Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,912 questions and answers
# 1329 Put Cards On The Table
(Re- prior question 1328) What is HoRav Miller’s opinion in regards to the card being muktza because it is a utensil dedicated to a prohibited task and then you would be permitted to carry it with you...
# 1328 Take Offense
( Re- question 1327). Thank you for your comprehensive answer on using an electronic key-card on Shabbat. I have two more questions. You mentioned that there is at least a rabbinic prohibition for usi...
# 1327 Out Of Key?
Is there any heter for using an electronic key card in entering a hotel room during Shabbat, if there is no light that goes on or if the light is covered?...
# 1326 The Beginning Of The End
Since we require that the seven weeks counted before Shavuot should be temimot and complete, we wait until night to say Maariv. Why is that some women light candles early and even say shecheyanu then?...
# 1325 Lag's Gilgulim
In our shul we make a seuda every year likvod Rashbi on Lag Baomer, we light candles and say divei Torah in his honor. Someone suggested that since it is also the yortzait of the Remoh, we should also...
# 1324 Along For The Ride
1) An elderly lady who uses a wheel chair is going to be staying at an hotel during Shabbos where the bar mitzva of her grandson is taking place. Can she take the elevator if her caregiver presses t...
# 1323 A Close Shave?
Someone who is going to surgery on Thursday night (Lag Baomer is Sunday). Can he shave and take a haircut Thursday evening after the shekia? He keeps sefira prohibitions from Rosh Chodesh until before...
# 1322 Right To Life
Q, Dear Rav Bartfeld. I hope this finds you well. I’m wondering if Rav Miller Shlita has a position on organ donation, specifically regarding the Ontario driver license option of listing onese...
# 1321 Shul Shiva
If avelim are given permission to sit shiva and daven in a Beth Midrash that does no ordinarily have a daily minyan, does the ba’al tefila omit tachanun and lamentzeach (ya’ancho Hashem) and all tefil...
# 1320 Take One’s Medicine?
Hello Rav! My wife needed some medication from her purse on shabbat, which brought up an interesting question in muktza. I believe medicine and purses are muktza, but the medicine becomes permitted i...
# 1319 Smell Test
During Havdalah, one recited a benediction over spices and then realized that he is completely unable to smell them and has thus recited a blessing in vain. Should he recite baruch sheim etc. immediat...
# 1318 Miss Fire
My half sister who was my mother’s daughter lives in... and is gravely ill in hospital. My mother’s first husband was an avowed atheist and taught my sister to be one too. My mother became a...
# 1317 Blessings Of Life
The bracha of sheheheyanu is recited on mitzvos that come from time to time (e.g., sukkah, shofar, Yom Tov). Why is this bracha not said when making an eruiv tavshilin?...
# 1316 The $100 Baby Bill
A Jew is walking on Shabbat and sees a baby crawling in the street. He picks up the baby and gives it to the mother who is nearby. She slips a $100 bill in his pocket to thank him and walks away. What...
# 1315 Day One, One Day or One A Day?
I just learned that according to the Chazon Ish, as brought in Orchos Rabeinu, vol. 2, p. 94, one who said Today is the first day etc. is NOT yotzi sefiras haomer (he needs to say Today is one day, as...
# 1314 A Matter Of Life Not Death
Can you say a shloshim hesped thirty days before Yom Tov for a community Rabbi? Do you recite E-l Mole Rachamim? If permitted, why is it different than others?...
# 1313 Shiras Hachaim – A Song For Life
We, who follow Minhag Aschkenaz, Minhag Rainus, are stringent during Sefiras HaOmer, after Rosh Chodesh, not only not to listen to music, but also not to sing. This stringency was adopted by Chachmei ...
# 1312 Give Us A Ring
Is one allowed to have a telephone ringtone that’s a segment of a song with musical instruments?...
# 1311 Raise The Spirits
Father was hospitalized and went into intensive care the day before Erev Pesach. Before he was given sedatives I reminded him to do bitul chometz which he did. I’m taking care of business for him and...
# 1310 Children Should Be Seen And Heard?
Grandparents visiting their children in Israel for Peisach, should they be joined by the children and grandchildren on the second seider so the grandparents can comply with the mitzva of vehigadta lev...