Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
# 1617 Playing The Organ?
Dear Rabbi, Q. At a recent community event the issue of organ donation came up in discussion. A person who claimed to be knowledgeable in Halacha stated that Jews should not donate their organs s...
# 1616 Minor Details
Is it permitted to count a katan (6 or 7 years old) for a minyan if he is holding a sefer Torah? Is this a fulfillment of tefilla b’tzibbur? Or should I leave and go daven in a normal minyan with...
# 1615 Bris Milah Or Bris Torah?
I learned that attending a bris milah is a great mitzvah that enables one to have all his sins forgiven, and it is a eis ratzon to daven when the baby is crying. Therefore, whenever I hear that there ...
# 1614 Quick Study
Why does Rashi mention that we learn on “ushmartem es hamatzos,” that we should do a mitzvah immediately, we know that already from “vayashkem Avrohom baboker?”...
# 1613 Sing Along?
(Re question 1590 in regards to the song Leshana Haba’ah Beyrushalaim Habenuya, where Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a mentioned that for someone already living in Yerushalaim, the correct nusach would be ...
# 1612 The Neighborhood Good Flood
My son asked me how the animals which appear to be indigenous to Australia only (for example), arrived there after the flood? Were they there before the flood? Were they destroyed by the flood? Were t...
# 1611 Fate Worse Than Death?
Re- question 1561 where we wrote; “The Torah rules (Bereshis 9:5 ), “the blood of your own lives I will demand of you.” (Baba Kama 91b) and looses his part in Olam Habaah, therefore Shulchan Aruch (Y....
# 1610 Change Results
Do you say sheheyanu on new fruits that come from grafted trees or were genetically engineered?...
# 1609 Ring In The New?
Should one make an effort to say sheheyanu on new fruits on Tu Bishvat?...
# 1608 The Labor of One’s Fruits
Why and when is it best to eat the fruits on T’u Bishvat, the night before or during the day? Before the seuda, during, or after the seuda? Should one encourage making a seuda for chinuch of children?...
# 1607 Hold Fast
Do chassan/kallah fast on T’u Bishvat? (the wedding is the night after)....
# 1606 Heaven On Earth
What is the source for saying Parshas Haman on the third day of the week of Beshalach? Is this an accepted segula for parnassa that one should follow?...
# 1605 The Rights Of The Left
My young son is left-handed, with which hand should I teach him to lift the becher to make kiddush?...
# 1604 Taking Forever?
A bris milah is a seudas mitzvah. Does this apply even if one is not able to stay for the seuda, but takes food and eats it on his way to work, or saves it for lunch or supper? The naf kamina (differe...
# 1603 The Rise of the Rice
Is there a problem wetting and using rice paper on Shabbat? I’m not sure I totally understand how it works, but it is unusable in its packaged state until it is soaked in water. It transforms fro...
# 1602 The Benefit Of The Doubt
If one has a doubt if he davened on Shabbos, or if his davening was done correctly or for whatever reason may have been done incorrectly, can he eat? There is no solution to say a voluntary prayer on ...
# 1601 Shake Someone’s Tree
There is a bachur who placed his hat and jacket on a tree during Shabbos (or before Shabbos). Is there any heter to remove it from the tree on Shabbos to avoid the great embarrassment of davening with...
# 1600 Good To Hear Your Voice
Re-prior question 1593 in regards to reading shnaim mikra by using a voice vibrator that creates words. There are other available methods to help the patients who have undergone a laryngectomy. This m...
# 1599 See The Light?
What is Horav Miller’s opinion on using the Shabled lights on Shabbos? it has a Star K and other hecherim. It is basically a small drawer covering a bright LED light, that stays on the whole Shabbos. ...
# 1598 Not Invited to The Weeding
Is there an issur to offer a taste (of marijuana liquid tincture – see question above), to someone else? Is there a Chilul Hashem issue when using it in public?...
