Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,924 questions and answers
#144 - Listening to Torah tapes while fixing bathroom tiles.
I do occasionally home repair work. Can I work in a bathroom fixing tiles, which may take a few hours, while listening to a Torah tape? I have not yet completed my conversion to Judaism. Thanks....
#143 - If needed, can parents do the chalakah before a child turns three?
Q) If a toddler is going to be three years on chol hamoed, can his parents do the chalakah before Pesach if needed, as there are visiting family? A) There are different traditions in regards...
#142 - Wearing a Kitl during Shono Rishonoh
Q) A choson is in his shono rishoino who makes his own seider, is he permitted to wear a kittl if he wants to? A) M’kadesh Yisroel (Pesach 315) quotes Maharam Shick (O.C. 28) who endeavors ...
#141 - Mezuzahs for small rooms with counters.
As we move to new office headquarters, we have a couple of rooms where we are in doubt of the necessity for a mezuza, because of the small size of the rooms. My rough estimates: Call office: 98 sq ft...
#140 - Grandparents naming a child.
My granddaughter was born a couple of days ago and I want to know can my husband go to shul and name her. My daughter and son-in-law go to Conservative and are going to name her in a month’s time...
#139 - An Ovel after Shloshim joining a group trip to visit and pray at Kvorim
Can an ovel after shloshim join a group trip that is to travel in Europe to visit and pray at the kvorim of prominent Tzadikim....
#138 - Do Parsha sheets require Genizah
I’m cleaning out my room and I found a bunch of parsha sheets in English that I had collected on my desk over the weeks. Am I allowed to put these with the regular recycling or do I have to put t...
#137 - Pesach Shevah Brochos
If a couple are married on the Sunday before Pesach and there are no further Shevah Brochos on the following weekdays, can one say Shevah Brochos on the two Seder nights (Friday and Shabbos) of that w...
#136 - Tachanun by a Bris when the Mohel leaves early.
If the Mohel left the minyan (because he had to go to a Bris), before the beginning of the repetition of the Shemone Esre, do you say Tachanun?...
#135 - Reciting the Shira with joy during a time of Availus.
As Shabbath Shirah approaches, we have learned that the Shirah should always be recited with great joy, as this promotes forgiveness of sins. Does one have to recite it that way in a mourners house or...
#134 - Is a brocho recited on a special needs new born baby.
I attended a delivery recently where the newborn had severe internal congenital organ defects. It is customary not to inform immediately the parents of the detrimental situation, as to provide opportu...
#133 - Saying Yud Gimel Midos with a Minyan.
Often when I daven in a minyan that says yud gimel midos during tachanun, I am unable to say it together with them, as I am still lagging behind. What is the source that 13 midos need a minyan, and is...
#132 - Re - previous shaaileh on kashering crystal glasses.
Is it necessary to do the whole process of filing with water and changing 3 times the water, isn’t there a shortcut?...
#131 - Kashering glass and crystal.
The previous owners of the house left us a set of glasses, some glass some crystal. They haven’t been used in almost two years and I’m wondering if I can use them. Do I need to kasher them a...
#130 - Location of a Sholom Zochor.
Does a Shalom Zochor have to be in the house where the mother and baby are, or can it be also, if needed in a friends house?...
#129 - Returning a terminally ill patient, who is close to death, from the hospital to his home.
An elderly terminally ill patient who was diagnosed by his doctors at the hospital as being close to death wants to be returned to his home to be able to die in a place familiar to him and with his fa...
#128 - Hashavos Aveidah with Muktza items on Shabbos
If you are walking outside in front of your apartment building on Shabbos and the building has mostly Jews and you see on the ground a wallet, are you allowed to pick it up in order to return it? Do w...
#127 - Using ’borrowed’ discount codes to rent cars.
Can I use a discount code for a car rental company that doesn’t belong to me? I’ve gotten codes from my brothers who date where they use codes that boys universally share when they ren...
#126 - Is one permited to attend social or community activities located in a Church
Is a Jew who is alcoholic permitted to enter a church (even possibly the main sanctuary) to attend an AA meeting?...
#125 - Does laundry detergent needs a hechsher when used to wash dish towels
I’d like to ask whether laundry detergent needs a hechsher. There seem to be a lot of major brands that don’t have one. Also, is there a difference if one is laundering dish towels?...