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Q. Am I allowed to open a standing umbrella for shade on Shabbos if I am not moving it? Can I ask a goy to do it? It’s for an outdoor Shul. A. No. For a shul you may… Q. Am I allowed to open a standing umbrella for shade on Shabbos if I am not moving it? Can I ask a goy to do it? It’s for an outdoor Shul. A. No. For a shul you may ask a goy. Sources: אסור לפותחו - י״א בדעת אדה״ז שטו, יג, לאיסור…Show more
שאלה: בשבת, האם מותר לשים כלי על גבי קדירה שאינה עומדת על האש, בשביל לשמור על חומה של הקדרה התחתונה? תשובה: אסור. מקור: קצה״ש סי׳ עא, בבדה״ש לד. שאלה: אם אין על הסיר מכסה ואני שם צלחת או… שאלה: בשבת, האם מותר לשים כלי על גבי קדירה שאינה עומדת על האש, בשביל לשמור על חומה של הקדרה התחתונה? תשובה: אסור. מקור: קצה״ש סי׳ עא, בבדה״ש לד. שאלה: אם אין על הסיר מכסה ואני שם צלחת או כלי אחר במקום מכסה, האם גם אז יהיה אסור? ומה הדין אם אני לא שם מתוך כוונה מיוחדת שישמור החום, אלא ב״סתם״? תשובה: גם זה אסור. מקורות: כמפורש שם בסוף: ״ואם כיסה למעלה ולא למטה וסביבותיה…Show more
Fixing one's house with decorations, including painting walls to look nice, should not be done in the nine days. שו״ע תקנא סעיף ב׳ ומשנ״ב יב. #5079
ברמ"א הובא רק להוריד את הפרוכת. ויש שנהגו גם להוריד המפה. ונהרא נהרא ופשטי׳. וכמדומני שהמנהג בפועל אצלנו להשאיר המפה של בימת קרה"ת. בנוגע ל770 - בווידיאו מתשעה באב שחרית תש"נ רואים שהשאירו המפה. בנוגע למנחה - נוהגים להחזיר… ברמ"א הובא רק להוריד את הפרוכת. ויש שנהגו גם להוריד המפה. ונהרא נהרא ופשטי׳. וכמדומני שהמנהג בפועל אצלנו להשאיר המפה של בימת קרה"ת. בנוגע ל770 - בווידיאו מתשעה באב שחרית תש"נ רואים שהשאירו המפה. בנוגע למנחה - נוהגים להחזיר הפרוכת. טעמים ומקורות: עיין תקנ"ט ס"ב רמ"א שם. ולהעיר מלשון מס' סופרים המובא בטור לשים תיק הס"ת על הקרקע, ועיין ב"י שלשונו הוא "הס"ת על הקרקע". במנחה מחזירים הפרוכת כמו שהובא בכה"ח שם. #5184Show more
It is customary to wait until midday before preparing for the post-fast meal. However, one may begin preparations for a Seudas Mitzvah before midday. Source: See OC 559:10 and Nosei Keilim. #5178
No. שע״ת תקנא, ט. משנ״ב סג. שו״ת שבה״ל ט, קלב. How about for breaking the fast (this year - 5779)? Being that the fast was pushed off? No. להעיר שבמשנ״ב תקנט בבה״ל ד״ה שלא כתב להקל… No. שע״ת תקנא, ט. משנ״ב סג. שו״ת שבה״ל ט, קלב. How about for breaking the fast (this year - 5779)? Being that the fast was pushed off? No. להעיר שבמשנ״ב תקנט בבה״ל ד״ה שלא כתב להקל בתבשיל של בשר במוצאי ת״ב ע״פ המאמ״ר. אבל דבריו מבוססים על פסק השו״ע משא״כ לדידן. עייש״ה. #5146Show more
Questions: Just came back from 10 days away. Don’t have enough clean clothing for the kids and myself. Don’t have enough towels. Can I do Landry? Can I also change linens for Shabbos this week? Can I cut the… Questions: Just came back from 10 days away. Don’t have enough clean clothing for the kids and myself. Don’t have enough towels. Can I do Landry? Can I also change linens for Shabbos this week? Can I cut the kids' nails for Shabbos on Friday? Answers: Children's Clothing: For little kids that soil their clothing frequently: Clothes may be washed during the nine days. Even for older kids, this year (5779) one may wash their clothing. Adults clothing: One should wash the stained area only. If necessary to wash all of it, then if one's clothes are…Show more
Question: Are there any considerations to keep in mind while making a siyum for a mesichta of Gemara during the Omer? Are there halachic grounds for a woman to say kaddish at the siyum if there is a minyan?… Question: Are there any considerations to keep in mind while making a siyum for a mesichta of Gemara during the Omer? Are there halachic grounds for a woman to say kaddish at the siyum if there is a minyan? Answer: It is permitted to make a Siyum with a Seudah, just without music. Kaddish should not be recited by a woman. Sources: סעודת סיום בספה"ע – ראה מג"א סי' תצ"ג סק"א.…Show more
Question: Rav Braun, I am writing to ask if you can please clarify the issue of tub bathing and swimming on an Onas Prisha - both Onah Beinonis and the other Onos (Haflagah and Chodesh). We have been taught… Question: Rav Braun, I am writing to ask if you can please clarify the issue of tub bathing and swimming on an Onas Prisha - both Onah Beinonis and the other Onos (Haflagah and Chodesh). We have been taught that this is not permitted lechatchilla (nor is internal washing) and if the need is great to swim or bathe (in tub, not shower) that one should ask a Rav, which usually results in being told to do a bedikah prior to swimming or tub bathing on an Onas Prisha. I was told that some poskim hold that…Show more
Yes, one should not nurse immediately after relations. One should wait 48 minutes. However, if the baby is crying, 24 or 18 minutes would suffice. Sources: ראה זהר ויקרא, שו"ע או"ח סי' ר"מ במג"א ס"ק…
Does the Halacha of returning to the mikvah after seeing a goy or non-kosher animal apply only to a live person or animal or to even a picture on one’s phone, for example, a stock photo of children who… Does the Halacha of returning to the mikvah after seeing a goy or non-kosher animal apply only to a live person or animal or to even a picture on one’s phone, for example, a stock photo of children who are probably not Jewish used in a Chabad email newsletter, etc? Answer: In Shulchan Aruch it says that when women come out of tevila they should be careful not to encounter a non-Jew or a non-kosher animal, and if they do encounter any of them they should re-immerse. However, once the woman has seen (and preferably made physical contact…Show more
If one of them was covered - you may eat them, but if they were both uncovered - they may not be eaten. See here: https://asktherav.com/6719-heating-up-a-challah-to-be-eaten-with-fish-top-of-the-fleishig-crock-pot/ #9375
No. Sources: ראה שו״ע או״ח סי׳ קכ״ח סעי׳ מ׳, שו״ע אדה״ז…
Question: We are having a Chasuna IYH on the 18th of Av. A non-Jewish seamstress is making my dress (I am the mother of the bride), she started it already; Can I go for a fitting during the 9… Question: We are having a Chasuna IYH on the 18th of Av. A non-Jewish seamstress is making my dress (I am the mother of the bride), she started it already; Can I go for a fitting during the 9 days? My daughter (sister of the bride) is coming back from camp on the 4th of Av, 2 weeks before the wedding. The seamstress said she will see her right away but just now I realized it’s the 9 days. Will it help if I buy the material before the 9 days and tell her to start the work now?…Show more
Question: I have heard that intense cleaning during the 9 days is forbidden. I need to find a roommate to move in Sept 1 and would like to clean, organize, get rid of things, move furniture, etc. to prepare… Question: I have heard that intense cleaning during the 9 days is forbidden. I need to find a roommate to move in Sept 1 and would like to clean, organize, get rid of things, move furniture, etc. to prepare for showing the apartment to potential roommates. Is this ok or should I wait until after the 9 days? Answer: This custom is not mentioned in Shulchan Aruch. However, it is brought down in other sources. Even in those communities who have accepted this custom it is only forbidden because it brings joy. If in your case it doesn't…Show more
One should avoid swimming during all of the nine days. If your children are under the age of Chinuch (2-5 years old) there is room for leniency for swimming lessons. If it isn’t possible to find another opportunity for… One should avoid swimming during all of the nine days. If your children are under the age of Chinuch (2-5 years old) there is room for leniency for swimming lessons. If it isn’t possible to find another opportunity for swimming lessons, we can be lenient even up to 10 years old. This is so especially where cancellation will cost money. Nonetheless, many are particular to avoid any activities which are unsafe during this period. Sources: See here: https://asktherav.com/691-hebrew-swimming-lessons-in-the-nine-days/ #662…Show more
Yes, all vestos that fall out in the first three months (90 days) of pregnancy must be kept. שו"ע יו"ד סי' קפ"ד סעי' ז. #9640
יש להימנע משחי' לאורך כל תשעת הימים. אם הילדים שלך הם מתחת לגיל חינוך (2-5 שנים) יש מקום להקל על שיעורי שחי'. אם לא ניתן למצוא הזדמנות נוספת לשיעורי שחי', אפשר להקל אפילו עד 10 שנים. ובמיוחד אם הביטול… יש להימנע משחי' לאורך כל תשעת הימים. אם הילדים שלך הם מתחת לגיל חינוך (2-5 שנים) יש מקום להקל על שיעורי שחי'. אם לא ניתן למצוא הזדמנות נוספת לשיעורי שחי', אפשר להקל אפילו עד 10 שנים. ובמיוחד אם הביטול יעלה כסף. בכל זאת, רבים נזהרים למנוע מפעילויות מסוכנות בתקופה זו. מקורות: בכלל בנוגע לחינוך קטן באבילות - ראה ביו״ד סי׳…Show more
Question: Are we allowed to do a family trip and go to a family member for Shabbos and stay in a hotel for a few days during the 3 weeks? We will do a few small activities during the… Question: Are we allowed to do a family trip and go to a family member for Shabbos and stay in a hotel for a few days during the 3 weeks? We will do a few small activities during the weekdays. Answer: Some Poskim write that it is not fitting to go on trips during the three weeks and in particular during the nine days of the month of Menachem Av. Certainly one should avoid doing dangerous activities during these days. If there is a need to visit the family member, there is room to visit them and avoid…Show more
The salmon is going to sit on lemon slices, so not directly on the barbecue. Answer: There are a couple of issues to address here: Cooking fish in a meat utensil – All year-round, it is forbidden to… The salmon is going to sit on lemon slices, so not directly on the barbecue. Answer: There are a couple of issues to address here: Cooking fish in a meat utensil – All year-round, it is forbidden to eat fish when it is cooked with meat. Some have the custom (based on the Tur) to not even cook the fish in a clean meat pot. If that is your family custom, then you should not place the fish on the meat BBQ. Especially here, given that lemons (which is potentially a Davar Charif) will be used as well,…Show more
על פי שולחן ערוך, אסור לצבוע חדר מר"ח אב שזהו בכלל בנין של ציור. אבל אם זה רק שלא יתקלקל הקיר מותר. אם שכר לנכרי קודם ר"ח בקבלנות - שהגוי מקבל תשלומין לא לפי שעות - מותר. ומ"מ אם… על פי שולחן ערוך, אסור לצבוע חדר מר"ח אב שזהו בכלל בנין של ציור. אבל אם זה רק שלא יתקלקל הקיר מותר. אם שכר לנכרי קודם ר"ח בקבלנות - שהגוי מקבל תשלומין לא לפי שעות - מותר. ומ"מ אם אפשר לדחותו תבוא עליו ברכה. ואם הצייר הוא יהודי וצריך זה לפרנסתו שאין לא מה לאכול (כגון שמותר לו לעשות מלאכה בחול המועד) אז מותר לו לצבוע כשאינו 'בנין של שמחה'. נכון שלא לכבס הווילונות בימים אלה אפי' ע"י נכרי. מקורות: אסור לצבוע עפ"י שו"ע סי' תקנא סעי' ב ובפסקי…Show more
Q. Is a basketball or ping pong ball Muktza? A. There is a machlokes about this. While there is room to be lenient especially for kids, adults should be stringent. Sources: ראה שו"ע או״ח סימן שח סעיף מה ע"פ שבלי…
There is a disagreement whether in this case she is required to light another candle. Usually, we recommend in such a case just to add a candle for one week, the following week. Certainly, if it was a total… There is a disagreement whether in this case she is required to light another candle. Usually, we recommend in such a case just to add a candle for one week, the following week. Certainly, if it was a total accident, then there’s no need to be concerned. Sources: נחלקו אחרונים בד״ז, שבפמ״ג רסג בא״א ג כתב שחייבת…Show more
Question: Can I write a combination number (to open a door) on my wrist before Shabbos with a pen if I don't think I'll remember it during Shabbos? Also if I need to give a security code to a… Question: Can I write a combination number (to open a door) on my wrist before Shabbos with a pen if I don't think I'll remember it during Shabbos? Also if I need to give a security code to a doorman and I am not sure I'll remember it, can I write it on my wrist before Shabbos? Answer: Yes, with non-permanent ink. See here: https://asktherav.com/are-you-allowed-to-color-on-your-skin-with-a-pen/ Though on Shabbos you would not be able to erase it, or even wash it off. Sources: שו"ע או"ח ש"מ, משנ"ב סקכ"ב, שו"ע אדה"ז סעיף ז…Show more
It would depend on the type of water heater. One would have to determine how their specific water heater works. There are two main types of heaters: tank heaters and tankless/instant-on heaters. With a tank heater: If your heater… It would depend on the type of water heater. One would have to determine how their specific water heater works. There are two main types of heaters: tank heaters and tankless/instant-on heaters. With a tank heater: If your heater doesn't refill unless the water level is below a certain point and you are certain that the water did not hit that point, you may close the hot water tap. But if the heater refills as soon as any water leaves (usually this is the case), then when you close the tap you are causing the fire or electricity to…Show more
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