Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
6099 – The Lengthy Long View
Q. Why do we not see in our synagogues the blowing of the long shofar, that seems to be more beautiful than the customary short ones? What is the source of those nice shofars?...
6098 - Not a Nice Noise?
Q. My dearest Rabbi and friend. As you well know I go to blow shofar to some of my neighbors who are elderly and unable to come to shul. Yet a number of his great young grandchildren are also present ...
6097– Blow Your Own Horn?
Q. Is it a greater mitzva for one to blow the Shofar himself, when one is well trained and knowledgeable in the Halachot, than just to hear it from someone else?...
6096 – An Invitation. - Respected Rabbanim
Tashlich, On our private property which is for residents only, there a beautiful pond with a waterfall that abounds with fish and flora. It is a very fragile ecosystem....
6095 - Who Blew It?
Q. Hon. Rabbi We have a debate in our shul if we should maintain our elderly shofar blower for many years with a younger more crafty and capable one. What is the correct thing to do on the days that p...
6094 - The Brief on Brief
Q. Shana Tova, Kvod Horav Shlit’a. As I often do on Rosh Hashana, I blow the shofar in a nearby Old Age Home, yet the authorities are reluctant if it bothers other people nearby, what can I do?...
6093 - Blow Away Blow?
Q. Dear Rov, Shana Tova Umetuka. I read in a Torah article that when Rosh Hashana coincides with Shabbat, as it is on this year and you don’t blow the Shofar, it is bad omen for the year. Is that true...
6092 – Shofar So Clean!
Q. Dear Rabbi. If the shofar used on Rosh Hashana was not kept in a separate clean bag, and just was inside part of the storing place of the shul used openly and it likely may contain some dirt or oth...
6091 – Blowing Away the Blow?
Q. If the Baal Tokea suffers from a bad cold does his flowing saliva become a chatzitza or separation from his mouth with the shofar, and he should not blow?...
6090 - The Long View -
Q. Dear Rabbi, Shana Tovah. Some people of our shul acquired a few long shofars and they want to use them since they claim that a long shofar is more beautiful and also sounds better; do we have to do...
6089 – Allways Face Upward?
Q. Rabenu Shlit’a. Is it required that the open end of the shofar on Rosh Hashana should be facing upward? If not does the Baal Tokea have to bend himself so it faces up?...
6088 Ask Nitzavim – Vayelech 86 - –
Q. I See the Ice! Q. Dear Rabbi and neighbor. Can I use the large pieces of ice of the most powerful thunderstorm that tore through Toronto yesterday Wednesday, bringing down also a big amount of hai...
6087 – The Tragic Teshuva!
Q. To: Rabbi A. Bartfeld <rabartfeld@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 03:08:29 PM EDT Dear Rov as you already know my grandmother (93 years) was in a car accident due to today's severe...
6086 – The Conclusion of the Demolition?
Q. Regarding construction, what about if the demolition was not finished as scheduled, could the demolition and or clean-up also be done on Chol Hamoed?...
6085 – Toiling on Toil Translation?
Q. See question above. So what toil is actually permitted in Chol Hamoed?...
6084 – A Gentile Foundation?
Q. Rabbi Long Life. If one is about to build a house and needs to get the foundation poured in and framing set up before the cold weather begins, with scheduling tight, can one allow a Gentile to cut ...
6083 – Give a Good Guest Blessing!
Dear Rabbenu Shlit"a. If a traveling Jew is invited to a free Shabbat Se'udah in a shul, should he recite the blessing of the guest? ברכת האורח? If so, what is the nusach of the blessing that he shoul...
6082 - More Near and Far Shofar
Q. Dear Rabbi. Can a woman that has a few young children blow the shofar for them at home?...
6081 – So Near and Far Shofar
Q. Dear Rabbi. Can a woman that has a few young children blow the shofar for them at home?...
6080 – - Let’s Understand the Understanding!
Q. When and how exactly do we actually say the Havinenu?...