Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,520 questions and answers
#60 - Practicing Yoga
Is one is allowed to practice yoga if all of the Hindu aspects and associations are removed?...
#59 - Serving a husband or father before a guest.
When serving food, must the wife serve her husband before a guest? What if the guest is her mother? What about when the children are serving?...
#58 - Attending a Purim Seuda after Shoshim and calculating a when the Avaylos is over.
My mother was Niftar on January 11, 2011. When is the year of avaylos over for me. Second, am I allowed to go to a family Purim seuda with about 15 people (all family including cousins and their child...
#57 - Kashruth Status of Purple, Red and White carrots
Heritage Carrots are being sold and the carrots are purple, red, and white. When I cooked with them, the purple carrot turned my soup purple. Do these carrots need a Hechsher? The package does not say...
#56 - Is it permitted to shake hands with an ovel during shiva?
Is it permitted to shake hands with an ovel during shiva, without saying Shalom or greetings? How about before davening?...
#55 - Last day of Kaddish and the day of the Yohrzait during a leap year.
My mother passed away on 12 Sivan the funeral was on 14 Sivan , 5771/ 2010. What is the last day I have to say Kadish and what is the day of the first Yahrzeit?...
#54 - Segulas and Tefilahs for Cholim and other Yeshuas.
There is a segula to have 40 women davening together with specific people in mind as they take Challah from their dough with a bracha. Can one be part of two groups of 40 with the same Hefresh Challah...
#53 - Can one drink from a water fountain on shabbos? Are there different types of water fountains?
Can one drink from a water fountain on shabbos? Are there different types of water fountains? Thank you....
#52 - Using Gebrochts Utensils Shatred at Pesach Hotels or Used by Guests.
I’m planning to spend Pesach in a hotel that maintains an excellent kashrus supervision and are careful with gebrochts. On prior occasions I have noticed that many of my co-guests, who don’t have that...
#51 - Is there in Jewish tradition a reason or purpose for shaking the hand when saluting or greeting someone?
Is there in Jewish tradition a reason or purpose for shaking the hand when saluting or greeting someone?...
#50 - Is an Avel permitted to attend an annual Purim seudah?
My husband is an avel. The extended family has an annual Purim seudah which is attended by approximately 60 family members. There is no live music, but there is recorded music. There are regular festi...
#49 - What is the Halacha with regards to the hafrashas challah?
What is the Halacha with regards to the hafrashas challah. what should be done after the hafrasha? burn it in the oven double wrapped? on the stove top? double wrapped (less then a k’zais) and th...
#48 - What is the halacha with baking challah in a fleishig oven.
What is the halacha with baking challah in a fleishig oven. Does the oven have to be cleaned before? not used within 24 hours? also when it is baked can it then be eaten with dairy?...
#47 - Wearing rings during Netilas Yadayim and food touched prior to Netilas Yadayim.
What is the halacha with regards to N’telas Y’datyim, when one wakes up and for bread with regards to removing the rings? I’ve heard many people do different things? Also at what a...
#46 - Using Ma’aser Money for Fun Things like Video and Dinners
What is the halacha regarding using ma’aser money, or money from a generic pushke, for "fun" things, like a video, where the proceeds go to a tzedaka, or a Chinese Auction or dinner? Does it matt...
#45 - Posting Online Articles with Random Ads
One way of promoting your product or service on the internet is to post a press release or article online, with a link to your website. There are many places on the internet that allow one to post pre...
#44 - Photosensitive Eyeglasses and Liquid Crystal Thermometers on Shabbos.
If you can not use a strip thermometer that changes colors on Shabes, why can you use sun glasses that turn darker on the sunlight?...
#43 - Throwing out an old stove.
I heard recently that disposing off or throwing out an old stove that has an oven, might be against the Tzavoe of Rabbi Yehuda Hachosid. Is that true, and is there a correct way of doing it?...
#42 - Can I consume calcium pills which contain oyster shell?
Can I consume calcium pills which contain oyster shell?...
#41 - Children Given 2 Names for Mazal
We named our newborn daughter in honor of a aunt that passed away young. At the time of the naming we were advised to add another name to the original to add a better Mazal to the child. In reality we...