Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 2370 The Yom Kippur Pains
I daven in a shul that is frequented by baalei teshuva, and I have seen some very weird practices and customs that some adopted. Is it correct to place little stones or gravel on one’s tennis s...
# 2369 A File on Charges
I have an internet service that scheduled and charged my credit card on Saturday (or Yom Tov). Is that a problem? Can you respond quickly - not sure if I have to do anything? Thank you...
# 2368 Shiur on Shiurim
I was also wondering, one that can’t fast the complete day on Yom Kippur, but has an option of eating shiurim or small amounts from the morning on, and that will be enough for him to fast the who...
# 2367 Ransom which Tzom?
My elderly father has problems fasting, but he usually is able to fast. His doctor told him if he prepares and eats properly the weeks before, he can try even in full day fasts. The question arose on ...
# 2366 What a Brocho Teshuva Is
If one is certain that he is going to do teshuva on something wrong he did, does he make a bracha when making teshuva? What bracha? Does he say it when reciting viduy?...
# 2365 Is This Good for Kappores?
Q, We usually make kapparot with chickens. I have learned that if one’s wife is pregnant, one should procure for her two chickens and one rooster, in case the baby is a boy or a girl. Can you rel...
# 2364 Soften the Blow
A 5 year old child had a cold and stayed home on Rosh Hashana. He was very upset he couldn’t hear the shofar, his father borrowed a shofar and blew for him some kolos to make him happy. Is that c...
# 2363 Let Them Eat Cake?
The minhag of our family is to abstain from eating nuts the complete Aseres Yemei Teshuva, can I eat in a kiddush a cake that contains nuts?...
# 2362 Take your Seat
Why in some shuls the chazan begins singing Hamelech from his seat and then approaches the amud?...
# 2361 Nuts Over Nuts?
Regarding the minhag not to eats nuts during the aseret yemei teshuva (because the gematria of egoz is the same as that of cheit), to which nuts does this actually apply? Walnuts are called Egozei Me...
# 2360 Feast of Creation
Should a seudas hodoa or a festive meal be done for the newly converted?...
# 2359 Welcome to Your Home
What is the correct way to salute a newly converted Ger that one encounters after the immersion in the mikva? Does one have to say Shalom Aleichem? Does one have to recite Shecheyanu?...
# 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...