Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,519 questions and answers
# 3255 Garden Variety
Can one have his gardener cut the grass, spread weed killer and fertilizer during the Nine Days?...
# 3254 Clothes Make the Time?
If someone is invited to a Bris Milah or a Bar Mitzva during the Nine Days, can one wear Shabbos clothing?...
# 3253 Stay Put?
If someone attends a shiur by Zoom and the others can see him attending, is he allowed to leave early? Could this be considered as abandoning the mitzva of ’Berov Am Hadras Melech" (a mitzva shou...
# 3252 What's Your Pleasure?
One who must continue to take medications on a fast day since he suffers from a chronic condition and the pills must be taken with water. Does he make a bracha on the water on that day since he much e...
# 3251 A Shining Example
Can one polish silver plates and similar during the Nine Days?...
# 3250 Better Never than Late?
When breaking the fast on Sunday night motzoi Tisha Bav, is it better to wash on bread to be yotzi meleva malka, which some say can be until Tuesday?...
# 3249 Only Hope in Hashem
A woman that has a sister living in the recently collapsed building in Miami and lost all contact with her. She assumes that likely she is L’A not alive anymore as a week has already elapsed. Can...
# 3248 Season of no Greetings
May one write a greeting on Tisha Bav, such as to write good afternoon in an email or to text good morning to his nonreligious mother? Can one answer an email from a non-observant, or a Gentile w...
# 3247 Words On a Clean Mouth
See question 3240 above. Can one use a bit of mouthwash while brushing during a Ta’anis Tzibur ? Is it better than water?...
# 3246 Your Secrets are Safe with Us?
See question 3245 above. Is it permitted to have a security camera inside a Mikva for men? Should one avoid attending such a Mikva?...
# 3245 Smile and Daven
Is it permitted to have security cameras inside a shul? Do you have to inform the attendants that they are being taped?...
# 3244 Pill Pileup?
Regarding one taking a sleeping pill during late afternoon Shabbos, for having effect after Shabbos. It is needed to be taken early, since otherwise it will affect that person in the morning after and...
# 3243 A Flying Visit?
When one goes to the cemetery to take part in a Matzeva unveiling, if he arrived early, can he first visit the Kever of his relatives buried nearby? If he walked by the Kever of his parents on the w...
# 3242 Maftir Mazal
If two people have yohrzait on the same Shabbos, can they cast a Goral Ha’grah or any other lots or raffle, to decide who gets maftir. If the one who gets Maftir also pays for the kiddush afte...
# 3241 Spin the Doctor?
The rofim mumchim (expert physicians) in the New England Journal of Medicine ( NEJM), CHOP, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and of Boston, and Sick Kids in Toronto do NOT RECOMMEND that child...
# 3240 Spit In?
Can one brush his teeth on a Ta’anis without using any water or toothpaste, just one’s own saliva and then spiting it?...
# 3239 Testing the Tasting
Because of my medical condition, I’m permitted to take pills during the fast of Shiva Assar Betamuz. The pills have to be taken with a glass of water. Do I make a bracha on the water? Although,...
# 3238 A Fast Sheva Brochos?
Someone making a Sheva Brochos for a couple that got married this week (the week before Shiva Asar Betamuz) can they play music from a tape on Motzei Shabbos, which is the night of the fast, as it is ...
# 3237 Deck the Suka?
Is one allowed during the three weeks to build a backyard deck that will be used for building a Suka on it? The posts for the Suka’s schach will be constructed also then....
# 3236 Don't Forget This
How long is one allowed to leave a sefer one is learning from open, when exiting a room?...