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Question: Hi, I'm in on the second day of Shiva for my brother. I am a eighth grade teacher, and the class will probably not end up with a proper substitute. Is there a heter to start teaching after… Question: Hi, I'm in on the second day of Shiva for my brother. I am a eighth grade teacher, and the class will probably not end up with a proper substitute. Is there a heter to start teaching after 3 days if there is no one else? I saw something along those lines in the kitzur shulchan aruch... Answer: The common custom is not to do so, but rather use a substitute. Sources: פשטות ההלכה ברמ״א יו״ד שפד, א לאיסור באומר הלכה…Show more
Question: Is one allowed (and therefore required) to make a zimun in a car? And what about on a plane? And what about a boat with an indoor eating area? ואפרש שיחתי: כתב אדה"ז (קסז, טז) דבספינה מצטרפים אפילו… Question: Is one allowed (and therefore required) to make a zimun in a car? And what about on a plane? And what about a boat with an indoor eating area? ואפרש שיחתי: כתב אדה"ז (קסז, טז) דבספינה מצטרפים אפילו לא היו בשלחן אחת, וע"ד הדין בשדה. משא"כ בבית דבעי שלחן. אח"כ מסתפק אדה"ז ע"פ מג"א בעגלה אי הוי כספינה היות והוא מקום אחד או דלא כספינה הואיל וספינה אינה חשובה מהלכת והעגלה הרי היא מהלכת. ולכן יש לשאול: האם אוטו שלנו נחשב כעגלה דידהו או אולי בגלל שאין סוס ה"ה נחשבת כנחה שהרי אין בה מעצמה כח ההליכה, ואוירון…Show more
שאלה: אם הציצית נפסקו משזירתן כשיעור הפוסל, ואז, חוזר ושוזרן בעצמו, האם הוי בעי' משום תעשה ולא מן העשוי? והרי רואים שלפעמים מקילין שא"צ שזירה (סימן יב ס"ז), וא"כ אפשר שאין בעי' משום תעשה ולא מן העשוי. מענה:… שאלה: אם הציצית נפסקו משזירתן כשיעור הפוסל, ואז, חוזר ושוזרן בעצמו, האם הוי בעי' משום תעשה ולא מן העשוי? והרי רואים שלפעמים מקילין שא"צ שזירה (סימן יב ס"ז), וא"כ אפשר שאין בעי' משום תעשה ולא מן העשוי. מענה: בחוטים שלנו המורכבים משמונה חוטים, אם נשארו שני חוטים שבחוט המורכב מח׳ חוטים, שזורים זה בזה, כשר. (אלא שיש לחתוך המיותר או לכוון שאינו רוצה בו למצוה). וממילא גם אינו בכלל תעשה ולא מן העשוי אם חזר ושזרם. אבל אם לא נשארו שני חוטים שזורים זה בזה, יש להוריד הציצית תחילה, לחזור ולשזור, ואחר כך להטילם שוב לבגד. מקורות: חוטים השזורים משמונה חוטים וכדומה - פמ״ג יא בא״א…Show more
If yes, how dry does it need to be? (this past week even after learning for an hour my beard was still wet). Answer: The common custom is to dry the hair first externally and then there is… If yes, how dry does it need to be? (this past week even after learning for an hour my beard was still wet). Answer: The common custom is to dry the hair first externally and then there is no need to wait until your hair is totally dry. Sources: כבר כתב באהל מועד לר״ש ירונדי שער השבת דרך…Show more
שאלה: האם יש איסור לישב ולשתות קפה, או לעבוד, או להיפגש עם מישהו בבית קפה (כדוגמת Starbucks) מצד גזירת ועד הארצות שלא לישב בבתי משתאות של גויים? או שאין זה דומה לתקנה דאז. מענה: מן הדין, לרוב הפוסקים,… שאלה: האם יש איסור לישב ולשתות קפה, או לעבוד, או להיפגש עם מישהו בבית קפה (כדוגמת Starbucks) מצד גזירת ועד הארצות שלא לישב בבתי משתאות של גויים? או שאין זה דומה לתקנה דאז. מענה: מן הדין, לרוב הפוסקים, אין איסור משום בישולי עכו"ם (משא"כ חלב עכו"ם) בשתיית קפה בבית מכירתו. אך כתבו הפוסקים ששומר נפשו ירחק מזה והוא עפ"י תקנות גדולי ישראל במשך הדורות, ומקצת דבריהם שייכים גם בזמן הזה, בשותה בדרך קבע. מקורות: ראה כאן ובקובץ הערות צמח צדק המצורף שם: https://asktherav.com/6470-is-it-permitted-to-drink-plain-coffee-or-tea-with-a-hechsher-at-a-starbucks-and-the-like/…Show more
Question: In our Hebrew school curriculum, there is an activity to make grape juice from scratch. If I boil the grapes first, and then then kids juice them, is it a problem of yayin nesach? We have non-Jewish… Question: In our Hebrew school curriculum, there is an activity to make grape juice from scratch. If I boil the grapes first, and then then kids juice them, is it a problem of yayin nesach? We have non-Jewish children in the class. Answer: There is a dispute about this. According to those who permit, it’s not a problem, even if non Jews boil the grapes. P.S. This answer does not deal with the issue that you have non-Jewish kids in a Jewish school. Sources: ראה ס׳ הפרדס לרש״י סוף הל׳ יי״נ, רסז: שכר…Show more
שאלה: האם מותר לכתחילה לסלק לצדדים בגדים המונחים על גבי בגד שרוצה ללבוש עכשיו כדי להגיע לו, או שיש בזה איסור בורר? ומה הדין באותו מקרה כשאינו רק מסלקם לצד, אלא גם נוטלם? מענה: להזיז בגד בתוך התערובת,… שאלה: האם מותר לכתחילה לסלק לצדדים בגדים המונחים על גבי בגד שרוצה ללבוש עכשיו כדי להגיע לו, או שיש בזה איסור בורר? ומה הדין באותו מקרה כשאינו רק מסלקם לצד, אלא גם נוטלם? מענה: להזיז בגד בתוך התערובת, מותר. לסלק לגמרי - יש מתירים. ונכון שלא לסמוך על זה. מקורות: ראה משנ״ב שיט, ג בבה״ל ד״ה לאכול מיד. ובמשנ״ב…Show more
Question: Is it our Minhag to say the Passuk v’ani beroiv chasdecha before walking into shul? If so, do we only say it before davening shacharis, or also before mincha and maariv? What if I’m walking into… Question: Is it our Minhag to say the Passuk v’ani beroiv chasdecha before walking into shul? If so, do we only say it before davening shacharis, or also before mincha and maariv? What if I’m walking into shul to learn and not to daven- should I say it then also? Answer: It only applies to davening, specifically Shacharis. According to the Zohar, this passuk should be said after donning Tallis and Tefillin at the doorway of the shule, before entering the shule. Nowadays that people often put on their Tallis and Tefillin in shule for various…Show more
The Rebbe used the left foot first. However, when going forward, one should place the right foot first. Sources: כשפוסע לאחוריו - לכאורה צ״ל ברגלו הימנית תחילה כבכל…
Question: We made 8 batches of challah. Our non-frum helper who usually does hafroshas challah asked a non halachik Jew to do it on one of them. Now they are all baked and we don’t know which are… Question: We made 8 batches of challah. Our non-frum helper who usually does hafroshas challah asked a non halachik Jew to do it on one of them. Now they are all baked and we don’t know which are from that one. Question is what to do now? And is it ok in general to rely on the non-frum Jew to do hafroshas challah not in front of us? Answer: In general, you should not use a non-frum Yid to take Challa. In this case, you should bake one new challah, put all the Challos together, cover…Show more
Question: It's common to use rooting hormone when growing new trees from cuttings. Now the question is, since some hormones are made naturally by grinding up arovos (Willow) - is it considered kilayim. If say I dipped a… Question: It's common to use rooting hormone when growing new trees from cuttings. Now the question is, since some hormones are made naturally by grinding up arovos (Willow) - is it considered kilayim. If say I dipped a cutting (a cut of stick branch, which will become a new tree) into that ground of arovos solution. Is it considered kilayim? Answer: You should refrain from doing so even if you are planting a non-fruit-bearing tree unless the willows have rotted or decomposed to the point that they cannot grow any longer. Sources: רמ"א יו"ד סי' רצה ס"ו. תשובת חת"ס שם סוס"י…Show more
Yes, but preferable to mix with food or drink before Shabbos. Sources: צדדי ההיתר: משום סכנת אבר (כדעת האחרונים דלאו דוקא…
You should not give him one, even without commentary, unless there is a concern of Eiva, animosity. Sources: הנה י״א שבכלל איסור מסירת ד״ת לגוי (חגיגה יג,…
Question: Sometimes I eat at people's homes and they take hours before they bentch and I'm not interested in staying anymore. If I washed, what is the proper thing to do? What do I do if there are exactly… Question: Sometimes I eat at people's homes and they take hours before they bentch and I'm not interested in staying anymore. If I washed, what is the proper thing to do? What do I do if there are exactly 10 people and I'm in the only one who wants to bentch and the other 9 wish to stay and confine the meal? Do I make a rabosai with Elkeinu? Or without Elkeinu? Or do I not make any rabosai and just bentch? Or am I required to stay? What if there are 11 or more? What…Show more
Question: Are you not supposed to eat before a Bris and Pidyon Haben, like we don't eat before doing any mitzvah like Tekios or Megilah? Answer: Some write that the father may not eat before the Bris, just… Question: Are you not supposed to eat before a Bris and Pidyon Haben, like we don't eat before doing any mitzvah like Tekios or Megilah? Answer: Some write that the father may not eat before the Bris, just like one may not eat before any Mitzva that has a time limit, like Mincha, Maariv, and Bedikas Chometz. However, there is reason to be lenient when the father appointed the Mohel to fulfill the Mitzvah for him. Regardless, he may snack on non-mezonos foods and eat mezonos food up to a Kebeitza. There is still a reason not to…Show more
Question: Is it ok for a yeshiva to split up the aliyos between different balei kriya in order to allow different bochrim to have a chance (and who may not actually lein a whole Parsha) even though there… Question: Is it ok for a yeshiva to split up the aliyos between different balei kriya in order to allow different bochrim to have a chance (and who may not actually lein a whole Parsha) even though there may be some bochurim who can just lein the whole Parsha at once? Answer: It is okay to do so, although there is room for one who wishes to be mehader where possible to have one Baal korei, provided there are no other overriding factors. Sources: בשע״א ג, ו שלכתחילה אין לקרוא קורא אחר קורא. והובא גם…Show more
Yes. Sources: ראה רמ״א יו״ד קכ, ז בריחים של פלפלים מעץ…
The part that touches the food is rubber, but the rest is steel. Answer: Yes, without a bracha. Sources: כשהידית ממין החייב בטבילה וגוף הכלי ממין הפטור -…
Question: L'chvod HaRov Shlit"A I am the rabbi of a shul and in my capacity I am asked to perform several chassunahs and levayas throughout the year. Following the chassunah or levaya, I am almost always given a… Question: L'chvod HaRov Shlit"A I am the rabbi of a shul and in my capacity I am asked to perform several chassunahs and levayas throughout the year. Following the chassunah or levaya, I am almost always given a monetary gift as a token of gratitude. I am very uncomfortable accepting the money. I want my participation to be fully l'shmah and I don't ever want to have an ulterior motive when performing a chassunah or levaya. I feel that as opposed to giving me money after a chassunah, the family should give the money to the chosson and…Show more
לא. מקורות: באוצה"ג כתובות תשובות, נג: הכי אמר רב שר שלום…
Question: I have the habit of putting raw cholent in the crock pot 5-10 minutes before licht bentching and then run to mikveh and daven mincha. If this a problem since 23-28 minutes later when shkia arrives... the… Question: I have the habit of putting raw cholent in the crock pot 5-10 minutes before licht bentching and then run to mikveh and daven mincha. If this a problem since 23-28 minutes later when shkia arrives... the food is cooked somewhat but probably less than 1/3.. (michal ben drosai)? Or to rephrase my question: 0% cooked Erev Shabbos is mutar to cook 33% cooked Erev Shabbos is mutar to cook At what percent do we say ossur? 1% 5% 15%... etc.? The cholent definitely cooks somewhat in those 23-28 min. Answer: This is…Show more
Question: I work for a moisad helping them get reimbursements/payments from the government for help they provide for eligible children. I made a mistake and did not submit the claim for the full amount. Now it is too late… Question: I work for a moisad helping them get reimbursements/payments from the government for help they provide for eligible children. I made a mistake and did not submit the claim for the full amount. Now it is too late to ask for that money. Am I responsible to inform the moisad about the mistake and pay for the missing money they could have gotten if not for my mistake? Answer: There is a Machlokes whether you are responsible or not, therefore there is no way we can tell you that you have to pay. Either way, you would…Show more
What if I get something for free, like an Esrog or oil for Chanukah, can I not use it? Am I not allowed to listen to a Shiur unless I pay for it? Answer: Yes there is such… What if I get something for free, like an Esrog or oil for Chanukah, can I not use it? Am I not allowed to listen to a Shiur unless I pay for it? Answer: Yes there is such a thing. You should pay the full amount you’re asked for a mitzvah. If you get a mitzvah article for free as a gift you should make an effort to give some money to Tzedakah. This only applies to Mitzvos and not to Torah, unless it is Torah learning about relevant halacha. Sources: מצו״ב נקודות ור״פ משיעור שנמסר בענין זה לאחרונה ביום…Show more
Question: A common endeavor of many melamdim and morahs is to immerse their students in a Yiddish-speaking environment, so that, despite not being raised in a Yiddish-speaking home, they will pick up the language in school. My question pertains… Question: A common endeavor of many melamdim and morahs is to immerse their students in a Yiddish-speaking environment, so that, despite not being raised in a Yiddish-speaking home, they will pick up the language in school. My question pertains to Talmud Torah: Many non-yiddish speaking students are completely lost when the subjects are taught in yiddish. Sure, they may parrot back the passuk or chumash, but a simple havana question quickly reveals that there is little to no understanding nor knowledge of the actual content. What is Da'as Torah in this matter? Are we allowed to…Show more
Yes. Sources: וגם את״ל שבברכת הנר דמוצ״ש לא יברכו ואכ״מ -וראה…
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