Halachic Guide - Shavuos | לוח יומי - חג השבועות

After going to Mikvah on Shabbos, do I have to wait in Shul till my hair and beard are dry before walking outside?

If yes, how dry does it need to be? (this past week even after learning for an hour my beard was still wet). Answer: The common custom is…

ישיבה בבית קפה של גוים לצורך עבודה/פגישה

שאלה: האם יש איסור לישב ולשתות קפה, או לעבוד, או להיפגש עם מישהו בבית קפה (כדוגמת Starbucks) מצד גזירת ועד הארצות שלא לישב בבתי משתאות של גויים? או שאין…

Can making grape juice with non-Jewish children pose a halachic problem?

Question: In our Hebrew school curriculum, there is an activity to make grape juice from scratch. If I boil the grapes first, and then then kids juice them, is…

בורר בבגדים

שאלה: האם מותר לכתחילה לסלק לצדדים בגדים המונחים על גבי בגד שרוצה ללבוש עכשיו כדי להגיע לו, או שיש בזה איסור בורר? ומה הדין באותו מקרה כשאינו רק מסלקם…

Saying V’ani beroiv chasdecha before going into Shul

Question: Is it our Minhag to say the Passuk v’ani beroiv chasdecha before walking into shul? If so, do we only say it before davening shacharis, or also before…

With which foot does one start taking 3 steps back at the beginning of Shmone Esrei? At the end of Kaddish?

The Rebbe used the left foot first. However, when going forward, one should place the right foot first. Sources: כשפוסע לאחוריו - לכאורה צ״ל ברגלו הימנית תחילה כבכל…

Hafrashas Challah through a non-Jew or, l’havdil, non-frum Jew

Question: We made 8 batches of challah. Our non-frum helper who usually does hafroshas challah asked a non halachik Jew to do it on one of them. Now they…

Can using Rooting Hormone be an issue of Kilayim?

Question: It's common to use rooting hormone when growing new trees from cuttings. Now the question is, since some hormones are made naturally by grinding up arovos (Willow) -…

Can Viagra be used on Friday night?

Yes, but preferable to mix with food or drink before Shabbos. Sources: צדדי ההיתר: משום סכנת אבר (כדעת האחרונים דלאו דוקא ביטול האבר לגמרי אלא גם אם ישאר…

If a non-Jew asks for a bible, am I allowed to give him a Chumash? If yes, can I give him one with commentary?

You should not give him one, even without commentary, unless there is a concern of Eiva, animosity. Sources: הנה י״א שבכלל איסור מסירת ד״ת לגוי (חגיגה יג, א)…

How can I leave a long & boring meal?

Question: Sometimes I eat at people's homes and they take hours before they bentch and I'm not interested in staying anymore. If I washed, what is the proper thing…

Eating Before the Bris (or Pidyon) of a Son

Question: Are you not supposed to eat before a Bris and Pidyon Haben, like we don't eat before doing any mitzvah like Tekios or Megilah? Answer: Some write…

Splitting up Kriyas HaTorah between different Balei Kriya

Question: Is it ok for a yeshiva to split up the aliyos between different balei kriya in order to allow different bochrim to have a chance (and who may…

When toveling a plastic blender, would the metal knives be considered ikar and a Bracha said?

Yes. Sources: ראה רמ״א יו״ד קכ, ז בריחים של פלפלים מעץ שיש בו ברזל שבו טוחנים שצריך טבילה בברכה. ושם, כולו מעץ זולת החלק שטוחן בו - ראה…

Does a rubber spatula have to be toiveled?

The part that touches the food is rubber, but the rest is steel. Answer: Yes, without a bracha. Sources: כשהידית ממין החייב בטבילה וגוף הכלי ממין הפטור…

Is it proper for a rabbi to refuse payment for running lifecycle events?

Question: L'chvod HaRov Shlit"A I am the rabbi of a shul and in my capacity I am asked to perform several chassunahs and levayas throughout the year. Following the…

האם אפשר לכבד חתן באמירת אחד מן השבע ברכות בשמחת נישואין שלו?

לא. מקורות: באוצה"ג כתובות תשובות, נג: הכי אמר רב שר שלום גאון מקום שאין בקי לברך ברכת אירוסין או נשואין אלא החתן בעצמו מברך לעצמו. אבל אם יש…

Cooking a Cholent right before Shabbos

Question: I have the habit of putting raw cholent in the crock pot 5-10 minutes before licht bentching and then run to mikveh and daven mincha. If this a…

I work for a Moisad helping them get government funds…

Question: I work for a moisad helping them get reimbursements/payments from the government for help they provide for eligible children. I made a mistake and did not submit the…

Is there an Inyan to pay for a Mitzvah?

What if I get something for free, like an Esrog or oil for Chanukah, can I not use it? Am I not allowed to listen to a Shiur unless…

Yiddish Instruction

Question: A common endeavor of many melamdim and morahs is to immerse their students in a Yiddish-speaking environment, so that, despite not being raised in a Yiddish-speaking home, they…

Does a woman making Havdalah at home after Yom Kippur make the Bracha on fire?

Yes. Sources: וגם את״ל שבברכת הנר דמוצ״ש לא יברכו ואכ״מ -וראה אצלנו כאן: https://asktherav.com/13211-do-women-make-a-bracha-on-the-fire-by-havdalah/ - ברכת הנר דיו״כ שאני שענינו להבדיל בין יו״כ שנאסר אור למוצאי יו״כ. ובל׳…

What if my Kugel is made from Israeli Shmita Potatoes?

Question: I bought potatoes in a store and made kugel out of it, only after making this kugel I realized that the store was selling in the same section…

If a Moisad (a shul) takes a loan from an individual does the Issur of Ribbis apply? Does it need a Heter Iska?

A Hetter Iska should be arranged. Reasons in brief: 1. There is room for leniency only when the Ribbis is not D’Orayso. 2. Even then, this leniency applies only…

Mezuzah Placement on a Split Doorpost

Question: I have a few similar doorways: By the right doorpost, after like 3.5 feet high (more than 10 tefachim) the doorway widens about 9 inches (less than 3…

Halachic Guide – Shavuos | לוח יומי – חג השבועות