Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 2748 Save That Vav
I was leining at Shabbos Mincha and didn’t see the traditional Vav Keti’a in the Sefer Torah. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the Sofer had merely used his knife and cut the very bottom o...
# 2747 The Spreading Firestorm
Some people connect the burning of the sefarim in Paris on 1242 to the fire on Notre Dame last year. Is there anything to that? (See questions 2730 and 2746)...
# 2746 That Really Burn Us Up
(See question 2730). Thank you for explaining that unusual fast of Erev Shabbos Chukas. Although I understand the remez (allusion) in the Targum, still what connection does the burning of the sefarim ...
# 2745 Casual Dress?
The Gemara in Pesachim 112 says not to wear clothing for eight days after they were laundered. But there is a takana of Ezra Hasofer to launder on Thursday to have clean clothing for Shabbos (a day la...
# 2744 A Halfway House?
I am learning about money management from a secular book. It suggests leaving the house to your children from the first marriage. What does Jewish law say about this if you’re in a second marri...
# 2743 Noach Would Be Proud
My fourth question is: How far can this go? We know that when someone is going through the process of giyur, they are supposed to begin observing all hilchos Shabbos, but still have to do one melacha ...
# 2742 The Best of All Fasts
My third question is:(See questions 2740-41 above): If that is OK, could they then accept upon themselves some restrictions. For example, it is popular today for people to do a "media fast" where they...
2741 Shoimer Sabbath Koidesh
(See question 2740 above). The second question is one that I am constantly being asked by Bnai Noach. It involves to what degree they may observe Shabbos. Until now, I have been advising people that ...
# 2740 No Returns?
1) June 23 Chukas B. Q. My first (question) is regarding a situation I was asked about from a ger tzedek. He heard that there is talk about conversions being annulled. So, I wanted to ask for hi...
# 2739 Goodbye Kiss?
I’m always makpid (careful) to kiss my tzitzis during shema. Now I’m wearing a mask during davening as recommended for my age. How can I kiss the tzitzis when all I’ll be doing is kissi...
# 2738 Lean and Mean
On question 2712 you wrote that on Shabbat one can lean on the tree slightly, when not moving it. but one can’t place a siddur on a tree. Can one leave his chair leaning slightly on a tree on an ...
# 2737 The Bird that Flew Away
When one wants to do the great mitzva of shiluach haken, does he actually have to take hold of the bird and then send it away? What happens if as he was approaching the nest, it just flew away, was he...
# 2736 Cast a Spell
Can you please tell me what the proper Hebrew spelling for Newmarket would be? And when writing it on a Kesubah, would it be proper to identify Newmarket (Ontario, Canada), as הסמ...
# 2735 A Pearl On Wisdom
Why is the bracha on the amida of Atta Chonen, on which we pray for wisdom and understanding, be said before the bracha of Hashivenu Letoratecha or returning and keeping the Torah? Should not the obse...
# 2734 Forgive But Don't Forget
In the Shemoneh Esrei, there is an optional prayer for forgiveness where you confess your willful sins since childhood. I thought our slate was wiped clean every Yom Kippur and upon marriage, so why ...
# 2733 The Making of a Name
Teshuvos Betzel Hachachma (3:41) writes that one shouldn’t name a shul or other holy place after a mechalel shabbos, for example, if a frum person wanted to donate a shul in memory of his parents...
# 2732 Find Your Holy Tongue
the Piskei Teshuvos siman 154 os 37 says that it is a problem to write names of donors inside a shul in any language other than lashon hakodesh - is this really a problem? Would it make a difference i...
# 2731 Stone Deaf and Mute?
Do you need to eulogize the departed one at the time of the unveiling of the matzeva? How about if the deceased did not like at all speeches and eulogies?...
# 2730 More Fast Talk
I heard in a shiur that some people fast on Erev Shabbos Parshas Chukas and unlike other ta’anesim that depend on the day of the month, this one does not have a specific date, but it has to do wi...
# 2729 Blessings Without Disguise
If one eats a meal in a public park with his children, when benching what harachaman should one say?...