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Question: We want to bake challahs in a meat oven - but to keep them pareve. So I know the oven has to be cleaned and preheated and that the Challah should not be placed directly on the… Question: We want to bake challahs in a meat oven - but to keep them pareve. So I know the oven has to be cleaned and preheated and that the Challah should not be placed directly on the metal trays. My question is: what does it mean to clean the oven? Do All racks and corners and walls of the oven have to be spotless with no residue or liquid? If it’s not used for 24 hours is this not an issue if it’s not totally cleaned? Answer: The tray should be clean. Anywhere on the…Show more
I was lent $10 in the US and now I want to pay the guy back 10 euro (out of convenience) in France. Is that Ribbis? Loans and Currency keeping within the guidelines of the Laws of Ribis… I was lent $10 in the US and now I want to pay the guy back 10 euro (out of convenience) in France. Is that Ribbis? Loans and Currency keeping within the guidelines of the Laws of Ribis A general guide - Compiled by Rabbi Shabsi Tayar #6842Show more
Question: Can you go into an art gallery and see statues of naked people or is that against Halakha? What if you are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and you pass a statue of a naked person and… Question: Can you go into an art gallery and see statues of naked people or is that against Halakha? What if you are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and you pass a statue of a naked person and you look have you done something wrong? Answer: A man shouldn't look at a non-tznius female. This applies even if it's a picture or even just a sculpture. There is an opinion that maintains that it is forbidden for a woman to recite Shema and daven in the presence of another naked woman. However, most other Poskim maintain…Show more
Q. How does one do Teshuva for sins committed against man? A. Teshuva is returning to the way Hashem has set out for us in His Torah. When an individual decides that he regrets his wrongdoings of the past… Q. How does one do Teshuva for sins committed against man? A. Teshuva is returning to the way Hashem has set out for us in His Torah. When an individual decides that he regrets his wrongdoings of the past and will never return to those ways in the future. In addition, regarding sins done to another man, one must ask them for forgiveness in order to be forgiven by Hashem. Q. When doing teshuva or asking forgiveness from an individual for having wronged or sinned against him/her, is it necessary to confess our wrongdoing to that person directly?…Show more
Permissible. Some are strict. I know of no Chabad minhag. Sources: ראה בשעהמ״צ להרח״ו פ׳ וילך, חומרות יתירות למי שרוצה…
Question: If I buy frozen dough from a goyishe store, which is the shiur of hafrashas challah. Do I need to take challah even though I didn’t make the dough or knead it, I just bought it from a… Question: If I buy frozen dough from a goyishe store, which is the shiur of hafrashas challah. Do I need to take challah even though I didn’t make the dough or knead it, I just bought it from a goy? Answer: Dough that was kneaded by a Goy does not require chalah to be taken from it. Sources: שו"ע יו"ד של, א. ומה שכתב הש"ך בשם הדרישה…Show more
Question: My daughter works as a designer. She was recently hired by a local mosad to provide her service for one of their events. They requested a very large discount, and in the end, she agreed to offer her… Question: My daughter works as a designer. She was recently hired by a local mosad to provide her service for one of their events. They requested a very large discount, and in the end, she agreed to offer her services for half the usual fee ($400 instead of the usual $800). My question is if she can deduct the discount she gave them ($400) from her Ma'aser funds. Answer: Once she agreed to provide a discount, she cannot let it go and decide to collect the shortfall from Maaser. Furthermore, even if she originally intended (when agreeing to…Show more
Question: I gave $125 to someone to purchase a fridge, the price that the seller was asking. The individual negotiated the sale for $100. To whom does the $25 belong? The discount was given because the individual I sent… Question: I gave $125 to someone to purchase a fridge, the price that the seller was asking. The individual negotiated the sale for $100. To whom does the $25 belong? The discount was given because the individual I sent to pick it up decided - totally on their own - to negotiate the price downward, it had nothing to do with me. I had given the shliach the higher amount in cash to pay. I argued that the shliach was acting on my behalf, even though I hadn't asked the shliach to negotiate, and therefore the $25 is mine,…Show more
Question: I was asked by a 16-year-old mekurav how to get a kosher haircut. Besides beard and peyos, what do I need to tell him? He doesn't keep Shabbos and Kashrus fully but if I give him guidelines… Question: I was asked by a 16-year-old mekurav how to get a kosher haircut. Besides beard and peyos, what do I need to tell him? He doesn't keep Shabbos and Kashrus fully but if I give him guidelines I think he will do his best to keep to it. What guidelines can I give him for chukas hagoyim and bloris? There are so many styles out there, and unfortunately, many frume yidden have those styles while we would definitely say it is inappropriate. For instance, if I say any chup is assur I'm not sure he would…Show more
Question: If one buys a fresh fruit salad which includes grapes in a non-Jewish supermarket need one be concerned regarding stam yeinom because of the grape juice squeezed from the fruit in the mixture? Answer: It's fine. Sources: בד"כ לא חותכים את הענבים. ואף כשחותחים - מותר…
Question: I have an electrician in my community that is slowly Chozer Bitshuvah. He got a job to do electricity in a Church and asked if he can take the job? Answer: There are 2 problems that pertain… Question: I have an electrician in my community that is slowly Chozer Bitshuvah. He got a job to do electricity in a Church and asked if he can take the job? Answer: There are 2 problems that pertain to this: Entering a church. Doing work for a church. 1. Entering a church. The Rambam writes (in his commentary on Avoda Zara chapter 1) that one may not reside in a city where there is idol worship. Obviously, in the present state of golus we don't have another option, but we definitely may not enter or even look…Show more
Question: If I'm saying Karbnos while driving and I pass a church, do I have to stop davening for a minute when that happens? Does it make a difference if I'm moving or stopped at a light? If the… Question: If I'm saying Karbnos while driving and I pass a church, do I have to stop davening for a minute when that happens? Does it make a difference if I'm moving or stopped at a light? If the window is open or closed? Answer: Although it would be best to avoid and at least turn away from it so it's not in your view, strictly speaking, there is no problem to continue davening or learning when passing a church. Sources: יש להעיר מברכות נז, ב, שו"ע רכד, א. ושם…Show more
Although it would be best to avoid and at least turn away from it so it's not in your view, strictly speaking, there is no problem to continue davening or learning when passing a church. Bending down should be… Although it would be best to avoid and at least turn away from it so it's not in your view, strictly speaking, there is no problem to continue davening or learning when passing a church. Bending down should be done while turned away, or alternatively, you may sit down. Source: ראה שאלה #9443: https://asktherav.com/9443-can-i-daven-or-learn-when-passing-a-church/ ולשאלה השני' - ראה יו"ד סימן ק"נ סעיף ב. #13149Show more
Question: Is there a problem to walk by a church? Is it best to cross the street? What if crossing the street is out of your way? Also, there is an inyan to avoid looking at a church, correct?… Question: Is there a problem to walk by a church? Is it best to cross the street? What if crossing the street is out of your way? Also, there is an inyan to avoid looking at a church, correct? Answer: The custom by Jews was to take detours to avoid passing in front of a church, and Jewish mothers taught their children to not even look at a cross. (Parenthetically, the Rebbe mentioned this in regards to having a TV, and said that by having a TV one is bringing the church, priest and cross into the house…Show more
Although one may use Maaser money to support a Torah institution, one may not use Maaser money to pay for the admission for a production. The production is made for the students involvement etc., and the one viewing it… Although one may use Maaser money to support a Torah institution, one may not use Maaser money to pay for the admission for a production. The production is made for the students involvement etc., and the one viewing it is paying for his/her entertainment. See also here: Halacha2go.com #474: Paying for a Shul Dinner from Maaser מ״מ Sources: כך הוא לענ"ד, ויתירה מזו כתב באג"מ חו"מ ח"ב…Show more
Answer: As per the description quoted below, it is basically amazon.com donating charity in lieu of your purchase and can not be considered Ma'aser. What is AmazonSmile? AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite… Answer: As per the description quoted below, it is basically amazon.com donating charity in lieu of your purchase and can not be considered Ma'aser. What is AmazonSmile? AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. You can choose from over one million organizations to…Show more
Question: I am working on writing and illustrating a book for my students. The cost of art supplies is very expensive, and I can not currently afford it. Many family members and friends are helping with money. Would I… Question: I am working on writing and illustrating a book for my students. The cost of art supplies is very expensive, and I can not currently afford it. Many family members and friends are helping with money. Would I be able to accept Maaser money? It's a book with Yiddishe and Chassidishe values, aimed to empower the children as the Rebbe's soldiers. However, not all the art supplies will end up being used exclusively for this book, it'll also be used for practicing and there will probably be leftovers. Answer: Chinuch is a legitimate cause for the usage…Show more
Question: If I am eating chicken and peas together on the same plate but not mixed like a salad are they considered mixed and then I will only have to make a bracha on the ikar? and is… Question: If I am eating chicken and peas together on the same plate but not mixed like a salad are they considered mixed and then I will only have to make a bracha on the ikar? and is there a difference if a lot of times you end up eating them together or not? Answer: They are considered mixed if they are normally eaten together. In other words, they both end up usually in the spoon, or in your mouth at the same time. The first bite must include the primary ingredient. Sources: לדעת אדה״ז, אפילו ניכר כל מין בפ״ע, יש דין…Show more
Question: If one doesn't have enough wine to fill up the kiddush cup, can water be added? (Speaking about regular wines which could be are already heavily diluted) or is there another alternative such as chamar medina, challah,… Question: If one doesn't have enough wine to fill up the kiddush cup, can water be added? (Speaking about regular wines which could be are already heavily diluted) or is there another alternative such as chamar medina, challah, etc.? Answer: One may only add water to the extent that the wine – or grape juice – can still be drunk as wine and served to guests that way. See here for more conditions: https://asktherav.com/7702-diluting-the-seder-wine-due-to-health-concerns/ And if not, then is it better just to make kiddush without a full cup, You can add something else to the cup,…Show more
Question: I sometimes learn while sitting on my couch which is located near a bathroom. Sometimes the bathroom door is left open. Is it a problem to learn when the door to the bathroom is open? Answer: Strictly… Question: I sometimes learn while sitting on my couch which is located near a bathroom. Sometimes the bathroom door is left open. Is it a problem to learn when the door to the bathroom is open? Answer: Strictly speaking with our bathrooms nowadays it's not a problem, provided that they are clean and that there is no bad smell. However lechatchilah if one is sitting in sight of the bathroom he should close the door to the bathroom. Sources: ראה שוע''ר סי' ע''ט ס''ה. אבל לכתחילה טוב להחמיר…Show more
Question: I work in a yeshiva which not all the students are coming from religious backgrounds. Often students aren’t doing mitzvos because they don’t want to spend the money on it, not because they can’t afford it. If I… Question: I work in a yeshiva which not all the students are coming from religious backgrounds. Often students aren’t doing mitzvos because they don’t want to spend the money on it, not because they can’t afford it. If I pay for it, they will happily do it. For example, paying for their membership to the mikveh. Paying for them to buy woolen Tzitzis. May I use maaser money to pay for these things? Answer: Masser may be used to assist others in doing their mitzvos. However, the cases mentioned are somewhat questionable: Mikvah every day before davening isn’t…Show more
Question: If I ordered a taxi for 5:00 in the morning and The driver came and waited. But I did not wake up, do I have to pay for the taxi? Answer: A customer who orders a taxi,… Question: If I ordered a taxi for 5:00 in the morning and The driver came and waited. But I did not wake up, do I have to pay for the taxi? Answer: A customer who orders a taxi, and then cancels in advance with legitimate cause, is not required to pay. On the other hand, if the driver lost another potential job because of the reservation, the customer is liable. The same applies if the driver already began traveling to the pick-up location and was unable to recoup his fare by engaging another customer. The sum required of…Show more
Correct. (This applies even if the knee area itself is covered; if it becomes exposed, it’s a breach of Tznius regardless). The following is a quote from the Minchas Yitzchok: We are alarmed to hear of a new… Correct. (This applies even if the knee area itself is covered; if it becomes exposed, it’s a breach of Tznius regardless). The following is a quote from the Minchas Yitzchok: We are alarmed to hear of a new dreadful breach in the wall of tzniut in relation to female dress. The fire has already caught hold of the periphery of the camp of shomrei Torah umitzvos. This is to wear dresses that have slits either at their sides or in the center, which is a manner of dress that represents pritzus and rebellion. A Bas Yisroel who wears…Show more
Shehechiyanu isn't recited on dried fruit. Sources: ע״פ מג״א רכה, יא, וסדר ברה״נ יא, טו, שצ״ל…
Question: I am looking to buy a Mayim Acharonim set for convenience. What is the minhag and the nekuda in regards to not using a silver Mayim Acharonim? Is it silver mamosh? Or is the nekuda also in… Question: I am looking to buy a Mayim Acharonim set for convenience. What is the minhag and the nekuda in regards to not using a silver Mayim Acharonim? Is it silver mamosh? Or is the nekuda also in regards to something silver shining but not real silver? Or even not to have a set? Answer: It’s our custom not to use silver. The reason not to use silver is because it’s the portion set aside for the “sitra achara”. It’s OK to have a set for convenience but it shouldn’t be something fancy such as silver. Sources: ע״פ סה״ש תש״ב ע׳ 93. חלקו הועתק בהגש״פ עם…Show more
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