Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,948 questions and answers
6095 - Who Blew It?
Q. Hon. Rabbi We have a debate in our shul if we should maintain our elderly shofar blower for many years with a younger more crafty and capable one. What is the correct thing to do on the days that p...
6094 - The Brief on Brief
Q. Shana Tova, Kvod Horav Shlit’a. As I often do on Rosh Hashana, I blow the shofar in a nearby Old Age Home, yet the authorities are reluctant if it bothers other people nearby, what can I do?...
6093 - Blow Away Blow?
Q. Dear Rov, Shana Tova Umetuka. I read in a Torah article that when Rosh Hashana coincides with Shabbat, as it is on this year and you don’t blow the Shofar, it is bad omen for the year. Is that true...
6092 – Shofar So Clean!
Q. Dear Rabbi. If the shofar used on Rosh Hashana was not kept in a separate clean bag, and just was inside part of the storing place of the shul used openly and it likely may contain some dirt or oth...
6091 – Blowing Away the Blow?
Q. If the Baal Tokea suffers from a bad cold does his flowing saliva become a chatzitza or separation from his mouth with the shofar, and he should not blow?...
6090 - The Long View -
Q. Dear Rabbi, Shana Tovah. Some people of our shul acquired a few long shofars and they want to use them since they claim that a long shofar is more beautiful and also sounds better; do we have to do...
6089 – Allways Face Upward?
Q. Rabenu Shlit’a. Is it required that the open end of the shofar on Rosh Hashana should be facing upward? If not does the Baal Tokea have to bend himself so it faces up?...
6088 Ask Nitzavim – Vayelech 86 - –
Q. I See the Ice! Q. Dear Rabbi and neighbor. Can I use the large pieces of ice of the most powerful thunderstorm that tore through Toronto yesterday Wednesday, bringing down also a big amount of hai...
6087 – The Tragic Teshuva!
Q. To: Rabbi A. Bartfeld <rabartfeld@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 03:08:29 PM EDT Dear Rov as you already know my grandmother (93 years) was in a car accident due to today's severe...
6086 – The Conclusion of the Demolition?
Q. Regarding construction, what about if the demolition was not finished as scheduled, could the demolition and or clean-up also be done on Chol Hamoed?...
6085 – Toiling on Toil Translation?
Q. See question above. So what toil is actually permitted in Chol Hamoed?...
6084 – A Gentile Foundation?
Q. Rabbi Long Life. If one is about to build a house and needs to get the foundation poured in and framing set up before the cold weather begins, with scheduling tight, can one allow a Gentile to cut ...
6083 – Give a Good Guest Blessing!
Dear Rabbenu Shlit"a. If a traveling Jew is invited to a free Shabbat Se'udah in a shul, should he recite the blessing of the guest? ברכת האורח? If so, what is the nusach of the blessing that he shoul...
6082 - More Near and Far Shofar
Q. Dear Rabbi. Can a woman that has a few young children blow the shofar for them at home?...
6081 – So Near and Far Shofar
Q. Dear Rabbi. Can a woman that has a few young children blow the shofar for them at home?...
6080 – - Let’s Understand the Understanding!
Q. When and how exactly do we actually say the Havinenu?...
6079 – Give us Understanding?
Q. ברשות הרב הנחמד. Con el amable permiso del rabino. I understand a person should avoid davening the prayer of (Havinenu) הביננו, but if a person knows that he can't make davening Shmonah Esrah on ti...
6078 – Vayelech, the Lucky Parsha?
Q. Since it is possible, like on this year, that Parshas Vayelech is actually read twice in one single year, (last year it was after Rosh HaShanah on Shabbos Shuvah, and this year, together with Nitza...
6077 - Supporting the Spouse
Q. Can my husband represent me when Hatarat Nedarim is done on Erev Rosh Hashana in Shul? Can an unmarried woman ask a family friend to represent her such as her father or brother?...
6076 – The Woman’s Real True Shul?
Q. See question above. Can women recite Selichos at home?...