Database - AskTheRav

Is the OU without Pas Yisroel enough for Twizzlers? It is made with wheat flour.

The flour in Twizzlers isn’t a primary ingredient. Although they are cooked using ingredients that cannot be eaten raw, there is no issue of Bishul Akum for the reasons enumerated…

If I paint glass with oil based paint pens is there a Kashrus concern in baking them in a kosher oven?

If it's toxic (I.e. inedible) or if it is double wrapped, there is no concern. #5570

Is it a Halachic issue for a woman to wear leggings? What about wearing woman pajama pants?

Hashem made the Jewish people a גוי קדוש - - 'a holy nation'. The general idea of Tznius is 'modesty', this means that the parts of the body that…

There are new Sheitels on the market where there is a very comfortable lace as the cap from where the hairs are sewn in or tied into the Sheitel. Some of these come with a lining, and some do not, leaving very small open spaces through which the women’s hair or scalp can be seen. Is this considered a sufficient form of hair covering?

A Sheitel which has any openings even if small where the hair can be seen is not considered an adequate head covering. משום דת יהודית, וכמו קלתה ושבכה.…

From what I understand riding a horse bareback is not allowed according to Halacha. Do you need a saddle or can you ride a horse just using a pad?

One should preferably use a saddle only. בשולחן ערוך (אה"ע כג, ו) - כתב המגי׳ אוכף פי' מרדעת, ובערוך השולחן (שם, ד) - אוכף דוקא ומרדעת ט"ס [והוא…

Can I wash fruit or vegetables in a sieve where the water drips down, and I keep the washed dripped food?

Yes. שוע"ר שי"ט, יא. #5485

האם אוכל להיות חזן אצל שליח בר”ה ויו”כ, באם הששה מתפללים הם מקורבים המתפללים באנגלית? האם זה בסדר מצד תפילה בציבור עם קדיש ברכו וכו’? ואיך בכלל להתייחס לענין הזה אם ישנם כאלו שיודעים לקרוא אבל למעשה קוראים חצי לשון הקודש וחצי באנגלית?

תפילה בלע''ז נחשבת תפילה לכל דבר. זה שמתפללים חצי בלה''ק וחצי בלועזית אינו גורע. מקורות: עיין סי' קא ס''ה נתבה''ש ח''ב פ''ג הע' 3. #5479

We are doing renovations on our home. As far leaving some area untouched as a Zecher L’Churban; what is the bare minimum that must be done in this regard? Size? Location? Can it be covered over or decorated in any way?

See Halacha2go.com #344. #5498

Can I get married during the month of Cheshvan?

There is no Halachic prohibition in weddings during Cheshvan. Sefer HaMinhagim records Minhag Chabad as avoiding weddings in Cheshvan. However, in the later years (5740's), the Rebbe made it…

Is reflexology problematic as it is eastern medicine? It is massage (an accepted practice) but is the essence of it problematic? They use the idea of “meridians” and points on the feet that correspond to the body.

There are various types of reflexology. If no energy healing or meditation is used then it’s not forbidden. One may halachically use medical treatments even if it is based…

What is the Bracha on Puffed Kamut?

האדמה. There is a doubt about the proper ברכה אחרונה. Therefore, When eating a shiur, eat only within a meal of המוציא. For explanation, see here. #5470

1. Is it permitted for a Cohen during Birchas Cohanim to have in mind a specific individual i.e. a loved one? 2. Is it appropriate to have the Rebbe in mind?

1. Yes, unless the individual passed away. 2. Chassidim have been asked by the Rebbe to have in mind the Rebbe. מקורות: אג״ק אדמו״ר מוהריי״צ ח ע׳ קצז.…

Does a left handed person say Shema with their left hand or right hand?

Their right hand. עוד יוסף חי (להבן איש חי) הלכות פרשת וארא אות ג. לקט ציונים והערות לשו"ע אדה"ז (סי' סא ס"ה). ועדיין מקום לחלק בין ק״ש של…

There is a new way of checking for bugs that I heard about it, using the thrip cloth. According to Lubavitcher Rabbanim, is that an acceptable way to check for bugs and can replace checking every leaf of herbs etc?

Asktherav.com strongly encourages the use of the thrip cloth or shmate method but recommends doing sample checking the regular way too. ראה מש״כ ח״א בקובץ עץ חיים באבוב…

באם יהודי טילטל בשבת דרך חצירות, האם מותר ליהנות מזה, והאם יש הבדל בין מי שטלטלו עבורו או מישהו אחר?

בכלל, איסור דרבנן שנעשה על ידי ישראל במזיד אסור לכל ישראל להנות, ובמוצ"ש מותר מיד. ואם נעשה בשוגג (שלא ידע שאסור לטלטל בשבת) אז מותר לכל ישראל ליהנות מזה…

Spending Shabbos with family who dosen’t keep Shabbos:

My family, who I live with, doesn't keep Shabbos. If someone buys something on Shabbos, am I able to use it? (tissues, food, appliances etc.) And is it any…

שו”ע מסביר כ”ק אדה”ז למה לא להתחיל חזרת שמו”ע עם הש”ץ חוץ אם אין ברירה, היות שיצטרכו להגיד “נקדישך” ביחד עם הש”ץ. אבל לדידן שבין כך אומרים תמיד נקדישך, איך פוסקים לפועל?

כ״כ כדבריו במסגרת השולחן. אבל שמועה רווחת בשם כ״ק אד״ש - ונדפס בקובצי ההערות- לעשות כבשו״ע. וכ״ה בשיחות קודש קודם הנשיאות ע׳ 182. אלא שצע״ג אם השמועה מדוייקת. …

Can we throw away a dried up Esrog, or does it have to go with Shaimos? Same question for a used Tefillin bag.

Esrog: May be discarded in a respectful manner (such as placing it in a separate bag before putting in the garbage). Best to use it for another Mitzvah, such…

Can a Shliach try to have Hashpa’ah on a Reform community in such a situation?

Full Question: On page two of this interview with Rabbi Riskin, he quotes a Psak that Horav Soloveitchik A”H gave him about a frum rabbi sitting in Reform temple,…

I just moved into a new apartment. The one that lived there before probobly didn’t keep Kashrus. How should I Kasher the sink?

Kashering a sink: Which sinks can be Kashered: Only a metal/stainless steel sink can be koshered. porcelain and enamel sinks cannot be Kashered. Preparing the sink: The sink must be…