Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,519 questions and answers
# 2358 Torah Deal or Just a Meal
Can someone who usually fasts on Erev Rosh Hashana when possible, attend a siyum and thus avoid fasting?...
# 2357 A Late Train
Can a Baal Tokea blow shofar to train and prepare on the night of Rosh Hashana or on the morning before davening, if he has then specific intention of not being yotze with the mitzva?...
# 2356 Stay Home?
Does an avel during shiva go to shul on Erev Rosh Hashana? If he does and that is the last day of shiva, does he return home or he is lifted from shiva at the shul?...
# 2355 Dure and Easy
Why are the piyutim of the Selichos so complicated, and difficult to understand as they use words that are totally unknown to most of us? They probably were also challenging and cryptic to the masses ...
# 2354 Say it Right
We mention always we are going to "say Selichos," in Hebrew we say "omrim Selichos," or "zogg’n Selichos" in Yidish. Should not the correct expression be "ask Selichos or lebakesh or betn?" After...
# 2353 The Law on Bending
Can one to avoid giving a handshake to a woman, bow slightly with palms together, as Hindu and Buddhist do (namaste greeting)?...
# 2352 Seasoned Greetings
Can a man greet a woman using a high-five or fist-bump salutation? How about if he is careful not to touch her hand, (he retrieves it fast, before they touch)?...
# 2351 On a Handshake
I am working in a lawyer’s office. The lawyer is frum, but on the modern side. There is a client that came in and the lawyer shook hands with her. Afterwards, the lady extended her hand to me. My...
# 2350 Judging Another on One's Own Merits
I bought a rather long list of items at a kosher store, and I was clearly cheated when being charged about ten dollars for something I did not buy. I didn’t notice until I got home and I was deba...
# 2349 Make No Mistake About It
Re - If the Baal Tokea keeps on making mistakes, can one demand from the congregation that another Baal Tokea should blow instead, or should one go to another shul if possible?...
# 2348 Who Blew It?
If the Baal Tokea on Rosh Hashana keeps on making mistakes in the shofar blowing is that considered to be a siman ra’a or bad omen for the congregation?...
# 2347 An Answer to a No Answer Question
I applied for a job at a frum school. I emailed the director at the personal email and then realized that because it was work related-that it should go out to the work email. I never got any respons...
# 2346 Forgive the Forget?
Re- question above. If one forgot and the vehicle battery was not disconnected before Shabbos, but no AC, lights, clocks or indicating dials turn on when opening the door, can one be lenient in case o...
# 2345 Shabbos Sleeping at the Wheel
Can one use a parked camper, motorhome, RV (recreational vehicle) or sprinter van or bus on Shabbos or Yom Tov, that has living quarters including bed, kitchen sink, fridge, freezer, oven, microwave, ...
# 2344 The More The Better?
Can the husband say kaddish together with the children, for his wife and their mother....
# 2343 Moving Rituals
2) (See re-interment question above, of a father buried in another city and being moved to Toronto.) So they basically wanted to know: (a) Does there have to be a shomer after the body is exhumed ...
# 2342 The Moving Spirit
1) Shalom Aleichem Rebbe: I was calling about a question someone asked me about re- internment of their father from F. to Toronto. She and her brother are not frum, but they want to have their paren...
# 2340 For The Not-Foreseeable Future
One who is undecided if to go ahead with a proposed shiduch and choose a marriage partner, and is emotionally very affected by the uncertainty and doubt. Is it recommended or even permissible to follo...
# 2339 Lots on Casting Lots
Q. Re- above question. Why is it permitted to flip a coin to establish who has rights or is the owner of a property. does that not contravene the prohibition of not divining the future or the positive...
# 2338 Two Sides of the Same Coin
Two friends who daven in the same shul are competing to acquire a High Holidays front seat, that for x reason they are both entitled to. They decided between them to flip a coin. But after the coin wa...