Halachic Guide - Shavuos | לוח יומי - חג השבועות

Tefillin with a cast

Question: I have a cast on my left arm from over my elbow to under my wrist. How should I wrap the Tefillin? Should I go straight from the…

Is it Muttar to leave a noise machine on over Shabbos for a baby? What about an adult?

A white noise machine is permitted. Otherwise, one may not leave on a noise machine over Shabbos. However, if it’s really needed for a child, or one who has an ailment,…

I often Daven at various Shuls where the Aron Hakodesh is not on the eastern side of the Shul and everyone Davens towards the Aron Hakodesh. Should I nevertheless face east?

The Tzibur should face Mizrach, even if the Aron Hakodesh is in a different direction. However, If the Tzibur is facing the wrong direction, one should not change from their…

I have a new pan, and I cooked something Pareve in it, but mixed it with a clean Milchig spoon which had been used in the past 24 hours. Could I use the pan for Fleishigs now?

Assuming that the Milchig spoon was used for dairy in the last 24 hours, accordingly, if there were sixty times more in the cooked Pareve pan compared to the amount…

Does one have to wash hands after touching a baby’s feet?

Question: Does one have to wash hands after touching a baby's feet (or other body parts that on an older person would be covered) before saying a Bracha etc?…

Upshernish Motzei Tisha B’Av Nidche

Question: My son's third birthday is on 10 Av, which falls out on Tisha B'av this year, as it is a Nidcha. When should we we make the Upsherenish?…

There is a women’s group who do yoga. It is an exercise/workout class with an instructor, and may not be Jewish. A friend mentioned that yoga may be an issue regarding Avodah Zara. Is there a problem to attend?

It is a problem to attend. The Rebbe writes: Inasmuch as the Torah and Mitzvot were given to all the Jews, and to each one individually, for all times and in…

Studying Tehillim on Rosh Chodesh:

It is an ancient custom, on each Rosh Chodesh, to study one verse of the chapter of Tehillim that corresponds with the current years of a person’s life. The…

There are those who would argue that it would be Assur to Daven by Kivrei Tzadikim. How would one answer them from a halachic perspective?

Gedolei Yisroel from time immemorial have Davened at Kivrei Tzadikim. While some have understood this practice as Davening to Hashem but at the location of the Kever, there are…

We have a high-chair at home which has two changeable trays (which we use one for Milchig and the other for Fleishig). The way to change the tray is by pulling hard until is snaps out. On Shabbos are we allowed to put on and take off this tray?

If you take off the trays on a daily basis, either by switching from Milchig to Fleshig, or before you put the child in or out of the highchair, then…

Am I allowed to say Brachos before Alos Hashachar if that is when I wake up for the day and leave my house?

If you wake up after midnight, then you should say all Brachos, as you have become obligated by doing the action corresponding to the Bracha. Thus almost all Brachos will…

My cousin was born on Shabbos evening (Shabbos being the 22nd of Shevat) at 6:18pm which was one minute before Tzeis Hakohavim. Which day is her birthday 22nd of Shvat or the 23rd?

Both days should be observed, L'chumra. PS. It should be noted that often the recording of the time of birth is not completely accurate. If still practically possible, you should…

Adding Hot Water on Shabbos to the Cholent

Question: Is it permissible to add boiling water with a cup from the Shabbos urn to the Cholent in the crock pot, in order to add moisture so that…

Is it a problem to bring something with Alef-Beis on them, into a bathroom, (e.g. Negel Vasser set, Yarmulke)?

While there is room for stringency, the custom is to be lenient. Newspapers are printed regularly in Hebrew using square characters, כתב מרובע, and the custom is to use…

There is an expensive item that once it has been shipped, if it is canceled before it reaches the buyer, the store gives a refund, but it does not have to be returned. Knowing this policy, can it be ordered L’chatchila – planning to cancel the order once it is shipped and keeping the item and the refund?

This may not be done. Sources: איסור גניבת דעת קיים גם בגוי, וכיון שודאי אין ברצונו של המוכר שיקנו ממנו ויבקשו החזר, הרי זה גניבת דעת. ראה שו"ע חושן…

Is there any room to permit placing a Bimah in the front of a Shul?

The Bimah may not be in the front of the shul. If absolutely necessary, there is room to permit so when there is at least one row of seats…

Is it Halachically acceptable to display an open Sefer Torah in a glass display case in a Shul?

Several Shuls do this with Sifrei Torah from the holocaust... Answer: It is permissible to keep a worn-out invalid Sefer Torah in a glass display in a Shul.…

Is there an Inyan in Chabad to wear a hat and jacket? where is the source?

Yes, there is a Halachik Inyan, practiced by Charedi Jews at large and not unique to Chabad. See references below. Please listen here for a quick explanation on the matter.…

Earliest Time for Talis, Tefilin & Davening

Question: Ideally, what is the earliest time one can do Tallis, Tefilin, Shema and Shacharis - all of these from Misheyakir? Bedieved, for example someone who starts work really…

Would a woman rapping to a beat be considered Kol Isha?

As we are looking to record a rap for a fundraiser we are doing and want to have women involved.. Answer: Men may not listen to a woman…

May I Learn Kabbalah Before the Age of 40?

Question: Does the restriction of learning Kabbalah only after the age of 40 still apply nowadays? How about learning it when it is translated into English? Answer: Firstly,…

Can I cook a whole garlic head without peeling it at all? I am concerned that there may be bugs by the root. And if permitted what would be the procedure to clean it to be able to do so?

You may not, as garlic must be checked since it is sometimes infested. The peels have insects, but the cloves, though, are generally clean. Therefore the peels should be…

My two year old daughter stuck a cold pizza in the Pareve toaster oven. But did not turn on the toaster so everything remained cold. But perhaps some of the cheese got scraped off the pizza into the toaster and when turned on will be heating up those specs of cheese. Does this make the toaster Milchig?

If the toaster looks clean, it remains Pareve.

If I bake a cake in a Pareve oven using clean utensils that are sometimes used for Fleishigs, is the cake considered completely Pareve?

No, it is not necessarily completely Pareve. To make a cake Pareve, you have to put the cake in a disposable dish, Pareve dishes, or with a piece of aluminum…

I grew up knowing that there was a Jewish Hamsa and the hand of Fatima, the Arabic Hamsa. My grandmother who lived in North Africa was very adamant not to let the hand of Fatima in our house. The later has 2 thumbs but the Jewish Hamsa has only one thumb. Are there any sources for this? Today all one can find and sees everywhere is the hand with 2 thumbs.

While there are some traditional Jewish sources mentioning the Hamsa, none make the distinction that you have mentioned. Indeed, there are available ancient Jewish Hamsas which have two symmetrical…

Halachic Guide – Shavuos | לוח יומי – חג השבועות