Determining your birthday Someone who was born during Bein Hashmashos: If one was born on Bein Hashmashos, he is to choose one of the days to celebrate his birthday and fulfill the birthday customs. Some are accustomed to fulfill the customs on both days.[1] If one was born […]
Covering the wine bottle during Kiddush
Must one cover the wine bottle during Kiddush and may the wine still be used if it was left open? One may not recite Kiddush over wine that has been left open/revealed.[1] Nevertheless, if the wine remained open/revealed for only a short amount of time, one does not need to […]
Making Kiddush on wine that was left uncovered-Must one cover the wine bottle during Kiddush
Making Kiddush on wine which was left opened:[1] One may not recite Kiddush over wine that has been left open/revealed.[2] If it stayed opened for only a short amount of time:[3] Nevertheless, if the wine remained open/revealed for only a short amount of time, one does not need to be […]
Laws of Yichud in Taxis
Yichud in a taxi:[1] When a woman takes a taxi with a male taxi driver, or a man takes a taxi with a female taxi driver, the possibility of a Yichud prohibition arises.[2] This is dependent on several factors as will be explained: People/cars outside: If the windows of the […]
When did Avodas Habeirurim begin?
When did Avodas Habeirurim begin? Avraham Avinu began the Divine mission of refining the sparks of Tohu that fell into the worlds. This power however was only given to Avraham after he fulfilled the Mitzvah of Mila, as prior to doing this Mitzvah the Kelipa of Noga covered over the […]
Wearing the shoes and other clothing of the deceased
This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Wearing shoes of deceased:[1] One is not to wear the shoes of a deceased person due to fear of danger.[2] It is not to be given even to a poor person. It may however be sold to a gentile who is purchasing […]
Omitting Tachanun on the day of a Bar Mitzvah
Bar Mitzvah: Some[1] communities are accustomed not to say Tachanun in the presence of a Bar Mitzvah boy on the day of his Bar Mitzvah, and so is the widespread Sefaradic custom in Eretz Yisrael. Other[2] communities are accustomed to recite Tachanun on the day of the Bar Mitzvah, and […]
Inviting non-Frum Jew for Shabbos if he will drive
May one invite a non-religious guest for Shabbos if he will desecrate Shabbos in order to come to you?[1] Some Poskim[2] rule it is forbidden to invite guests to one’s home for the Shabbos meal if this will cause him to desecrate Shabbos, such as to drive, in order to […]
When to say Yehalelu on Shabbos after Mincha
When is Yehalelu to be recited on Mincha of Shabbos? In general, the verse of Yehalelu is recited by the Chazan when the Sefer Torah is being brought to the Aron.[1] However, according to the Chabad custom to begin the Kaddish towards the end of the Gelila, this forms a […]
Yehalelu & Returning the Sefer Torah to the Aron: When; Who and How
Yehalelu-Returning the Sefer Torah: A. When to return the Sefer Torah: The custom of Chassidim and Sefaradim is to return the Sefer Torah to the Aron after Uva Letziyon by Shacharis. The custom of Ashkenazim is to return it before Ashreiy. B. Yehlaleu:[1] The verse of Yehalelu[2] is recited by […]
Wishing good Shabbos after Mincha on Shabbos
Wishing good Shabbos after the time of Mincha:[1] There is a known custom not to wish good Shabbos or say Shalom Aleichem between Mincha and Maariv on Shabbos, during Bein Hashmashos.[2] _____________________________________________________________ [1] Piskeiy Teshuvos 292/8 in name of Sefer Matamim and Otzer Minhagei Yeshurun; Mentioned in Makor […]
From when may one say Karbanos before Mincha
At what time may one begin to recite Karbanos for Mincha?[1] The Karbanos for Mincha are not to be recited prior to 6.5 hours into the day, which is 30 minutes after midday, and the earliest legal time in which Mincha may be Davened.[2] _________________________________________________________ [1] Shraga Hameir 7/20; Piskeiy […]
Women wearing socks and stockings
Women wearing socks/stockings:[1] It is forbidden for men to learn Torah or Daven opposite a woman’s legs [literally, Shoka] as the legs are considered an area of privacy by a woman, and is therefore an Erva to be revealed. [It is therefore necessary for women and girls to cover their […]
Standing for Kaddish
Standing for Kaddish and Barchu:[1] Some Poskim[2] rule it is not necessary [for the listeners] to stand during the recital of Kaddish and Barchu. Other Poskim[3] rule one is required to stand upon answering Kaddish or any Davar Shebekedusha [i.e. a matter that requires a Minyan].[4] Practically, it is proper […]
Aliyah of Kol Hanearim
Kol Hanearim:[1] It is a worldly custom that on Simchas Torah all the male children receive an Aliyah to the Torah.[2] This Aliyah is customarily known as Kol Hanearim.[3] It is customary to spread a Tallis over the heads of the children during this Aliyah.[4] It is likewise customary to […]
Borer-Removing the bad together with the good [i.e. a hair together with some food]
Removing the bad/waste together with some of the good/food: The opinion of Admur in the Shulchan Aruch:[1] It is permitted to remove from food which has waste in it, the waste together with some of the food, such as [using a spoon to] remove a fly from a cup together […]
Crying on Shabbos
May one cry on Shabbos? One who receives pleasure from crying, may cry on Shabbos.[1] Thus, one may cry out of feelings of yearning and Dveikus for Hashem, such as occurs by those who Daven with concentration.[2] Furthermore, if one is saddened by a certain matter, and by crying over […]
Knowing how to judge-Hearing the details of a dispute in the presence of both sides
This Halacha is published in our Sefer “Topics in Practical Halacha” Volume 2 Hearing the claims of each side in the presence of the other side:[1] A. Introduction: Monetary claims are a basic aspect of day to day business dealings and interaction with others. These claims must be brought before […]
Saying “Harei Zu Challah” and the law if one did not say
Saying “Harei Zu Challah”:[1] After one separates a Kezayis of dough she is to say “Hareiy Zu Challah” or “This is Challah”. Bedieved if was not said:[2] If one did not say “Hareiy Zu Challah” but had in mind for it to become Challah, it is nevertheless valid. [If, […]
Pareve food cooked in meat pot or mixed with meat spoon-must one wait six hours after eating it
If Pareve food was cooked in a meat pot must one wait six hours after eating it?[1] If Pareve food was cooked in a meat pot it is permitted to eat dairy products after eating that food without waiting at all. There is no custom to be stringent. [This applies […]
The Blessing said upon seeing a cemetery
Saying the blessing of Yatzar Eschem Badin:[1] One who has not visited a cemetery [in thirty days] is to recite the following blessing upon seeing it: ברוך אתה יי אלקינו מלך העולם אשר יצר אתכם בדין וזן אתכם בדין וכלכל אתכם בדין והמית אתכם בדין ויודע מספר כלכם והוא עתיד […]
How often is Birchas Reiyah recited
How often may Birchas Hareiyah be recited?[1] All the blessings that are said over the sight of an item [i.e. Birchas Hareiyah] are not to be repeated if one re-saw the same item within thirty days of the previous sighting and subsequent blessing. [Thus, if one saw the Great-Sea on […]
If one said Vesein Tal Umatar prior/post its allowed time:
If one said Vesein Tal Umatar prior/post its allowed time:[1] If one said Vesein Tal Umatar Levracha during the summer, outside of its allowed time, which is between Pesach and 7th Cheshvan or 5th December, there is a difference in law between Eretz Yisrael and the Diaspora. Eretz Yisrael:[2] In Eretz […]
Said Visein Tal Umatar between Shemini Atzeres and the 7th of Marcheshvan, is he to repeat Shemoneh Esrei?
If one mistakenly said Visein Tal Umatar after Sukkos but before its proper time, is he to repeat Shemoneh Esrei? If one mistakenly said Visein Tal Umatar between Shemini Atzeres and the 7th of Marcheshvan, is he to repeat Shemoneh Esrei? Some Poskim[1] rule that one who said Visein Tal Umatar […]
Brushing dust off clothing/hat/shoes on Shabbos
Brushing dust/dirt from clothing [without using water]:[1] *This Halacha does not apply to removing wet or dry mud from clothing, and does not apply to using water or other liquids to clean the garment Some opinions[2] rule that it is [Biblically[3]] forbidden to shake off earth or dust from a […]
Damage caused by one’s objects left in a public area
Damage caused by one’s objects left in a public area: It is an act of piety for a person to hide his sharp objects [nails/glass], and any other damaging item, in an area that will not cause any potential harm/damage, such as to throw them in the river or to […]
Chazaras Hashatz if only five people from within the Minyan Davened together
This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com May Chazaras Hashatz be recited if only five people Davened together?[1] In general, a Minyan requires ten people to be in the room, and six people to have Davened together Sheoneh Esrei in order to recite Chazaras Hashatz. Nevertheless, in […]