Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
#300 Wearing a Citizen Eco-drive watch on Shabbos
Shalom U’Bracha, Recently I purchased a Citizen eco-drive watch, that gets charged automatically from the light. My question is: (1) Is it permitted to wear such a watch on shabbos (at home ...
#299 Using dishwasher detergent without a hechsher
Does dishwasher detergent need to be kosher? The brand finish use to have a hechsher and now it does not....
#298 Someone who has excepted Shabbos early asking someone else to do a Melocho
Can someone that started Shabbos early ask his neighbor that davens late to turn on the lights for him?...
#297 When does someone from Eretz Yisroel say Izkor when traveling
Is there a point for him(a Israeli resident who temporarily travels to Chutz Laaretz) to say Izkor as it is not Yom Tov for him or should he say it by himself on the first day?...
#296 Someone from Eretz Yisroel getting an Aliya on the second day of Yom tov
I have guest from Israel that are visiting me and they only keep one day Yom Tov. On the second day Shavuoth can one get an aliyah as he has Yortzayt and it is Thursday and they would be reading the T...
#295 Tefilin dropped off by a Sofer but not returned
I sent my Tefillin to a Sofer Stam in Toronto for checking almost a year ago. I have called 2x since sending it and have yet to speak to him, and only to his wife. I have not heard from him, and I mis...
#294 Newspapers delivered to a Jewish area on Shabbos
Is a newspaper delivered to North York on Shabbos Muktzah?...
#293 Using a plastic tablecloth cut on Shabbos
Is a plastic tablecloth which was cut from a roll on Shabbos (by a non Jew) muktzah?...
#292 Using a reed mat helt togehter with plastic coated wire
May I use for Schach a reed mat that is held together with wire coated in plastic insulation?...
#291 lighting candles early on Shavuos night
When lighting the Yom Tov candles on the first night of Shavuoth do I have to wait till nightfall if I didn’t count sefirah?...
#290 Numbers of the tribes in this week's Parsha always finish in zeros
How come the numbers of the tribes in this week’s Parsha always finish in zeros, were they round up? That they are the exact number is statistically very unlikely....
#289 Reading Parshas Bamidvar before Shavuos
I just read in an authoritative Yom Tov sefer and luach that Parshat Bamidvar is always before Shavuoth, wasn’t last year Nasso before?...
#288 Making the Bracho on seeing a tree in bloom in Sivan
We have some fruit trees in our back yard that just now began to bloom… can the brocho still be made this Shabbat as it is already Sivan?...
#287 Waiting until Shabbos to make the Bracho on seeing a tree bloom
We have some fruit trees in our back yard that just now began to bloom, can we wait till Shabbat when the whole family is together to make the bracha or does it have to be done when you see them the f...
#286 Brocho on onions from schmaltz herring
Kevod Harav Shlit"a, The halacha seems to point out that if one eats raw or even cooked Garlic or Onions, the bracha receited is "Shehakol", as it is not the usual way for most people to eat raw ...
#285 Unsealed meat or non-Mevushel wine left unattended at home
We have a babysitter who watches my child every day. She is Hindu. We have once or twice left an open bottle of non-mevushal wine out, and sometimes have unsealed meat in the fridge while she is here ...
#284 Shaving for Shalom Bayis During Sefira
My husband grows a beard over s’fira (and the three weeks) as do many people. But I very much dislike it and find him unattractive when he does. Can I ask him to continue shaving during these tim...
#283 Squeezing a lemon on Shabbos
One can squeeze a lemon onto fish or salad on Shabbos. Can one squeeze it into a liquid? Or if the slice of lemon is already in a liquid, such as water, can it be squeezed against the side of the pitc...
#282 Covering the hair of an unmarried convert woman
Does an unmarried convert woman have to cover her hair?...
#281 Listening to classical music during the period of Sefiras Haomer
Can you listen to classical music in the radio during sefira?...