Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
# 2015 Competent Competing
An insurance salesman had the following question. His business requires offering insurance packages to customers. Often times the customers have previous insurance policies in place, and he is merely ...
# 2014 Catch Me Later
When listening to Havdalah over grape juice, I make a silent stipulation that I am being yotzi with him, unless I decide later on to make my own. Later on, I may decide to repeat Havdalah on wine, esp...
# 2013 Good to Hear Your Voice
A person who will be eating Friday night by a family where the person making Kiddush does not properly articulate the words, mumbles, or otherwise makes Kiddush incorrectly - and does not offer his gu...
# 2012 Sign In?
An elevator that opens directly into someones apartment, and there is a regular wooden door that closes with a lock the entrance from the elevator to the apartment. Does that door that is similar to o...
# 2011 Elevating the Elevator
Does an elevator that measures more than six by six feet and services a condo building were all or most of the owners are Jewish require a mezuza?...
# 2010 Refuah Shleima
I have diabetes Type 2. I need to check my sugar levels a number of times a day to ascertain how much insulin to inject. To inject insulin without checking the sugar level is dangerous because injecti...
# 2009 Am I Right?
I am halachically a lefty, but since there are some sfeikos regarding my status, I put also (tefilin) on my left hand after davening. I always take my shel yad, turn it the other way and put it on. Re...
# 2008 In Heaven's Name!
Re- question 1993 on Yale’s emblem. Columbia University has a coat of arms, it appears on all cards that staff of the university carry clipped to their clothing and also appears on the floor of t...
# 2007 Promises, Promises
If a neder works by forbidding an item onto oneself; why does the world say "Bli neder" to avoid some kind of commitment? wouldn’t it be more appropriate to say bli shavoua?...
# 2006 In His Name or Our Name?​
According to Minhag Ashkenaz, at the end of Birkas HaMazon, we say "HoRachamon Hu Yishlach Lanu Es Eliyah HaNavi Zachur LaTov, Vivoreich Osanu Kol Echad V’Echad Mimenu Bishmo." What is the mean...
# 2005 No Blue Strings Attached
See question 2004 above. Why shouldn’t everyone have the blue wool techeiles-thread added to their tzitzis, since there is no downside and there is nothing to lose if one uses it out of doubt?...
# 2004 Out Of The Blue
I have two questions in regards to using a blue techeiles thread in one’s tzitzis. 1) Is it recommended or permitted for one who doesn’t have that minhag in his family to start wearing tzit...
2003 Amen to That?
Someone who is careful not to recite a brocho unless there is someone present to listen to it and answer amen, would the amen responded by a Gentile who understands or is explained before the meaning ...
# 2002 Reality Check
Does one have to check tefilin and mezuzot using a computer program as it is done in our times with a Sefer Torah?...
# 2001 A Mincha Halacha
Hello Rav, One day a week I work until after sunset and will need to daven mincha during work during most of the winter. There is a mincha in an office building that is a 5 min jog away that davens at...
# 2000 Now Hear This!
(Re- question 1891). Is it important to conclude our recitation of Y’hei Sh’mei Rabbo before the Chazan begins Yisborach, so that we can concentrate on hearing the words that the Chazan is ...
# 1999 Don't Get Carried Away
If one is in a place over Shabbos where there is no eruv, are they permitted to carry an EpiPen since it is pikuach nefesh (life danger)?...
# 1998 Do I Have to Answer That?
On a prior question (1985) you mentioned that it is not obligatory to answer amen on hearing the bracha of a woman. Is that true for all brachot women say?...
# 1997 An Important Date
If one eats dates and an apple (a shiur of both) and nothing else, can the after-bracha for the dates cover the apple thus no borei nefashos would be required?...
# 1996 A Bitter Pill To Swallow
I have to take a pill after meals preferable with milk or other pareve non-acidic drink because of my sensitive stomach. I usually take one after shaleshudes, before benching. Sometimes I forget and r...