Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
# 1517 Keeping In Step With The Times
L’ichvod Rav Bartfeld, The president of our Shul is about to bring forward to the board the question of installing a Shabbos Stair Lift using the halachic principal of Gramma. The information ...
# 1516 Don’t Give Away The Bride
If the chosson washed for sheva brochos but the kallah did not, can the sheva brochos be recited?...
# 1515 Count Your Blessings
If one is saying one of the sheva brachos, does he need to listen to all the other sheva brachos (which is not always possible because some people don’t enunciate the words clearly, or for some o...
# 1514 Bless The Great Unwashed?
One who did not wash, may he say one of the sheva brachos (whether by the chasuna seuda or during the week of sheva brachos)?...
# 1513 The Whole Picture
Kvod Horav; In regards to the mantle covering the bima, even the parts of the mantle like the corners, where the Sefer Torah is not placed, are still prohibited for private improper use and you regard...
# 1512 Clean Up Act
I’ve read that there could be a problem in cleaning a "soft plastic tablecloths" on Shabbat or Yom Tov. The Rabbi quoted said that it may be "laundering" to rub water vigorously on the plastic. ...
# 1511 No Future Into The Back
What is Horav Miller’s opinion in regards to traveling back or forwards on time? Does the Torah mention this as a possibility?...
# 1510 No Grounds for Fasting
Someone carrying a Sefer Torah to the bimah tripped and fell. To protect the Sefer he was able to maneuver to fall on his side, and the Torah did not touch the ground. He was also wearing tefilin and ...
# 1509 Change One’s Stripes?
Can someone change his minhag of having black stripes on his taalis and just use a taalis that is totally white?...
# 1508 A Cotton Taalit Kotton
Is there a reason for the number and variant width of black stripes on a taalis? Why are they not placed on a cotton taalis koton?...
# 1507 Scan Your Tallit!
What is the reason for the black stripes on a taalis?...
# 1506 Nothing To Sneeze At
Hello Rav, Q. I’ve seen in a few places that one should not say "Bless you" (or similar responses) when someone sneezes while in shul. One Rav said it was based on the fact that this would be ...
# 1505 Good Hair Day II
Our son’s 3rd birthday Iy"H take place just before Pesach. I was thinking of making his upsherin at that time. My husband suggested we wait until Lag"Baomer which we be about four weeks after h...
# 1504 Too Good To Be True
L’kavod Harav I recently learnt the Halachos of reciting Hatov V’hameitiv on a different wine during a seudah. I never see people reciting this bracha even when all the conditions apply. I ...
# 1503 Shabbos Plumber’s Helper
Q Is a toilet plunger muktza? Can it be used on Shabbos? Can you use a wire snake? Can you unplug using a liquid like Drano?...
# 1502 Gender Bender?
In the concluding line of the 2nd stanza of the Yotzer for Shabbos Rosh Chodesh (by Rabbeinu Binyomin bar Zerach), it says: Lo Nivreis Tas Zohov V’lo Or B’heimo V’Chayo But aren’...
# 1501 Ho Ho No!
Can I buy some very discounted toys for my children (a real bargain), the catch is that they will be delivered around the 25 of December by a fellow dressed as Santa. Is that permitted?...
# 1500 Loud And Clear
Boruch Hu Uvoruch Shemo & Omein: Should they be said aloud or can they be said quietly?...
# 1499 As Long As You Don’t Eat Your Shirt
Is there a source for parents to avoid dressing their kids in clothing that contain images of unkosher animals? Thanks....
# 1498 Sweet Answer
A child that usually follows his family tradition and eats only products that contain Cholov Yisroel, but when he finds himself with a group of friends, out of peer pressure he eats kosher chocolates ...