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Question continued: 1. What about rose water which is very common in sfaradic circles and they do smell it and eat it as well? 2. Also for havdala would it be better to use something that is definitely minei…Question continued: 1. What about rose water which is very common in sfaradic circles and they do smell it and eat it as well? 2. Also for havdala would it be better to use something that is definitely minei besamim like cloves and cinnamon but not mint? Answer: The following is a summary based on Seder Birchos Hanenim chapter 11. If they grow as a grass, or on a soft stalk, the beracha is Borei Isvei besamim. If they grown on a hard stalk, and certainly if they grow on a tree, the beracha is Borei Atzei Besamim.…Show more
No. Source: ראה שו"ע אדה"ז סא, ח. ואפילו בקריאת שמו"ת דנו הפוסקים, ראה קצוה"ש עב סק"י. וגם בקששעהמ״ט ראוי לחוש - אדה״ז שם. וכן כשאומרים במוצאי יו״כ - ראה המחזור ויטרי (עמ' 396-395). תוספות ברכות לד, א ד״ה… No. Source: ראה שו"ע אדה"ז סא, ח. ואפילו בקריאת שמו"ת דנו הפוסקים, ראה קצוה"ש עב סק"י. וגם בקששעהמ״ט ראוי לחוש - אדה״ז שם. וכן כשאומרים במוצאי יו״כ - ראה המחזור ויטרי (עמ' 396-395). תוספות ברכות לד, א ד״ה אמר פסוקא. רא״ש שם טו. Q. If not, does it become permitted if we only say "Hashem" and not the real Pasuk? A. Nope. זיל בתר טעמא. Q. Conversely, is it better to use or not to use Hashem's real name when singing Shema and Bereishis in the 12 Pesukim? A. Better not to use Hashem’s name. …Show more
Question continued: I am doing a mass mivtza mezuza in a huge complex of buildings where the yidden live among many unfriendly & unsafe neighbors. They are afraid to put their mezuzos on the front door, and many… Question continued: I am doing a mass mivtza mezuza in a huge complex of buildings where the yidden live among many unfriendly & unsafe neighbors. They are afraid to put their mezuzos on the front door, and many have stories of people taking their mezuzos, harassing them or trying to destroy their mezuzos. Answer: When there is Sakana (danger) one may affix the mezuzah behind the door underneath the lintel. If this is not possible, one may affix it behind the door on the doorpost (within a handbreadth to the door). In such a case no…Show more
Question continued: My grandmother, who passed away recently was named Victoria . That was her only name. I would like to name my daughter after her but my husband says it's not a Jewish name, I want to know what…Question continued: My grandmother, who passed away recently was named Victoria . That was her only name. I would like to name my daughter after her but my husband says it's not a Jewish name, I want to know what makes a name Jewish. Answer: Giving a name to your child should be with the agreement of both parents. You can honor your grandmother by giving a Hebrew name which is similar to Victoria, such as Malka, which means a queen, or Atara, which means a crown. You might also choose to retain the name Victoria for secular…Show more
Question clarified: I moved to town 2 years ago. Right when I moved in I put the yearly mikvah fee in the box. I later found out that as an employee in the mosad, I don't have to pay.…Question clarified: I moved to town 2 years ago. Right when I moved in I put the yearly mikvah fee in the box. I later found out that as an employee in the mosad, I don't have to pay. So I didn't pay for the second year. Now I will not be working in the mosad anymore. Would I have to pay for the next year or can I use the money that I paid originally as if it were on credit? Answer: It depends on your thoughts originally when you discovered that you really don’t need…Show more
Question clarified: We paid for a service through Paypal and were advised to send payment as friends to avoid the transaction fee. This option was not available and we had to make the payment right away so we sent…Question clarified: We paid for a service through Paypal and were advised to send payment as friends to avoid the transaction fee. This option was not available and we had to make the payment right away so we sent it through regular PayPal. The seller is now asking us to pay for the fee. According to Paypal, the seller is responsible for the fee. What is the halachic view on this? Answer: Disclaimer: the following discusses the halachic components, not the legal ones. If the seller - or service provider - didn’t stipulate anything in advance, the fee…Show more
Question continued: My wedding band and diamond ring are tight. I am pregnant and sometimes my fingers get bloated. I cannot remove my ring without soap and water. It is very annoying and painful at times. Can I keep… Question continued: My wedding band and diamond ring are tight. I am pregnant and sometimes my fingers get bloated. I cannot remove my ring without soap and water. It is very annoying and painful at times. Can I keep it on for washing hamotzie? Answer: On the contrary: because it’s tight you must remove it for washing. The halacha is that one should be stringent and remove loose rings too due to the concern that we are not expert enough to define exactly “loose”. רמ״א או״ח קסא, ג. אדה״ז שם ז. #10625Show more
Question continued: I am tired of getting stacks of shaimus from my classes, it's hard to keep track of it all and annoying to discard properly, so I had the idea to buy an e-reader that uses e-ink. This way…Question continued: I am tired of getting stacks of shaimus from my classes, it's hard to keep track of it all and annoying to discard properly, so I had the idea to buy an e-reader that uses e-ink. This way I can keep all my handouts on the e-reader well organized. When I received the e-reader I realized there might be an issue, while with conventional screens, there is not a real issue of shaimus for a number of reasons, e-ink might be different. The way I understand it, e-ink uses hundreds of thousands of microscopic spheres filled with oppositely…Show more
She should buy par baked bread and bake them herself. In the event that there is no par baked bread, she can return the bread back to the oven to make it Pas Yisroel, only if by baking it… She should buy par baked bread and bake them herself. In the event that there is no par baked bread, she can return the bread back to the oven to make it Pas Yisroel, only if by baking it she improves the quality of the bread. Reheating the bread per se isn’t sufficient. While some permit buying bread and toasting it, especially if it stale and thus improving the bread, it’s hard to justify this. Source: ראה שו״ע יו״ד קי״ב י״ב. ובנוגע צנימים - כמה עיקולי ופשורי, חדא שהאפי׳ החדשה אינה מבטלת הראשונה, דאיסור שבו להיכן הלך,…Show more
It’s appropriate not to look at such pictures. Spitting isn't a requirement, but some have such a custom. א. משום הרחק מן הכיעור. וראה שלהי דקייטא סימן כה. שו"ת אבני ישפה א, קנג. ב. ע״פ ע״ז נג, א:… It’s appropriate not to look at such pictures. Spitting isn't a requirement, but some have such a custom. א. משום הרחק מן הכיעור. וראה שלהי דקייטא סימן כה. שו"ת אבני ישפה א, קנג. ב. ע״פ ע״ז נג, א: רקק בפני׳. ובצפע״נ ע״ז ח, י שבכפאו לרוק ה״ז ביטול, וכן במשמשי ע״ז היינו ביטול. וע״ד הרקיקה באמירת שהם משתחוים, כל׳ הט״ז קעט, ה שהוא לבזיון ע״ז. #14441Show more
It may be said before Chatzos. Sources: כמפורש להדיא בשעהמ״צ פ׳ ואתחנן. והנה, י״א בדעת האריז״ל…
Question: Most minyonim daven very fast and I'm a slow davener. I'm familiar with the Rebbe's horaah that one needs only to begin with the minyan, and doesn't have to run after them. If I recall correctly, Reb… Question: Most minyonim daven very fast and I'm a slow davener. I'm familiar with the Rebbe's horaah that one needs only to begin with the minyan, and doesn't have to run after them. If I recall correctly, Reb Nissen once told me that one can begin before the minyan in order to meet up with them by Shemoneh Esrei. Regarding Mincha: Is it better to begin Shemoneh Esrei while the minyan is beginning ashrei (and miss kadish), in order to finish in time to say kedusha. Regarding Maariv: I'm holding right before Shemoneh Esrei,…Show more
Lchatchilah, you should wait for the 10th person to come to shul and only then start the Amida. However if you didn't wait and the 10th person arrived after the silent Amida you can now do the repetition. מקורות: מ"א בסי' סט סק"ד בשם הרדב"ז שאין חוזרים ומתפללים.…
Question: I just bought a house in the USA with young fruit trees. If the trees were planted by a goy do I need to wait 4 years to eat from the fruits? If I can't find out when… Question: I just bought a house in the USA with young fruit trees. If the trees were planted by a goy do I need to wait 4 years to eat from the fruits? If I can't find out when they were planted, when may I begin eating from the fruits? Answer: 1. Three years, unless it’s a vineyard. Lchatchilah one should redeem the fourth year fruit in chutz laaretz without a bracha. 2. As long as there is a possibility that three (four) years have passed, the fruits are permitted. You may pick the fruits yourself. Sources: א. שו"ע יו"ד רצד, ח. ועיין סעיף ז' שם.…Show more
Question continued: I would like to clarify the issue of butter that may be made with cholov akum. I see that the kitzur (and even the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch) officially allows any butter to be eaten, but… Question continued: I would like to clarify the issue of butter that may be made with cholov akum. I see that the kitzur (and even the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch) officially allows any butter to be eaten, but I know that this is not what we normally do in Chabad. Can you please clarify this? Is there any official psak or minhag chabad concerning butter? Answer: Such butter should not be eaten. Explanation: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (38:15) does not say it is permitted. He says it depends on custom. I am not sure where you got…Show more
Question: Is there a problem to begin the Shabbos meal before counting Sefira? Answer: Indeed this is a problem. This applies Friday night and during the week as well. One may not start a meal half an hour… Question: Is there a problem to begin the Shabbos meal before counting Sefira? Answer: Indeed this is a problem. This applies Friday night and during the week as well. One may not start a meal half an hour before the time of sefira, i.e., half an hour before sunset. It is only permissible to do so if there is someone who is not eating who will remind everyone about sefira. Some say even that is not sufficient. It should be noted that despite the fact that there are those who say that according to kabalah one should count…Show more
Question: I saw the Rav briefly touched upon this in a Hebrew teshuva, but I wanted more clarification in relation to a practical question. If someone bought a box of cheerios on 4/15/21 in a store that is owned… Question: I saw the Rav briefly touched upon this in a Hebrew teshuva, but I wanted more clarification in relation to a practical question. If someone bought a box of cheerios on 4/15/21 in a store that is owned by a Jew and the chometz was not sold and the community waits another week to buy chometz there. Is this considered a sofek that would allow benefiting from this chometz by giving it as a gift to a goy, or giving it to an animal? If not, can one return it to the store and get a refund? …Show more
Question: I have relatives that hold of and use the eruv in crown heights on Shabbos. Am I allowed to have pleasure from things they carry on Shabbos? For example, eat food they brought over on Shabbos or more… Question: I have relatives that hold of and use the eruv in crown heights on Shabbos. Am I allowed to have pleasure from things they carry on Shabbos? For example, eat food they brought over on Shabbos or more so to have them carry my baby to shul? Answer: No. This is because, according to most opinions, even regarding Hotzaah, one may not benefit Bedieved if done. In a community which has a proper eiruv sanctioned by the local Rabonim, you would be allowed to benefit after the fact, but you cannot tell him to do it…Show more
Question: If I daven Nusach Ari, and I am davening in a minyan for maariv that davens Nusach Sefard, do I say Amen to the additional Beracha between Hashkiveinu and kaddish before Shmona Esrei? Answer: Any… Question: If I daven Nusach Ari, and I am davening in a minyan for maariv that davens Nusach Sefard, do I say Amen to the additional Beracha between Hashkiveinu and kaddish before Shmona Esrei? Answer: Any interruption is forbidden between concluding the Beracha of Hashkiveinu and starting Shmona Esrei - the Amida with the exclusion of Kaddish. Therefore according to our Minhag, we do not say the Pesukim of Veshamru on Shabbos or the Beracha of Baruch Hashem during the week nor do we answer Amen to that Beracha out of concern that it is considered…Show more
Practical Question: When I land in yeshiva in the PM hours from an overseas flight on a Monday or Thursday, is it necessary to ask 5 bochurim not to hear Kriah, so we can make a minyan when I… Practical Question: When I land in yeshiva in the PM hours from an overseas flight on a Monday or Thursday, is it necessary to ask 5 bochurim not to hear Kriah, so we can make a minyan when I come before shkia? Answer: According to most poskim, krias haTorah is a chovas hatzibur. Thus, there is no obligation on the individual to hear krias haTorah. Nonetheless, if there is a minyan present, one must pay attention to krias haTorah, and ensure that every place has a minyan for krias haTorah. In…Show more
Question: Is there a way to fulfill the inyan of learning a daf of sotah every day of sefira and at the same time save the last part of daf 49 (on erev shavuos) to do the siyum… Question: Is there a way to fulfill the inyan of learning a daf of sotah every day of sefira and at the same time save the last part of daf 49 (on erev shavuos) to do the siyum much later (such as during the 9 days)? Answer: If you are just making the Siyum celebration on a later date, in order to add in Kavod Hatorah, that is okay, even if you finished earlier. But for it to be considered a seudas mitzvah (for example to allow meat and wine in the nine days, or to…Show more
For example: To say the first couple lines of asher yatzar (repeating after the teacher word by word). Once they've mastered this, to add on another line etc. Answer: Both from a halachic perspective, as well as a… For example: To say the first couple lines of asher yatzar (repeating after the teacher word by word). Once they've mastered this, to add on another line etc. Answer: Both from a halachic perspective, as well as a chinuch perspective, it would be better to teach the full Beracha, with the teacher saying word by word and the child repeating (even if they don't say every word). This way they learn that there is only one Beracha and there is no shortcuts. If the child is older and should be able to say the full Beracha and is…Show more
What Bracha is said on the following items: I made a "kishka" mixture using old challah, water and some flour, cut onions, oil and spices, then I cooked the kishka (wrapped separately) inside a cholent pot. Mezonos… What Bracha is said on the following items: I made a "kishka" mixture using old challah, water and some flour, cut onions, oil and spices, then I cooked the kishka (wrapped separately) inside a cholent pot. Mezonos and all hamichyo. A בעל נפש should be stringent if one would get full from it to eat it in a meal with bread. סדר ברכות הנהנין פ”ב הי”ג. Same as above but baked in an oven without cholent. Hamotsi and birchas hamazon. I took old challah, mixed it with water and oil, then made it flat and baked…Show more
Is there a difference between Kemach or Taanug companies? Answer: It depends whether the corn flakes are made from actual corn pieces or from corn flour. The bracha on flakes from pieces, otherwise known as grits, is Haadama.… Is there a difference between Kemach or Taanug companies? Answer: It depends whether the corn flakes are made from actual corn pieces or from corn flour. The bracha on flakes from pieces, otherwise known as grits, is Haadama. To the best of our knowledge, Kellogg’s cornflakes are made this way. However, the bracha on cornflakes made from ground corn, corn flour, is Shehakol. Many popular cornflakes made by frum companies are made this way. #5715Show more
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