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Question: Would it be a halachic problem to attend an event that is held in a public park, that is hosted by Jews and non-Jews, if there is both kosher and non-kosher food being sold? The food is totally… Question: Would it be a halachic problem to attend an event that is held in a public park, that is hosted by Jews and non-Jews, if there is both kosher and non-kosher food being sold? The food is totally separate, separate vendors/tents. Everyone buys thier own food and there are not any tables where people will be eating all together. Answer: Generally, such social events are strongly discouraged, and in certain circumstances - even forbidden. If alcohol is served, one may not eat or drink there. It will depend on many factors and what the purpose of this…Show more
Yes, one may, provided that the garbage contains at least some items which aren’t Muktzah, and which have more importance to you than the other Muktzah items. (For example: food items which are still edible, even if thrown… Yes, one may, provided that the garbage contains at least some items which aren’t Muktzah, and which have more importance to you than the other Muktzah items. (For example: food items which are still edible, even if thrown out before Shabbos, or food items that where thrown out on Shabbos which are edible to animals common in one’s area.) If the garbage only contains Muktzah items (as the case may usually be), one should only open the drawer while using a Shinui. (For example: Using one’s leg or the back of one’s hand). P.S. It should be…Show more
Yes, he may as long as it is not done specifically for an Avodah Zarah or if he writes a name of an Avodah Zarah. Sources: אינו משום ע"ז ורק משום חוקות העכו"ם, וכמו שלא…
Question: I am getting married soon and I have a hard time fasting. I get bad headaches and even after I break my fast I am really out of it until I sleep for the night. I am nervous… Question: I am getting married soon and I have a hard time fasting. I get bad headaches and even after I break my fast I am really out of it until I sleep for the night. I am nervous about fasting on my wedding day because I would expect to be dizzy and weak. My question is if I need to fast, if not do I need to fast a different day, and if yes then when? And if I can eat or drink whenever or whatever I want or there are specific requirements? Thank you! Answer: You…Show more
Question: Are you allowed to open food packages on Shabbos? Specifically, these are the examples I am referring to: Take off the plastic from chummus or cream cheese packages, Open a bag of pretzels, Bissli, etc. Take off the… Question: Are you allowed to open food packages on Shabbos? Specifically, these are the examples I am referring to: Take off the plastic from chummus or cream cheese packages, Open a bag of pretzels, Bissli, etc. Take off the cover from a yogurt Open the plastic from individually wrapped pieces of sliced American cheese Obviously besides being careful not to cut the words... Answer: One should avoid opening or separating a bag/container sealed with glue, such as the items you mention in the question. There are some lenient views when the item being opened is disposable and will…Show more
Answer: No, rather you should start saying Shmoneh Esrei together with the chazzan as he begins Chazaras Hashatz following along word-for-word, and say kedusha out loud together with the tzibbur and then continue the quiet Shmoneh Esrei from Ata… Answer: No, rather you should start saying Shmoneh Esrei together with the chazzan as he begins Chazaras Hashatz following along word-for-word, and say kedusha out loud together with the tzibbur and then continue the quiet Shmoneh Esrei from Ata Kadosh. Explanation: The Alter Rebbe writes (109:1): The following rules apply when one enters a shul and finds the tzibur davening Shemoneh Esreh (of minchah)... If he can begin Shemoneh Esreh and complete it before the sheliach tzibbur reaches Kedushah, he should daven [immediately]. If not, he should not daven until he has responded Amen to HaE-l…Show more
Question: In the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch he paskens that for Shachris we don't say tachnun in a shul where a bris is being held (seemingly regardless if the mohel, sandek or Avi haben are there). Is this… Question: In the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch he paskens that for Shachris we don't say tachnun in a shul where a bris is being held (seemingly regardless if the mohel, sandek or Avi haben are there). Is this the minhag Chabad today? Answer: Yes, this psak is followed in Chabad today. Sources: כ״פ אדה״ז בשולחנו קלא, ה. שם ו. ובסידורו לפני…Show more
The Halacha is that a brother may not hug or kiss a sister or vice versa. This applies to any type of affectionate physical contact between them. Dancing together is considered affectionate physical contact. So many poskim have decried… The Halacha is that a brother may not hug or kiss a sister or vice versa. This applies to any type of affectionate physical contact between them. Dancing together is considered affectionate physical contact. So many poskim have decried the practice of mixed dancing due to the physical contact between the genders. It follows that brother and sister too may not have such type of physical contact. Indeed, this is spelled out clearly in a number of contemporary sources indicated below. See also the attached from "A guide to Chabad Weddings", recently published by Mikvah.org and approved by multiple…Show more
Question: I have a storage unit that I visit once every 5 years, it is likely dirty inside the unit but there are boxes with seforim inside among other things. I put a mezuzah on the unit when I… Question: I have a storage unit that I visit once every 5 years, it is likely dirty inside the unit but there are boxes with seforim inside among other things. I put a mezuzah on the unit when I had first acquired it. Do I have any kind of obligation to ensure that the mezuzah stays up or is kosher? Does the unit even need a mezuzah? Answer: Yes, even if you visit only infrequently it is still required to have a Mezuzah since you might go there when you need to. This is provided the unit is…Show more
While it’s best to wear tefillin when saying Shema before davening, especially if one will be eating afterwards, one may say Shema without Tefilin as long as he will be putting on Tefilin later in the day during Shema.… While it’s best to wear tefillin when saying Shema before davening, especially if one will be eating afterwards, one may say Shema without Tefilin as long as he will be putting on Tefilin later in the day during Shema. The Rebbe says that this is the common practice today and explains the halachic basis for this in the sicha noted in the sources below. However, there are those who are makpid to say the first Shema of the day in Tefilin. Sources: ראה: ברכות י"ד ע"ב, שו"ע או"ח סי' כ"ה סעי'…Show more
Question: Is there a solution for someone who wants to sell his house, the first one he bought, which the Gemara considers to be an omen that isn’t positive? Answer: If you're selling in order to buy a… Question: Is there a solution for someone who wants to sell his house, the first one he bought, which the Gemara considers to be an omen that isn’t positive? Answer: If you're selling in order to buy a new house to live in, it's not a problem. Some suggest retaining a window or brick in the sale, so it’s not a complete sale. Sources: קדושין נט, א. ולהעיר, שבכ״מ גרסו המוכר נכסיו הראשונים,…Show more
One who can't daven towards Yerushalaim should turn at least his face towards Yerushalayim if possible. Regardless, he should have in mind as he starts davening Shemone Esrei that his tefillos are ascending via the Holy of holies. If… One who can't daven towards Yerushalaim should turn at least his face towards Yerushalayim if possible. Regardless, he should have in mind as he starts davening Shemone Esrei that his tefillos are ascending via the Holy of holies. If the vehicle changes directions and turning his face distracts his kavanah, he should position himself properly when he starts Shemone Esrei and have in mind as above, as well as directing his heart to Hashem. Sources: ברכות כח, ב. שו״ע או״ח צד, ד. מג״א שם…Show more
Article #256 When Negel Vasser Isn't Available The Zohar says one should not walk four amos upon awakening without having washed negel vasser (the ritual washing of the hands upon awakening). What if a person forgot to prepare negel… Article #256 When Negel Vasser Isn't Available The Zohar says one should not walk four amos upon awakening without having washed negel vasser (the ritual washing of the hands upon awakening). What if a person forgot to prepare negel vasser near their bed? There is a discussion amongst poskim whether one should run to the nearest faucet in order not to delay the purification of their hands, or stop at intervals of less than four amos on the way. The consensus is that the latter option is preferable, but one should do so as quickly as possible. Of course,…Show more
צריך לוודא אצל המשגיח במסעדה. בצורה עקרונית, אין צורך לחשוש. גם במקרה וטיפות חלב מתערבבים בטעות, מותר לשתות אחרי בשרי. מקורות: ראה בהלכה יומית אות תרכט לשאלה דומה. ולהעיר מב״ח…
Question: Should one set up advanced security measures (guards, weapons, training, etc.) in their shul/Chabad house? Included in this question: there is already a Mezuzah. Why doesn't that offer enough protection? And if it does, why would one need… Question: Should one set up advanced security measures (guards, weapons, training, etc.) in their shul/Chabad house? Included in this question: there is already a Mezuzah. Why doesn't that offer enough protection? And if it does, why would one need to take such measures? Answer: I'll start off with an anecdote: A man was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to G-d for help. Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "jump in, I can save you." The stranded man shouted back, "no, it's…Show more
Question 1: Regarding the three steps after Shmoneh Esrei, are they meant to be three steps, as the finishing step which makes the feet next to each other, or is it three and a fourth step to make the… Question 1: Regarding the three steps after Shmoneh Esrei, are they meant to be three steps, as the finishing step which makes the feet next to each other, or is it three and a fourth step to make the feet equal? Answer 1: The common custom - and this was the Rebbe’s practice too - is to take three steps after Shemone Esrai as follows: the first step is with the left foot placed behind the right foot, then a large step with the right foot behind the left foot and then another large step with the left foot…Show more
Question: I am tutoring a teenage boy from a traditional sfardic family. We learned halachos of bishul Yisroel and I told him that a non-Jew may not turn the fire on. After we finished the mother called me and… Question: I am tutoring a teenage boy from a traditional sfardic family. We learned halachos of bishul Yisroel and I told him that a non-Jew may not turn the fire on. After we finished the mother called me and said that she once asked a rov who said that a goyishe helper may turn on the fire and cook at home if someone else is with them in the house or kitchen at the same time. What is the correct answer for this woman? Answer: A Goy may turn on the fire if the cooking is being done…Show more
To avoid all shaalos, one should cut out the fruit around the sticker and leave some fruit with the sticker. Sources: לענין בורר - במאו״א באר שבע שבת עד, א (בדפי…
Question: A member of my community is an owner of a large business with numerous offices in many different buildings across the city. some offices are out of the country, some in countries that he personally is unlikely to… Question: A member of my community is an owner of a large business with numerous offices in many different buildings across the city. some offices are out of the country, some in countries that he personally is unlikely to visit, has no personal office there, and it is exclusively for his workers and perhaps a once a year check-up by him. Most workers are probably not Jewish, and in some cases definitely not Jewish. Does he need to put up mezuzos in each and every office that he owns? If yes, do we apply over here the hiddur to…Show more
You may kill it. See here: https://asktherav.com/when-i-catch-a-mouse-do-i-need-to-kill-it-before-disposing-of-it/#.Xut8dFXYXqU.link #9354
Epoxy is similar to a hardened glue or hard plastic. Accordingly, Minchas Yitzchak 3:67 writes that initially one should not purchase plastic vessels with the intent to kasher them. However if one needs to one could with boiling water.… Epoxy is similar to a hardened glue or hard plastic. Accordingly, Minchas Yitzchak 3:67 writes that initially one should not purchase plastic vessels with the intent to kasher them. However if one needs to one could with boiling water. However, for Pesach one should be stringent and follow the position that it cannot be kashered. One instead would need to cover the epoxy table counters with a thick covering. #9327Show more
Question: My neighbor has a garage that does not have a roof anymore. There are 3 and 3/4 walls. A piece of wood goes across the entire 3/4 wall. Does it need a Mezuzah? Answer: Some say it… Question: My neighbor has a garage that does not have a roof anymore. There are 3 and 3/4 walls. A piece of wood goes across the entire 3/4 wall. Does it need a Mezuzah? Answer: Some say it does not need a mezuzah, as rooms without a ceiling are exempt from mezuzah. Others disagree in a case where it is normal to use such a room without a ceiling. Garages commonly have no ceiling. Thus, a mezuzah should be placed without a Bracha. Sources: תלוי בהבנת חיוב מזוזה בחצר, שלהרמב״ם מזוזה ו, ח,…Show more
Question: May one set a Cuisinart automatic coffee maker on Friday afternoon - with water, coffee filter with coffee grounds - on a timer set to brew the coffee on Shabbos morning? The water would not be heated until… Question: May one set a Cuisinart automatic coffee maker on Friday afternoon - with water, coffee filter with coffee grounds - on a timer set to brew the coffee on Shabbos morning? The water would not be heated until the unit turns on. The coffee would go into the carafe which would not be returned to the unit after serving the coffee. May one drink hot coffee that was brewed - the water was boiled - on Shabbos? If made by a non-Jew for himself? Answer: No. See also here: https://asktherav.com/6878-am-i-allowed-to-set-my-robot-floor-cleaner-to-work-on-shabbos/ If the non-Jew doesn't know you,…Show more
To schedule it before Shabbos to turn off: There’s no issue. To schedule it to turn (back) on: If it is a food that involves a prohibition of cooking on Shabbos (i.e. any not fully cooked food or… To schedule it before Shabbos to turn off: There’s no issue. To schedule it to turn (back) on: If it is a food that involves a prohibition of cooking on Shabbos (i.e. any not fully cooked food or even a fully cooked food which has since cooled off, as well as a solid which will "dissolve" or "melt" into liquid), it is not allowed. Some are stringent even if the food is fully cooked or still hot etc. unless some sort of Blech is placed on the hotplate. ע"פ שו"ע אדה"ז רנג, כז. ובנדו"ד ע"י שעון -…Show more
Question: Does a fire escape need a Mezuzah? Although it's not a regular doorway and only meant for emergencies, c"v, but because of the narrow staircase I have leading into my home, we have actually used the fire escape… Question: Does a fire escape need a Mezuzah? Although it's not a regular doorway and only meant for emergencies, c"v, but because of the narrow staircase I have leading into my home, we have actually used the fire escape as an entrance and exit for larger pieces of furniture in the past couple of years... Does that render it a doorway? Answer: The fire escape is totally exempt from Mezuzah. Sources: רמ"א יו"ד רפו, חי. פטור כיון שמשמש ליציאה בלבד…Show more
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