Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 2708 Identifying Signs of Time
Does one transgress the prohibition of etching a tattoo, if one does not have the intention of writing or illustrating any words, symbols or forms at all. A dot will be tattooed in a specific place, s...
# 2707 Question Mark
Is the prohibition of tattooing oneself prohibited by the Torah only when done for avoda zarah purposes only but other decorative tattoo marks are only Rabbinical? (see next question for what differen...
# 2706 A Wild Goose Chase II
A. I heard that Rav Miller discouraged people to do shiluach haken on geese since they may be considered kosher birds and eaten and there is no such tradition. Why did you write that shiluach haken do...
# 2706 A Wild Goose Chase II
A. I heard that Rav Miller discouraged people to do shiluach haken on geese since then they may be considered kosher birds and eaten, and there is no such tradition. Why did you write that shiluach ha...
# 2705 A Pretty Penny
Can I give $0.01 Cdn tzedakah or do I have to use only American pennies now that ours are out of currency....
# 2704 Never Too Late?
Someone that davens maariv after plag hamincha, while it is still day, and forgot to say korbanos before mincha, can he say them after maariv?...
# 2703 The Aron or the Mizrach?
We daven in a backyard minyan these days. During Yom Tov we took out a mobile Aron Hakodesh with a Sefer Torah, but due to the circumstances it was placed to the north side of the yard, although the s...
# 2702 Open to Questions
Today, June 8th 2020 the government of Ontario announced that commencing this Friday June 12th, places of worship including Shuls can be used provided they operate at 30% capacity. Please tell me if ...
# 2701 The Rabbis Too?
Thank you for your answer (2699) explaining well why do Cohanim turn their back to the Aron Hakodesh. The fact is, that it is not only the Cohanim who behave so, in most shuls and yeshivot, the rabbis...
# 2700 Don't Feed the Animals
Every Shabbos on the last few months a squirrel shows up at the window of our house at the exact time when we make hamotzi in the day, because my kids feed it with a small piece of chalah. Is that per...
# 2699 Face The People
Why do Cohanim turn their back to the Aron Hakodesh when reciting their blessing to the people? Is that not an act of disrespect?...
# 2698 Count your Blessings
How does one reach meah brachos (hundred blessings one should recite every day) on Yom Tov. Some of the birkas hashachar are lost due to not sleeping, plus we eat only two seudas, and it may be hard t...
# 2697 A Free Gift?
(See question 2696 above). Do I have to give maaser from the present?...
# 2696 Remains to be Seen
Someone gave me money for Yom Tov expenses. (He gave me more than necessary, especially since I ate out by some of the meals.) May I spend whatever is left over on other things (including future Shabb...
# 2695 Beat the Heat
Someone left on Shabbos by mistake the crock pot on high, and the cholent will likely burn out. If it has a light that shows when the heat is on, can one turn down the level of heat when it is off on ...
# 2694 Not The Same Brocho
You answered (question 2693) that a wife can recite the brachot of Elokai Neshama and Hamaavir Sheina on behalf of her husband, who didn’t sleep on Shavuos night. Can she also recite the bracha f...
# 2693 A Blessing Wife
It is likely that many will be learning and davening alone this Shavuos. (And when someone stays awake the complete night, he should not recite certain brochos. He then usually asks another person who...
# 2692 Standing for Her Husband
My husband o"h, who passed away l"a recently in the terrible pandemic, was for many years very close to his Rov, as I was too. My husband always made a point to go and visit his rebbe during Yom Tov. ...
# 2691 Call a Visit
Can one comply with the mitzva of Kabolas Pnei Rabo (pay a visit to our Rabbis during Yom Tov) by zoom before Yom Tov?...
# 2690 Better Late Than Never
(See question 2689 above). Sometimes the bachur comes late (he has an aide who brings him). What should I do if I am supposed to daven with him but he is late (I am makpid to start shemone ezre with ...