Ask The Rabbi
Halachic questions answered by Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
5,901 questions and answers
#5146 More Easy on the Eyes
Re- question 5137 regarding if one should close his eyes when he is blowing the Shofar. Horav Yaakov Hirschman Shlit’a added that the foremost importance is to clearly intend to be “Motzi” (or make...
#5145 Forgiveness for the Selicha?
I’m an M.D. and I often have to be in the hospital on a night shift. During this time of the year I’m barely able to make it to a Shacharit minyan when it is still on time for saying Krias Shema. Ca...
#5144 – A Debate about a Siman Debate
A couple had a debate between them regarding some new fruits to be placed on the special meal on the night of Rosh Hashana as is tradition. The argument was if some of those fruits may need special ch...
#5143 Virtuous or Righteous?
Is it better to choose as a Baal Tokea (blower of shofar) someone that is a great expert and knows how to blow the shofar correctly following all details of Halacha, or is it preferable to select some...
#5142 Kiss a Blow?
If a Shofar falls on the floor, when you pick it up, do you have to kiss it?...
#5141 Hearing or Blowing?
Dear Rabbi Shlit”a. If someone knows well how to blow the shofar, should he offer to the shul to be the one to blow? Is there a greater mitzva to blow the shofar, more than just to hear from someone e...
#5140 The Right Pray on the Right Place
Hello Rav, Sometimes I need to daven at a minyan where I need to leave the minyan early in order to be on time for work in the morning. I’m able to stay until the kedushah during the repetition o...
#5139 Blowing Away the Smell?
See question above. We have also in our shul a number of elderly people that wear urinated clothing or worse, and even when they also wear some type of diapers, they stink, but want to stand next to...
#5138 The Correct Will of the Yehi Ratzon
See question above. Every year we have in our Rosh Hashana minyan an argument whether we should say the Yehi Ratzon (prayer for the auspicious compliance of this mitzva said after the blowing of the s...
#5137 Easy on the Eyes?
Dear Rabbi, I was chosen this year to be the baal tokea for our shul, We have a crowd of a few hundred mitpalelim and I have some questions. First one, should one close his eyes when he is blowing the...
#5136 Don’t Blow away the Blow
Kvod Harav, during Rosh Hashana my great tzadik of a son (he is 18) goes to blow the shofar to the houses of the ill and aged, who can’t come to shul. He does that practically until the shekia (sunset...
#5135 Kind of Behind your Mind
Is it permissible to complete a PhD in Applied Transpersonal Psychology. It is a degree done by my own research?...
#5134 So Sweet, But So, So Sour?
Estimado Rabino. As you well know we eat in Mexico and all over Latin America in all meals and specially Shabbat and Yamim Tovim meals with chile and other very sharp souses that also contain vinegar....
#5133 – Consent to an Efficient Agent?
Can one name a shaliach (agent) to represent him for doing Hatoras Nedorim on Erev Rosh Hashono? How about if he writes it on a document? Can a husband represent his wife?...
#5132 Eclipsed Blessings?
Rov, if there is a partial lunar eclipse (tonight Sep. 17, in Toronto) does one make a brocho?...
#5131 Let the Good Times Begin
We must add to the questions regarding getting credit for future deeds on Rosh Hashono, the following answer. On question 1828 the Rov quoted Baaley Mussar and others who argue that if the Ben Sore...
#5130 Smart Musar Chavrusa?
See question above. Can one use an AI program to just learn together a Musar sefer such as Mesilas Yeshorim or Orchos Tzadikim etc.?...
#5129 Smart Ethical Device?
Kvod Rabbenu Shlit’a. As we are preparing for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, can one use the new AI programs that practically record, control and guide many in the every day tasks, work and undertakings...
#5128 In Your Wildest Dream!
Over thirty years ago, I was on a flight from Eretz Yisroel to the USA. During the flight, I slept (very novel idea for me) and dreamed an awesome and terrifying dream. I dreamed that a building with ...
#5127 A Knife at the Court?
Last year we ate the first Rosh Hashana meal by a known Rebbe and we saw that he had acquired a new Chalah knife that was still in its box. Is there Is there a special minhag to buy a new Chalah knife...