Writing the family name of the Chasan/Kallah/Witnesses in the Kesuba: One is not to write the family name in a Get and so is the custom.[1] Nevertheless, some Poskim[2] rule that by a Kesuba, in addition to writing the names and the father’s names of the Chasan and Kallah, one […]
From the Rav’s desk: 1) May one touch his socks in middle of Davening? 2) Speaking before taking three steps back in Shemoneh Esrei
Question: [Tuesday, 21st Sivan, 5781] If I have an itch on my foot during Davening, am I allowed to itch myself through my sock [i.e. On top of my sock] or would this make me be required to wash my hands afterwards? Answer: Yes, it is permitted for you […]
Answering Amen to Kaddish if not ending at same time
How is one to answer Amen to Kaddish if more than one person is saying Kaddish and they are not saying it simultaneously?[1] If they do not conclude the stanzas in Kaddish simultaneously, and there is an interval of Kdei Dibbur between the two conclusions of the blessing, then one […]
Using and practicing Non-conventional medicine-Part 3-Hashkafah
Hashkafa: Should one follow after the permitted non-conventional treatments that work based on Segula? Despite the Halachic permission granted under fulfillment of the above conditions to perform treatments that do not work in accordance to medical science but rather Segula, the Poskim have denigrated its use in certain instances. The […]
From the Rav’s Desk: 1) Placing an ice cube in hot soup or tea on Shabbos? 2) Saying Tehillim for sick on Shabbos
Question: [Sunday, 19th Sivan, 5781] Is it permitted for me to place an ice cube in my hot bowl of soup or hot cup of tea on Shabbos in order to cool it down enough so I can drink it? Answer: It is permitted to enter an ice cube on […]
May one change diapers, or get a baby dressed after a shower, in front of Sefarim
May one change diapers, or get a baby dressed after a shower, in front of Sefarim? A. Background: May Tefillin be near excrement?[1] From the letter of the law, there is no prohibition to have Tefillin [or Sefarim] be within four Amos of actual feces even if the Tefillin [or […]
From the Rav’s Desk: May one insert a temporary curtain nail into the wall on Shabbos
Question: [Thursday, 16th Sivan 5781] Dear Rabbi, we have a makeshift curtain that we constructed over our sliding door to shade from the sun in the afternoons and for privacy purposes and the way it works is that one side is nailed into the wall on one end of the […]
May one play building games such as Lego on Shabbos?
May one play building games such as Lego on Shabbos? A. Introduction to the building prohibition relevant to assembling parts of a vessel together: One who inserts the wood into the ax to serve as a handle is liable for the Biblical building prohibition. Similarly, anyone who inserts a vessel […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Blood found in hard-boiled eggs
Question: [Tuesday, 15th Sivan, 5781] I recently cracked a hard-boiled store-bought egg and saw a reddish blackish dot on the egg and wanted to know if I have to treat it as blood and throw out the egg? Answer: Yes. However, the rest of the eggs in the pot remain […]
Using and practicing Non-conventional medicine-Part 2-The prohibition of Darkei Emori and Sorcery and Avoda Zara
Using and practicing Non-conventional medicine-Part 2-The prohibition of Darkei Emori and Sorcery and Avoda Zara A. The prohibition of Darkei Emori:[1] What is Darkei Emori: Darkei Emori is literally defined as the ways of the Emorites. The Torah prohibits a Jew to follow the paths of the Emorites, which refers […]
