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Question: 1. The Alter Rebbe says (14;9) one can borrow a tallis without permission. The Aruch Hashulchan (14;12) says it is not allowed today when people put their tallis each in a private place. Does the Alter Rebbe agree… Question: 1. The Alter Rebbe says (14;9) one can borrow a tallis without permission. The Aruch Hashulchan (14;12) says it is not allowed today when people put their tallis each in a private place. Does the Alter Rebbe agree with that point? Some Poskim point out this heter does not apply nowadays when everyone has a talis koton, should we consider that chumra? Answer: 1. Possibly. In practice, there is not much of a difference, because the entire halacha is dependent on the assumption whether the individual minds or not. If it’s somewhat clear that the owner…Show more
Yes, if the assumption is that people wouldn’t mind. My assumption is that nowadays most people would mind. When permitted, see conditions here: https://asktherav.com/article-248-using-anothers-tefilin/ And here: https://asktherav.com/article-617-the-tale-of-the-switched-tallis/ See also here: https://asktherav.com/is-it-halachicaly-acceptable-to-inform-someone-in-advance-that-you-will-charge-them-for-using-an-item-of-yours-without-permission/ Sources: שדין ניחא לי׳ לאיניש שייך גם כשאינו חפץ של…
I’m in shul and I’m about to begin davening when I realize I’m holding someone else’s tallis! May I make a brachah on a “stolen” tallis? From a strictly halachic perspective, it is permissible to use someone else’s tallis… I’m in shul and I’m about to begin davening when I realize I’m holding someone else’s tallis! May I make a brachah on a “stolen” tallis? From a strictly halachic perspective, it is permissible to use someone else’s tallis (of course, it should not be removed from shul, must be handled with utmost care and replaced where it was found; see Halachah #248). Halachah assumes that a Jew would allow another to borrow his possessions for a mitzvah. Some contemporary poskim hold that this assumption does not apply today, since there are a significant number of people who would…Show more
We may use another’s tefilin if we do not have our own pair, since the halachah is, “Nicha lay l’inish layavid mitzvah bemamonay,” a person is glad when a mitzvah is done with his money or possessions. Therefore, we… We may use another’s tefilin if we do not have our own pair, since the halachah is, “Nicha lay l’inish layavid mitzvah bemamonay,” a person is glad when a mitzvah is done with his money or possessions. Therefore, we can assume that a person would not mind if his tefilin are used by another Jew to do a mitzvah. However, there are a number of conditions that must be met: Firstly, borrowing another’s tefilin without his knowledge and explicit permission should not become habitual; it should only be b’akra’ei, done temporarily, if we do not have our own…Show more
Question: If dentures need a powder and then dabbed with water to make it sticky to stay on ones gums, Is that allowed on Shabbos (to make something sticky and “stick” it , that’s the only way for it… Question: If dentures need a powder and then dabbed with water to make it sticky to stay on ones gums, Is that allowed on Shabbos (to make something sticky and “stick” it , that’s the only way for it to stay in the mouth and be able to chew)? Answer: Permitted, but if possible recommended to do with shinui. Sources: ראה שו״ת הר צבי או״ח קונטרס טל הרים מלאכת…Show more
That piece shouldn’t be eaten. Sources: הוריות יג, ב. ונחלקו אם הוא כל החתיכה או…
שאלה: בשו״ע אדה"ז סי׳ רסג בסופו, כתב: "מִי שֶׁקָּדַם לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית שֶׁל שַׁבָּת קֹדֶם שֶׁהִתְפַּלְלוּ הַקָּהָל . . יכול לומר לחבירו שלא קיבל עדיין השבת לעשות לו מלאכה". האם הוא רק כשקיבל שבת ביחיד, או גם כשהוכרח לקבל שבת… שאלה: בשו״ע אדה"ז סי׳ רסג בסופו, כתב: "מִי שֶׁקָּדַם לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית שֶׁל שַׁבָּת קֹדֶם שֶׁהִתְפַּלְלוּ הַקָּהָל . . יכול לומר לחבירו שלא קיבל עדיין השבת לעשות לו מלאכה". האם הוא רק כשקיבל שבת ביחיד, או גם כשהוכרח לקבל שבת מחמת שענה ברכו, או מחמת שנגרר אחר רוב הציבור, חבירו אינו נגרר כיון שמתפלל ערבית בביהכ״נ אחר? תשובה: בכל אופן שקיבל שבת וחבירו לא קיבל יכול לומר לחבירו לעשות מלאכה. מקורות: מצו״ב סיכום חליפת מכתבים רצוא ושוב בשקו״ט עם ח״א.…Show more
Question: I have noticed that many shuls that have five people with the minyan will daven amida and then have the six person does the whole chazaras hashatz, is this correct thing to do? What's it based on and… Question: I have noticed that many shuls that have five people with the minyan will daven amida and then have the six person does the whole chazaras hashatz, is this correct thing to do? What's it based on and can they do the same thing if they have four people davening and the fifth one does chazara instead? Answer: In order to do Chazraras Hashatz, there need to be at least 6 people who Davened Shemoneh Esrei. If there weren’t 6 people who Davened, then the Chazan should Daven his Shemoneh Esrei out loud so that all can…Show more
I assume you’re talking about coconut water. Haetz when drinking straight from the fruit and eating the fruit too. Sources: ראה בא״ח ש״א פינחס ט. כה״ח רב, סב. ובשותה…
Tzitzis shouldn’t be cut with metal, rather they should [specifically] be cut with ones teeth. If this proves to be difficult, one can cut them using other materials - such as ceramic scissors or a plastic knife, or in… Tzitzis shouldn’t be cut with metal, rather they should [specifically] be cut with ones teeth. If this proves to be difficult, one can cut them using other materials - such as ceramic scissors or a plastic knife, or in other ways - such as burning off the edges. Sources: מט״מ עמוד העבודה סי׳ י״ג בשם ר׳ דוד בר…Show more
Beer itself is not considered water, although there is room to be stringent for those who wish. Sources: ראה קצוה"ש סי' מ"ח בדה"ש ס"ק י'. כף החיים סי'…
Question: If a recipe calls for enough flour to be chayav in Challah, but the only liquid present is almond or oat milk, is there still a need to add a little water to such a dough or is… Question: If a recipe calls for enough flour to be chayav in Challah, but the only liquid present is almond or oat milk, is there still a need to add a little water to such a dough or is the significant amount of water found in the almond/oat milk enough to make this dough be Rauy L’kabel tumah and no water needs to be added? Answer: There’s no need to add extra water (provided the almond/oat milk indeed contains water in its ingredients, of course. According to many opinions, even one drop of water is enough to make…Show more
One should not interrupt between the conclusion of Shmoneh Esrei and Tachnun. On the other hand, there is an Inyan to say Tachnun with a Minyan. Practically, if when you finish the Tashlumin Shmoneh Esrei, there is a minyan… One should not interrupt between the conclusion of Shmoneh Esrei and Tachnun. On the other hand, there is an Inyan to say Tachnun with a Minyan. Practically, if when you finish the Tashlumin Shmoneh Esrei, there is a minyan which is in the middle of Shmoneh Esrei or Chazoras Hashatz, you should wait to say Tachnun with them. If that is not feasible, you should say it privately. For the proper order of making up - tashlumin for shachris, see here: https://asktherav.com/2718-if-after-a-long-night-farbrengen-i-wake-up-just-after-chatzos-what-is-the-halacha-with-shacharis/ Sources: אין להפסיק בין תפלה לנפילת אפיים - שוע"ר סי' קלא…Show more
Question: I went to buy a hot water urn from a Jewish company/manufacturer (chefman) that says it doesn’t require Tevilah. However it was bought on Amazon. Does it require Tevilah? Answer: If the seller on Amazon is a… Question: I went to buy a hot water urn from a Jewish company/manufacturer (chefman) that says it doesn’t require Tevilah. However it was bought on Amazon. Does it require Tevilah? Answer: If the seller on Amazon is a Jewish company and the order was FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant), there’s indeed no need to Toivel. If the seller on Amazon is a Jewish company and the order is FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon), then Tevilah is required, but without a Bracha. If the seller on Amazon is a non Jewish company, then Tevilah is required with a Bracha. Sources: בכלים של ישראל שנכנסו לרשות גוי - חייב בטבילה…Show more
The bar mitzvah boy. If the girl did do it, it is certainly kosher after the fact. Nonetheless, if the dough doesn’t belong to her, some opinions maintain it wouldn’t be kosher after the fact either, as a minor… The bar mitzvah boy. If the girl did do it, it is certainly kosher after the fact. Nonetheless, if the dough doesn’t belong to her, some opinions maintain it wouldn’t be kosher after the fact either, as a minor cannot become a Shaliach. If however the owner gives her the dough as gift, she is considered the owner and it would certainly be valid. However, she wouldn’t then be able to ask someone else to do it on her behalf according to all opinions. Sources: שו״ע יו״ד שלא, לג. ומשמע שהוא רק בדיעבד. וכ״כ…Show more
Question: I travel almost every week on flights. Once in a while, there are is a long delay and I'm forced to wait in the airport. I'm sometimes in a situation where it is mincha or maariv time and… Question: I travel almost every week on flights. Once in a while, there are is a long delay and I'm forced to wait in the airport. I'm sometimes in a situation where it is mincha or maariv time and I have a minyan every half hour I can attend near the airport. If I don't go now, there won't be a minyan for this tefila when I land. The minyan is less than 18 minutes away and it costs about $25-$30 each way to take a car service there. Am I obligated to spend the money and daven with…Show more
מותר לעטוף החלה ברדיד כסף ולהניחו בתנור חם מערב שבת. אבל יש אומרים שאסור להטמין החלה בכמה שכבות של רדיד כסף ולהניחו בתנור חם. מקורות: ראה שוע"ר סי' רנז שאינו בגדר דבר המוסיף הבל…
Question: If I washed Shabbos afternoon, then continued farbrenging until chatzos, and stopped and said krias shema shel arvis to ensure I said it before chatzos, may I continue eating without havdalah or is it considered as… Question: If I washed Shabbos afternoon, then continued farbrenging until chatzos, and stopped and said krias shema shel arvis to ensure I said it before chatzos, may I continue eating without havdalah or is it considered as if I already took in motzei Shabbos through saying krias shema and I should stop eating? Answer: You may not continue eating. You should not say Retzei in Benching. Sources: בשוע"ר סי' רצט ס"ה כתב שאם התפלל תוך הסעודה…Show more
Such a segula is mentioned in Seforim. However, there are many conditions mentioned. Among them, the stone must be it's natural size not cut and tempered with, it should be touching the persons body, worn only when the… Such a segula is mentioned in Seforim. However, there are many conditions mentioned. Among them, the stone must be it's natural size not cut and tempered with, it should be touching the persons body, worn only when the woman is tohor. It has also been suggested that it’s supposed to be removed before birth. It is questionable whether one should actually use this segulah nowadays. Sources: רבינו בחיי תצוה כח, טו (והובא בלקו״ת פ׳ ויקרא…Show more
Question: There is a fine young man in our community in the process of converting. He's so frum and aidel. Wakes up early, studies many hours of Torah per day, davens with Minyan 3 times a day, and… Question: There is a fine young man in our community in the process of converting. He's so frum and aidel. Wakes up early, studies many hours of Torah per day, davens with Minyan 3 times a day, and keeps many halachic chumras. If I see him in shul on yomtov, may I invite him over for a meal? On one hand... We are forbidden to cook for a non-Jew. On the other hand... If he's not invited to learn about the chagim and experience the meals (in a sukkah), how can he properly convert? Would it make…Show more
Question: I have a question about the kashrus status of a kitchen (stove, oven, counters etc.) and utensils (pots, plates, cutlery). There is someone subletting my apartment as I am abroad now, and I recently found out that she… Question: I have a question about the kashrus status of a kitchen (stove, oven, counters etc.) and utensils (pots, plates, cutlery). There is someone subletting my apartment as I am abroad now, and I recently found out that she is in the process of converting, so currently, she isn't Jewish. She has told me that she is Shomer Shabbos and kashrus. She has been using the kitchen as normal, I.e. using our stove/oven, and pots, plates etc. Is this OK? Or do we need to kasher everything in order to be able to use it again? Answer: The…Show more
Some sources imply - one Siddur. See here: https://asktherav.com/8043-reading-veyiten-lecha-together-fromone-siddur/ #21194
עושה מעשה בראשית without Hashem’s name. If you haven’t seen it within 30 days. כיון שלא נזכר בגמרא ופוסקים. וראה שער העין אריאל ז, ו ובהערה טו. #24818
Question: This seltzer machine (see attached pic) works by filling up a bottle of water, then you put the bottle under the metal stick (blue arrow in picture pointing to it) - which then shoots the bubbles into the… Question: This seltzer machine (see attached pic) works by filling up a bottle of water, then you put the bottle under the metal stick (blue arrow in picture pointing to it) - which then shoots the bubbles into the water. So the water itself does not go through the machine, the only contact between the water and the machine is that you insert the metal piece into the bottle of water (and it touches the water). Answer: Best to have a yid take it apart. If impossible there is room to exempt from tevilah. Sources: מקום להקל לפטור מטבילה בצירוף כמה סברות, חדא דחזי…Show more
The dedicated team of Rabbonim at AskTheRav would like to wish you a Gut Chodesh! "Every Rosh Chodesh the spark of Moshiach, also known as the 'Yechida', which is in every Jew's soul (which is a spark of the… The dedicated team of Rabbonim at AskTheRav would like to wish you a Gut Chodesh! "Every Rosh Chodesh the spark of Moshiach, also known as the 'Yechida', which is in every Jew's soul (which is a spark of the general Yechida - the soul of Moshiach) is revealed. The revelation of this spark resonates and causes a rejuvenation in the entire being of every Jew, so that everything he does in permeated with the level of his Yechida, And, most importantly, through this the revelation and arrival of Moshiach is caused in the most literal sense - a king…Show more
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