Halachic Guide - Shavuos | לוח יומי - חג השבועות

My parents have divorced a civil divorce without a Get. They are now back together. Do they need to remarry?

My parents have divorced a few years ago. They are not observant, so dealing with it as a Jewish matter did not occur to them as being important so…

Is it Ok to wear a trench-coat with a slit over a fully Tznius dress?

Question: I learned that it is improper for a woman to wear a garment with a slit in it. Does this apply to a garment that is worn atop…

Does cholent need to be cooked before Shabbos starts?

If it's on a Blech, it doesn't need to be cooked. But then you may not put it back on the fire on Shabbos. If it's not on a Blech,…

Is it Tznius for a woman to daven in a public place (i.e on the street or on the train)? If not, should a woman rather daven after Shkiah than daven in a public area?

The Issur to daven in an outdoor public area applies to both men and woman unless one is traveling (see Alter Rebbe 90:5). However, there is nothing not Tznius…

Can a woman jog in a public place? At night? What about running, when in a rush?

A. May a woman go jogging in a public place (i.e Eastern Pkwy) during the day? B. Does this differ from jogging at night (when there are fewer people…

Do stockings for women’s legwear need to be opaque?

Questions: 1. Must a woman's stockings be opaque (I.e. the leg isn't seen through the stockings)? 2. Is it permissible to wear stockings which cover the leg completely (no…

I am an educator at a school where many students can’t read well. We have attempted various methods to get OUR Bochurim (mostly Chabad) involved in Davening including giving reward for being Chazan. Is it permitted for one that is not fluent in Hebrew to be Chazan in English? If yes do any parts have to be in Loshon Kodesh?

Davening should be said in Loshon Hakodesh only. The words that were instituted in our Davening by our sages cannot be accurately translated into other languages. Additionally, many authorities…

Being that it is difficult to understand Selichos in its original form, would it be better to read all or part of it in English or in a language which is easier understood? Would there be any difference between fast days and the Selichos before Rosh Hashana?

Slichos (both of before Rosh Hashana and of a Taanis) is like any other part of Davening which one should understand what he is saying. It is preferred that…

May one regard coffee with milk from such a supermarket as Cholov-Yisroel.

Question: A local supermarket has introduced several brand-new commercial coffee machines (providing espressos, cappuccinos, americanos etc). They have dedicated one for Cholov Yisroel. These machines self-clean and there is…

What is our basis for davening Shacharis L’chatchila after Zman Tefila (i.e. not paying attention to it)?

B’dieved, one may daven till Chatzos, according to many Poskim. Chassidim who are involved in proper Hachana to davening rely on this. There is no basis to allow davening…

Can a woman Daven Shacharis past Chatzos? What does she do if she misses the time for Shacharis?

Question: How about on Shabbos when the Amidah for Shabbos differs in each Tefillah? What should she do regarding Shachris and Musaf? Additionally, on Shabbos, until what point can…

I am a doctor. There is an open office space in an existing medical practice that I would like to sublease from the existing medical practice…

Full Question: The medical practice is of an OB/GYN. I asked them if they perform abortion and they said they do not. One of the OB/GYNs said that she…

Where is the source for not talking during kriya, not talking during Aliyos, and not leaving the shul in middle of Krias HaTorah and in between of Aliyos?

שו״ע או״ח סימן קמו סעיף א-ב, ומשנ״ב שם ס״ק ז׳ וביאור הלכה שם ד״ה ויש מתירים. והאריך בזה כ"ק אדמו״ר (מהורש״ב) נ"ע במודעה רבה נדפס בסוף סידור תורה אור.…

What should one say (if anything) to people in Crown Heights carrying something on Shabbos R”L because of the “Eiruv”?

This is not something unique to Crown Heights. This applies to any community where an Eiruv is rumored to have been erected, but it is done without consultation and support…

I often have guests on Shabbos who struggle with keeping Shabbos. Sometimes when we wash for Netilas Yadaim, one of them might turn on the hot water to wash their hands. May I turn off the hot water once they already turned it on?

Water faucet may not be turned off. The reason: turning off the faucet causes to stop the flow of additional cold water, resulting in heating up the cold water…

If a Mikvah that the rainwater was not changed in many years, maybe up to more than 30, is it still kosher to immerse vessels in it?

This is something which, in and of itself, would not generally disqualify the Mikvah. Nevertheless, there are many things in general which can go wrong and invalidate a Mikvah.…

A not yet frum person is asking me about burial in a wall. Is this allowed?

There is a Halachic requirement to bury the deceased in the ground itself. This prohibits burial in a wall, such as in the wall of a crypt or mausoleum.…

Joining the Minyan for Aleinu

Question: When the Minyan starts saying Aleinu, but I'm still in the middle of Ashrei/U'va Letzion/Shir shel Yom/Kave, do I stop my davening and say Aleinu with the Minyan…

Can the Kallah who is fasting on her wedding day brush her teeth?

Yes this is permitted. דהוי תענית יחיד וע"פ המבואר בשו"ע סי' תקס"ז ס"ג ונו"כ, (ומה גם דאינו תענית חמור) וראה גם נ"ג נישואין פ"ו אות י"ג. #5301

Is there a Halachic issue with Davening outside without a roof?

One may Daven in a secluded area without a roof. שו"ע צ, ה. שוע"ר שם, ה. שע"ת שם, סק"א. #5308

Baby Naming on Shabbos

Question: I know it’s Chabad custom to name a little girl at the first available opportunity. If I have a girl iy”H, and the birth is sometime between Thursday…

If one is in a rush when is the earliest one can take off his Rashi Tefillin and change to Rabeinu Tam’s?

It has become common practice not to remove one’s Tefillin until after the recitation of Kedushah in the passage beginning U’Va LeTziyon. Some authorities maintain that according to the Kabbalah one must [respond to] three Kaddishim while…

Moving into a house previously lived in by a Jew who did not keep kosher. Treif working dishwasher. Can it be Kashered?

A. The standard approach is to be stringent and not Kasher a dishwasher due to the various concerns, primarily because it is not likely that the hot water cycle…

Can one put up cold water in an urn immediately before Shkiah on Friday, if forgot to do it earlier? What if one has many guests or a baby that would need hot water during Shabbos?

The water must be at least half-cooked before Shabbos. In the event, it was only a third cooked before Shabbos it may be used on Shabbos. However, one may…

Does distilled water need a Hechsher?

Generally, water which is not flavored and not fortified does not require a Hechsher. Distilled water, however, needs a hechsher. #5274

Halachic Guide – Shavuos | לוח יומי – חג השבועות