Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,519 questions and answers
# 2498 Fast To The Very End
Do a bride and groom to be married on the night after Assara Beteves have to fast until the chupa, as is usually done, which may be hours after the fast has finished for all others?...
# 2497 The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread?
Hello Rav. I heard in a shiur that one (of many) segulot for parnasa is to leave over bread on the table. It wasn’t clear if this meant just for Birkat Hamazon or if we should ALWAYS leave bread...
# 2496 For All Intents and Purposes
A woman has the option of davening before neitz (sunrise) standing with more kavana or after neitz sitting in a car with less kavana. Which is the better option?...
# 2495 Twice A Fast
Do a bride and groom to be married on the eve of Assara Beteves have to fast during the day before the chupa, on the ninth of teves also?...
# 2494 Taste Blood
Since one is required to fast when taking some types of blood tests, can one do it during a taanit such as Assara Beteveth that according to some opinions is more severe than others....
# 2493 A Hefsek Psak
Before davening Shacharis in shul, I made a shehakol on a cup of water. After Shacharis, they brought out tikkun (vodka) because it was the yartzeit of the rav’s father. Do I need to make a new s...
# 2492 Saving the Life Jackets
If life jackets that are commonly found on boats contained shatnez, would one be permitted to wear it while out on the water?...
# 2491 Torah Bitul on a Nit'l
I’m from Chasidik background and avoid learning Torah on Nit’l night. Should I also not learn on the ninth of Teveth since according to some it is the day that yoshke was born?...
# 2490 A Major Reading For a Minor Reader
Can a Bar Mitzva boy who is to be Bar Mitzva on Sunday, read the maftir and the Haftorah on the immediate Shabbos before when three Sefer Torahs are read?...
2489 Holy Name or Unholy Shame?
How could they use the Babylonian names for the months, were they not the idolatrous names of their avoda zarah? (See questions 2487-88 above)...
# 2488 Keeping Up To Date
Why is there some reluctance to the use of the names of the secular months in our days, while we accepted totally the use of Aramaic names of months, such as Tishrei, Cheshvan etc.? Why not keep the T...
# 2487 That Time of the Month
Is it better when using the secular date, to write numbers for the months instead of the names of the months, since they may have some avoda zarah deities connotations?...
# 2486 Play Your Cards Right
I have a metrocard (half-price or unlimited). Is it permitted for me to give it to my mechallel Shabbos brother who wants to travel on Friday night? Or should I refuse to give it to him, and let him b...
# 2485 Have Card - Will Travel?
When a person uses a metrocard, he can use it again for free within 90 minutes of the previous use (in order to transfer to another bus). Is it permitted to give it to his wife so that she can use it ...
# 2484 Siyumim Without an End
I am working to a proficiency in Mishnayos. I learn 6 Mishnayos a day and review the Mishnayos done in the previous 8 days. When I complete 18 chapters, I add a separate learning period of reviewing 1...
# 2483 Keep the lights On
If a person knows that his frei (non-religious) parents will extinguish the Chanukah candles on Friday night before going to bed, should one still light in his house, or is one being machshil them and...
# 2482 Women's Praise
Are women obliged to say hallel on Chanuka as they are on lighting the menorah since they were also included in the miracle? Can they just say a few tehilim of praise to Hashem in case of need?...
# 2481 Never Too Early?
Once Shabbat has ended, is it better to light the menorah in the shul before maariv, so at least it will stay on a half and hour or close to it. If lighted after maariv, it will have to be put out aft...
# 2480 See the Light of Day
Why is it that when lighting the menorah in shul in the morning no brocho is recited as is done at night?...
# 2479 The More The Merrier?
In a minyan where they usually make some hosofos (calling additional persons to the reading of the Torah during Shabbos), there is a constant debate between the attendants if you can do the same when ...