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The bag that actually holds the Tefillin and a Mezuzah case are both considered a תשמיש קדושה (usage of holiness) and they should be placed in Geniza. See here regarding the outer plastic "shoulder bag": https://asktherav.com/10145-disposing-of-things-used-for-holy-objects/ Sources: See Shulchan Aruch Harav (Orach Chayim 42:6). Shulchan Aruch…
Question: I have a (removable) polymer resin and acrylic false-tooth. May I eat milchig and fleishig with it in my mouth? Answer: In general, before eating milk products, and even beyond the required waiting time after eating meat… Question: I have a (removable) polymer resin and acrylic false-tooth. May I eat milchig and fleishig with it in my mouth? Answer: In general, before eating milk products, and even beyond the required waiting time after eating meat (and vice versa)—one must always ensure that no actual meat particles remain between one’s teeth. Accordingly, as long as your artificial tooth is clean, you may freely eat both dairy and meat without the need for a designated pair of dentures for each. The above permission applies whether the food you are eating is cold or hot. However, regarding hot…Show more
A sign is okay on the door. And so is the Jewish custom in many places. Source: ראה שו״ת נוב״י תנינא יו״ד קפג. #5632 (2)
Answer: According to all opinions, Maariv is optional for women and girls. However, some Poskim maintain that Maariv on Friday night has unique status (for various reasons), and, accordingly, women are obligated to Daven Kabolas Shabbos. Therefore, it is… Answer: According to all opinions, Maariv is optional for women and girls. However, some Poskim maintain that Maariv on Friday night has unique status (for various reasons), and, accordingly, women are obligated to Daven Kabolas Shabbos. Therefore, it is appropriate that women and girls make a special effort to Daven Maariv on Friday night. Sources: בשערי תשובה סי’ רסח סקי”ג הביא בשם היעב”ץ במור…Show more
Only on a hook in the door. Not in the Aron Kodesh itself. In the shelves beneath it’s okay. Source: שו״ת נוב״י תנינא יו״ד קפג. #5632 (1)
Question: Poskim mention that there should be at least a finger's-breadth between each Chanukah flame. So if the candle-holders are attached to each other (with no space between each “cup”)—is such a Menorah less Mehudar? Answer: The… Question: Poskim mention that there should be at least a finger's-breadth between each Chanukah flame. So if the candle-holders are attached to each other (with no space between each “cup”)—is such a Menorah less Mehudar? Answer: The reasoning behind this rule of a finger’s-breadth (“etzbah”), is so that the individual flames of a Menorah should not appear or become like a “torch/bonfire.”. This is especially problematic when using wax candles, because as the candles melt, they tend to merge into one candle/flame if positioned too closely to each other. Accordingly, as long as the wicks…Show more
Answer: Someone once asked the Rebbe this question, only that the person was asking if he needed to repeat the shiur if he had already done so the night previously. To this, the Rebbe answered, לא שמעתי בזה. (In… Answer: Someone once asked the Rebbe this question, only that the person was asking if he needed to repeat the shiur if he had already done so the night previously. To this, the Rebbe answered, לא שמעתי בזה. (In other words, the Rebbe did not give a definitive answer whether the Chitas said the night previously counted at all.) It appears, therefore, that one should avoid this in the first place. Rambam may be studied the night before. Sources: היכל מנחם ב ע׳ לח. ומפורש גם בשיחת שמח״ת…Show more
Question: I used a (clean) milchig spoon to stir hot tea in a fleishig mug. The tea, however, was pareve. Is the spoon now okay to use? Answer: Yes, it’s ok to use. (See sources below for… Question: I used a (clean) milchig spoon to stir hot tea in a fleishig mug. The tea, however, was pareve. Is the spoon now okay to use? Answer: Yes, it’s ok to use. (See sources below for reasoning.) Sources: סימן צה סעיף ג ובט״ז שם ומשב"ז. קה סעיף…Show more
A Baal Nefesh does not have to be Machmir when eating less than a Shiur Kevius Seuda of cakes and cookies if the other ingredients - other than flour - are the majority of the batter or dough. (The… A Baal Nefesh does not have to be Machmir when eating less than a Shiur Kevius Seuda of cakes and cookies if the other ingredients - other than flour - are the majority of the batter or dough. (The water shouldn’t be included with neither the flour nor the other ingredients when making this calculation). Sources: סדר ברה״נ פ״ב הלכה ט, שם פ״ג הלכה ד…Show more
The color brown is never a problem with eggs. Sources: ראה פס״ד להצ״צ סי׳ סו. שו״ת טוטו״ד ג, רסג.…
No. Sources: ראה שו"ע סימן שב סעיף א ברמ"א, שחושש לדעת…
Question: When I prepare my Shabbos meal, like cutting salads etc., I start way in advance because BH I have a baby and I need to stop in middle to take care of her, and then I have to… Question: When I prepare my Shabbos meal, like cutting salads etc., I start way in advance because BH I have a baby and I need to stop in middle to take care of her, and then I have to feed her right before the meal. My question is: am I allowed to be Borer good from bad, if it will take me a long time to prepare, with a bunch of breaks? Is that still called Samuch L'Seudah? I need all of that time, if I want to be ready on time. Answer: According to halacha, the…Show more
The inside box that holds the Torah? The doors also? How about the entire design on the outside that makes it look larger and is part of the extended Aron Kodesh? Answer: The whole Aron should be buried.… The inside box that holds the Torah? The doors also? How about the entire design on the outside that makes it look larger and is part of the extended Aron Kodesh? Answer: The whole Aron should be buried. Sources: בשו"ע או"ח סי' קנד ס"ג כותב המחבר דיש לגונזן.…Show more
As long as it is clean and there are no particles of food, there is no problem to eat milchig and fleishig either cold or hot with the same false tooth and there is no need to have a… As long as it is clean and there are no particles of food, there is no problem to eat milchig and fleishig either cold or hot with the same false tooth and there is no need to have a separate ones for milichig and fleishig. Best would be, if possible, to be more stringent and transfer all hot food to a keli sheni first. טעמים ומקורות: בנוגע לשניים תותבות - עיין בדרכי תשובה סי’ פט ס”ק יא, שראוי ליר״ש להחמיר שיהיו שיניים מיוחדות לבשר וחלב. ועכ״ז המנהג להקל. וכמה טעמים בדבר. ומהם, דדמיא לשיניים טבעיות (אבל ראה שו״ת…Show more
Question: A certain company which typically looks to hire talented help with experience in their specific field is having a problem, since it is very difficult, as there are very few qualified candidates. A recommendation was made to a… Question: A certain company which typically looks to hire talented help with experience in their specific field is having a problem, since it is very difficult, as there are very few qualified candidates. A recommendation was made to a Jewish person in this company to identify competing companies and have an executive recruiter fish for candidates; looking for qualified candidates who for whatever reason are looking to make a switch. Would it be Hasogas Gvul for this Jewish employee to just give the name of Jewish-owned competing companies? Answer: Giving a name isn’t Hasogas Gvul but s considered…Show more
A husband and wife are forbidden to have relations in front of a child who is able to speak if he is awake. From the simple reading of Shulchan Aruch and Poskim it would imply that that the child… A husband and wife are forbidden to have relations in front of a child who is able to speak if he is awake. From the simple reading of Shulchan Aruch and Poskim it would imply that that the child has to speak full sentences. If the child is sleeping, there is no problem. Though midas chassidus is to put up a mechitza when they are sleeping as well. This is in addition to the practical reason that they may wake up. Sources: S"A O"C 240:6 & Aruch Hashulchan O"C 240:11. See…Show more
If there is a chance that the goy will realize and it will thus cause a Chilul Hashem then one must inform the goy (therefore when possible one should tell the goy that “I’m relying on your calculation”). Likewise,… If there is a chance that the goy will realize and it will thus cause a Chilul Hashem then one must inform the goy (therefore when possible one should tell the goy that “I’m relying on your calculation”). Likewise, if asked about this by the goy you cannot deny that you received the extra goods. In absence of the above circumstances you may keep the additional item. *The above is the “letter of the law”. It must however be mentioned that the Sefer Chasidim writes, (roughly:) “Do not do treat the goyim unjustly as this will only pull…Show more
B'yechidus with a hat, jacket and gartel. However you should be present when the Minyan davens and answer Kaddish, Kedusha etc. Sources: משום הכון לקראת אלוקיך, וכעומד לפני המלך, שהוא מדינא…
Question: I was recommended to do martial arts for good fitness and focus, with the bonus of some self defense techniques. Is this allowed? They claim to be Pareve and not religious. Answer: Martial arts is not a… Question: I was recommended to do martial arts for good fitness and focus, with the bonus of some self defense techniques. Is this allowed? They claim to be Pareve and not religious. Answer: Martial arts is not a recommended sport activity. For keeping healthy, a different exercise or sport is more advisable. Reasoning: The idea of martial arts could be permissible (albeit not endorsed) if the following conditions are met: 1) No women in the vicinity where the martial arts taking place. 2) One cannot hurt another person or be hurt (for example taking punches while making…Show more
Question: When I give my baby a bath, often the most comfortable position to do it is by kneeling, meaning to have my knees on the floor and bend into the bath. Is this an issue? The floor is… Question: When I give my baby a bath, often the most comfortable position to do it is by kneeling, meaning to have my knees on the floor and bend into the bath. Is this an issue? The floor is made from tiles. I also have a small rug near the bath I sometimes kneel on, is that any better? Answer: You may help your baby with a bath even when your knees are touching the tile floor. There is no need here to place a towel under your knees. Reasoning: The main problem is prostrating and touching…Show more
An Amah by two Amos (48 cm. x 96 cm.), provided he can do the "ituf" with that size. It’s best to have it a bit larger, in case it folds or shrinks. According to Kabala it… An Amah by two Amos (48 cm. x 96 cm.), provided he can do the "ituf" with that size. It’s best to have it a bit larger, in case it folds or shrinks. According to Kabala it should cover head, body and arms and reach at least the end of his chest (front and back). Any standard Tallis Gadol usually is the correct shiur. Sources: ראה שו"ע אדה"ז טז, א. ובסידור פירש שיעורו. ומוכרח…Show more
It is true that the Rebbe did usually not use an umbrella. However, I’m not aware of any indication that others should not use an umbrella. At times, others held an umbrella above the Rebbe. Sources: ראה ימי בראשית ע׳ 243 ושם בהע׳ 18. מעשה…
Ma'aser money may be used to purchase the raffle tickets, since the money is ultimately benefitting a proper Tzedakah organization. However, the prize would become the property of the tzedakah organization. Please see here: https://asktherav.com/article-485-may-i-use-maaser-money-to-buy-a-ticket-at-an-auction/
Question: Is it a Halachic issue for a woman to wear leggings? If girls go on a trip with an activity that wearing leggings, under the skirt of course, as an added value for Tznius, is also an issue… Question: Is it a Halachic issue for a woman to wear leggings? If girls go on a trip with an activity that wearing leggings, under the skirt of course, as an added value for Tznius, is also an issue of לא ילבש? Same applies for pajamas at night, as an added Tznius? What about wearing woman pajama pants? Answer: 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 need to be covered are done so— and more than that, the…Show more
Sometimes one is bombarded with people all day long, while learning and davening, or at home. Therefore, if one is in the middle of a Mitzvah, even if one is busy with their children which is also a Mitzvah,… Sometimes one is bombarded with people all day long, while learning and davening, or at home. Therefore, if one is in the middle of a Mitzvah, even if one is busy with their children which is also a Mitzvah, they do not have to do another Mitzvah. However, if one is in the middle of learning, they have to interrupt their learning and give the person Tzedaka. Additionally, the Mitzvas Lo Saasei of Al Yoshuv Dach Nichlam, not to let a person go empty-handed, does not apply to someone who is collecting for other people or for institutions,…Show more
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