Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 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 ...
# 2478 Know the First Thing About the Second
If someone forgot to say Al Hanisim in the amida of Chanuka, it says that he can say it in Elokay Netzor, before Yehi leratzon imrei pi, is that the first or second time one repeats that phrase?...
# 2477 In The Right Place
In a shul that usually the menorah is placed on the south side and the one lighting the menorah stands in the back of the menorah facing north and begins lighting from the west towards the east. If f...
# 2476 Better Late Than Whatever
I’m invited to a Chanukah party in another section of town and I’m being picked up about a half an hour before the shekia to be able to attend. Should I light candles before I leave or after...
# 2475 Make Yourself At Home
One who is invited Shabbos Chanuka to a friend’s simcha and will be eating with them at the night seuda, while he will be sleeping with another family and eating the day’s seuda in the shul&...
# 2474 Easy Money
How much is the amount of money to be contributed when one is yotze menorah lighting by joining his host?...
# 2473 Not Sleeping Away
If a person is not eating or sleeping on one of the nights of Chanukah, (he is staying up the whole night learning in a beis medrash), does he still light in his house, even though he is not using his...
# 2472 There Is No Place Like Home
I have three options of where to light erev Shabbos Chanuka: 1. by my parents, with whom I live during the week 2. by my Shabbos host where I will be eating the Friday night seuda 3. by my host...
# 2471 How Did That Turn Out?
We usually extinguish the Chanuka lights in shul after maariv since people go home and it may be dangerous to leave lighted candles on. Is it better to ask the security man to extinguish them after a ...