Welcome to AskTheRav!
People Just Asked
There are certain foods that are forbidden according to Halacha on the basis of danger. For example, one is not allowed to eat fish that was cooked together with meat, or meat that was cooked together with fish, as… There are certain foods that are forbidden according to Halacha on the basis of danger. For example, one is not allowed to eat fish that was cooked together with meat, or meat that was cooked together with fish, as that is considered dangerous to the person. Food placed under a bed is considered dangerous as well. A Ruach Ra, a negative, impure spirit, rests on those foods. Eggs, onions, and garlic that were completely peeled and then left overnight are considered dangerous, and one should not each such foods. A Ruach Ra also rests on food that was…Show more
ืฉืืื: ืืฉื ืืืืื ืืชืื ืฉืืขื ืฉืืกืืจ ืืืชืืคืจ: ืื ืจืืืื ืื ืขืจื ืฉืืช ืืืชืืคืจ ืืืืื ืฉืืช, ืืื ืืฉ ืฆื ืืืชืืจ ืื ืืืชืืคืจ ืืืืื ืฉืืช, ืฉืื ืื ืชืชืืคืจ ื ืืฉื ืื ืืืืืืช ืืคืจืืกืื? ืชืฉืืื: ืืื ืืืชืืจ.
The opening phrase of the Tur (the 13th century halachic compendium that forms the basis of the Shulchan Aruch) quotes the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos: โHevei Az Kanameirโ (Be bold as a leopard). The Rema cites the… The opening phrase of the Tur (the 13th century halachic compendium that forms the basis of the Shulchan Aruch) quotes the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos: โHevei Az Kanameirโ (Be bold as a leopard). The Rema cites the Turโs explanation of the Mishnah at the beginning of Shulchan Aruch: โLo yeivosh mipnei hamalโigimโ (one should not be bashful in front of scoffers)โwe should strengthen ourselves internally when performing mitzvos and ignore those ridiculing us for such โold-fashionedโ behavior. On the other hand, there is a concept in halachah of kavod habriyos (upholding human dignity); a heter (dispensation)…Show more
Question: When dealing with a blech on top of a fire, itโs possible to arrange that the fire is off on part of the blech so that the area on the side isnโt so hot. If the area isnโt… Question: When dealing with a blech on top of a fire, itโs possible to arrange that the fire is off on part of the blech so that the area on the side isnโt so hot. If the area isnโt so hot, can you take your soup to the edge and serve without having to actually lift it off the blech? Answer: Any part of the blech in which the pot would not be able to reach Yad Soledes Bo is considered off the fire, and you may serve straight from the pot without lifting it. If you want…Show more
If someone in their struggle to quit smokingโor stop abusing drugsโmade a neder (vow) to stop, but now wishes to have their neder annulled, should the beis din acquiesce? The halachah is that a beis din should not be… If someone in their struggle to quit smokingโor stop abusing drugsโmade a neder (vow) to stop, but now wishes to have their neder annulled, should the beis din acquiesce? The halachah is that a beis din should not be matir neder (annul a vow) that was made to stop one from violating an issur (a prohibition). However, some poskim argue that if thereโs a chance that the person will violate the issurโand leaving the neder in place poses an additional michshol (pitfall) for them, possibly resulting in transgressing both the issur and the nederโthe neder should be…Show more
Question: My father has a name that is not super common but not rare either, but he goes by a nickname that is pretty rare - I've only heard it used one or two times. I'm working at a… Question: My father has a name that is not super common but not rare either, but he goes by a nickname that is pretty rare - I've only heard it used one or two times. I'm working at a sleepaway camp, and one of the staff has the same nickname as my father. Is it an issue to call him that nickname even though my father is not here? Answer: There is a dispute about this. Though one may be lenient, it is worthwhile being stringent. Show more
If a person undertakes self-imposed restrictions or obligations and they no longer wish to practice them, they must perform Hatoras Nedarim (The Annulment of Vows). Hatoras Nedarim should be done in the presence of a Beis Din (Rabbinical court)… If a person undertakes self-imposed restrictions or obligations and they no longer wish to practice them, they must perform Hatoras Nedarim (The Annulment of Vows). Hatoras Nedarim should be done in the presence of a Beis Din (Rabbinical court) consisting of three people, at least one of whom knows what the vow in question is, as well as the halachos of how and when itโs permissible to annul vows, and the other two should be knowledgeable enough that if the halachos of Hatoras Nedarim were explained to them they would understand. Sometimes itโs difficult to assemble the three people…Show more
ื ืฉืืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืฉืืื ื ืฉืืืข ืืื ืขื ืืื ืฉืชื ืงืืืืืืจื (ืฉืชื ืคื ืืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืื), ืื ืืฉืื ืืฉืืืขื ืืืื ื ืชืืจื, ืืืงืื ืืืขืื ื ืฉืืืขื ืืืฉ, ืืืื ืฉืืคืจ, ืืงืจื ืืืืื, ืงืืืืฉ ืืืืืื, ืืื ืืื ืฉืืจ ืืืืจืื ืฉืฉืืืข ืืขืื ื. ืืืกืื ืืฉืืื… ื ืฉืืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืฉืืื ื ืฉืืืข ืืื ืขื ืืื ืฉืชื ืงืืืืืืจื (ืฉืชื ืคื ืืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืื), ืื ืืฉืื ืืฉืืืขื ืืืื ื ืชืืจื, ืืืงืื ืืืขืื ื ืฉืืืขื ืืืฉ, ืืืื ืฉืืคืจ, ืืงืจื ืืืืื, ืงืืืืฉ ืืืืืื, ืืื ืืื ืฉืืจ ืืืืจืื ืฉืฉืืืข ืืขืื ื. ืืืกืื ืืฉืืื ืขืดืค ืืื ืื ืคืฉืืื ืืืงืืืืช ืืฆืื ื ืฉืืืืฉืืจ ืฉืืืขื ืจืืื ืืื ื ืืืฆื, ืืคื ืฉืืื ืืย ืฉืืืขืช ืืงืื ืขืฆืื ืืื ืงืื ืืืืืฉ, ืืืฉืจ ืืืจ ืืืจืืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืืดื. ืืืขืชื ืขืืื ื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืขื ืืช ืืืขืืืฃ ืฉืชื ืงืืืืืืจื ืขื ืืืฉืืจ ืฉืืืขื ื ืืื ืืช, ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืขืืช, ืืื ืฉื ืจืื ืืืขืื ืืืืช ืืื ื ืืื ืืกืจืื ืืืื ืืืชืจ. ืืื ื, ืืื ืืจืืฉ, ืคืชื ืืืจืื ื ืืืืจ, ืฉืืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืชื ืงืืืืืืจื ืื ืืืื…Show more
If a person made a mental, even non-verbal, commitment to give tzedakah, this is called gomar b'libo, and he is obligated to fulfill that commitment. A common problem that could be caused by this, is that if a… If a person made a mental, even non-verbal, commitment to give tzedakah, this is called gomar b'libo, and he is obligated to fulfill that commitment. A common problem that could be caused by this, is that if a person made such a commitment, but the meshulach disappeared from his sight or he can't get hold of the gabbai tzedakah he made this non verbal pledge to. The solution is to always make these commitments bli neder, or to make a point that these commitments are made in a way that is not a final decision, rather more theoretical.…Show more
If a married woman makes a neder (vow) placing a restriction upon herself, or she commits to a minhag tov (good practice)โwhich is tantamount to making a nederโthe halachah is that her husband can resort to hafaras nedarim… If a married woman makes a neder (vow) placing a restriction upon herself, or she commits to a minhag tov (good practice)โwhich is tantamount to making a nederโthe halachah is that her husband can resort to hafaras nedarim (voiding her vows) by saying โMufar lichiโ (or something similar) three times. However, hafaras nedarim only works for vows involving devarim shebeino lebeinah (interpersonal matters affecting him) or inui nefesh (afflicting herself), and only if he had not previously approved of her neder. Moreover, it must take place bโyom shamโo (before sunset of the day that he hears…Show more
Among the ways in which the Navi (Prophet) Yishayahu instructs us to distinguish Shabbos from the rest of the week is: โVโchibadโto meiโasos dโrachechaโ (Honor it by [refraining from] your regular ways). Chazal state that the manner… Among the ways in which the Navi (Prophet) Yishayahu instructs us to distinguish Shabbos from the rest of the week is: โVโchibadโto meiโasos dโrachechaโ (Honor it by [refraining from] your regular ways). Chazal state that the manner in which we fulfill the instruction of โvโchibadโtoโ ย is โShelo yehei malbushcha shel Shabbos k'malbushcha shel chol" (Your Shabbos clothing should not be like your weekday clothing). Poskim add that anshei maaseh (pious people) are careful not to wear any garments on Shabbos that were worn during the weekโeven pants, shirts, and belts. Many men have a separate…Show more
Question: What's the halachic perspective on parents buying an electric scooter or bike for their young child (or at least allowing them to have one)? Are they allowed to? And if their child hurts someone (as happens very often,… Question: What's the halachic perspective on parents buying an electric scooter or bike for their young child (or at least allowing them to have one)? Are they allowed to? And if their child hurts someone (as happens very often, unfortunately) are the parents liable for any resulting damages and/or costs? Whatโs the halacha of someone (especially) an adult who rides an electric scooter on the sidewalk which is illegal in New York and endangers the people around them? Answer: 1. Parents are obligated to ensure that doing so does not create an unreasonable risk of harm. If the…Show more
A woman who is aloneย at home with a contractor or worker couldย run into a problem ofย Yichud, of being alone with a man. Theย Halachaย ofย Yichudย does not apply ifย Baalaย Be'Ir,ย her husband… A woman who is aloneย at home with a contractor or worker couldย run into a problem ofย Yichud, of being alone with a man. Theย Halachaย ofย Yichudย does not apply ifย Baalaย Be'Ir,ย her husband is in town, whether because the husband might arriveย at any given moment, or whether because the presence of her husband in town instills enough fear that there shouldnโt be an issue ofย Yichud. There are practical differences for these two explanations in cases where the husband cannot come, such as in very large cities when heโs at the…Show more
Regarding fasting on all fast days with the exception of Yom Kippur, the halacha is that a choileh sheโein bo sakana, someone who is not well but there is no danger to their life, is exempt from… Regarding fasting on all fast days with the exception of Yom Kippur, the halacha is that a choileh sheโein bo sakana, someone who is not well but there is no danger to their life, is exempt from fasting, and according to many opinions, this includes Tisha BeโAv as well. Such a person is one who feels unwell, is lying in bed and would not go to work, is feeling dizzy, faint, or weak. It should be noted that some of these situations may sometimes even be halachically considered a sakana. One who is not well, even…Show more
Poskim mention that a baal nefesh (pious individual) should be machmir (stringent) and take on the stringencies of Tisha BeโAv and Yom Kippur on other fast days as well, namely to begin the fast the night before and not… Poskim mention that a baal nefesh (pious individual) should be machmir (stringent) and take on the stringencies of Tisha BeโAv and Yom Kippur on other fast days as well, namely to begin the fast the night before and not to wash nor anoint oneselfโbut one should not refrain from wearing leather shoes. However, the accepted custom is to be lenient about all these things on the other fast days. One may wash their face, hands, and feet in hot water; it is preferable, though, not to wash oneโs entire body in hot water at once, unless one is perspiring…Show more
It is a commonly accepted custom not to eat the tip of the challah (or any bread) since it is assumed to be kasheh leshikchah (causes a person to forget their Torah learning). There is no known Torah source… It is a commonly accepted custom not to eat the tip of the challah (or any bread) since it is assumed to be kasheh leshikchah (causes a person to forget their Torah learning). There is no known Torah source for this custom. Consequently, one is not obligated to keep it unless it is a custom in their family. The Rashba tells us that what noshim zekeinos (righteous elderly women) say, even if it has no source in Torah, should be just as honored as those customs that do; therefore, if it is a family tradition, one should not abandon…Show more
If you thought you were obligated, and that's why you said what you said, it's not a neder, and no hatoro is needed.
When slicing the Challah on Shabbos, after slicing a piece of Challah for himself, a man should cut another piece of Challah, an even larger piece, for his wife. In fact Poiskim say that according to Kabbalah, a husband… When slicing the Challah on Shabbos, after slicing a piece of Challah for himself, a man should cut another piece of Challah, an even larger piece, for his wife. In fact Poiskim say that according to Kabbalah, a husband should give his wife her piece of Challah before he gives a piece to anyone else at the table, even very Choshuve, honored guests. There are at least two reasons why the wifeโs slice is supposed to be bigger: 1) according to Kabbalah, and 2) as required in Shulchon Oruch to honor oneโs wife Yoiser MiGufoi, more than himself. In…Show more
ืืฉ ืืืืืงืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืื ืกื ืืง ืืืืฉื ืืื ืกื ืืง ืืขืืื. ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืงืืื ืืื ืืืืงื ืืฉื ื ืืืืืืื.
When Chazal institute takonos (enactments) or gezeiros (Rabbinic decrees), they use the principle of lo plug (โwe make no distinctionโ), grouping all possible situations under a single model, without considering case-by-case psak (ruling). This form of โunifiedโ halachah bolsters… When Chazal institute takonos (enactments) or gezeiros (Rabbinic decrees), they use the principle of lo plug (โwe make no distinctionโ), grouping all possible situations under a single model, without considering case-by-case psak (ruling). This form of โunifiedโ halachah bolsters the acceptance of the gezeirah by all individuals. โIf we permit certain unique circumstances,โ they reason, โpeople will extend that to other situations โฆโ until the whole fabric of the particular gezeirah unravels. The takanah of Chazaras Hashatz (the repetition of the chazzanโprayer leaderโof the Amidah prayer) follows this principle. It was established across the board at a juncture…Show more
A chassan (groom) during his shivas yemai hamishteh (the seven days of celebration after his wedding)โand according to many opinions, his kallah (bride) tooโis banned from melachah (work). These restrictions pertain because he is domeh lโmelech (compared to a… A chassan (groom) during his shivas yemai hamishteh (the seven days of celebration after his wedding)โand according to many opinions, his kallah (bride) tooโis banned from melachah (work). These restrictions pertain because he is domeh lโmelech (compared to a kingโand she is domah lโmalkah, a queen), and also in order that he be available to be mesamaiach (make happy) his wife. There are many classes of melachah categorized in halachah; some poskim suggest that โworkโ in this case refers to those types forbidden on Chol Hamoโed (the intermediary days of the holiday); mโleches ochel nefesh (work involving food…Show more
The liquid antibiotics are inherently very bitter. Even though they add fruit flavoring, the bitter taste still sneaks through. So the flavoring is just masking it, not actually making it taste good. The taste is still unpleasant, and you're only…The liquid antibiotics are inherently very bitter. Even though they add fruit flavoring, the bitter taste still sneaks through. So the flavoring is just masking it, not actually making it taste good. The taste is still unpleasant, and you're only drinking it because you have to. No one would ever drink this just for the taste, even if it were healthy. Answer: As a matter of principle, flavored medicine with a discernible pleasant taste requires a bracha. In your case, since it is a flavored liquid antibiotic that remains unpleasant in taste even with the flavoring, one should first…Show more
A ruling of our sages in days gone by called for covering water and other liquids due to the danger venomous snakes posed to drinking water. These days we are generally not concerned about gilui (exposure) of drinking water… A ruling of our sages in days gone by called for covering water and other liquids due to the danger venomous snakes posed to drinking water. These days we are generally not concerned about gilui (exposure) of drinking water or other liquids. However, yayin megulah (wine that was left uncovered) for a substantial amount of time should not be used for kiddush. This is because kiddush demands a higher standard of โHakriveihu na lโpachasechaโฆโ (If you were to offer it as a gift to your governor, would he accept you or favor you?) Whatever is not…Show more
ื ืืืงื ืืื ืื ืจืง ืืืงืื ืื ืื ืืืืืงืช ืื. ืืืืขืฉื, ื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืื. ืืื ืืื ืฆืจืื ืืขืจืืช ืขื ืืืื ืืณ ืคืขืืื.
The content of any legal document can be divided into two components: tofes (standard text) and toref (specific information). The toref aspect of a get (Jewish bill of divorce) must be inscribed lโshmah (โfor her nameโ i.e., personalized and… The content of any legal document can be divided into two components: tofes (standard text) and toref (specific information). The toref aspect of a get (Jewish bill of divorce) must be inscribed lโshmah (โfor her nameโ i.e., personalized and written on the spot upon instruction from the husband)โand a gezeiras Chazal (Rabbinic decree) was instituted that the tofes must be lโshmah as well. A custom-made document is not necessary for other situations requiring a shtar (contract)โincluding a kesubah (marriage contract). According to many poskim, a fill-in form that is personalized with the date of the wedding and name of…Show more
Support AskTheRav
Help make practical halacha accessible to Jews worldwide. Become a member and support our mission.
Become a Member
