Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 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 ...
# 1497 E - Shailah
My rabbi/teacher took away my friend’s E- cigarette which I was using. I was together with my friend at the time. Am I responsible to reimburse my friend for his loss?...
# 1496 Saving A Life
Re- the recent case of saving the life of a brain dead patient. Taking into account that once the patient was entubed into a respirator, he can’t be disconnected, would it not have been better, if he ...
# 1495 Revisiting The Visits
Is there a mitzvah to visit (bikur cholim) a patient that is on coma or brain dead and is unaware of the visit, and all his needs are also cared for?...
# 1494 Make No Mistake
If one is hearing Kiddush from his rabbi, and the rabbi makes a mistake in Kiddush by saying the yom tov Kiddush instead of Shabbos, and the talmid realizes this during Kiddush, what is the appropriat...
# 1493 Better Fish To Fry?
Shalom Aleichem Harav Q. What is the bracha for french fries that contain flour for taste? I know we say that as long as its not for binding its mezonos but when your dealing with 95% potato and 5...
# 1492 Sitting In Judgment Or Standing On Trial
Is it true that Cohanim have to stand up when saying Korbanot?...
# 1491 An Unplacenta Question
There is an ancient (non-Jewish) tradition which has become popular among new moms, placenta ingestion. Moms report that they have less post postpartum depression, increased energy and milk production...
# 1490 Table Talk
I attended a bris where the sandek was sitting on one of the tables of the shul, since they couldn’t find anything better for this particular sandek. Is that allowed? Are you permitted to sit on a tab...