Question: Isn’t it a chutzpah to ask Hashem for forgiveness? I understand the importance of Viduy and expressing remorse and commitment for the future, but isn’t it an outright chutzpah… Read more »
Category: Various matters
Torah perspectives on mental illness
Question: What does the Torah say about mental illness, like bipolar disorder? What does the Torah say about manic spirituality? Many, many people experience spiritual euphoria when they have symptoms… Read more »
Atonement
Question: When we feel emotional pain over our sins does it count as the suffering that’s needed sometimes for atonement? Answer: Definitely. Part of the atonement for the sin that… Read more »
Impressions of the space programs
Question: Dear Rabbi, I am interested in the orthodox commentary and feeling about the space program we are witnessing. Interesting I have noted that of course we have landed on… Read more »
False judgement between two people only:
Question: in referrance to http://dinonline.org/2018/06/25/people-judge-and-embarass-me/ Does embarrassment also count, if it’s not done in a public area (amongst a group of people). For instance, an embarrassment occurring between only 2 people…. Read more »
People judge and embarassment
Question: Why does G-d allow people to constantly judge an innocent person, such as me. We can never ask G-d why, but just trying to understand. Judging results, in an… Read more »
Haughtiness
Question: Thank you for explaining. Is it okay for me to remember my accomplishments and be proud of them? Or does that diminish the reward? I think it helps me… Read more »
Ktav for Sta”m
Question: Shalom. What exactly is Ktav “Vellish”/Script? What are it’s origins and when was it first used? How come Sephardim who use Vellish script (for Tefillin, Mezuzot, etc…) don’t use… Read more »
Thank you.
Question: Thank you with all my heart for answering my questions and listening to my concerns and reassuring me about the same things over and over. This website feels like… Read more »
How to distribute money to ones married children.
Question: Chalom Someone got an unexpected sum of money. He wants to distribute it to his children all of them are married with children (one with 7 one with three… Read more »
Miracle workers livelihood
Question: Hello DIN online, I have seen references and stories regarding rabbis and others who would receive contributions for assisting people by healing them, their relatives, influencing events in the… Read more »
Does it help to ask a child mechilla
Question: I am a teacher for third grade boys. Over the year there were some times when I got upset and embarrassed a student in front of other children even… Read more »
Can someone come a nazir if he thinks about it
Question: Can someone come a nazir if he thinks about it Answer: A person cannot become a nazir simply by thinking about becoming a nazir. Becoming a nazir needs that… Read more »
Permanent damage to myself because of my sins
Question: If a person permanently damaged their own abilities, either trough drug use or failing to address a medical/mental health condition, and now they are permanently changed by their mistakes,… Read more »
Still sorry after teshuva
Question: If we believe that Hashem forgives us when we do teshuva, then what should we do when we still feel remorse after doing teshuva? Isn’t that expected? After all… Read more »
Doing teshuva gradually
Question: Is it okay to do teshuva gradually? It feels too scary and shameful to face some of the things I’ve done in the past. Is it okay to tell… Read more »
accidentally ate bugs
Question: Hi, I just ate mulberries off a tree without checking first to see if they had bugs. I know I should have. After eating a few, I looked closely… Read more »
Teshuva and accomplishments.
Question: Are there limits to teshuva? There are stories of people who lives sinful lives and did teshuva at the very end and Hashem accepted them, but did they really… Read more »
Why 12 months in Sheol
Question: Shalom Rabbi I was always wondering how do rabbies know that the soul of the departed, except for Czadikim who meet G-d immediately, go to sheol ( ie. purgatory)… Read more »
Are goyim metzuvah in the mitzvah of peru urevu?
Question: Are goyim metzuvah in the mitzvah of peru urevu? Answer: It is controversial if gentiles are commanded in the mitzvah of pru urvu. Although they were certainly commanded to… Read more »
Promises/Oaths — intent vs words
Question: BS”D Kavod HaRav If someone makes a oath/ promise to do or not to do something and they say “for the rest of the week” but they have in… Read more »
Women wearing pants
Question: Shalom. I know that most poskim (rubam k’kulam) hold, als hilchos tznius, kli gever, das yehudis, etc. that a woman should not wear pants in public (or perhaps even… Read more »
Life insurance
Question: Life insurance – Is it recommended? I would like mekoros if possible. Answer: The poskim say that taking out life insurance is a correct hishtadlus, and it is… Read more »
Second opinion on shailos
Question: Does it suffice to inform the second Rav of the ruling of the first? Thank you Answer: Yes, when it permitted, that is sufficient. Sources: Rema Y:D 242-31.
Tinok shenishba in Halocho nowadays
Question: Hi, I heard there are several poskim in Eretz Yisroel and abroad who hold that one who lives in an area with many frum yidden and was not raised… Read more »
Can you borrow money in Shmita with a pruzbul ?
Question: Can you borrow money in Shmita with a pruzbul ? I understand that prozbul should be written before shmita starts. Answer: You can borrow money in shmitta whether you have… Read more »
The name Leah
Question: Good afternoon, My wife has recently given birth to a baby girl and we are trying to decide on names. We both love the name “Leah” but the meaning… Read more »
Can one put a tallis or tefiliin on top of chumashim? Torah shel bal peh?
Question: Can one put a talis on top of chumashim or torah shel bal peh? Can one put tefillin on top of seforim? Answer: There are five levels of… Read more »
Cramming for study
Question: Dear Rabbi, Are there halachaic comments on study cram? What about jobs that require you to keep hours longer than a normal sleep-wake cycle? I do realize that on… Read more »
Question status
Question: How do I find out the ID number of my question? Thank you Answer: It should be on the confirmation e-mail. Sources:
Saying bli ayin Hora
Question: Is there any actual mekor for the common belief that saying bli ayin hara will prevent one from happening? thanks!!!! Answer: The idea here is that if a person… Read more »
Wikipedia
Question: Is it an halachic problem do add Wikipedia to the white list of my filter since it has apikorsus and secular knowledge etc. Is it an issue to own… Read more »
Does the prohibition of Kilayim for fruits, vegetables, grains and herbs, etc… apply to Chutz LaAretz?
Question: Does the prohibition of Kilayim for fruits, vegetables, grains and herbs, etc… apply to Chutz LaAretz? Am I allowed to plant seeds of the above in close proximity to… Read more »
Conversion during Omer
Question: Hello, I am going through a conversion process, I was suppose to have the conversion done on lag b omer. The Rabbi has changed his opinion and arranging a… Read more »
Will the Moshiach
Question: Hello How Are You! Lately I’ve been thinking or wondering about since the Torah says Hashem wrestled with Yisrael and changed his name from Jacob to Yisrael I believe… Read more »
Teshuvah Repentance Important!
Question: Rabbi, I am vacationing in Thailand and it is songkran holiday. This afternoon, I attended a party where water splashing took place (water is splashed on people for good… Read more »
Pouring backwards
Question: Is there an ענין not to pour backwards/underhanded because that is what the chevra kadisha does? If so why do we refrain from tahara-like activities? Answer: I don’t know… Read more »
Going to the kosel
Question: I have been going to the kosel twice a year on Pesach and Sukkos for a number of years as I read that this is a remembrance to aliyah… Read more »
Orthodox Conversion
Question: If someone converts in Modern Orthodox from a Rabbi who is on the ITIM list of recognized rabbinical courts, can this still pose a problem later if I decided… Read more »
parnassa
Question: can i read parashas hamann every day twice a day if i need to pay off my debts and student loans quicker. Answer: I haven’t even heard of this… Read more »
Sinning with intent to do teshuva
Question: What counts as sinning with intent to do teshuva? I used to do it a lot and usually it was because I was obsessed with teshuva and trying to… Read more »
Transporting a Sefer Torah
Question: If you are driving with a Sefer Torah long distance do you still say tefillat haderech? Answer: I don’t see why you shouldn’t.
kapara through suffering
Question: If a person is granted kapara through suffering and then the suffering stops, is the kapara taken away too? Answer: When a person goes through suffering because of an… Read more »
Is there hope for a baal gaiva?
Question: Is there hope for a baal gaiva? What if the person doesn’t want to be a baal gaiva and they try to change but they keep getting stuck in… Read more »
הסתכלות
Question: עבודה זרה דף סה. אזל אשכחיה דיתיב כו׳ וקיימן זונות ערומות קמיה כו׳ לכאורה צריך לומר שרבא ובר שישך יצאו מן המרחץ כדי לדבר,(אולם לא משמע כן מלשון הגמרא)… Read more »
What am I supposed to do?
Question: What is my obligation when everything I tried failed? I don’t have any more fight left in me for mental health battles. Nobody knows how bad it is and… Read more »
Is there maris ayin in ordering a drink from a non-kosher restaurant?
Question: Is there a problem with maris ayin to enter a non-kosher restaurant and order just a drink? Let’s say that in the first case the restaurant in question is… Read more »
maternally, genetically Jewish ?
Question: I have always felt Jewish so I converted to Judaism decades ago. However, recently my mother and I have tested positive for a genetic anomaly that is know to… Read more »
46394 clarification
Question: Thank you for answering my question. You wrote that if someone embarrasses me and I don’t respond then it’s an eitz ratzon and I can daven for anything and… Read more »
Halacha of science monitoring
Question: Dear Rabbi, Odd question. I made a purchase of a barometer digital. Seems neat. It did not fully work but had sunrise set times. Now I wanted that feature… Read more »