Halachic Guide - Shavuos | לוח יומי - חג השבועות

Is it permitted to drink plain coffee (or tea with a hechsher) at a Starbucks and the like?

For coffee in general, see halacha2go.com #66: Does a coffee shop need a Hechsher? See also attachment p. 53, for an excellent review of the issues in Hebrew. As for…

The first yartzeit will be Rosh Chodesh (Monday). The whole family is planning to go to the beis hachaim. When is it appropriate to go?

Question: Sunday - Erev Rosh Chodesh is still within the first year, and we were told not to visit before 12 months' end. Monday - Rosh Chodesh, one doesn't…

I have an electric stove with a glass top, not an induction stovetop. Up until this point it has been used only for Fleishig. Can I use it for Milchig outrightly as we generally do with gas stoves or is this different? And how?

Electric burners with a glass stovetop are different than gas burners in that the glass will also need to be Kashered. Due to the extremely technical and halachic difficulties,…

Some questions about a C-section:

Is a heter needed from a Rov for a scheduled C-section? If medically mandated, there is no need for a heter. Can a husband be in the room…

I got my Mezuzos checked and put them up without realizing that I need to make a Bracha. Is it OK after the fact? Or should I take them off and make the Bracha?

Ideally, you should remove one Mezuzah for rechecking. Even better would be to replace with a better Mezuzah, and make a Bracha when putting it up. Sources: שאינו…

Do I have to ensure that the pretzels that are used by a kosher store in their pretzel breaded chicken cutlets are Pas Yisroel?

Yes, as pretzels are subject to the laws of Pas Yisroel. See here. Sources: חידושי חת"ס יו"ד קיב, יב. דרכי תשובה קיב, מט. ערוך השולחן קיב, לא. וראה אצלינו…

How should one dispose of the Menorah wicks? And how about Shabbos candles?

One should make a fire and burn all the leftover oil and wicks used for the Menorah. (This does not include the oil that is still in the bottle)…

What is the source for the practice of (besides for washing the face) rinsing the mouth after the fast of Yom Kippur?

לוח כולל חב״ד מוצאי תשעה באב. והוא ממורה באצבע להחיד״א ח, רלט. אבל שם רק לרחוץ פניו. וכ״ה בלוח כולל חב״ד במוצאי יו״כ. ומובן, שאין מקום לחלק. ורחוק בעיני…

I recently won some money in a raffle. Do I need to give Ma’aser?

Ma'aser is given from any income, work or otherwise. Thus, Ma'aser should be given from the money. See here: https://asktherav.com/article-737-maaser-on-gift-money/ #6600

Article: Ma’aser on Gift Money

Parents often support their grown children by helping them with monthly expenditures, covering a down payment on a house, paying for the expenses of a simchah (happy occasion)—such as the bris of a…

I deposited in the bank cash from six Pushkas, the bank calculated it to be $120. I don’t know where I made the mistake. How do I distribute this $120?

If you can estimate how much money was in the various pushkas, then divide the $120 proportionally (as much as possible). If not, divide it equally. ראה צדקה…

האם מותר להשתתף בשנת האבילות בחתונה של קרוב משפחה (בן דוד)?

לקבלת פנים מותר ללכת, ולהגיש מאכלים על השולחן כמלצר. מותר גם להשתתף בחופה ולצאת לפני שהמוזיקה מתחילה. קשה להקל להתיר לבני דודים להיות נוכחים בסעודת החתונה. אמנם, במצב מיוחד,…

תפוחי אדמה שהתבשלו בסיר בשרי שאינו בן יומו – ונתערב בו חמאה. מה הדין?

מותר לאוכלו. מקורות: ראה רמ"א סימן צ"ה סעיף ב וראה ט"ז סוסק"ד. ואם מותר לבשלו לכתחילה ע"ד לאכול עם המין השני, שקו״ט בכ״מ. וראה חכמת אדם כלל מ"ח…

What’s the whole idea of Tu B’Av? Isn’t it against the laws of Tznius for girls to go out in front of men and dance?

Many authorities have addressed similar questions to yours about this topic. A range of answers have been provided about why this was permissible then, or how it was done…

Can I do a early Hefsek Tahara?

Hefsek Tahara should ideally be done right before sunset, i.e. within half an hour of sunset. Best at candle lighting time. But if necessary may be done from the…

Do you need to give Ma’aser from credit card points? What if it is given as a credit statement or to be used for airline miles?

If you can only use the points for very specific items you need not give ma'aser. However, if it gives you a broad purchasing power through your credit card…

Is there an Inyan (source or Minhag Chassidim) to have a part of the Upshernish actually cut by the Ohel?

Question Continued: I've heard of some who either go to the Ohel before the party and cut a little there, or go after the party and save some hair…

Do I need to pay a friend for advice he gave me regarding Shidduchim (I already paid the Shadchan)?

Question: A Bochur closed a Shidduch and during the meetings he was was guided by a friend whose guidance was very useful in sealing the shidduch. The Shadchan has…

What do you do with Tzitzis after they become Pasul?

Tzitzis strings are considered tashmishei mitzvah, articles used for a mitzvah. This means that they themselves are not sacred; they are merely used for a mitzvah. Therefore, after they…

Are the Chanterelle Mushrooms kosher? How are they to be checked for bugs?

Chanterelle Mushrooms are kosher. I am not familiar with a specific method to check these mushrooms for worms (which is very common in this type of mushrooms). It is…

Article: May a non-mourner eat in a house of mourning?

According to Halachah, there is no restriction on eating in a beis ha’avel (house of mourning) and many sources address the meals eaten there during shiv’ah (the seven [days of mourning]). Nonetheless, there…

5 questions regarding a Bris Milah with a clamp:

Does a a child who was circumcised with a Bronstein Mogen Clamp need hatafas dam bris (also implied in the question is would hatafas dam bris help), or not?…

When it comes to Judaism I have some OCD. I was wondering if you can help me with following:

Full Question: Since I learned that Mitzvos need kavana (and I know it should take quick, but) since I'm afraid not to have it, so I decided to just say…

I’m a psychotherapist. Can I meet and conduct sessions with (non- Jewish) clients in a non-kosher restaurant, like a local McDonald’s.

You should not meet at a non kosher restaurant. בשו״ת אג״מ או״ח ב, מ כתב לאיסורא משום מראית עין וחשדא. וראה שם או״ח ד, פב. (ולהעיר שמה שהתיר במקום…

Is it permissible to use a julienne peeler on Shabbos? (It’s not like a regular peeler where one is separating good from bad, it just cuts the vegetable into thin strips).

A julienne peeler may not be used on Shabbos. ע״פ דעת הצ״צ בחי׳ שבת ספ״ז שבחותך לחתיכות דקות באורך ג״ז בכלל טוחן, על יסוד ד׳ רש״י שבת עד,…

Halachic Guide – Shavuos | לוח יומי – חג השבועות