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It appears that in my new coffee grinder the only two metal parts that come in contact with the coffee beans are the top and bottom burrs. The top burr is removable, but the bottom burr is not removable… It appears that in my new coffee grinder the only two metal parts that come in contact with the coffee beans are the top and bottom burrs. The top burr is removable, but the bottom burr is not removable (according to manufacturer's instruction manual). Question: Do I need to toyvel the entire appliance (I am worried about the motor) or is it enough to immerse it upside down until the bottom burr is submersed in water? Answer: You would have to immerse the entire Keili, if it's not detachable, See here: https://asktherav.com/do-i-need-to-toivel-my-electric-hot-water-urn/ And here - Question 10:…Show more
Tevilas Keilim Utensils Immersion - Dish dipping in a mini-mikveh prior to initial use - Notice: If you purchased new Pesach dishes or cookware during the pandemic and (temporarily) sold them to a non-Jew in lieu of toiveling… Tevilas Keilim Utensils Immersion - Dish dipping in a mini-mikveh prior to initial use - Notice: If you purchased new Pesach dishes or cookware during the pandemic and (temporarily) sold them to a non-Jew in lieu of toiveling them, they must be immersed this year without a bracha prior to use. 1. What is the original source for tevilas keilim? In Parshas Matos (Bamidbar 31:21) the Torah relates that following the war against Midyan, the Jewish nation was commanded to immerse all eating and cooking utensils that they had captured as spoils of war before using them.…Show more
Question: I'm in the 12th month of Aveilus for my father hk"m, and there's nobody in shul that is missing both parents to say kaddish yosom, is it okay for me to say it? Answer: If… Question: I'm in the 12th month of Aveilus for my father hk"m, and there's nobody in shul that is missing both parents to say kaddish yosom, is it okay for me to say it? Answer: If you mother is not alive too, then you may say Kaddish where there is no other chiyuv, if the custom in your shul is that kaddish is always recited even when there is no chiyuv. Sources: ראה שו״ת שבות יעקב ב, צה. והובא בשע״ת קלב,…Show more
Question: We have a standing order with Amazon to ship some items monthly among them instant oatmeal. We forgot to cancel it and it came during Pesach. We were away for Pesach. Box containing oatmeal was brought into the… Question: We have a standing order with Amazon to ship some items monthly among them instant oatmeal. We forgot to cancel it and it came during Pesach. We were away for Pesach. Box containing oatmeal was brought into the lobby of the house where our apartment is by a neighbor. We opened large box containing items among them box of oatmeal once we were back after yom tov. What can be done with oatmeal? Answer: It's all fine. Sources: הנה, לרוב הפוסקים חבילות שבדואר שייכות למוכר, אא״כ כבר…Show more
Question: What is the din regarding Chomets and food that I ate with Chomets that I put away in my parents freezer and I did not mention it when selling my Chomets? Answer: All Chametz should be destroyed.… Question: What is the din regarding Chomets and food that I ate with Chomets that I put away in my parents freezer and I did not mention it when selling my Chomets? Answer: All Chametz should be destroyed. It should be burned or flushed down the toilet. It may not be given to a Goy. (If this would incur a great loss, there might be room for leniency. Please respond with details if that’s the case, so we can rule accordingly). I would like to point out that many foods are not actually "chometz", they just…Show more
It is proper to be stringent not to eat and break bakery items that have on them letters or pictures on Shabbos and Yom Tov. This applies even if the shape is carved out from the dough itself. However… It is proper to be stringent not to eat and break bakery items that have on them letters or pictures on Shabbos and Yom Tov. This applies even if the shape is carved out from the dough itself. However if the entire challah is the shape (besides shapes of letters or numbers) of a design one may eat it. An example would be be eating a key shaped challah on the Shabbos after Pesach. https://asktherav.com/13115-may-one-eat-food-with-a-picture-on-it-on-shabbos-e-g-chocolate-with-a-cow-on-it/ Sources: See Shulchan Aruch Admor Hazaken (Orach Chayim 340:4; 343:10; 458:8; 519:6).…Show more
Question: Bochurim who are being יוצא from הבדלה in Shul, should they first say ויתן לך and then say קידוש לבנה or vice versa? Answer: Right after Havdalah, before Kiddush Levanah. ויתן לך - למנהגנו שייך להבדלה… Question: Bochurim who are being יוצא from הבדלה in Shul, should they first say ויתן לך and then say קידוש לבנה or vice versa? Answer: Right after Havdalah, before Kiddush Levanah. ויתן לך - למנהגנו שייך להבדלה דוקא"". וראה ביומן אראנו נפלאות שבמוצאי ש"פ נשא תנש"א אמר כ"ק אד"ש ויתן לך קודם צאתו לקידוש לבנה. כמובן, שאם בגלל האמירה דויתן לך יאחר ויפסיד לקדש הלבנה ברוב עם, או שיש חשש שיפסיד המצוה לגמרי מחמת העננים וכדומה, יקדים קידוש לבנה. #13850Show more
If it runs out - it turns off, so by adding water I am delaying the turn off... Answer: Since the machine is already on, and provided that there won’t be any change in the electricity of the… If it runs out - it turns off, so by adding water I am delaying the turn off... Answer: Since the machine is already on, and provided that there won’t be any change in the electricity of the machine as a result, it is permitted. Sources: ראה בספר הלכות שבת זורה בהערה ס״ד בשם הגר״מ…Show more
Question: We have a pigeon nest near our window (the nest is hefker). If they lay the eggs on Friday Erev Yom Tov, when are we allowed to take the eggs over the 3 days of Shabbos and… Question: We have a pigeon nest near our window (the nest is hefker). If they lay the eggs on Friday Erev Yom Tov, when are we allowed to take the eggs over the 3 days of Shabbos and Yom Tov. If we wait too long until Monday night, the eggs might already have an embryo and then they are treif. Answer: Assuming this is indeed true that it is hefker, and the mitzvah cannot be done before Shabbos or after Yom Tov, you may do the mitzvah on Shabbos or Yom Tov with the following conditions:…Show more
You may use the room but don’t use the light. Sources: ראה אדה״ז רעו, ב. ולכאו׳ יש לצדד להתיר השתמשות…
Question: Hi, I have a family member that lent me money a while back and is currently in need of tzedaka. While I don't have extra money beyond our current payment plan to send him (I send him… Question: Hi, I have a family member that lent me money a while back and is currently in need of tzedaka. While I don't have extra money beyond our current payment plan to send him (I send him a specific amount every month) he doesn't keep cheshbon on what I owe him so I can easily sneak in extra payments using ma'aser money (that I don't deduct from my cheshbon of what I owe) that will help him without him realizing. I've done this a few times over the past few weeks and started to wonder if there's…Show more
If there are no places to buy drinks otherwise, you may go there. The reason: since in the airport it is usually obvious that people going to the non-kosher restaurants are only doing so in order to buy drinks.… If there are no places to buy drinks otherwise, you may go there. The reason: since in the airport it is usually obvious that people going to the non-kosher restaurants are only doing so in order to buy drinks. ודומה לפונדק של גוים. וראה בארוכה כאן: https://asktherav.com/6540-im-a-psychotherapist-can-i-meet-and-conduct-sessions-with-non-jewish-clients-in-a-non-kosher-restaurant-like-a-local-mcdonalds/ #14233Show more
Question: A plastic spoon was used to mix a milchig coffee in a milchig mug and then used to mix a pareve coffee in a fleishig mug. Both were boiling hot. What's the status of the fleishig mug? … Question: A plastic spoon was used to mix a milchig coffee in a milchig mug and then used to mix a pareve coffee in a fleishig mug. Both were boiling hot. What's the status of the fleishig mug? Answer: If the spoon didn't have actual milk on it, it's ok (or if there was 60 times the amount of milk in coffee). Sources: ראה סימן צ"ה סעיף ג ברמ"א, ובסימן צ"ד סעיף…Show more
שאלה: אנחנו זוג צעיר עם שני ילדים, הגדולה בגיל שלוש. אשתי כל היום נמצאת בבית עם הילד, ואני רוב היום נמצא מחוץ לבית [אבל עובד קרוב מאוד, פחות מ-5 דקות הליכה]. אנחנו גרים בתוך בית מחולק בקומה העליונה, אף… שאלה: אנחנו זוג צעיר עם שני ילדים, הגדולה בגיל שלוש. אשתי כל היום נמצאת בבית עם הילד, ואני רוב היום נמצא מחוץ לבית [אבל עובד קרוב מאוד, פחות מ-5 דקות הליכה]. אנחנו גרים בתוך בית מחולק בקומה העליונה, אף אחד לא עולה במדריגות חוץ מאיתנו. הדלת החיצונית של הבנין נעולה עם מנעול כל הזמן. האם אנחנו יכולים לארח לשבוע ימים אב עם בנו [הבן בגיל 14], מצד דיני ייחוד? אני עובד קרוב, אבל יש לי שעות קבועות פחות או יותר שאני מגיע. האם יש הבדל בדין בין יום ללילה? אנחנו רוצים לעשות את הכל בצורה הכי מהודרת, ולא לסמוך…Show more
Question: In our Chabad house I give a Shiur, which (as of now) has one Yid attending and a couple of Goyim. Can I teach Chassidus? I heard that it's ok for Goyim to learn topics like Hashem's Yichud.… Question: In our Chabad house I give a Shiur, which (as of now) has one Yid attending and a couple of Goyim. Can I teach Chassidus? I heard that it's ok for Goyim to learn topics like Hashem's Yichud. Is this correct? Answer: It is ok to teach them about unity of Hashem according to Chassidus, or about any of the seven mitzvos for Benei Noach as they are explained in Chassidus. Additionally, you may teach any part of Torah, if on your part you are teaching the Jews and the goyim are just listening in. Sources: אחדות ה׳ - לקו״ש כה ע׳ 191. זמ״צ ב״נ…Show more
Question: We had a guest on Pesach, who when they left, we found they took the magnetic push pins on the refrigerator, and arranged them as the first two letters in sheim havayah (I can post a picture if… Question: We had a guest on Pesach, who when they left, we found they took the magnetic push pins on the refrigerator, and arranged them as the first two letters in sheim havayah (I can post a picture if that helps.) Is there some way to get the use of the pins back, and not have this as a permanent addition to our refrigerator? Answer: They may be moved and rearranged. Sources: בנדו״ז ליכא משום כתיבה בשבת. וגרע מחבור אותיות של…Show more
Question: Would the family of an Avel be allowed to organize a birthday party for him/her during his/her year of Aveilus? Answer: If he makes a siyum it is okay. Even if someone else makes a siyum… Question: Would the family of an Avel be allowed to organize a birthday party for him/her during his/her year of Aveilus? Answer: If he makes a siyum it is okay. Even if someone else makes a siyum one may be lenient if it takes place in the Avel’s home. One may also be lenient if it's not a meal and it is in the Avel’s home. Sources: לרוב הראשונים לסעודת מצוה מותר להיכנס. ובשו״ת יבי״א ו…Show more
Question: What is our minhag regarding having a meal or making a kiddush commemorating someone's shloshim? A member of our shul passed and the family wants to know if it's appropriate. Answer: This is an established custom… Question: What is our minhag regarding having a meal or making a kiddush commemorating someone's shloshim? A member of our shul passed and the family wants to know if it's appropriate. Answer: This is an established custom and could/should be done. If done with a full meal, it should only be done with a siyum. Sources: וראה אשרי האיש ע׳ שטז במה שהקלו גם בליל…Show more
Question: When doing laundry for children on chol hamoed can I wash all their clothes or do I need to sort through their laundry to figure out just what I actually expect to need for Yom Tov and wash… Question: When doing laundry for children on chol hamoed can I wash all their clothes or do I need to sort through their laundry to figure out just what I actually expect to need for Yom Tov and wash only that? Also can I wash a dress for my eight year old? Answer: 1. You may wash only what you expect to need during Pesach. 2. You can wash your daughter’s dress if she is the age that cannot keep her clothing clean. Sources: ראה: שו"ע או"ח סי' תקל"ד ובערוה"ש שם סעי' ח.…Show more
One should not keep other things in the small bags unless they made a Tenai in the beginning. A Talis bag or the larger bag can be used for other things. See also: https://asktherav.com/5287-2-can-we-throw-away-a-used-tefillin-bag-or-does-it-have-to-go-with-shaimos/ Sources: כיס המיוחד לתפילין: שוע"ר או"ח מב, ד. וראה שו"ת…
Question: I'd like to wear a mask to shul on Shabbos, but I'd rather not walk around outside in it because it's stuffy. Can I adjust the mask downwards so it doesn't cover my nose and mouth at all?… Question: I'd like to wear a mask to shul on Shabbos, but I'd rather not walk around outside in it because it's stuffy. Can I adjust the mask downwards so it doesn't cover my nose and mouth at all? What if it covers my mouth and not my nose? Is it still a malbush? Answer: It may only be worn if it offers some protection. Even if it is only over the mouth but not the nose, it is fine (halachically) to wear it outdoors on Shabbos if it won't fall off easily. #9649Show more
Question: We had moved out of our house a year ago to do renovations. The house is almost ready for us to move back. Are we allowed to move back during sefira, or should we push ourselves to… Question: We had moved out of our house a year ago to do renovations. The house is almost ready for us to move back. Are we allowed to move back during sefira, or should we push ourselves to go back for Pesach (which is extremely difficult but not impossible.) Answer: There is no problem moving in during sefira. Of course Lag B’omer is better. If you wish, you can bring some stuff in before Pesach. There is also no problem in making a chanukas habayis during sefira. Sources: ראה שו"ת אבני צדק יו״ד מד. צי״א יא, מא.…Show more
Question: Many have a custom to keep a sock on their tap over Pesach, to make sure that no Chametz will come out of the tap, What should we do on Shabbos or Yom Tov? I could think of… Question: Many have a custom to keep a sock on their tap over Pesach, to make sure that no Chametz will come out of the tap, What should we do on Shabbos or Yom Tov? I could think of two possible concerns: 1. The sock is clean, but the sock dries overnight and the water coming out of the tap is clean. Would this be an issue of Melaben? 2. It's true that practically there Is no chance of actual Chametz coming out of the tap, but would we still have to be Choshesh for Borer? Answer:…Show more
Question: Several Pesach'dike dishes were used for rice - (that had a Kosher lePesach hechsher). May they be used on Pesach by Chabadnik Ashkenazim? Can these utensils be used next year if stored with the Pesach kelim? … Question: Several Pesach'dike dishes were used for rice - (that had a Kosher lePesach hechsher). May they be used on Pesach by Chabadnik Ashkenazim? Can these utensils be used next year if stored with the Pesach kelim? Answer: If they were used with hot Kitniyos it may be used after waiting 24 hours, though you should inform them, as some are Machmir. Sources: שו"ע או"ח סימן תנג סעיף א ברמ"א, ובכה"ח סקכ"ז.…Show more
Question: From the 5 rules of שבא, children typically aren’t taught the rules relating to תנועה גדולה/קטנה. Nor are they taught the שבא rules of the רז"ה. a) Should we teach our students to follow the stars in… Question: From the 5 rules of שבא, children typically aren’t taught the rules relating to תנועה גדולה/קטנה. Nor are they taught the שבא rules of the רז"ה. a) Should we teach our students to follow the stars in the סידור even though most of them are based on the above rules which the students don’t learn? (The stars would then become for the students a new שבא rule- whenever you see a star, it’s a שבא נע.) b) When learning חומש with children and encountering שבא's that the children don’t know are נע, but the teacher knows [either…Show more
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