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Question: Can a Kohen work or walk around a medical laboratory that works with dead bodies if he is certain that there are only non Jewish bodies, and if yes what if he is not sure if the bodies… Question: Can a Kohen work or walk around a medical laboratory that works with dead bodies if he is certain that there are only non Jewish bodies, and if yes what if he is not sure if the bodies are Jewish or not? Answer: If he isn't in the same room as the dead body and he is sure that the bodies aren't Jewish, there is room to be lenient בשעת הצורך. Sources: עיין שו״ת מהרש״ם ח''ב סימן רל'ג ובשערים מצויינים בהלכה…Show more
Article: How is your Scotch “finished"? Aging whisky is an art that endeavors to produce optimal taste and smoothness with a precise blend of ingredients and methods. Many producers (specifically of Scotch whiskies) have reintroduced the practice of storing… Article: How is your Scotch “finished"? Aging whisky is an art that endeavors to produce optimal taste and smoothness with a precise blend of ingredients and methods. Many producers (specifically of Scotch whiskies) have reintroduced the practice of storing the spirit in casks that were previously used for wine, called “sherry finishing.” Contemporary poskim question whether this process may place the resulting spirits under the issur d’rabbanan (Rabbinic restriction) of stam yainam (wine produced by non-Jews). The wine product that remains absorbed in the walls of the empty casks would seemingly be halachically insignificant according to the principle of…Show more
Question: I am a Lefty, and I want to know what is the exact direction that the Yud of the Tefillin Shel Yad needs to Face, Should it be an upside-down Yud, i.e. Facing upwards, or is it like… Question: I am a Lefty, and I want to know what is the exact direction that the Yud of the Tefillin Shel Yad needs to Face, Should it be an upside-down Yud, i.e. Facing upwards, or is it like a regular righty, facing downwards? Answer: The section of the Yud which protrudes out of the knot should be facing the Bayis. Sources: שגוף הקשר הוא הראש, וקצה הרצועה הוא הרגל, כדמוכח…Show more
שאלה: החינוך כותב (מצוה כה) "מצות האמנה במציאות ה' וזאת מן המצוות שאין להם זמן ידוע שכל ימי האדם חייב לחיות במחשבה זו". ילמדנו רבינו איך מקיימים מצוה זו? וכן גם בנוגע לשאר (שש) המצות תמידיות – האם צריך… שאלה: החינוך כותב (מצוה כה) "מצות האמנה במציאות ה' וזאת מן המצוות שאין להם זמן ידוע שכל ימי האדם חייב לחיות במחשבה זו". ילמדנו רבינו איך מקיימים מצוה זו? וכן גם בנוגע לשאר (שש) המצות תמידיות – האם צריך לחשוב עליהם כל היום? תשובה: אופן הקיום בכל היום: לחשוב בתחילת היום. וכן בכל רגע שחושב בזה מקיים מצות עשה. אבל אינו חייב לחשוב כל היום. מקורות: בכ״מ מבואר שאא״פ לחשוב ב׳ מחשבות בב״א. וראה גם…Show more
Question: If someone is davening in a shul building, but not in the actual Beis Hakeneses where the Sifrei Torah are kept and not in a room that opens up to the Beis Hakeneses or in a room where… Question: If someone is davening in a shul building, but not in the actual Beis Hakeneses where the Sifrei Torah are kept and not in a room that opens up to the Beis Hakeneses or in a room where the Beis Hakenses is visible, can one perform nefilas apayim during Tachanun? Answer: One may if it’s in the time that the tzibur is saying nefilas apayim. Nonetheless, there are opinions that one may regardless. Rumor has it that the Rebbe did once when he stopped to daven Mincha on the way back from the Ohel. Sources: ראה שוע"ר קלא, ג. ט"ז שם ס"ק ו. פמ"ג…Show more
Question: Does a Chocolate Danish you buy in the bakery have the Bracha (מעיקר הדין and for בעל נפש ect) as the Babka described here? Answer: There is no one way that bakery Danishes are made, although there… Question: Does a Chocolate Danish you buy in the bakery have the Bracha (מעיקר הדין and for בעל נפש ect) as the Babka described here? Answer: There is no one way that bakery Danishes are made, although there are plenty of bakeries that use other ingredients in a larger quantity than flour, one would have to inquire regarding each bakery and pastry on its own. As a general rule, most Danishes have a high amount of sugar, cocoa, chocolate, eggs, oil, etc., aside from the fillings, and would normally qualify as mezonos even for a baal nefesh,…Show more
Question: Should we say that nowadays Mezonos bread (made from juice) is an “every day” food and people get full and satisfied from it, and would therefore become Hamotzi? Answer: Following is an excerpt from "Summer - Halachos… Question: Should we say that nowadays Mezonos bread (made from juice) is an “every day” food and people get full and satisfied from it, and would therefore become Hamotzi? Answer: Following is an excerpt from "Summer - Halachos and Minhagim" (published by the Badatz in 5773): For a number of Halachic considerations, one should avoid eating Mezonos rolls outside the context of a meal for which he washed for Hamotzi and ate a Kezayis of real bread. Alternatively, he may eat K’dei Sevi’a of these rolls, meaning the size of four eggs, provided that it is sufficient to…Show more
Q. #1: Is it a mitzvah to learn Lashon HaKodesh for the purpose of learning Torah? Is it a mitzvah to teach our sons Lashon HaKodesh for the purpose of their Limud HaTorah? If so, what precisely is the… Q. #1: Is it a mitzvah to learn Lashon HaKodesh for the purpose of learning Torah? Is it a mitzvah to teach our sons Lashon HaKodesh for the purpose of their Limud HaTorah? If so, what precisely is the geder of the mitzvah? What sources can I look up to learn more about it? A. Not a Mitzva by itself, but it is often a prerequisite to learning Torah. Teaching our children Lashon HaKodesh is part of the obligation of teaching Torah, similar to הכשר מצוה. See more in these sources: פירוש המשניות להרמב"ם אבות ב, א. שו״ת…Show more
Question: The shliach in my area gave the whole community cheesecake. I prefer not to have it in my house since it makes people in my family sick with all the cheese and sugar. If I can't find someone… Question: The shliach in my area gave the whole community cheesecake. I prefer not to have it in my house since it makes people in my family sick with all the cheese and sugar. If I can't find someone to give it to, can I throw it in the garbage? Answer: If you can't give it to someone else, then you can put it in a bag and then throw it in the garbage. Sources: בגמרא שבת קמ עמוד ב "ואמר רב חסדא האי…Show more
Question: I was asked to be chazan in a backyard Minyan for not frum people on Yom Kippur, for Kol Nidrei and Ne'ilah. The person asked if I could bring a Sefer Torah. Is a Sefer Torah a necessity… Question: I was asked to be chazan in a backyard Minyan for not frum people on Yom Kippur, for Kol Nidrei and Ne'ilah. The person asked if I could bring a Sefer Torah. Is a Sefer Torah a necessity for these Tefilos, or B'dieved I don't need one? and if I do need one, could I bring a Sefer Torah out of a shull for ONLY these Tefilos (not any tefilos that have a Kri'ah)? Answer: Though it's ideal to hold a Torah during Kol Nidrei, it's not an issue when it's not possible. For Neilah, no Torah…Show more
A rvi’is of the coffee or tea should be drunk within a time frame of 4 minutes. Practically speaking, for most people, this is not an issue. Nonetheless, since these beverages may be extremely hot at first, many people… A rvi’is of the coffee or tea should be drunk within a time frame of 4 minutes. Practically speaking, for most people, this is not an issue. Nonetheless, since these beverages may be extremely hot at first, many people leave over a rvi’is of coffee/tea to cool off to drink at the end to avoid all Shaalos. אדה״ז בסברה״נ ח, ו. שו״ת שארית יהודה או״ח טו. משנ״ב רי, א. #16467Show more
Question: If food is fully cooked before Shabbos, can the pot it is in be uncovered and Re-covered while it is on the blech as it seems to be described in The Laws of Cooking on a Shabbos and… Question: If food is fully cooked before Shabbos, can the pot it is in be uncovered and Re-covered while it is on the blech as it seems to be described in The Laws of Cooking on a Shabbos and the Blech book? Answer: There is a machlokes haposkim. Although most poskim permit, l'chatchilla one should be stringent. Even according to the lenient position, there are good reasons to be stringent: The heter only applies if one is absolutely certain that all the food is completely cooked. Many times there are bones in the meat which haven’t been…Show more
Some details that might be of importance: It has not been built yet. This is for someone who wants to construct one now. They need basic kashrus, no extra chumros. I also want to build one as well… Some details that might be of importance: It has not been built yet. This is for someone who wants to construct one now. They need basic kashrus, no extra chumros. I also want to build one as well and want it to be lchatchilah. Here is a pic for illustration purposes. Answer: There are a few points to have in mind when turning a pergola into a Sukkah: 1) Material of the support for the S'chach: From the picture it looks like it will be wooden beams - that is totally fine and the S'chach may…Show more
If it has a smiley face, mirror, etc., or if it is colorful, it would be permitted to keep as it doesn't represent the sun as we see it. Sources: הארכנו כאן בנוגע לבובות. וכ"ה בנדו"ד שאינו קבוע ועשוי…
The custom is not to do the Upshernish on Chol Hamoed. It should be done the night of Isru Chag, i.e. Motzei Yom Tov, if possible. Source: אפשערעניש בחול המועד - נוסף להמנהג, גם מדינא יש לדון, שאף… The custom is not to do the Upshernish on Chol Hamoed. It should be done the night of Isru Chag, i.e. Motzei Yom Tov, if possible. Source: אפשערעניש בחול המועד - נוסף להמנהג, גם מדינא יש לדון, שאף שע״פ דין מותר בקטן שנולד, הרי ההיתר לפי שמצערו, כדלקמן, משא״כ בנדו״ז, שקובע מלאכתו למועד. [ויש שכתב שסתם קטן בתגלחת הראשונה מצטער. ואומדנא זו איני יודע טיבה. וראה ירושלים במועדי׳ חוה״מ ע׳ רצו שסתם קטן בן ג״ש אינו מצטער. וראיתי לח״א שכתב לצדד סברא להתירא, להדעות שמותר לכוון מלאכתו במקום מצוה, או באו״א עד״ז מחמת שהמטרה היא להוסיף בשמחת החג…Show more
Question: If I make cookies by mixing Old Fashioned Quaker Oats (rolled oats)-- without cooking them--with peanut butter (and some honey and chocolate chips) and then freezing them, what would the Bracha be? Would there be any difference if… Question: If I make cookies by mixing Old Fashioned Quaker Oats (rolled oats)-- without cooking them--with peanut butter (and some honey and chocolate chips) and then freezing them, what would the Bracha be? Would there be any difference if using Quick One-Minute Oats? Also, is there an issue of Bishul Akum if I didn't cook the oatmeal (I don't know what process was done to the rolled oats in manufacturing)? Answer: The Beracha Rishona would be Ha’adama. There is a doubt about the proper Beracha Achrona. Therefore, one should not eat a Kezayis outside of a meal. See…Show more
The soup is completely cooked and wrapped in a towel before Shabbos. It usually settles and the thickness goes to the bottom of the pot. Can I stir it before serving it in bowls? Answer: You may stir… The soup is completely cooked and wrapped in a towel before Shabbos. It usually settles and the thickness goes to the bottom of the pot. Can I stir it before serving it in bowls? Answer: You may stir it if it’s fully cooked and no longer in the original pot. #9276Show more
Can one touch or move the actual lamp or only the top may be turned? What if the top has broken off, may one still turn whatever is left? Answer: You may move the lamp לצורך גופו או… Can one touch or move the actual lamp or only the top may be turned? What if the top has broken off, may one still turn whatever is left? Answer: You may move the lamp לצורך גופו או לצורך מקומו if you need to put something in its place or if you need to use the lamp somewhere else. There are opinions that are stringent not to move it unless כלאחר יד with one's elbows or back of the hand. You may turn the top even if it's broken. #10503Show more
Question: Hi! Today is my citizenship ceremony. If I’m asked to pledge allegiance is it permitted? Is it the same as a vow? What’s the “kosher” way? I’ll take my chitas too in case they ask me to touch… Question: Hi! Today is my citizenship ceremony. If I’m asked to pledge allegiance is it permitted? Is it the same as a vow? What’s the “kosher” way? I’ll take my chitas too in case they ask me to touch the xtian bible, maybe they’ll allow me to touch my own? Answer: It is permitted to pledge allegiance but you substitute the words “solemnly affirm” for the words “on oath”, as permitted by law: “When a petitioner or applicant for naturalization, by reason of religious training and belief (or individual interpretation thereof), or for other reasons of good conscience,…Show more
Question: Years ago, I received a pushka from a local Chabad House. Ever since, I've been filling the pushka every few weeks, at which point I count up $20 worth of coins, then put aside a $20 bill so… Question: Years ago, I received a pushka from a local Chabad House. Ever since, I've been filling the pushka every few weeks, at which point I count up $20 worth of coins, then put aside a $20 bill so that I can reuse the coins in the same pushka. When I run out of $20 bills, I write a check to the Chabad House that supplied me with the pushka, then restart the process again, until the next time I run out of the same $20 bills and have to write a check again. The question is this: Last…Show more
I have read your excellent write-up about davening after chatzos. Question: If I enter into a shul where people do not know the correct halacha and make a complete minyan with Baruch sheamar, yishtabach, bircas krias shema, and… I have read your excellent write-up about davening after chatzos. Question: If I enter into a shul where people do not know the correct halacha and make a complete minyan with Baruch sheamar, yishtabach, bircas krias shema, and a Shachris Shemone Esrei after chatzos. Are they saying a bracha l'vatala? Should one respond to their kedusha and Amen to their brachos, Or is that saying Hashem's name in vein? Is there a difference if the minyan and Shemone Esrei was recited before Mincha Gedolah? Or if they started before chatzos? Answer: Yes. No. It’s considered…Show more
שאלה: מוסד א נכנס לחנות, ובעל החנות נותן לו קופה של מוסד ב, ואומר לו: הם לא באים לרוקן, וגם שמתי צדקה בכונה לתת למוסד שלך. שניהם מוסדות חב"ד. האם מותר למוסד א לקחת את הקופה ששייכת למוסד ב?… שאלה: מוסד א נכנס לחנות, ובעל החנות נותן לו קופה של מוסד ב, ואומר לו: הם לא באים לרוקן, וגם שמתי צדקה בכונה לתת למוסד שלך. שניהם מוסדות חב"ד. האם מותר למוסד א לקחת את הקופה ששייכת למוסד ב? אכן, הרבה הרבה פעמים קורה שאנשים טוענים שלא באים לרוקן את הקופות ונותנים אותם למוסד חב"די אחר. האם מותר לקחת את הקופה? כך גם קורה שמרוקנים קופה לפניך ממוסד אחר של חב"ד, ונותנים לך לקחת ואומרים: חב״ד זה הכל אותו דבר. האם מותר לקחת את הכסף שבקופה? תשובה: אם הקופה של המוסד, הרי הכסף נקנה להם ברגע שהכסף נכנס…Show more
I am referring to the seal under the cap that you need to pull hard to rip off. Answer: It has come to our attention that there is no preexisting opening on the orange juice container. Thus, when removing…I am referring to the seal under the cap that you need to pull hard to rip off. Answer: It has come to our attention that there is no preexisting opening on the orange juice container. Thus, when removing the ring tab one is creating a new opening and therefore it shouldn’t be done on Shabbos. It would be best to remove the entire top of the carton and avoid the issue. Regarding opening bottle caps, there is an argument amongst contemporary Poskim, if one is allowed to open it on Shabbos. Therefore one should open before Shabbos. If…Show more
Yes, Ma'aser money can be used to help with such expenses, if it can't be funded by the one responsible for them. (And being that this is regarding a family member, they have preference over others that are in… Yes, Ma'aser money can be used to help with such expenses, if it can't be funded by the one responsible for them. (And being that this is regarding a family member, they have preference over others that are in need.) Sources: טו"ר שו"ע יו"ד סי' ר"נ. וראה שם סי' רנ"ג…Show more
Question: Can I place granola/blueberries/pomegranate on top of yogurt on shabbos? If yes, can I also mix it in? Answer: When putting a little bit of granola on yogurt there is no issue of 'losh' and… Question: Can I place granola/blueberries/pomegranate on top of yogurt on shabbos? If yes, can I also mix it in? Answer: When putting a little bit of granola on yogurt there is no issue of 'losh' and one may even mix them since one piece doesn't stick to the other. When putting a lot of granola there would be an issue of 'losh' when mixing it. Therefore it should be mixed with a shinui. The same would apply with pomegranate if the seeds get stuck to each other. When mixing blueberries there is no '…Show more
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