Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 1887 Its A Fix
Are schach mats that have turn partially moldy kosher for schach? They do not smell to mold, but you can see the discoloration. Can you paint them?...
# 1886 Clear the Tablecloth
Good evening Rav, Is there an inyan or Halacha to have white tablecloths on Yom Tov. I believe there are sources for Shabbos that one should have a white tablecloth. Does the same apply for Yom Tov?...
# 1885 A Cover Up?
My schach mats have been damaged with the years and now the blades and reeds have become separated and they can hardly be used. Can I join them together again by using straps made from organic flexibl...
# 1884 One Shailah Paints a Thousand Words
To preserve the schach mats made of reeds from getting moldy when wet, or the strings and straps that keep them together from rotting, can one spray them with transparent shellac, lacquer or varnish, ...
# 1883 Write Your Own Ticket
A fellow, we’ll call him Reuven, reserved and booked a seat six months ago, meaning he paid the cheapest fee (since he reserved early) on a flight in the Economy section. He arrived for the fligh...
# 1882 A Throw Away Question
(See above question 1881) If you can’t use the unused hadassim, can you just throw them away in the regular garbage, since they were never used for a mitzva?...
# 1881 Hadassim Again?
Can you freeze hadassim still in their sealed plastic bags, that were not used, and use them next year?...
# 1880 Is This a Mitzva?
(See question 1879 above) If it isn’t correct but someone did it anyway and he did remind many, and was mezake the rabbim, does he get a mitzva or is it a mitzva habaah beaveira?...
# 1879 A Klap Will Do
Is it correct for someone to mention aloud during the quiet shemonesre mashiv haruach or yaaleh veyavo to remind others to also say, or is it a hefsek?...
# 1878 Rain Check
How many times does one have to have davened Tefilas Geshem for the amud, to be considered that he has a chazaka, and he has a right to demand he davens before anyone elase?...
# 1877 A Word on Honor
When you call to the Torah on Simchas Torah a minor that is a cohen, does he get a second aliya if there is no minor levy?...
# 1876 Major Minor Shaila
Can a minor read the Torah when he is given an aliya on Simchas Torah (just that portion)?...
# 1875 Bye Honey?
Do you still use honey on the hamotzi on Shabbos Bereishis?...
# 1874 Five Strikes and Out?
I have seen often people striking the ground with the arovos on Hoshana Rabba until most or all the leafs are gone, and creating a great mess in the shul or at home is that correct....
# 1873 Landing Permit
Is there a source for throwing the arovos after being used on top of the aron hakodesh?...
# 1872 Tied in Knots about Hoshanos?
Is it correct to tie the aravos branches for the hoshaanos for Hoshana Rabba with rubber bands or red string? Do they have to be tied at all?...
# 1871 Fiddle with the Simcha
Is it better not to play musical instruments during a simchat bet hashoeva since it is done on chol hamoed?...
# 1870 An answer to Blowing in the Wind
In regards to schach being blown off the sukka by an uncommon wind, (see above question), what is considered a ruach sheino metzuya or uncommon wind? does it have to happen at least after a span of th...
# 1869 Will It Fly?
Is one allowed to fasten the schach mats with plastic zip-ties to the wood cross beams supporting them as a precaution they don’t fly of with unusual strong winds (ruach sheino metzuya)?...
# 1868 Parents or Children
If one has a small sukka and can only include in it his children or his parents, who should he choose?...