Database - AskTheRav

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

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.…

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 or continue my own davening while the Minyan says Aleinu?

You should say Aleinu with the Minyan and then say it again at the end of davening. שולחן מנחם ח"א ע' ערב. ועיין בשו"ת קנה בשם חלק ג…

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

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? Same with electric stove/oven.

Dishwasher: 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?

Water which is not flavored and not fortified does not require a Hechsher. #5274

I heard there is an issue with putting a baby on a table? Is there any source for this? Does this apply to putting them on a table, passing them over a table, using a baby seat on a table like a jumbo seat?

There is a source to not place a child on a table. There was a Minhag of the Jews of Morocco not to pass a child over a table.…

If a Kohen marries (Civil) a divorcee, does he lose status as a Kohen?

No. He is a kohen, not a chalal, who is living in sin, and commits an aveira every time he engages in intimate relations with her. He remains a…

Is it true that Minhag Chabad is to refrain from eating meat even after making a Siyum during the 9 days?

I have not heard of such a Minhag as an official Chabad Minhag. In Sefer Haminhagim it relates: כ"ק אדמו"ר (מהרש"ב) נ"ע הי' נוהג לעשות סיומים בט' ימים שבין…

Is Psychology Kosher?

Full Question: As a Yeshivah Bochur, one of the things that bother me the most is the way psychology is so widely accepted by the whole world including the…

השאלות להלן הם הן בנוגע לגדר ההלכתי של סיום (בנוגע לאכילת בשר סעודת מצוה תענית בכורות וכו’) והן בנוגע למנהג עריכת סיומים בתשעת הימים:

א. אם נכנס אדם באמצע הסעודה אחרי הסיום, האם נחשב שהשתתף בהסיום? הדבר שנוי במחלוקת. (המקילין: ראה שו"ת מהר"ם בריסק ח"א סי' קל"ג לענין תענית בכורות, וכ"כ המנח"י ח"ט…

I was watching a video about whether Chassidim consider Tisha B’Av a day of mourning which got me a little confused. Am I supposed to make an effort to be sad or just focus on rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash and Moshiach? In general I’m a bit confused about whether Chassidim can ever be sad or we should push away any sad emotions and always be happy.

I can’t comment about what you heard or saw somewhere else. As for your actual question: There is an halachic obligation to mourn the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash…

Is it important to say the words of Chitas and Sefer HaMitzvos, or just learning it (not verbally) suffices?

They should actually say the words, especially when it comes to learning Rambam. If there is a medical diffculty, then one can read it in their mind. ראה…