Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
# 1835 The Home Bird
Why is the mitzvah called "Shiluach HaKen" (see beginning of Perek 12 of Chulin)? Do we send away the mother or the nest? Perhaps, just as a person’s wife is called "his house" (see beginning of...
# 1834 "Hair" The Answer
In Question 1821 you write that Rav Miller permits permanently removing hair of the ear since it is usually done for remedy or curative reasons. Does this apply to hair growing on the exterior section...
# 1833 Vayehi Erev or Vayehi Boker?
I daven in a shul where the first Selichot are usually said at 11.00 PM on Motzei Shabbat since most people are unwilling to come two hours latter, when most shuln say the first Selichos. My quest...
# 1832 Heads Up!
It happens that sometimes I’ll look around during shacharis and see people whose Tefillin Shel Rosh is not in the proper position. What is the correct course of action when I see this? Should I q...
# 1831 A Tail of Two Coins
I’m not a very wealthy man, and in fact receive monthly tzeddakah cheques myself. However I do feel that it’s important to give some tzeddakah during davening, and so have a small change pur...
# 1830 Poor Fun Making Fun of the Poor
There is an inyan to put in your tzitzis when going to a cemetery because of lo’eig l’rosh. Does this apply when going to a funeral for a woman where there are separate sections in the ceme...
# 1829 Out of the Swim
Are a couple permitted to swim together if the wife is a Niddah?...
# 1828 Let The Good Times Begin
Rashi (21: 18) quotes Talmud (Sanh. 71b) that the wayward and rebellious son is executed on account of what he will do in the future - he will stand at the crossroads and rob people, killing them, the...
# 1827 Stand Fast to the Fast Talk
I try to concentrate intently on the meaning of "Y’hei Sh’mei Rabba etc." as the Talmud appears to attach great importance to this endeavour, even going so far as to declaring that one who d...
# 1827 Stand Fast to the Fast Talk
I try to concentrate intently on the meaning of "Y’hei Sh’mei Rabba etc." as the Talmud appears to attach great importance to this endeavour, even going so far as to declaring that one who d...
# 1826 Cherish the Kiddush Wish
Hello Rav,In an effort to improve my health, I am not supposed to consume sugar. Can I use a sugar free diet soda (like Coke Zero) for kiddush/havdalah? Could I use unsweetened herbal iced tea? Unf...
# 1825 Have Your Say
The only child of a deceased parent is a woman. Which is better? a) Her husband should say Kaddish, assuming he gets permission from his living parents. b) She should hire someone to say Kad...
# 1824 I'll Drink to That?
May I request coffee or tea from a stewardess on a flight?...
# 1823 Be A Good Sport
If one’s wife is a Niddah, may the couple play the following games together: Ping-Pong, Tennis, Badminton, volleyball Since the goal of the game is not to pass the object to one’s opponent ...
# 1822 No blockage...Except for Torah
I pray in a small schul inside a Jerusalem bomb shelter. The wall of the lavatory is thus pretty close to the wall of the area where we daven. I have noticed that I can hear the Chazan clearly when I ...
# 1821 Hear Hair!
Is it permitted for a man to permanently remove hair coming from one’s ears?...
# 1820 Ten Men - Amen
Is it permitted for one who davens Minhag Aschkenaz to refrain from answering Amein to "V’yatzmach Purkanei Vikareiv M’shichei" since according to his Poskim this addition is a "Shinui Mimad...
# 1819 Love and Don’t Leave the Ger
Is there a mitzvah to mekarev a ger who has lapsed in observance the same way that there is a mitzvah to mekarev someone born Jewish?...
# 1818 A Family That Swims Together?
Assuming the women of the family are wearing modest swimsuits, such that they are similar to a dress and the sleeves cover until the elbow and knee; may a family, two parents and children, swim togeth...
# 1817 Game Is Up
(See question above). If not, should one pay good money to attend a game and watch the unusual players personally, so he can recite the bracha?...