Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
#100 - Buying a car during the 3 weeks
I would like to know if it would be OK to buy a car during the 3 weeks and take delivery after Tisha b’Av....
#99 - Preparing during the 3 weeks for traveling after the 3 weeks.
Is it OK to book plane tickets, hotels get passports and do the necessary arrangements, during the 3 weeks for a trip taken place right after Tisha b’’Av ?...
#98 - Davening Maariv Before the zman.
Is it better to Daven Maariv before TZAAS with a minyan or after without a minyan even if you are makped to always daven after the TZAAZ?...
#97 - Chumetz Pet food owned by a Jew During Pesach
My Jewish neighbour’s rabbit died during pesach. After pesach, she gave me the leftover chotzdig rabbit food which I know she didn’t sell. Can I still use it? If not, it seems like bal tashl...
#96 - Baking Challah on a Dairy Pan.
I baked a challah this evening on a baking sheet that had previously been used for dairy (cheese baked directly on that pan). I lined the pan with parchment paper and baked my challah on the paper. Th...
#95 - Sales Reps bringing customers with them when they transfer to a new company.
I work in the financial service industry, and in my industry when a trader changes the company that he works for, he calls his clients and tries to switch them over to the new company . Most companies...
#94 - Using non-Jewish dates and holiday references
I design database tables - like spreadsheet with rows and column headings. For a particular project there is a need for a Holiday table - to know statutory holidays when things are open and closed. Th...
#93 - Symbols from other religions on household items.
My wife bought crystal candlesticks holders to give as a present and she noticed that on the brand name of the product on the box and on the candlestick there is a crown with a cross on it. Are we all...
#92 - Pets and Pet Cages on Shabbos
Can my child play with a pet bird in Shabbes? Is the cage muktze?...
#91 - Asking a non Jew to reset an oven on Yom Tov
On Shavuos we had a blackout, and the new electric stoves, lost their timers and memory, and would not work unless reset manually. Is it permitted to ask a non Jew to reset it on Yom Tov, so we can co...
#90 - Using thick Paint on Tefilin
A few years ago I had my Tefilin repainted, the paint was rather thick and has recently began peeling off in some places. It is still black underneath, but the new paint comes off in chips some as big...
#89 - Using artificial trees to decorate a Shul for Shavuoth.
It is a minhag to decorate for Shavuoth our Shuln with greenery. We avoid using trees, as that would be a tradition of other religions. Does that include artificial trees?...
#88 - Lighting candles for single men who want to begin Shabbat early.
Single people who want to begin Shabbat early, and attend a minyan for Mincha that begins right before Plag Hamincha and then recites Kabalath Shabath right after, as is required by Halacha, when shou...
#87 - Maariv and Shabbos Zmanin in Northern Canada
I am planning a trip to Canada and Alaska next month and because night doesn’t come in till very late please tell me if I should be davening Maariv at a normal time or whether I have to stay up t...
#86 - How often does Parshas Noso come before Shavuos?
How often does Parshas Noso come before Shavuos?...
#85 - Non-jew turning on an electric stove top on Yom Tov.
If a non-Jew turns on an electric stove top on Yom Tov, Is one permitted to use it?...
#84 - Making a brocha on the tree blossoms in different hemispheres.
If somebody visited South America during our winter and made a brocho there for the new blooming trees (in their spring). Does he have to repeat the brocho when he sees new blossoms in the northern he...
#83 - Making a brocha on the tree blossoms after Nissan.
Thank you so much Rabbi for your prompt answer. I would also like to know if I can still make the brocho for the tree blossoms, as it is not Nissan anymore....
#82 - Shaving the friday before Lag BaOmer when LAg BaOmer comes out on Sunday
Tomorrow Friday one can shave since Lag Baomer is Sunday, is that from the morning or do you have to wait till Chatzos? Can you use new clothing on Friday too?...
#81 - Owning a store that sells non kosher products
Thank you and Rav Miller for your prompt answer to our last Shaileh. A client is interested in buying a Dollar store, there are items that are part of the inventory that are not Kosher such as cans of...