Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 1429 No Plucking!
Is a man allowed to remove or shave body hair for the purpose of helping to control body odor? If so, is there a preferred method? Shinui? If so, may it be done during the three weeks? The nine days...
# 1428 Brochos - Like a Box Of Chocolates?
Shalom Harav I recently was zoche to host a talmud chacham for a shabbos seudah. When it came time for desert. we served chocolate, and fruit. Since the bracha on the fruit was recited first he ask...
# 1427 Cat In The Sack?
We are a family of Bnei Torah but we have had a cat for many years that grew up with our children and is like part of the family. The cat is old and sick, the vet says he has a kind of animal cancer a...
# 1426 Living The Dream
Dear Rabbi What is Horav Miller’s opinion in regards to someone who had a repeated dream that he should not travel to a mishpacha simcha in Israel, because it will end in a tragedy, Can he go? Does ...
# 1425 On Cloud Nine?
Is dreaming about or choosing the number nine also represented on the letter Tet (see question 1424) also a good siman or a lucky number?...
# 1424 Tet Is Tov
How true is it that if one dreams of the letter "טּ" (tet) at night when they’re sleeping, it’s really a good siman? Thank you!...
# 1423 A Cover Up
What is the reason for the custom to cover pictures in a house of mourning? Why was the custom enacted, seeing as photography was non-existent before 5587?...
# 1422 Mirrors Mirrors On The Walls
On a shiva house, does one uncover the mirrors on Shabbos? Why do some people remove the mirrors from the wall in the house of mourning, when the vast majority just covers them?...
# 1421 Together Is Better
Shalom Aleichem Harav! Q. I daven in a minyan that davens nusssach sefard; most of the mispallilm are not well versed with the nussach and revert to nussach ashkenass. The question is regarding t...
# 1420 Call In Sick
What is the reason for the custom to say that someone has "yener machla" instead of saying he has "cancer"?...
# 1419 Don’t Look - Just See
Can you tell other people about a solar eclipse?...
# 1418 Eclipsed Blessings
Does one make a brocho (ose mase bereshis) when watching the solar eclipse?...
# 1417 Don’t Follow The Sign?
The Mishnah Berurah (beginning of siman 229) says that one should not publicize the sighting of a rainbow because it is like Lashon Horah. Should one also refrain from publicizing the event of a lunar...
# 1416 The Late Boomer
Until when can the father of the bar mitzva boy say the bracha of baruch sheptarani, if he didn’t say it at the bar mitzva?...
# 1415 Bless One’s Lucky Start
What is the proper procedure to follow when teaching a youngster who is not yet completely religious (baal teshuva) to start making brochos before eating; should he abstain from a brocho if the food i...
# 1414 The Life Of The Party
Until when can the family of a bar mitzva bochur make a seuda after the day he became of age?...
# 1413 Catch The Name
Regarding the opinion of Rav Miller shlita that one who davens in English should at least say the names of Hashem in the Holy Tongue - what should one do with the phrase "Hashem Elokeinu vaylokay avos...
# 1412 Red Strings Attached
May one wear a red string around his wrist while walking in the public domain on Shabbos, if one is accustomed to wear such a string during the week to ward off ayin hara?...
# 1411 Eliahu Davens Mincha
The Gemara in Brachos says be carful in the Tefilloh of Mincha because Eliyahu Hanavi was answered on Har Carmel by mincha. I was wondering how is this a proof? Did he attempt to daven at other teff...
# 1410 Braid The Bread & The Bride?
It appears to be universally Jewish to make braided challos for Shabbos. Since all authentic Jewish customs have deep roots and have been started by great people and deep thinkers, what is the intent ...