Question: [Thursday, 27th Menachem Av, 5781] We were invited as guests for the Friday night meal to a family that is a bit distanced from our house and we plan on walking there right after candle lighting time and will probably get home very late. My question is regarding where […]
Shabbos urns-Using an electrical urn on Shabbos
May an electric water urn be used for Shabbos?[1] The water is heated based on a thermostat: Some Poskim[2] rule a thermostat based electric water urn may not be used on Shabbos as the amount of water that is in the pot effects when the heat will turn on and […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Shaming liability-Must a shamer pay you compensation
Question: [Wednesday, 27th Menachem Av, 5781] In a public Chassidic gathering a certain individual who evidently had too much to drink and did not like something I said began shouting at me, cursing me, and belittling me with many accusations, and when I tried to calmly defend myself, he went […]
What may a borrower use his borrowed money towards
What may the borrower use the money towards?[1] It is forbidden for the debtor to take the borrowed money and use it for a purpose that is not business related, in a way that the money becomes lost from the lender causing the lender to not have from where to […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Separating Maaser from inheritance money
Question: [Monday, 25th Menachem Av 5781] I recently inherited a sizable sum of money from a deceased relative. Do I have to separate Maaser from the inheritance money? He was an Orthodox Jew and I believe and assume that he already separated Maaser from the funds that he inherited to […]
Greeting people while visiting a cemetery
Greetings and Shalom Aleichem in a cemetery:[1] One may not greet others in a cemetery while [a burial is taking place and] the deceased is in the cemetery.[2] This applies even in a large city.[3] If there is no corpse in the cemetery, it is permitted to greet others if […]
What is one to do if he missed hearing a word in Kerias Hatorah
What is one to do if he missed hearing a word in Kerias Hatorah? *This Halacha deals specifically with the case that the Baal Korei read all the words of the reading but simply an individual member of the congregation did not hear a word or words from the reading […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Must one wash hands every time one wakes up at night
Question: [Monday, 24th Menachem Av 5781] If one woke up in middle of the night and is planning to instantly return back to sleep, such as for the sake of using the bathroom, or checking on a sleeping kid, or to take a crying baby, must he wash hands prior […]
May one say the word Shalom in a bathroom
May one say the word Shalom in a bathroom or Mikveh?[1] Saying Shalom Aleichem:[2] It is forbidden to greet a friend with the word “Shalom” [i.e. Shalom Aleichem], in the inner room of a bathhouse where everyone is undressed [i.e. where the showers and hot Mikveh is situated] being that […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Chazan of Shabbos Mincha said Ata Chonein
Question: [Sunday 23rd Menachem Av 5781] The Chazan by our minyan for Shabbos Mincha accidentally began saying Ata Chonein Leadam Daas by Chazaras Hashatz and was immediately stopped by the congregation. A big debate in shul ensued regarding what he is to do, with some saying that he should continue […]
