Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
# 1577 Lost in the Translation?
(See question above) Can one get undressed in front of closed printed seforim dealing with Torah topics written in English or other languages?...
# 1576 In Respect To...
Is it allowed to get undressed in front of sforim/mezuzos? If the sforim are closed?...
# 1575 Don’t Bottle Up
I received a bottle of whiskey as a gift from a non-religious Jew. Do I need to be concerned that it was possibly owned by him during Pesach (e.g., maybe he keeps whiskey in his house year round and w...
# 1574 Bury One’s Head In the Sand?
My friend’s sister-in-law does not keep mitzvos, except for Shmiras HaLoshon, which she keeps rigorously. She is also "married" to a gentile. Should she die, is someone obligated to inform the ...
# 1573 It’s a Pleasure
I would like to take the opportunity to thank Rav Miller, Rav Bartfeld, and the rest of the dedicated staff that are involved in Ask the Rabbi for their prompt attention to our questions, complex or o...
# 1572 Hear the End Of It
A congregation voted almost unanimously (two abstentions) to appoint Rabbi Ploni. After the vote was held, a few important members, though non elected by the congregation and not appointed specificall...
# 1571 Don’t Get Carried Away
I attended a city-wide gathering called for by Horav Shlomo in 2000 in which he asked the city to take upon themselves to not use the Eruv (i.e., not to be meikal just because it’s there and avai...
# 1570 Wine and Din
One has a choice to either make Havdalah himself and let someone else drink the wine, or to delay making Havdalah until a little bit later and make it himself and drink the wine. (If he does the first...
# 1569 Means to an End
1) Q. Gut Voch, - I don’t know if this question was asked, but is one permitted to extinguish their menorah flames if they are still burning by the time one goes to sleep? (And they have been lit ...
# 1568 Greetings and Salutations
My neighbor is not shomer mitzvos, but I make a point to always great him warmly. Then when he drives his car on Shabbos (going to his shul), he makes a point if he sees me walking by, to open his win...
# 1567 Well, What Do You Know
How come the Shulchan Aruch says we don’t know what happened on the 9 of Teveis, and if we don’t know what happened, why should it be declared a fast day at all?...
# 1566 Furious Fast?
Is there any truth that one should be machmir to fast on Asarah Beveth more than another taanith? Therefore, even someone who because of age and weakness does not fast besides Yom Kipur and Tishaa Bea...
# 1565 Remains To Be Seen
Why is it that we burn the leftover oil, half burned wicks and candles from Chanuka, but we don’t do so for the remains of Shabbath or Yom Tov candles?...
# 1564 Mezo-Not Yes
On Rosh Chodesh there is a mitzvah to increase in eating, and even to have a seuda with bread (not an obligation). A working person who is at work basically the whole day and shkia is very early - how...
# 1563 Hurts To Ask
An anorexic person committed suicide by hanging herself from a tree. Is her mental condition such that she is treated as if she died from natural causes, or as a suicide?...
# 1562 Benefit Of The Doubt
An anorexic person died from complications related to the on-going overall decline in her bodily health. Is that termed a suicide?...
# 1561 Dead Serious
How (and why) do the minhagim and halachos relating to the deceased through suicide differ from one who passed away from natural causes?...
# 1560 Have You Got A Light?
(See above questions - I was stranded in an airport during Chanuka.,.). Should I have purchased some cigarettes and light one in the permitted smoking area outside? Does the Rav have any other idea...
# 1559 Take a Chance
(See above questions- I was stranded in an airport during Chanuka...). Could I use the Menora that presumably belongs to the airport administration and be yotze? If I use for my own personal need, is ...
# 1558 Cast Some Light On This
See question 1556 above (I was stranded in an airport during Chanuka..) Another question. There was an airport menorah (next to a Christmas tree) that could be available, the electrical bulbs where a ...