to daven for them using yehi ratzon… besoch shear cholei amo yisrael? Answer: Anyone who needs to get better, or feel better,… Read more »
The Solar Eclipse
Question: Dear Rabbi, What halacha is known for viewing or discussing an eclipse? Meaningful event to many but chaos and terror for the natural world. Manners of animals and insects… Read more »
Working with the unorthodox
Question: Dear Rabbi, When in our communities, our only doctors are unorthodox jews, can we make appointments or should we only see gentiles. I have had a few and in… Read more »
Selling a home to a non Jew in a “Jewish area” in Chutz Learetz?
Question: When is it forbidden to sell a home to a non Jew in a “Jewish area” in Chutz Learetz? How do we define a “Jewish area” by majority Jews… Read more »
Naming a baby after someone of the opposite gender
Question: Are there problems with naming a baby after someone of the opposite gender (already done, curious if it’s a problem and how to address it). The name is not… Read more »
Are you permitted to invent your own tefillin minhag?
Question: The method in which a man wraps the strap of the tefillin shel yad around his arm and hand is generally passed on from father to son. So in… Read more »
Cat on table with seforim.
Question: Is it ok to let the cat be on a table with seforim? Source? Answer: I can’t say that it is forbidden, however it is definitely preferable not to… Read more »
Erasing a Shiur
Question: Is one allowed to delete a shiur from one’s ipod? Answer: Yes, because it isn’t written, but it is only a digital code. Sources: Shulchan Shlomo Shabbos 340 ftnt…. Read more »
Tochacha after being humiliated
Question: If A shames B and causes shame and public humiliation what is the correct approach? Should B approach A and tell him of his feelings? Even if B feels… Read more »
Zionism and conversion
Question: Can someone’s stance on zionism impact ones geirus? My cousin, who only has a Jewish father is currently going through a geirus. He has a strong attachment to the… Read more »
Is mental illness an impediment to conversion?
Question: I work for a mental health agency and have a client who is passionate about converting to Judaism to be more spiritually aligned with his family and friends. This… Read more »
Learning a proper dress code
Question: Dear Rabbi, I am a ba’al teshuvah. I have grown up and continue to exist in the communities that are not yeshiva trained or with much if any jewish… Read more »
Questions regarding Hydroponics
Question: Concerning hydroponically grown produce. What is the correct Bracha? Shehakol? Borei Peri HaAdama? If grapes are hydroponically grown, can they be used for production of Yayin? Can the Yayin… Read more »
Is there a possibility that I’m Jewish?
Question: Hello , I took a DNA test which only tested my maternal family tree. Results tell me I have relatives in Switzerland , Germany , Italy , USA ,… Read more »
Makor for mi yehudi
Question: What’s the source for the fact that we consider anyone born to a Jewish mother or converted according to Halacha to be a Jew? Answer: The source is from… Read more »
Rashba’s Cherem
Question: Does the Rashba’s cherem still aplly to learning the sciences? Can I read my anatomy or other science books on the side (assuming no objectionable material) even for interest?… Read more »
How to repair an Avera of a Ben Nida?
Question: Shalom, Baruch Hashem, I’m very soon approaching the 9th month of pregnancy. However, it should be noted that by the time we conceived, we weren’t keeping the laws of… Read more »
Convert wedding
Question: Can a woman who is converted still dance with her non-Jewish father at her wedding? And what other things would be different at the ceremony? Answer: Yes she may…. Read more »
Lo Sechaneim
Question: When it comes to giving matanos to goyim, is it enough to have a personal benefit to dispel the issur of lo sechaneim even if one’s main intention is… Read more »
The beginning of Shulchan Aruch vs. the beginning of Mishnayos.
Question: The Torah says: ‘Vayehi erev vayehi boker” (mentioning night before day). The Talmud also starts out by discussing the dinim of krias Shema at night. Why, then, does the… Read more »
Relationship with gentiles
Question: I’ve been wondering about these questions: How can there be a m”d that stealing from goyim is muttar and why isn’t there a mitzvah to save the life of… Read more »
About weddings and Jews giving food to goyim
Question: If a Jew has a wedding, and invites goyishe people, can that Jew give him (free) food? I heard from a Rabbi that a Jew can’t give a goy… Read more »
kiddush Hashem
Question: There are some circumstances where a Jew has to give up his life if there is a minyan there and he is being forced to do an aveira. Question:… Read more »
Golem
Question: Hi, I have to write a paper on the Golem of Prague. Looking into it, I couldn’t find any good sources that it existed. What is our take on… Read more »
Moshiach, Techiyas HaMesim, and Olam Habah in Tanach?
Question: Are there sources for the concepts of Moshiach, Techiyas HaMesim, and Olam HaBah in Tanach? Thank you. Answer: Sure there are. Regarding Moshiach the Nevi’im are full of it…. Read more »
trimming margins of sefer Torah
Question: We’re a retirement community. We have the opportunity to acquire a very nice sefer Torah that was lained from just a few times, at a reasonable price. However, the… Read more »
Can I receive forgiveness for stealing?
Question: I think I am done for. I borrowed earrings from a friend and lost them when I moved a couple of times. Also, I tried to prevent a coworker… Read more »
I am a Hebrew roots Christian believer and wondered if I should redeem my first born
Question: I am a Hebrew roots Christian believer and just wondered if I could or should try to participate in the redemption of the first born. We believe that we… Read more »
Children taking revenge to prevent bullying
Question: I heard Beshem a mechanech that a child who is bullied can or perhaps should resist or retaliate in a physical manner in order to prevent future bullying. Speaking… Read more »
Disposing of tzitzos
Question: Can I double wrap old pasul tzitzus and throw them out instead of giving them in to sheimos? Answer: If the tzitzis are indeed pasul, they are considered tashmishei… Read more »
Is it good/permissible to make a deal with Hashem?
Question: Is it good/permissible to make a deal with Hashem? Example: “I will learn an hour every shabbos for a month if I get above a 90 on my exam… Read more »
good vs evil
Question: My inspiration in life was a man that told me about the forces in life that can be used for good or bad. There is a light and a… Read more »
Learning Torah and do Mitzvos to help others
Question: Are there any classical sources saying that one can learn Torah and do Mitzvos to help others eg the sick? Answer: There are numerous sources for learning torah and… Read more »
I fell
Question: I have been clean from wasting seed for over 5 months and today I fell. I don’t know how I can possibly do that to Hashem who gives me… Read more »
May a giores kiss or hug her Biological father?
Question: If a baby was converted at birth by adoptive parents, and the girl later in life (25+ years) finds her non-Jewish biological father, are they allowed to have any… Read more »
Burial traditions in judaism
Question: Was it tradition between jews in 1 century AD to bury a person with doned tefillin? Is it possible that Jesus Christ had put a tefillin when he was… Read more »
Maternal DNA
Question: I took a DNA test that came with a result of being 7% European Jewish. I do not believe it is accurate to state that I am Jewish because… Read more »
Giving a hitch to yeshiva bochurim
Question: When driving by a bus stop in the cold, one sees a few yeshiva bachurim and wants to give them a lift so that they don’t have to wait… Read more »
Is it halachically permissible to build a gym – cardio and weightlifting – in the bottom of a synagogue?
Question: Is it halachically permissible to build a gym – cardio and weightlifting – in the bottom of a synagogue? Answer: It is permitted, since there are only prohibitions with… Read more »