Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
# 1477 The Promised Learned
If a person pledged on Simchas Torah to learn a certain masechta by a certain deadline, and within the masechta there are some parts that he does not understand (difficult Gemaras), how should he comp...
# 1476 Aliyah Yeah – Aliyot Not
Our shul does not have the custom of everyone having an Aliyah on Simchas Torah. Our minhag also requires only having 6 Aliyos from the first Sefer Torah (including Chosson Torah). This past Simchas...
# 1475 Wrong Yom
A stroke patient. His family was instructed that he may not fast on Yom Kippur. Fearing he would not listen if he knew it was Yom Kippur, they did not tell him when it was Yom Kippur. However, sometim...
# 1474 The Rights Of Copy Rights II
Can one borrow records, in good condition, for converting to mp3 (our copies are in rough shape, or the titles aren’t for sale anywhere, for those legitimately concerned with copyright), or on CD...
# 1473 Care To Dance?
If a person wants to learn during hakafos, is that wrong, as the mitzvah at that time is to dance and not to learn? The same way that a person cannot learn instead of (or during) davening, he should n...
# 1472 Pay A Visit?
Can you sell chosson Torah or Bereshis to someone visiting from Eretz Yisrael?...
# 1471 One For Two
Can you give the same person, who is donating a very large sum much needed for the shul, both chosson Torah and chosson Bereishis?...
# 1470 Two for One
A minyan that has only one sefer Torah for leinning on Simchas Torah, can they call two cohanim or a son after a father for chosson Torah and Bereishis?...
# 1469 Save The Fish
Why are we permitted to eat fish, after all Noach never saved the fish?...
# 1468 Two Ways About It
Thank you very much for your response. (See question 1442). Would the same be if my son in law came to my home for Shimi Atzeret, when I do not eat in the sukkah, would he not eat in the Sukkah to f...
# 1467 Aiming For The Stars
Can I place evergreen schach very thick on the suca to keep the cold out and just leave a corner not so thick where you can see the stars? (If it rains the water would still get inside after a while)....
# 1466 Nailing It Down
Dear Rabbi, I’m wondering, while building the sukka, can I use a nail that sticking out of the wall of the sukka as a hook to hang my jacket? How about during Yom Tov?...
# 1465 It Doesn’t Add Up
Can I eat in the sukka while building it or when taking it apart after Yom Tov? Is that Baal Tosif?...
# 1464 Public Enemy
A video of a somewhat elderly woman doing kapparot with a chicken for her two dogs went viral, and many people kept on re-sending to their friends. The woman seems to be unaware that someone is record...
# 1463 Fast Cut Before Fast
If one is makpid to get a haircut only on days when doing so is a mitzvah (erev Shabbos and yom tov), may one do so on erev Yom Kippur? I have not seen anywhere that getting a haircut Erev Yom Kippur ...
# 1462 Height Makes It Right
I was speaking to Rabbi Miller the other day on the phone (I live in Los Angeles) and he mentioned to me that pushing a stroller in a reshus harabim [public domain] is patur dorasia [not Biblicaly lia...
# 1461 If The Shoe Fits...
Can you wear shoes made of alligator, shark or ostrich skins on Yom Kippur?...
# 1460 Good Yom Tov Is Good
Do we greet one another with Gut Yom Tov on Yom Kipur?...
# 1459 Weep For Joy
Re- question 1437 and 1438 if there is a mitzva of simcha on Rosh Hashana. Is there a mitzva of simcha on Yom Kipur? Is the day called a chag or moed?...
# 1458 A Word on Honor
Kvod Harav Can one buy Maftir Yona for a Cohen or Levy one wants to honor? Should they just be called for their respective aliyos, stay on the bimah and then after shlishi has ended, proceed to recit...