Halachic Guide - Shavuos | לוח יומי - חג השבועות

Can one bring a Sefer Torah to their son who is Bar Mitzvah for Leining in their house without Minyan on Zoom with family? No Birchas Hatorah just Leining. Friday afternoon. Has been preparing.

One should not transfer the Sefer Torah out of it's set place to bring to read it in a home. There is no such an obligation to read the…

Now that we cannot Daven with a Minyan and must Daven at home, am I allowed to Daven in my bedroom if it is the most quite and easy to concentrate location? Is it important – as far as Davening is concerned -, that I make my bed, and make sure the room is clean?

Ideally, one should Daven in a place which has windows which are facing towards Yerushalayim. Rashi (Berachot 34b) explains that windows are an aid to concentration, as one looks…

Is there any issue in teaching the last Perek of Mishnayos Moad Katan to children as part of a camp curriculum, being that it deals a lot with the subject of Aveilus?

Although there is a reservation regarding learning the laws of Aveilus when not necessary, this does not apply to learning mishnayos and gemara which is not Halacha L'maase, especially…

Letter from the Badatz [#8] – Reminder: Erev Rosh Chodesh

Listen also to Timely Messages #35, here: https://asktherav.com/voice-recordings-about-the-corovavirus/ #35: The Positive & Negative Side Effects of COVID-19 Apropos the letter from the Beis Din and today’s episode, we share…

האם זה שאומרים ויתן לך יחד זה דווקא בסידור אחד? או שניתן לומר ביחד אך בסידורים נפרדים?

כנראה בסידור אחד. מקורות: אף שעיקר הענין האמירה בשנים (ע״פ זהר בהקדמה יד, א: צבורא. ומיעוט רבים שנים. או שכ״א אומר לחבירו. וראה גם דברי יחזקאל עניני שבת. טעמי…

Anticipating the Coming of Moshiach

One of the principles of our faith is to believe in Moshiach—and not only to believe in Moshiach, but to anticipate his coming every single day. It is a…

If I am accustomed to give poor people Tzeduka am I obligated to them or can I change the recipients? In this regard, are recipients in Israel on the same priority level as Crown Heights?

Your neighborhood comes before Eretz Yisroel. More specifically, this is the order for giving funds to Tzadakah: Family Your city Eretz Yisroel Other places One may if they so…

Does an alarm or app to remind one to count Sefira allow one to start a meal within a half hour before Shkia?

Yes, however one must count Sefira as soon as the alarm rings. Sources: כך משמע מדין שמש (שו"ע אדה"ז תפט, יז). ומסתברא ששמש (כללי) מועיל פחות משומר (פרטי)…

תשובה הלכתית בענין מכירת חמץ וחמץ שעבר על הפסח

שאלה: לאחדשו"ט ראיתי שכב' ינאם הערב בעניני מכירה ע"י אינטערנעט. סידרתי פה בעירנו המכירה עם גוי בהשעה הנכונה. כשגמרנו המכירה אמרתי להגוי שגם כלול בהמכירה מה שיגיע יותר מאוחר…

Is it permitted to listen to music during sefira while isolating at home to help uplift the spirits of my family and children who’ve been home for over a month due to the CoronaVirus?

The importance of music in terms of elevating the spirit cannot be underestimated. At the same time, the prohibition against music during the time of sefira should not be…

Child took out chametz spatula, spatula was mistakenly used to fry eggs and discovered afterwards. What is the din regarding eating the eggs? And can the pan be used again on pesach?

The food needs to be thrown out. The spatula needs to be cleaned (not in the pesach sink!) and put away, and the pan needs to be cleaned (as…

I heard that some people are Makpid not to do a Poreis Mappah Umekadeh (Some say that there’s a Sakana involved), while I’ve seen others do it. Practically, what’s the Halacha/Minhag Chabad if one wants to do it the way the Alter Rebbe writes in רעא יא?

There are numerous halachic complications involved with this practice (brachos, bentching etc.). For this and other reasons, the Rebbe stopped this practice. [Some Rabonim say that this was only due…

Can the broom/mop used all year round (chometz) be used on Pesach? Do I need to sell it? If I did not sell, do I need to get rid of it?

The broom and mop should ideally be sold and a new one should be used. If not possible, it should be cleaned well from any chometz. If its already…

We are a group of friends that would like to continue our Seudas Moshiach on Zoom Motzoei Yom Tov if possible. Is this permissible?

You may say Boruch Hamavdil and then do Melacha (zoom etc.) and continue eating, however you will not be able to say Yale Veyovo in Bentching. Ato Chonantanu should…

When davening at home on Yom Tov, should one send the family out of the room to say Yizkor (as is done in Shul)?

Regular Yizkor is recited at home. Those that are not reciting Yizkor should leave the room where it's being said. It should be noted that the main Zechus for…

Can one use an ovulation test on Yom Tov or Shabbos?

Under normal circumstances, it should not be done on Shabbos. Sources: נשמת אברהם או״ח שיח, ב - ע׳ שסא. אה״ע א ע׳ י. שש״כ לג, כ ובהערה…

Are we allowed to take showers on a Three day Yom Tov?

Firstly, the allowances given here to showering on Yom Tov is only when the following conditions are met: a) One will assure not to run into the problem of סחיטה (squeezing)…

Saving Lives on Shabbat

By Horav Y. Braun When treating on Shabbat a patient who is critically ill, or when dealing with an individual whose life is in danger – known in…

Beth Din Letter [#7] from 12 Nissan

I put a 2/3 down payment on my credit card for a Pesach program in Israel. Due to the medical rules, the program is cancelled. Does the organizer owe me the down payment back? Can I negotiate to apply the down payment towards a greater share in next year’s program (e.g. 4/5, or complete) or is it a problem of ribis?

This response is only on a general level and various technicalities can change the result of the answer. For example one needs to see what was written on the…

What can I do to warm up my makeshift Mikvah in my bathtub on Shabbos / Yom Tov?

Shabbos you may add hot water even from a kli rishon as it will not be able to cook the water. You may add hot water on yom tov…

If I have been taking cold showers on Shabbos instead of Mikvah. Can I take warm shower on Yom Tov (without soap)? The cold water for 3 minutes is really quite uncomfortable and difficult.

It’s not allowed, however if you use a pot or pail to do tisha kabin, then you can add hot water that you boiled on yom tov to drink…

The dish soap that I have has a Hechsher, it doesn’t say P on it. Can I use this to clean my dishes on Pesach?

Ideally you should use kosher for Pesach. Check with the certifying agency after explaining your situation if it is Kosher for Pesach. If not, under the circumstances you may…

Is Elmer’s glue kosher for Pesach?

According to law, kids glue must be able to ingested by a child. Therefore, if it contains chometz it’s prohibited to use. If it contains just kitnyos it may…

Is there any way I can set up before Yom Tov a Zoom for the seder for my non-religious mother (who is alone) and family who generally drive on Shabbos or Yom tov to join us?

Question Continued: There are three possible ways to do it: Turn on Zoom right before YT and leave the plug out so the laptop dies after 2-3 hours. Leave…

Halachic Guide – Shavuos | לוח יומי – חג השבועות