Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 3266 Hearts and Flowers
May I give flowers to my nonreligious grandmother for her birthday during Nine Days?...
# 3265 The Able Avel II
Can an Avel get an aliya on Tisha Beav?...
# 3264 The Able Avel
Since Tisha Beav is called Moed or a Yom Tov, can an Avel siting Shiva go to shul and daven at the amud?...
# 3263 Keep on Eating
When someone bentches (recites Birchat Hamazon), before the Shekiah on Shabbos Chazon that is followed by Tisha Beav as it is this year (2021 - see question above), can he still eat after bentching un...
# 3262 Make it Interesting!
A Shul prepares Shalosh Seudos also on Shabbos Chazon that precedes Tisha Beav on Sunday, and the people stay after Mincha and eat there and stop eating as required before sunset. Is it better that th...
# 3261 Get in Tune with the Times
Is it correct to sing on Friday night - Shabbos Chazon the niggun of Lecha Dodi using the sad tune of E-li Tzion that we sing after Kinos on Tisha Beav? Is that not "Avelus Befarhesia" or a case of op...
# 3260 A Shabbos Without Flowers?
One that buys flowers for home every Friday Lik’vod (in honor of) Shabbos. Should he also do so for Shabbos Chazon, (Shabbos before Tisha Beav)?...
# 3259 Question Mark II
(See question 3258 above). If one is not obliged to remove tattoos one acquired when he was still a Gentile or was not frum, would the same apply to tattoos that express immoral messages and show libe...
# 3258 Question Mark
A friend of mine who used to be frum asked you a question regarding being buried in a Jewish cemetery when marked with tattoos. He would like to know what is the Halacha and if he needs to remove t...
# 3257 Buen Provecho
In certain countries like Mexico it is customary to greet a friend eating a meal with Buen Provecho, similar to Bon Apetite in french or Beteavon in Hebrew. One encountering friends eating and not gre...
# 3256 Say It and Spray It
Can one install a grass sprinkling system during the Nine Days?...
# 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?...