Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,924 questions and answers
#324 Eating Kosher in prison
My friend is 6’4, 220 lbs. the problem is the food (in prison) is very meager. For me, I have a small frame so I am okay but he is always hungry. Can he eat treif (non kosher) for survival?...
#323 Using community hot water machines on Shabbos
Can I use the (prison’s) hot water machine for Shabbos and add milk into the coffee?...
#322 Using a not kashered microwave oven.
Can one use (in prison) a microwave that all the non-Jews are using for their cooking and warming up? The problem is that the staff just does not cater to just Orthodox Jewish people. How do I...
#321 Completing home repairs during the nine days.
I have workmen coming to repair my basement from a water leakage. While they should finish before the Nine Days, we have heard stories of work taking much longer. As I need the basement finished befor...
#320 Kashering a knife used to cut a milchig onion
If you cut an onion with a milchig knife that wasn’t used the last 24 h. and then you cut the same onion with a pareve knife, do you have to kasher the pareve knife? If yes how?...
#319 Kashering a dishwasher
A dishwasher that is in a rental unit and the inner walls are plastic, can it be made kasher and how?...
#318 Checking online prices to stay competitive
I am aware of the prohibition not to inquire about details or the price of a product or service simply out of curiosity and not because I want to buy it, because it will arose hope of a sale and then ...
#317 Why Zeruya is mentioned so many times in Tanach
I recently heard that the most mentioned woman in Tanach is Tzeruiya, the mother of Yoav and Avishay. Why were they named after their mother?...
#316 Drinking from Miriam's well on Shabbos
I remember reading in a Midrash that Miriam’s well did not constantly flow water; it only came when people came close to it. If so would it not be prohibited on Shabbat as it would be similar to ...
#315 Business trips During the nine days
I’m going to travel to the orient on a necessary business trip during the nine days, is this permitted if my return will be on the day prior to Tisha B’av?...
#314 Buying lottery tickets
I have heard stories of people who were in economic despair and were told by their Chasidic leaders to buy lottery tickets, is that correct or recommendable?...
#313 Religious institutions offering bingos and selling raffle tickets
How come many religious institutions offer bingos and sell raffle tickets, is that not a form of gambling?...
#312 Gambling at a Casino
I assume from my rudimentary Jewish education that it is not permitted, but I have a couple of religious orthodox acquaintances that occasionally when on vacation play at the Niagara casinos, are they...
#311 Finding a children's item with no identifying marks on it.
I live on the top floor of a 3-floor apartment building. I found a common small bouncy ball on my porch without any identifying marks other than the color. In the local children’s store I can fin...
#310 Kosher status of slurpee
I have noticed that at Mac’s Milk there are machines which sell slurpy’s. Above the machines there are certificates from MK (Montreal Kosher) which shows a list of flavors which are kosher. ...
#309 Working for a German firm
I am looking for work and during my networking conversations I’ve been put in touch with someone from a German firm. I’m thinking I should not pursue this. Would you agree?...
#308 Marrying people who eat on Yom Kipper vs. people who are gay
I have a question that was posed to me during a discussion with an acquaintance who is Jewish but a self proclaimed atheist and leftist. He managed to bring up the issue of gay marriage in Israel and ...
#307 Using liquid soap when soaking dishes on Shabbos
After meals on Shabbos, is it okay to use some liquid dish detergent?...
#306 Soaking dishes on Shabbos
After meals on Shabbos, is it okay to lightly soak soiled dishes with cold water?...
#305 Bishul Akum in Canned or dried cranberries
A food item which cannot be eaten raw is soaked in sugar for several days (or heated in water under 40 degrees celcius) and is then dried by a goy at app. 76 degrees celcius. Is this Bishul Akum? At t...