Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
#260 Talking or thinking about business on Shabbos and Yom Tov when it concerns doing mitzvos
One should not be talking or even thinking about business on Shabbos and Yom Tov. For someone in, or going into Rabbonus, shouldn’t they also avoid talking about who is running which cheder or th...
#259 Minyan of Psukim and its accompanying gimatria in a name form at the end of each Parsha
How come there is no count for the number of psukim at the end of pekudey as there is in every other parsha?...
#258 Contacting the police before buying a property
I went to look at a house owned by a Yid who previously rented to someone who was growing drugs there and possibly running a chemical drug lab, as verified by a home inspector who told me to call the ...
#257 Arranging a shidduch when the couple does not observe Taharas Hamishpacha.
Is it permissible to arrange a shidduch if it is possible that the couple isn’t religious enough to keep Taharas Hamishpacha?...
#256 Deriving benefit from non-kosher animals
I bought a pair of gloves and realized that they are made of pigskin with an acrylic lining. Can I wear these even though I will be deriving pleasure from a pig? Is this the same as snake skin or...
#255 Studying the works of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook zt"l
I was told by someone that it is forbidden to study the works of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook zt"l. Is this true or is it permitted? And if it is forbidden to study them in general, may one at ...
#254 Using the term Alav Hashalom in a situation where it probably may not be true
I once heard from Rav Shlomo Miller shlit"a that one may not append the term a"h to the name of the deceased if the deceased was not observant, because a"h means that the Divine Presence hovers over t...
#253 Understanding the 'removal of life support' and the 'Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order' contradiction
I have heard that in Judaism (especially Orthodox), a power of attorney for health of a loved one is allowed to deny resuscitation to a sick person if they think they are not going to make it, however...
#252 Extending the life of an unconscious person.
My mother was terminally ill, it was a matter of time according to the doctors. … We were also told that every effort should be made to extend the life of a person, since even a short lapse of time ...
#251 Touching a Gosos
My mother was terminally ill, it was a matter of time according to the doctors. When she became unconscious and the attending nurse said that she would not last long, we were in doubt if we could even...
#250 Home care vrs. hospitol care for a terminally ill person.
My mother was terminally ill, it was a matter of time according to the doctors. The siblings decided to bring her home and to let her depart in her familiar surroundings, even at the cost of not havin...
#249 Inviting an Ovel for Shabbos during the year of mourning for kiruv purposes
I understand that an Avel observing Aveilus for a parent does not visit friends during the year, such as going away to friends and relatives for Shabbos. One of my secular cousins lost a parent. ...
#248 Questioning what is written in the Torah
I attended this week a parsha shiur where it was mentioned that Moshe was at fault for questioning Hashem on his promise to help the Jews. How come then we are allowed to ask all kind of questions on ...
#247 Expressing opinions regarding the appropriateness of a shidduch
When asked about a potential shidduch, is it permissible to express an opinion regarding the appropriateness of the match (for example, how well the families are suited to each other), or do you have ...
#246 Pretending to be a customer to see how competitors are pricing out jobs
I need to see how my competitors are pricing out jobs. They are not Jewish. Can I pretend to be a customer and get them to provide me with a quote for a job? Or is this a problem?...
#245 Can a well-toasted slice of bread be considered a Shaleim?
I have heard that if a piece of matzah is broken and I place it into the oven to bake further until the broken edge browns, that this piece has the status of a Shaleim and can be used as one of the Le...
#244 Toveling and Kasheing stored new dishes that look used.
I bought a set of china dishes about 6 years ago when my husband and I got married. It was service for 12 but at the time we decided to just tovel half the dishes and tovel the rest as needed. ...
#243 Refusing an Aliya.
In my shul the Gabbai hands out cards to those who will be called up for an aliyah, indicating for which aliyah the congregant will be called up. On occasion I receive the card for an aliyah for which...
#242 Listening to a Torah tape on the Nit''l night
Can you listen to a Toiro tape on the Nitl night?...
#241 Learning the halochos and customs of nit''l on nit''l
Can you learn the halochos and customs of nit’l on nit’l?...