Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,519 questions and answers
# 2915 Spirit Away
Can one use peeled garlic cloves that are imported from China and packaged in vacuum sealed plastic bags, since the obviously stayed overnight peeled, which we avoid?...
# 2914 Reason to Listen
During the reading of the Torah on Shabbat, sometimes I loose concentration and miss hearing or paying attention to some words and even psukim of the leinning (reading). Was I yotze (complied with) th...
# 2913 Celebrating Dia de los Muertos?
Dear Rabbi; As you probably well know, in Mexico instead of Halloween, people celebrate the next day the "Dia de los Muertos" or the Day of Dead, which is remarkably different. Often candles, flowers...
# 2912 Good Things Come to those Who Wait
I have been learning in a Kolel in Yerushalaim for several years. I’m married with two small children and was offered a position as a rabbi and teacher for three years in a Latin American country...
# 2911 Missed the Boat?
Why is the ark of Noah called a Teiva. Considering its purpose would it not be more correct to call it, an Oniya, (as by Yona and Chiram) or the Targum’s S’finah, meaning a boat or ship?...
# 2910 This Is News to Me
I usually get my news from a usual Bnei Torah accepted news web site, that many frum people use. Yet recently there was a video posted of a speech given by the Israeli Prime Minister delivered during ...
# 2909 Happy Birthday
See question 2904 on birthday celebrations above. If one is allowed to, what would be a proper way of celebrating a birthday?...
# 2908 Catch Your Name
A bochur who became a Baal Teshuva and learns today in a yeshiva was born and raised as a Muslim and went to a Islamic Madrasah. When he became aware that his mother was actually Jewish and he also vi...
# 2907 A Hot Shailah
Can one use a heat-pack or pad outside during Shabbos to keep warm when davening in a backyard minyan? Can one use battery heated socks to be used during Shabbos ....
# 2906 Security Blanket
During these pandemic times when still many, despite the cold weather, daven on outside backyard minyanim, and seek ways to keep warm even during the longer tefilos of Shabbos, a number of questions h...
# 2905 The Slipping Mask
I have a question regarding wearing masks to shul. We have a few female members of our shul who don’t carry and don’t want to wear a mask outside when they walk to shul because they feel...
# 2904 This Takes the Cake
Shalom Harav, We are currently learning Chukos HaAkum in the Link Kollel in Los Angeles under Rabbi Lebhar. It was brought to our attention that birthday cakes and candles have a possible source in...
# 2903 Crumble the Crumbs
In Ask the Rabbi question30 you write: "(It is still prohibited to tread with your feet on the crumbs on the floor, Mishnah Berurah 180, 10)" But doesn’t the MB (444:15) write that you may walk...
# 2902 Up a Tree?
In Ask the Rabbi question 35, the Rav recommends avoiding cutting down a fruit tree, it seems even if it no longer bears fruit. However, it is clear in the Rambam (Hilchos M’lochim 6:9) that one...
# 2901 Abandon Ship?
K’vod Harav, I was in a shul with exactly ten people and four already davened. I was of those that had not davened. However, I am makpid to daven with asara mispallelim, as numerous poskim hold ...
# 2900 Has this Dawned on You?
Regarding the above questions (2898-99) on davening before dawn. Can one say Pesukei Dezimra before the alos (dawn)?...
# 2899 Something New Under the Sun?
In places where the netz hachama (sunrise) is very late, may one daven shacharis at alos (dawn - or even earlier) on a consistent basis? How much before neitz is considered alos?...
# 2898 The Cracking of Dawn
At this time of the year, I have a hard time davening after sunrise (Neitz Hachama) and coming on time to my job. Can I say brachos and korbanos before Alos Hashachar (dawn)?...
# 2897 Burn Away?
See question 2895 above regarding building a columbarium. If the building owner can get a permit for installing a crematorium in that building, would that be also permitted in need?...
# 2896 Wash Away
Re-question 2891 above, regarding women washing clothes during Rosh Chodesh. Is doing the laundry by washing machine also included in the minhag of women not doing work in Rosh Chodesh?...