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Question: I was asked to submit names for letters in a Sefer Torah that’s being written. Can the following three people be added? One person is not Jewish. I am told one person may be an Ethiopian Jew. One… Question: I was asked to submit names for letters in a Sefer Torah that’s being written. Can the following three people be added? One person is not Jewish. I am told one person may be an Ethiopian Jew. One person was born after IVF treatment. The woman who carried and gave birth to the baby is Jewish. The egg donor’s identity is unknown. Answer: 1. The mivtza initiated by the Rebbe for having children and adults writing a letter in a unity Torah was only intended for Jews. ישראל stands for יש שישים רבוא אותיות לתורה as the…Show more
Question: I just built a tire swing attached to a tree. I used one piece of string to attach to the branch. I then attached another piece of string to the first piece with the tire at the end.… Question: I just built a tire swing attached to a tree. I used one piece of string to attach to the branch. I then attached another piece of string to the first piece with the tire at the end. Also, the branch does shake a little when the kids are on it. Can we use it on Shabbos? Answer: If the tree moves, then it is forbidden in any situation. Sources: עיין שו"ת באר משה ח"ו סימן כט, שו"ת נשמת…Show more
Question: This may be more of a "chassidishe rov" question than a pure halacha question, but I would still be happy to hear your thoughts. My wife and I are careful to minimize our son's exposure to non-kosher animals,… Question: This may be more of a "chassidishe rov" question than a pure halacha question, but I would still be happy to hear your thoughts. My wife and I are careful to minimize our son's exposure to non-kosher animals, based on what we understand to be the Rebbe's instructions, although I have never seen the sources myself. Recently, though, we wanted to get him a lot of new toys, and one thing I bought him was a toy frog, which I assumed was fine since it's one of the מכות. He really likes it, so he still plays with…Show more
Question: in the time of Moshiach, we will have a whole new/old set of halachos to adhere to; the laws of taharah. As far as I understand this involves quite a bit of "social distancing" and hygiene. What, if… Question: in the time of Moshiach, we will have a whole new/old set of halachos to adhere to; the laws of taharah. As far as I understand this involves quite a bit of "social distancing" and hygiene. What, if any, of the current guidelines does it pay to keep and make part of our habits to be better prepared for the future? Answer: There are some mitzvas and halachos that we do now so we will be prepared to keep them when Moshiach comes. One of them, washing our hands for bread. P.S. While the study of these…Show more
Question: I cut garlic with a fleishig knife and then roasted it. Would we be permitted to eat it during the fish course of the Shabbos meal? If yes, would we be allowed to eat on the same plate… Question: I cut garlic with a fleishig knife and then roasted it. Would we be permitted to eat it during the fish course of the Shabbos meal? If yes, would we be allowed to eat on the same plate that we ate fish? Answer: Yes. ראה דרכי תשובה קטז סקכ"ז שיש שאסרו אבל העולם נהגו להקל. וראה שבה"ל ח"ו קיא, ד. #8608Show more
Before one begins Shema: One should have in mind that he is about to fulfil the mitzvah of reading the portion of Shema (and to fulfil the mitzvah of unifying Hashem and taking upon himself his mitzvos). If one… Before one begins Shema: One should have in mind that he is about to fulfil the mitzvah of reading the portion of Shema (and to fulfil the mitzvah of unifying Hashem and taking upon himself his mitzvos). If one didn’t do so and he finished Shema, he must repeat the first two Parshiyos till Vayomer. While saying Shema: One should consider the Shema as a proclamation sent by a king to his subjects and read it with concentrated intent, with awe, fear, trembling, and quaking, just as citizens read the king’s proclamation, since the Shema is the proclamation that…Show more
He should say it in Hebrew (and Targum in Aramaic) and read a Torah-based translation and commentary in English. Sources: לענין שמו״ת - ראה שו״ת הרדב״ז ח״ג סי׳ תכה,…
Question: My wife makes cheese bread using tapioca starch, water, oil, parmesan cheese, and eggs as part of the dough. Once it's baked, it is melted completely and becomes one with the dough. Does this require waiting 6 hours… Question: My wife makes cheese bread using tapioca starch, water, oil, parmesan cheese, and eggs as part of the dough. Once it's baked, it is melted completely and becomes one with the dough. Does this require waiting 6 hours after eating, before eating meat? We've read the article that explains that melted hard cheeses, that are aged 6 months or more, require waiting. Our question is whether this changes if the cheese is part of the dough. Answer: Even if it melts entirely and becomes part of the dough, it requires waiting six hours. Sources: ראה ביד יהודה יו"ד סי' פט פירוש הקצר ס"ק…Show more
If deep-fried - mezonos. If lightly fried - mezonos. However, if eating till your full then you should only eat within a proper meal of bread. If baked or the pan was lightly smeared so the bread… If deep-fried - mezonos. If lightly fried - mezonos. However, if eating till your full then you should only eat within a proper meal of bread. If baked or the pan was lightly smeared so the bread shouldn’t burn - hamotzie (unless, of course, it’s mezonos dough). See here: https://asktherav.com/article-472-doughnuts-in-halachah/ #17388Show more
Question: Usually, I drive a half-mile to shul on Friday at around candle lighting time. I usually just take boys with me. If my girls (under bas mitzvah and even older than bas mitzvah) want to come to shul… Question: Usually, I drive a half-mile to shul on Friday at around candle lighting time. I usually just take boys with me. If my girls (under bas mitzvah and even older than bas mitzvah) want to come to shul with us, on a somewhat regular basis, on those occasions, should she light at home and have in mind not to take on Shabbos so she can drive, or light at shul even though we aren't eating anything there, or is it preferable that she just lights at home and stays home, even if she wants to go to shul?…Show more
Where women would be visible, however, no women are currently present? Answer: One may daven there when no women are present. ראה שו"ת מהר"י שטייף סי' קל"ו ועוד. ולהעיר מלקו"ש חט"ז ע' 615. #17365
A man may not be with even two women as this is yichud. According to many poskim, this applies even to more than two women. This is the accepted practice. However, some poskim maintain that more than… A man may not be with even two women as this is yichud. According to many poskim, this applies even to more than two women. This is the accepted practice. However, some poskim maintain that more than two women is permissible. When desperate, and no other choices are available there might be room to rely on this position. Even according to the lenient position, by night or when traveling, some say that even many women is forbidden. Others say it would need to be four women. This is the accepted position, in desperate situations, as mentioned. If…Show more
This is not completely clear: one approach is not to say it at all. A second approach is to say it after Kadish. A third approach, to say it in the middle of Kaddish. A fourth approach, to say… This is not completely clear: one approach is not to say it at all. A second approach is to say it after Kadish. A third approach, to say it in the middle of Kaddish. A fourth approach, to say it before Kaddish. The sources indicate to follow the third approach and recite it quietly (though some claim that the Rebbe followed the second approach). If for whatever reason the chazan did not start kaddish until the Sefer Torah is already being carried to the Aron Kodesh, it should be said then before Kadish. The chazan should recite it before…Show more
Golden berries (Physalis peruvinana or Cape gooseberry) are Ha’adama. שערי הברכה עמ׳ תשעה ובהע׳ נג, מאיר עוז עמ׳ 118, הברכות כסידורם עמ׳ 52. #17374
Question: I have a question regarding Refuah on Shabbos. I have a rare case of acid reflux which affects my breathing. Every time I eat my stomach creates an overdose of acid which comes up and gives me a… Question: I have a question regarding Refuah on Shabbos. I have a rare case of acid reflux which affects my breathing. Every time I eat my stomach creates an overdose of acid which comes up and gives me a difficult time breathing. I have discovered a good remedy for it. Every morning I drink a cup of water with a spoon of apple cider vinegar in it. As soon as I started taking this my breathing immediately improved. The reason this works is because I am sending a high dosage of acid to my stomach before eating anything else.…Show more
Question: I know we can't do Kabbalos Shabbos on Zoom, as that's when we actually accept upon ourselves Shabbos. My question is: Can I do a Zoom singing session and sing the l'cha dodi stanza outside of davening -… Question: I know we can't do Kabbalos Shabbos on Zoom, as that's when we actually accept upon ourselves Shabbos. My question is: Can I do a Zoom singing session and sing the l'cha dodi stanza outside of davening - and even do it before mincha so that it won't look as if we're doing Kabbalos Shabbos on Zoom, but will still give people a Shabbos-like experience? Thanks so much for your time. Answer: For the very reason that you want to do it - to give people a Shabbos-like experience - it is a problem. If in their…Show more
Question: The doorpost at the entrance of our apartment is around 10 inches wide, with the possibility of having the door installed on either side. We chose to install the doors at the inner end. The question is where… Question: The doorpost at the entrance of our apartment is around 10 inches wide, with the possibility of having the door installed on either side. We chose to install the doors at the inner end. The question is where is best for the mezuzah- the usually preferred most outer point, or it’s better to be next to the door? Answer: It should be placed in the outer tefach. Sources: כן הוא ביו״ד רפה ב ורפט ב, ועיין רש״י…Show more
Question: Hi, I am Chabad, and I have a birthing class, and it came up few times in the class about women eating their placenta after birth. Some eat fresh and some have company encapsulating. So, I would like… Question: Hi, I am Chabad, and I have a birthing class, and it came up few times in the class about women eating their placenta after birth. Some eat fresh and some have company encapsulating. So, I would like to know if there is any Jewish source for this custom? What is the halachic ruling pertaining to this for a healthy delivery vs. some issues with iron levels in the mother to blood loss, etc? Answer: Scientifically: It is highly debatable whether scientifically there is any health advantage to this practice. See for example here. Halachicly: I'll focus…Show more
Question: Our son's bris is scheduled for Shabbos. We are planning on doing it shortly (not immediately) after Mussaf. What is the best conduct in regards to kiddush? Should the one who makes the Bracha after the Bris over… Question: Our son's bris is scheduled for Shabbos. We are planning on doing it shortly (not immediately) after Mussaf. What is the best conduct in regards to kiddush? Should the one who makes the Bracha after the Bris over a cup of wine and the people have in mind to be yoitze kiddush with the hagofen of asher kideish? Or is it better to have it separate? Note: There will be Mezonos for Makom Seuda at the place of the bris. Answer: If kiddush was not made before the Bris, the person who is making the Berachos…Show more
Question: Does the one who makes the Bracha after the Bris and names the child need to drink from the wine? Or could it be someone else? And is the krias hashem a hefsek between the Bracha Hagafen and… Question: Does the one who makes the Bracha after the Bris and names the child need to drink from the wine? Or could it be someone else? And is the krias hashem a hefsek between the Bracha Hagafen and drinking the wine? Answer: The common custom is not to be concerned about the Hefsek and that the person making the berachos drinks the wine himself. Sources: הלשון בסידור אדה״ז סדר הברית "נותנין לתינוק לשתות מכוס…Show more
Question: Is it tznius for over Bas Mitzvah girls to daven in a place like Prospect Park (not while on the go, specifically going to park to daven there)? Is that considered in a "public place"? Answer: There… Question: Is it tznius for over Bas Mitzvah girls to daven in a place like Prospect Park (not while on the go, specifically going to park to daven there)? Is that considered in a "public place"? Answer: There are 2 points to consider: 1. One should not daven in an open area (like a field) unless they are traveling (see Alter Rebbe Shulchan Aruch 90:5). 2. While it’s not a lack of tznius for a girl or woman to daven in a public place - see here - it wouldn’t be appropriate to schedule a public event…Show more
It’s not an issue (even if it might be a yid, rachmana litzlan). Sources: שכשנוסע ממשיך במלאכת הבערה בלחיצה על הדוושה, ושכשעוצר יתכן…
To the best of my knowledge there isn’t any Halachic source for dancing specifically then, though in certain circles they have the custom of dancing during Lecha Dodi. Sources: ראה רבינו חננאל ב״ק לב, א: ר״ח הוה מרקיד…
In hot weather, where people often wear it that way - it's allowed as long as one is sure it won't fall off. Sources: שוע"ר שא, ב: אבל אם הוציאם דרך מלבוש שלבשו…
One may generally not take medications on Shabbos. For constipation, it would depend on the severity of it: if it's not too severe, you can try taking it right before Shabbos and right after. Additionally, throughout shabbos you can… One may generally not take medications on Shabbos. For constipation, it would depend on the severity of it: if it's not too severe, you can try taking it right before Shabbos and right after. Additionally, throughout shabbos you can try fiber-rich foods such as prune juice, chickpeas, beans etc., If it is severe to the extent that it's hard to get around, you may take the actual medication. Sources: ראה שו"ע אדה"ז שכח, יט בדין חולה שנחלש ממנו…Show more
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