Question: [Sunday, 3rd Adar 2, 5782] May I greet my friend with the word Shalom inside of the changing area of the Mikveh? Does it make a difference if there are people there who are undressed or not? I did so this morning and someone told me that its forbidden. […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Does one say a blessing upon tasting salt?
Question: [Thursday, 30th Adar 1, 5782] If I taste or eat salt, am I to say a blessing? Answer: Yes, if you plan to swallow it and you receive some measure of benefit from eating or tasting it, then the blessing of Shehakol is recited. If, however you receive […]
The dilemma of the date of the 30th of Adar 1 and how one can commemorate a birthday/Yartzite
The dilemma of the date of the 30th of Adar 1 and how one can commemorate a birthday/Yartzite: A. What is one to do if he was born on the 30th of Adar I and in the current year there is only one Adar of 29 days?[1] If one was […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Hashavas Aveida if found a $100 bill in front of Shul and the law of Maaser
Question: [Wednesday, 29th Adar 1, 5782] Yesterday, when I was walking into shul I found a folded $100 bill on the floor by the entrance area of the Shul. I of course wanted to return it to whoever lost it and did some investigation and returned it to a member […]
Giving a Hesped-Chabad custom and custom of other communities not to eulogize
Giving a Hesped-Chabad custom and custom of other communities not to eulogize:[1] The Chabad custom is not to give any eulogies[2] and so is the custom of other communities.[3] One is to prevent eulogies from taking place for a deceased who belonged to a community who follows the above custom.[4] […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Must one separate Maaser from charity monies that he receives?
Question: [Tuesday, 28th Adar 1, 5782] I recently had a charity campaign done on my behalf for a specific personal cause. I wanted to know if I am obligated to separate Maaser from the charity money that I received? Answer: If the charity campaign was for a specific cause, […]
Eulogy/Hesped-Should it be done, How and why-Part 1
Eulogy/Hesped-Should it be done, How and why:[1] A. The general law: It is a great Mitzvah to properly eulogize the deceased.[2] Whoever cries upon the death of a Kosher Jew, Hashem counts the tears and places the tears in his supernal treasure chest. Whoever is lax in eulogizing a Kosher […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Men trimming eyebrows
Question: [Monday 21st Tamuz, 5780] May a man trim his eyebrows, or does doing so transgress Lo Yilbash? Basically, my eyebrows are really wide and go out of their intended “perimeter” and I would like to know if I can trim or shave them in that area. Answer: It […]
Which child is obligated in Pidyon Haben-Part 2-Son of Kohen, Levi, Gentile
Which child is obligated in Pidyon Haben-Part 2: A. The son of a Levi-Leviyah/Kohen-Kohenes:[1] Kohanim and Levites are exempt from Pidyon Haben.[2] Even a Kohenes or Leviyah who is married to a Yisrael, her son is not obligated in Pidyon Haben.[3] [This applies even today when we no longer have […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Fixing two letters which are found touching by the Parshiyos of Tefillin
Question: [Sunday, 26th Adar 1, 5782] I sent my Rashi pair of Tefillin to be checked by a sofer for the first time after my Bar Mitzvah and the Sofer said that they are invalid, being that he found two letters which were touching each other [the tip of one […]
