Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 2250 A Teshuva to do Teshuva
A shul has a rather recent takana that no aliya to the Torah should be given to someone who does not keep Shabbat. Recently a group of youngsters were engaged on being mekarev a friend who’s fami...
# 2249 Doesn't Add Up
We became accustomed in our shul to announce when reading Parshas Ki Teitze, that one should have in mind to comply with the mitzva of remembering Mechias Amalek (the destruction of the Amalekites), s...
# 2248 Really! Again?
Regarding the minhag of fasting erev Shabbos Parshas Chukas (one who is accustomed to do so or made a neder to do so), one fasted in Israel and then came to Canada or America where the parsha is leine...
# 2247 Fast Talk
What is the source for some fasting on Erev Shabbos Parshas Chukas? Why would there be a fasting day on Erev Shabbos when we usually avoid it? A, Magen Avrohom (580: 9) and Mishna Berura (580: 16) ...
# 2246 Like a Kid in a Candy Shul
The candy-man in our shul gives out lollipops of different colors to children on Shabbat, often more than one if they so request. Is it permitted for him to give a candy of one color to child who is a...
# 2245 All In Good Time
A Kolel family lo alenu tragically lost a baby by smoke inhalation some years ago in a house fire, the rest of the family B’H survived. They sued the manufacturers of an appliance that caused the...
# 2244 What Can I Tell You?
When the economic situation of a family is known widely in the country they reside, can someone inform others of it in a different country? Is this a case of an item that is already publicly and openl...
# 2243 Expounding the Spread
Someone that has from very dry skin on his hands and thus suffers greatly, can he put some Vaseline on them on Shabbos?...
# 2242 A Hot Water Test
Our water kettle stopped working on Shabbos and we went to the neighbors to get some hot water. Can you cover the utensil with a towel to keep the water hot? Can you use a thermos flask if you leave i...
# 2241 What Was the Name Again?
In a simcha of a large family that share one grandfather, there may be cousins that share the same name. What is to be done if there are 2 people with the same name and the name was called for an aliy...
# 2240 Say Yes to the Yeast?
B"H Shalom. Dear Rabbi, Recently, scientists in Israel were able to reproduce wine and beer from remnants of yeast they had found in jugs (estimated to be from 850 BCE found in Gath near Yerushalayi...
# 2239 The Rack on the Rack
Does one have to tovel (immerse in a mikva) the metal racks inside a stove oven? With a brocho?...
# 2238 Policing the Police?
When one sees Israeli authorities acting in a violent and life threatening manner towards chareidim or any other yiddin, is it permissible to inform the American/Canadian embassy of their actions or a...
# 2237 On Safe Hands?
A person who is extremely terrified when having a blood test and he will literally pass out, is he allowed to hold (or squeeze) the nurse’s hand for emotional support to avoid fainting?...
# 2236 Ten Out of Ten
One who came to shul among the first ten, but stepped out to wash his hands or to relieve himself in preparation for prayer, and someone else came in. Who has the zechus of bringing in the Shechina - ...
# 2235 A New Old Shaila
One who has only chodosh bread on the first night of Sukkos. Is he allowed to eat it or no? If yes, how much should he eat? What about having only chodosh bread for the Shabbos seudos?...
# 2234 A Light Bulb Moment
Someone forgot to remove the light bulb from the refrigerator before Shabbos. If it is not possible to get food from a neighbor or from somewhere else. Is it better to open the door with a shinui, or ...
# 2233 Put to the Test
There is a concern in Jewish law or custom that advises to refrain from certain parameters of medical testing. If a doctor recommends a stress test (heart) out of general concern due to age and family...
# 2232 A Lesson in Teaching
A teacher employed at School A concurrently subs on contract an identical course at School B for a few months of someone’s maternity leave. The teacher’s tests are proprietary and were devel...
#2231 Peace Offerings
Hello Rabbi Bartfeld, can you please forward this inquiry to Rabbi Hirschman? Thanks. Hello Rabbi Hirschman, What is the halachaic ruling if a husband goes to a shul he’s happy with and belongs to a...