Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,519 questions and answers
# 4585 Not an Eide’l Dreidel
My kid was given a Chanuka dreidel by a friend that has the wining letter ‘Gimel’ on everyone of its four corners, so no mater ho you spin it it will always win. Is it correct to keep such a ‘cheating...
# 4584 The Women’s Praise
Should a woman who davens shacharis every day recite Halel on Chanukeh with a brocho?...
# 4583 Fix the Mix
If someone realizes after saying the brocho for Chanuka candles that they will not light since there is too much water in the glass, what should he then do, just fix them and then recite another broch...
# 4582 Small Smell Test?
I live in a small condo building and my widow that is facing the street, awfully also faces the garbage cans from the building. Should I light the Menorah by that window?...
# 4581 Most Holy Lights
Does one or his children, especially when travelling and in a hotel, have to be dressed properly in front of he lit Menorah? Can one have marital relations when facing it?...
# 4580 Fire - Away
See question above. One must take into account that following regulations and insurance policies, no live fire should be left on inside the premises, and since people rush to go home to light their ca...
# 4579 Right Light @ Right Time
In a shul where they daven Mincha right before the Shekia (sunset) followed by Maariv, when is the best time to light the Menorah. Between Mincha and Maariv or after Maariv?...
# 4578 Uncovering the Uncovered
Dear Rov and friend. I have a decorated container for the Chanuka oil that has a cover, yet it is open at the pouring end as common hot water or coffee pouring vessels are. If the oil stays on there o...
#4577 Chanuka Gelt Means a Velt
I was visiting a dear modern friend and witnessed something really strange. He lit the first day a great beautiful Menorah, but around it he placed all kinds of gifts for his kids. Is that permitted? ...
# 4576 Women On Time
See question 4571 above regarding women’s compliance on the Chanuka mitzva. A group of single women, that partake once a week to a Hashkafa shiur around the time of lighting the Menorah candles, ...
# 4575 A Happy Koshern Yom Tov
Does one have to use Kosher olive oil for Chanukah candles?...
# 4574 – Rich or Beautiful?
Dear Morenu Horav. If someone has an option to use a very beautiful and large silver plated menorah or just a small oldish and kind of ugly but real silver very expensive menorah. Which is the prefera...
# 4573 Meet Your Match
Can one light with a match the olive oil candles of a Chanuka Menorah, that also has the middle shamash light in an oil container and thus cannot physically be moved and used for lighting the rest of ...
# 4572 A Ray of Hope
Querido Rabino; A friend of us has been detained in a Central American country, and although all efforts were and are done, he will likely be there at least during Chanuka. The authorities are nowaday...
# 4571 Enlightening Women
Do single women have to light the Menorah?...
# 4570 No Minority Rights?
– Q. Rov Shlit’a. If someone is missing a bit of olive oil to fill a cup on the Menorah, can one use a small quantity of common oil that following an Halachic mechanism of ‘Bitul Berav’ will become nu...
# 4569 Travelling Light
As a travelling salesman I will be, Hashem willing travelling widely during Chanuka and likely will be at an airport during the time of lighting the menorah. Can I light at the airport in a permitted ...
# 4568 Feel at Home?
How come we have brochos for all the four senses as seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting, yet there is no brocho for the fifth one or feeling?...
# 4567 Not a Man of the Cloth?
See question above. As the Rov mentioned, one complies with an additional or many great mitzvos wearing another taalis kattan. If that is the case, why do we not find Rabbonim and even Gedolim wearing...
# 4566 Warm and Nice
– Q. As the cold days of winter are approaching, I often fill that I should use an extra t-shirt to keep me warm. If instead I use another Talit Kattan, will I comply with a double mitzva if I’m alrea...