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אינו אומר הרחמן זה, לפי שאסור לברך גוי משום לא תחנם. ויאמר במקומו: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָנוּ בְּרָכָה מְרֻבָּה בִּמְקוֹם הֲלִיכָתֵנוּ וּבִמְקוֹם יְשִׁיבָתֵנוּ עַד עוֹלָם (וי״א: הרחמן הוא ישלח לנו ברכה מרובה בהליכתנו ובישיבתנו עד עולם). או: הרחמן הוא… אינו אומר הרחמן זה, לפי שאסור לברך גוי משום לא תחנם. ויאמר במקומו: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָנוּ בְּרָכָה מְרֻבָּה בִּמְקוֹם הֲלִיכָתֵנוּ וּבִמְקוֹם יְשִׁיבָתֵנוּ עַד עוֹלָם (וי״א: הרחמן הוא ישלח לנו ברכה מרובה בהליכתנו ובישיבתנו עד עולם). או: הרחמן הוא ישלח לנו ברכה מרובה במעשה ידינו בכל עסקינו. מקורות: ראה מקו״ח קפט בקיצור הלכות א. באה״ט קצג, ה.…Show more
Question: We recently rented a cottage for a few days. The host, who lived next door was impressed with us, Baruch Hashem, and wanted to leave us a gift. He gave us a jar of maple syrup which he… Question: We recently rented a cottage for a few days. The host, who lived next door was impressed with us, Baruch Hashem, and wanted to leave us a gift. He gave us a jar of maple syrup which he had tapped from his own trees. When I asked him if he ever cooked anything else in his pots he assured me that he did not. Just a bit of water and maple syrup are the only things that ever entered this pot. Although I hadn't mentioned kashrus in my question he may have known it was on my mind…Show more
The common custom is to keep the Mikva at regular temperature or close to that temperature (not to deter anyone from using it), but not to be in the water longer than needed. Sources: ובמכ״ש משבת קודש, דחמיר טפי מת״ב, שהוא מדינא, ונהגו…
It may be ordered but may not be delivered and installed until after the nine days. Source: ראה אג"מ או"ח ח"ג סי' פב. #10097
Question: Is there a difference (with regards to traveling) between the nine days and motzoei Tisha B'Av until Yud Av at Chatzos? Answer: The common custom is to refrain from traveling during the nine days and that extends… Question: Is there a difference (with regards to traveling) between the nine days and motzoei Tisha B'Av until Yud Av at Chatzos? Answer: The common custom is to refrain from traveling during the nine days and that extends until Chatzos Yud Av. In a case of need, there is room to be lenient especially after the fast. Certainly, one should not take a pleasure trip before Chatzos of Yud Av. Sources: ראה אצלנו שאלה ד'שנה וש"נ. והעיקר משום דממעטים בשמחה.…Show more
Question: The Rabbonim שיחיו have come out with a letter urging people, now that B"H we are able to go back to shul, to be more diligent in heeding what the Alter Rebbe writes about not talking during any… Question: The Rabbonim שיחיו have come out with a letter urging people, now that B"H we are able to go back to shul, to be more diligent in heeding what the Alter Rebbe writes about not talking during any part of davening. But does this apply to talking in learning (e.g., explaining pirush hamilos, or clarifying instructions in the siddur - or, indeed, questions in Torah unrelated to davening)? I often have my son with me in shul, and when he comes up with a question, it may be difficult for him to wait with it all the…Show more
Question: I will not be attending Minyan, is there a way I can reach 100 Brochos? Answer: Following is a list of Brachos a man will make on Tisha Be'av when not davening with a Minyan: 4 shema… Question: I will not be attending Minyan, is there a way I can reach 100 Brochos? Answer: Following is a list of Brachos a man will make on Tisha Be'av when not davening with a Minyan: 4 shema at maariv 19 amidah of maariv 1 borei meorei haesh (when Tisha Beav is on Motzaei Shabbos) 1 hamapil 17 birchos hashachar (no sheasa li kol tsorki) 3 birchos hatorah 2 baruch sheamar and yishtabach 3 shema at shacharis 19 amidah of shacharis 2 talis/tzitzis and tefillin 19 amidah of mincha Total is 89 [90] Brachos. The other 11 [10]…Show more
Unless it has a reliable Hechsher, the skillet must be kashered before use. The proper way to kasher new cast iron cookware is through hag’alah, which involves bringing a pot of water to a boil and then submerging… Unless it has a reliable Hechsher, the skillet must be kashered before use. The proper way to kasher new cast iron cookware is through hag’alah, which involves bringing a pot of water to a boil and then submerging the cookware into the water. [If one mistakenly uses cast iron cookware with a non-kosher item, in many cases libun gamur will be required]. Hag’alah for cast iron cookware is complicated by two matters – the size of the cookware and its weight/thickness – as follows. Some cast iron cookware is so large that it cannot easily be put into…Show more
Yes if there is no one else available. One should preferably use a Jewish woman. ראה שו"ת צי"א יג, ז. שבט הלוי א,ח. וראה גם לקו"ש ח"ט ע' 257. #15892
Full Question: Are we still obligated to rebuke another Jew nowadays? Is there a difference between different types of Aveiros? What if someone sees their non-Jewish boss doing something wrong, should he say something if there is potential he… Full Question: Are we still obligated to rebuke another Jew nowadays? Is there a difference between different types of Aveiros? What if someone sees their non-Jewish boss doing something wrong, should he say something if there is potential he might lose a promotion? Answer: Certainly, the mitzvah of rebuking a Jew who does not act properly applies today and is a mitzvah in the Torah! See the Chinuch Mitzvah 239 for details of the mitzvah. In today's society (and was also in the past) we need to be clever on how to do it in the correct way,…Show more
Question: I have a piece of cake that has a lot of custard. When I ate it, I took spoonfuls of the custard and ate it separately. I did not just bite into the whole piece at once. Should… Question: I have a piece of cake that has a lot of custard. When I ate it, I took spoonfuls of the custard and ate it separately. I did not just bite into the whole piece at once. Should I have made a separate bracha of shehakol on the custard, or is the custard included in the mezonos from the cake? Answer: Lechatchila, you should first make a mezonos and eat a piece of cake and be motzi the custard. However, if you eat just the cream, you only make sheahkol. If you are eating the cake,…Show more
האם רק בלימוד (כהמובן בפשטות ממתני') ובתפילה (ראה אג"ק חי"ג ד'תקב), או גם בעניני חול וכו'? תשובה: לא הובא ברמב״ם ברי״ף ובשו״ע וכו׳ וגם לא נזכר בפוסקים. ואינו חיוב גמור רק זהירות, ראה ברכת אהרן לוין, מאמר רצה… האם רק בלימוד (כהמובן בפשטות ממתני') ובתפילה (ראה אג"ק חי"ג ד'תקב), או גם בעניני חול וכו'? תשובה: לא הובא ברמב״ם ברי״ף ובשו״ע וכו׳ וגם לא נזכר בפוסקים. ואינו חיוב גמור רק זהירות, ראה ברכת אהרן לוין, מאמר רצה - קלב, ד. מנחת משה יו״ד כב. פניני תפלה ע׳ ע הע׳ לד. אבל ראה כבוד חכמים הורוויץ א, יא - יב, ד. והנה, בסה״ש תרפ״ו ע׳ 97: ביז מס״נ ועד בכלל. וצ״ע הכוונה. בכללות הענין, להעיר מאג״ק יג ע׳ רלו. תורת מנחם תשי״א ע׳ 16. וראה ד״מ החדש מהדו״ח ע׳ פז שלפעמים נכתב לעיכובא ״אלא שחייב לומר״ ולפעמים רק…Show more
Question: If I get a stain on my clothes, can I just wash the area of the stain during the nine days? Answer: Ideally, if it’s a bigger stain and needs a thorough wash, it should be delayed… Question: If I get a stain on my clothes, can I just wash the area of the stain during the nine days? Answer: Ideally, if it’s a bigger stain and needs a thorough wash, it should be delayed till after Tisha B’Av, if you have other clothing to wear. However, if in need, or it’s a minor stain, you may wash it off. Sources: האריכו בזה אחרוני זמננו. ורובם ככולם כתבו שאי״ז בכלל…Show more
Q. If I have a deep fryer, in which chicken was fried, thus rendering the oil Fleishig, is it permissible to use that oil to fry something Parve during the 9 days? A. No. The general rule is that… Q. If I have a deep fryer, in which chicken was fried, thus rendering the oil Fleishig, is it permissible to use that oil to fry something Parve during the 9 days? A. No. The general rule is that anything considered Fleishig that one would have to wait to eat Milchigs (see here in regards to this case), may not be eaten in the nine days. ראה משנ"ב סימן תקנא סקס"ג וראה פת"ש יו"ד סימן שמ"א סק"ג וז"ל: עיין בתשובת נו"ב תנינא חי"ד סימן רי"ד בתשובה מבן המחבר שכתב דאונן מותר ברוטב של בשר ולא דמי למה שכתב המג"א…Show more
One who will not be fasting, whether a man or a woman, must hear Havdalah on Motzaei Shabbos before eating or drinking. A child may eat and wait with Havdalah till Motzaei Tisha B’av. If there is a male… One who will not be fasting, whether a man or a woman, must hear Havdalah on Motzaei Shabbos before eating or drinking. A child may eat and wait with Havdalah till Motzaei Tisha B’av. If there is a male child (who has reached the age of chinuch etc.) present, havdalah should be made on wine (or grape juice) and the cup is given to the child to drink, as is customary during the nine days. If a woman is the one making Havdalah, the wine must be given to a female child. If there is no child present, havdalah…Show more
Question: We need to thank someone who extended great kindness to us. Is it permissible to purchase and give a gift (silver or similar type gift) during the nine days? Answer: Gifts may be given in the nine… Question: We need to thank someone who extended great kindness to us. Is it permissible to purchase and give a gift (silver or similar type gift) during the nine days? Answer: Gifts may be given in the nine days, but not on Tisha B’av. If it’s a very expensive gift, some suggest that it should not be purchased in the nine days and should only be bought after Tisha Beav. Sources: מפורש במג״א תקנד, כא, והביאו המשנ״ב שם נא שבת״ב…Show more
See the attachment for the shitos that are presented as options Answer: Accepted Chabad practice appears to follow the Rhumb Line bearing. Explanation: This matter is a Machlokes Achronim. In Shulchan Oruch (Orach Chaim 94:2), the… See the attachment for the shitos that are presented as options Answer: Accepted Chabad practice appears to follow the Rhumb Line bearing. Explanation: This matter is a Machlokes Achronim. In Shulchan Oruch (Orach Chaim 94:2), the Alter Rebbe describes the exact calculations to make, and these appear to conform to the Great Circle Bearing (see Simas Ayin page 5 onward, Kovetz Yagdil Torah volume 6 page 52 onwards). In the Siddur (D”H Bitfilas), the Alter Rebbe gives approximate bearings towards Yerushalayim for Northern European cities (150° SE), and although they don’t exactly conform to…Show more
שאלה: שמעתי בשנה שעברה, שכמה רבנים הורו שכל המשתתפים בסיומי מסכת יכולים לאכול בשר. ראיתי אשר בקיצשו"ע סי' קכב סעיף ח מסייג זאת רק למשפחת בעל השמחה ולעוד עשרה אנשים שבלאו הכי היו משתתפים. האם כך ההלכה? ורציתי לשאול… שאלה: שמעתי בשנה שעברה, שכמה רבנים הורו שכל המשתתפים בסיומי מסכת יכולים לאכול בשר. ראיתי אשר בקיצשו"ע סי' קכב סעיף ח מסייג זאת רק למשפחת בעל השמחה ולעוד עשרה אנשים שבלאו הכי היו משתתפים. האם כך ההלכה? ורציתי לשאול מהו המקור לההיתר בלי ההגבלה הנ"ל. תשובה: יש בדבר כמה דעות. ובכללות הענין בנוגע ההיתר לאכול בשר בסעודת סיום, ראה בתשובה שניתנה כאן בעבר: https://asktherav.com/5039-hebrew-eating-meat-in-the-nine-days-by-a-siyum-harambam/ https://asktherav.com/5129-is-it-true-that-minhag-chabad-is-to-refrain-from-eating-meat-even-after-making-a-siyum-during-the-9-days/ ולהעיר שהתשובות נכתבו בשנה שתשעה באב חל בשבת, שלכמה דעות אין דין שבוע שחל בו - ראה קטע הבא - ולגבי ענין זה אפשר להקל יותר. בגוף השאלה - אם יש…Show more
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 ר"ח לט' באב אף שלא היה סועד אח״כ בבשר ויין.… 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 ר"ח לט' באב אף שלא היה סועד אח״כ בבשר ויין. In the English translation: The Rebbe Rashab used to time the festive conclusion of his study of various Talmudic tractates to coincide with the Nine Days from Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av until Tishah BeAv. The meal that honored each such Siyum, however, included neither wine nor meat. It's possible that people understood from the translation as to say that the…Show more
Q. I taught my students the Sicha about shlomis bas divri - how she greeted and spoke to everybody. We know that a woman isn't allowed to greet a man, what are the exact halachos? What about family/family friends?… Q. I taught my students the Sicha about shlomis bas divri - how she greeted and spoke to everybody. We know that a woman isn't allowed to greet a man, what are the exact halachos? What about family/family friends? Can the students say good morning to the security guard out of mentchlichkait? What if it is someone respectable? A. A man or woman may not create closeness קירוב הדעת וידידות with a man through asking how the other is doing and other types of indirect affection. However, one may say 'Hello' or 'good morning' since this is…Show more
Question: When passing tzitzis over the eyes during Baruch She'amar and Shema, how is one to actually pass the tzitzis over the eyes? Must he merely look at them (if at all), must they touch his eyelids, and what… Question: When passing tzitzis over the eyes during Baruch She'amar and Shema, how is one to actually pass the tzitzis over the eyes? Must he merely look at them (if at all), must they touch his eyelids, and what if he is wearing glasses? Answer: They should ideally touch the eyelids. Sources & Explnation: כן משמע מלשון הטור והשו"ע או"ח סימן כד סעיף ד (ובשוע"ר שם סעיף ו) בנוגע וראיתם אותו, שיש ליתנו ע״ג העינים. ומקורו מהעיטור סוף שער ב ח״ג שמעבירין על גבי עיניהם. ושם הוא בשם מדרש לקח טוב המכונה פסיקתא זוטרתא ס״פ שלח. ועוד.…Show more
If it's not being done to resemble non-Jewish customs it’s allowed, especially if this is in a place where it would seem inappropriate not to have one. Source: אין כאן בית מיחוש מחמת חוקות הגוים, וכסברת מהרי״ק שרש… If it's not being done to resemble non-Jewish customs it’s allowed, especially if this is in a place where it would seem inappropriate not to have one. Source: אין כאן בית מיחוש מחמת חוקות הגוים, וכסברת מהרי״ק שרש פח, וכבר העירו שכ״ה כבר במו״נ ג, לז ובר״ן ע״ז יא, א, וכפס״ד הרמ״א יו״ד קעח, א, לפי שאי״ב משום פריצות שחץ או גאוה, ולא סרך ע״ז, וגם לא נעשה בכדי להתדמות אליהם, והוא דבר שי״ב תועלת. [ולהעיר משו״ת אג"מ או"ח א מו, שאפילו בביהכנ"ס אף שהוא מנהג הבל, אין בו איסור. ושם, שאף שודאי לא מן הראוי הוא להכניס…Show more
Question: The Rebbe said we are supposed to tell Bnei Noach about their Sheva Mitzvos. Someone told me that we are supposed to wait until we have a personal encounter and not just give out Sheva Mitzvos cards. Also,… Question: The Rebbe said we are supposed to tell Bnei Noach about their Sheva Mitzvos. Someone told me that we are supposed to wait until we have a personal encounter and not just give out Sheva Mitzvos cards. Also, is it okay for a woman to speak about or give out the cards to males, such as a repairman or taxi driver? Answer: There is no real evidence proving this theory, although many people have argued so. In fact, the Rebbe implied quite the opposite. Nonetheless, it is worthy of mention that the Rebbe had many reservations about…Show more
The following are the guidelines according to Halacha, in a situation where legally accepted, and no damage is caused to the owner. If one willingly and expressly allowed the public to use his property as a shortcut, the public… The following are the guidelines according to Halacha, in a situation where legally accepted, and no damage is caused to the owner. If one willingly and expressly allowed the public to use his property as a shortcut, the public has required rights to this use and the owner may not retract. Likewise, even if one did not expressly allow it, but the public made changes to the path (e.g. paving, which only a property owner would make) and the owner did not object, the public has required rights to this use. This is called "meitzar shehichziku bo rabim…Show more
Ideally, she should not be open for business to wash Sheitels as explained in the link below (see there about the halacha of washing a Sheitel in the Nine Days). However, if a customer is requesting to wash her… Ideally, she should not be open for business to wash Sheitels as explained in the link below (see there about the halacha of washing a Sheitel in the Nine Days). However, if a customer is requesting to wash her only Sheitel that is not in good condition, or in any other similar pressing situation, then she may do so. Setting a Sheitel is permissible in any case during the nine days. Please see more in this link: https://asktherav.com/is-it-a-problem-to-have-a-wig-cut-in-the-9-days-679/ Sources: אמנם, במקום הפ״מ מקום לדון להקל, ראה בכעי״ז בשו״ת…Show more
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