Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,924 questions and answers
#224 Lighting only 2 Shabbos candles when traveling
A woman that usually lights many (Shabbos) candles (at home), when she travels, does she have to light all of them or only the basic two?...
#223 Lighting an electric light for Shabbos
If (a woman) turned on (on Erev Shabbos) the electric light but then could not latter light the candles, as it became late. Does she now have to light one more candle?...
#222 lighting only one candle for Shabbos
If a woman lit only one (Shabbat) candle instead of the customary two, does she now have to light in the future one more light?...
#221 Doing Melacha on Sunday before Havdolo.
If one goes to sleep before Shabbos is over and wakes up Sunday morning, must they Baruch Mavdil before doing any melacha?...
#220 Wearing a rain coat that changes in the rain on Shabbos
My daughter has a grey rain coat that when it gets wet in the rain, has a pattern of black flowers that become visible, and goes away when it dries. Can this be worn on Shabbos? Are the flowers becomi...
#219 Taking blood tests on a fast.
Is it permitted to take a blood test on a day of fasting (some blood tests require fasting) like Tzom Gedalia, as it is similar to bloodletting, which we learned is not allowed when fasting?...
#218 Making a Shecheyanu on esrog jam
Q Can you make Shecheyanu on jam made from Ethrogim on the second night (of Rosh Hashonoh)?...
#217 Staying away from sour or bitter foods on Rosh Hashonoh
I know we stay away from bitter foods on Rosh Hashanah, does that include lemon on ones tea, salad dressing, and sweet prepared chrein?...
#216 Using honey substitutes on Rosh Hashonoh.
Someone that has an allergy reaction to pollen and was advised to stay away from bee honey, should he use date honey or maple syrup (on Rosh Hashanah)?...
#215 Using salt and honey on Challah on Rosh Hashanah
On Rosh Hashanah night do you put salt on the chala together with the honey? If yes which is first?...
#214 Wearing a Kippah when one is not Shomer Shabbos
I am not shomer shabbos. Should I wear a kippah during the week when not in shul?...
#213 Eating nuts and seeds on Rosh Hashana
I know you can’t eat nuts on Rosh Hashana, but can you eat seeds - like sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds?...
#212 Using a hot water urn on Shabbos that reboils every 20 minutes.
I have a hot water urn; the ordinary type with a faucet at the bottom. About every 20 minutes the power goes on for about a minute to maintain the heat. There is an indicator light that is always on w...
#211 Multitasking Siyumim
If I were to finish a Masechta, I might make a siyum. If I were to review that Masechta, I might make a siyum again. What if I were to review the Masechta while I was still learning it? For examp...
#210 Receiving interest on the LMR deposit from a Jewish owner.
I received a cheque for $15 from my Jewish landlord for interest earned on the last month rent. My rent increased by about $30 so I paid the $30 and was credited the $15. Do I have to return the chequ...
#209 Sleeping with one's feet facing the door.
My baby’s crib is facing the doorway to his room, and I believe there is a preference which way to sleep, but I do not recall if it is head towards the door or feet towards the door....
#208 Inviting a Shabbos guest who would travel by car on Shabbos.
Can we invite on Shabbat someone who would be traveling if our intention is to do Kiruv, don’t we always say “desecrate one Shabbat so he can keep many?...
#207 Inviting to a Simcha a relative who would travel by car on Shabbos.
Do not put a stumbling block before the blind (Leviticus 19:14). "Religious" relatives quoted the above as justification for not inviting their disabled grandfather to attend a simcha on shabbos...
#206 Making a Brocho on the candle Motzey Shabbos Tisha Beav
Which is the best way to do the brocho on the candle Motzey Shabbos Tisha Beav, before reading Eicha, or after when there is more people?...
#205 Dancing a Rikud onShabbos Chazon
In a shul were every Shabbos eve after Kabbolas Shabbos and Maariv, there is a rikud, and some say that on this Shabbos which coincides with Tisha Beav it should not be done, would that not be aveluth...