Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,521 questions and answers
#761 Don't Plug Away
Normal 0 Q. May I plug during Shabbos a cooking appliance into an outlet that is now not powered but will be turned on by a timer later on?...
#760 A Blessing in Disguise?
For the purposes of kiruv, I want to initiate unaffiliated Yiddin into reciting brochos, by saying them in English, is it permitted?...
#759 See You In Shul?
I work at a social service agency where I have both Jewish (some observant) and gentile clients. Recently the local food bank moved to a new location in a church in the same neighborhood. Should I be ...
#758 Spot Clean Only
If a shirt gets a bad stain on it are you allowed to wash it on chol hamoed?...
#757 Keeping Shabbat to the Letter
After 20 plus years at this job, my employer now wants me to work Saturdays. I have told him no as I never have as this is my Sabbath. He says unless I provide a letter they will make me work and if I...
#756 The Matzav of an Early Matzeva
Can someone order and place a matzeva on his and his wife’s kever while they are still alive? They are afraid that their children may not comply with their wishes. Can they also include their names?...
#755 Don’t Leave the Leaven?
Don’t Leave the Leaven? Q. My question on Fleishmann’s (aka baking) yeast - I use this to ferment apple and grape juice. Can I assume that I don’t have to sell the wine due to chametz (...
#754 Sale While Stock Lasts
If I buy more chometz after making the Rav my agent to sell my chometz, will the new chometz be included in my sale or is it a davar shelo ba l’’olam regarding my original agreement with the...
#753 The Gentle Gentile
If the door of the hotel room closed on you (the tape placed to stop locking fell) can you ask a Gentile to open the door on Shabbos? If by mistake you left your medicine on a bag inside the safe bo...
#752 Can't Hold the Candle to the Cell Phone Light?
If you forgot your flashlight and can’t use matches or a candle for searching chometz in a hotel and the table lamp is too heavy and cumbersome, besides the electric cord does not reach far, can you u...
#751 Bible Bilbul
Someone that due to flight cancellation had to stay overnight in a hotel and did not have any seforim with him, can he use the old testament of the bible provided to learn Torah or go over the parsha?...
#750 Areas of Enlightenment
Areas of Enlightenment Q. When staying Shabbos or Yom Tov in a hotel, management usually provides a designated safe area with specially protected tables for lighting the Shabbos or Yom Tov candle...
#749 Key Tov?
Which is the best way to go (when staying Shabbos in a hotel) with the keyless electronic lock on the door?...
#748 Bar the Mini Bar
Q What do you have to do (when attending a Pesach hotel) with the food and liquor on the room fridge?...
#747 Making Sense of Sensors
What is one to do with the sensors (when staying Shabbos in a hotel) in the room and at the balcony door?...
#746 Have a Light?
When doing bedikas chometz at the Pesach hotel can one say the brocho if searching only with a flashlight? If no flashlight available, can one use the table movable electric cfl light with an extensio...
#745 Are You Searching a Good Pesach Hotel?
If you are going to spend Pesach in a hotel, do you have to search your hotel room for chometz? When do you do the bedika? Do you make a brocho? What to do if you arrive after midday on Erev Pesach?...
#744 A Burning Shaile
If you will not be at home during Pesach, and you do an early Bedika , when do you burn the found chometz?...
#743 Early Chometz Nullification
f you will not be at home during Pesach, and you do an early bedika, (see prior question) when and how do you do the Bitul Chametz?...
# 742 Searching for not Cleaning
Is there a way to avoid the cleaning and searching the whole house, if you are going away for Pesach and will not be there at all?...