Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,512 questions and answers
5079 The Happy Comming Days
A kallah is getting married right after Tisha B’av. These days the custom is to make personalized sweaters for the kallah and her family/friends. Is it permitted to decorate sweaters with “iron on” le...
#5078 Ponds to Ponder
Dear Rov, can one use rivers or ponds for immersion of new utensils?...
#5077 Zoning Shabbos Chazon
Shalom LaRav Shlit’a. Is it true what some maintain that we should increase on Shabbos Chazon Simcha, happiness and joy more than any other regular Shabbos? Why not the contrary?...
#5076 Room for the Not Yet Frum?
Is it ok for a woman to be included in the kiddush and homotzi of a man who isn’t shomer Shabbat yet? What about havdala?...
#5075 Clothing for Mourning
How long do I have to wear my freshly laundered clothes before the 9 days? Can I just leave them unfolded on the bed instead?...
#5074 The Ma’aseh on Ma’aser
How does one calculate tzeddaka on the sale of a house? I’m assuming that some expenses could be deducted such as mortgage and taxes and maintenance but not consumables such as gas and electricit...
#5073 Have Something to Eat?
(As the Rov well knows…), I can’t eat fish and only limited dairy products, so can I eat chicken during the 9 days?...
#5072 – What’s In a Name?
Rabenu Shlit’a. We have a non- Jewish worker that is from Mexico and uses the name “Jesus.” Is it proper and correct to call him by that name and mention it constantly?...
#5071 Strict Strait Start
Hello Rov. Tonight is Rosh Chodesh Av and the start of the Nine Days. Is it possible for someone who can only daven with a minyan at an early maariv minyan after Plag, do so expressing that he is not...
#5070 Avoid the Beaten Track?
Dear Rov Shlit’a. As the situation in Israel seems to be lately so dangerous, is there a reason to restrict again the travel there as we did during some of the recent years? What is Horav Millers Shli...
# 5069 – Your Other AI Self?
Moreinu Shlit’a. You have taught us that using a robot that possesses artificial intelligence, even if it performs a prohibition or does a mitzva it is basically the same as if you have done it yours...
#5068 The Most Happy Tefilin
My son is about to become Iy”H Bar Mitzva three weeks after Tisha Beav. We have a minhag that our Bar Mitzva bochurim don Tefilin a month before. We were able to acquire for him an unusually excellent...
#5067 Bird Watching
We saw a heron bird nesting close to our cottage, and our children were wondering if there is a mitzva of Shiluach Haken in such wild bird. Is there? If there is, what bracha should be said?...
#5066 Dream Away
Kvod Ha Rab. I know that we do not put much into dreams. However, this dream has remained with me and it is a bit disturbing as it was very vivid. In this dream, we were sitting at the table ready to ...
#5065 Best Way to Stay Awake or Fall Asleep?
Someone that needs to hear music during work or while he is driving to calm him down or to help him not falling asleep, is that permitted during the Three Weeks?...
#5064 Turning It Into a Good Dream?
I recently read that the Gerrer Rebbe summoned a special minyan to his home to recite Hatavas Chalom (“Making good a Dream” The prayer said when someone has a bad dream). Do you really need a minya...
#5063 Room for Groom ?
Dear Rabbi. Is one allowed to cut nails during the Nine Days? How about going to the mikva for one who usually is tovel before davening? If he is allowed can he take a short shower immersing to keep ...
#5062 All Hands Off Deck
We B’H have and enjoy the great Bracha of Hashem that blessed us with a truly outstanding home with seven very beautiful children, most of them are not Bar or Bat mitzva yet. Although, as is obvio...
#5061 Lining for the Clean linen?
– Q. Kvod Rabbenu Shlit’a. I’ll have Iy’H in during the Nine Days my children and their families visiting us. What is the correct thing to do for them when providing fresh linen and towels as they ...
#5060 Questioning the Questions
“Dear Rov Shlit’a. As you well know I give a few weekly shiurim to a large group of mispallelim in our shul. I often wondered which is best, to let the listeners ask questions during the time I speak...