Removing one’s shoes with one’s hands:[1] One who removes [or even touches[2]] his shoes with his hands[3] is required to wash his hands one time [immediately] afterwards. This applies even if the shoes are clean.[4] [This applies even if one only touched his shoes with his pinky.[5] If the shoes […]
From the Rav’s Desk: 1) making use of a pot plant on Shabbos 2) resting a siddur on a tree trunk on Shabbos 3) what to do if a hat flew onto a tree on Shabbos
Question: [Motzei Shabbos, 12th Teves 5781] Does the prohibition against making use of a tree also apply against a pot plant? Answer: Yes, it follows the same exact law as a growth from the ground, and thus if the plant contains a hard stem which if bended will break, and […]
The Fast day of the 9th of Teves & Asara Beteves-Laws & Customs
The Fast day of the 9th of Teves:[1] The Shulchan Aruch lists a number of days in which it is customary to fast due to tragedies that occurred on that day. Amongst the list of days in which tragedies occurred, and is hence proper to fast on, is the […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Response to attack against the custom of avoiding Torah learning on the night of Nittel
Question: [Thursday, 9th Teves 5781] With all due respect what you are saying about not learning Torah on the night of December 25th is not true. The Rabanim poskined to not learn Torah for one reason. They were afraid of pogroms being carried out against Jews learning Torah together, during […]
From the Rav’s Desk: How to separate Maaser from Lemons-Maaser Ani or Maaser Sheiyni
Question: [Monday, 6th Teves 5781] How does one separate Teruma and Maasros from a lemon tree? My main question is regarding its years of Maasros and how to calculate when it belongs to the year of Maaser Sheiyni and when it belongs to the year of Maaser Ani. Do we […]
From the Rav’s Desk: 1) Davening and learning near smell of spoiled food 2) Birchas Hatorah prior to reciting the bedtime Shema if accidentally fell asleep
Question: [Tuesday 7th Teves, 5781] There is a strange smell of spoiled food in our Beis Midrash and we have tried to discover its source unsuccessfully. My question is whether it is permitted for us to continue learning and Davening in the area? The smell is very pungent. Answer: […]
From The Rav’s Desk: The attitude to the “doomsday” speakers and conspiracy theorist and prophecy lecturers
Question: [Monday, 6th Teves 5781] Dear Rabbi, What is your opinion on all the various doomsday speakers that the Jewish world has merited to have? There are so many Frum speakers today available on the Internet that you can listen to, and some of the speakers tend to include […]
From the Rav’s Desk: 1) Telepathic effects between family members; 2) Writing a Megillah on Erev Shabbos
Question: [Thursday, 2nd Teves 5781] Dear Rabbi, I was wondering what the perspective of Judaism is regarding if there is a spiritual connection between the members of a family aside of course for the biological connection of them being relatives. Meaning, is there a subconscious and telepathic connection between family […]
The Dreidel in Halacha and Agadah
The Dreidel in Halacha and Agadah:[1] A. Background of the custom: It is customary to play Dreidel during Chanukah.[2] As tradition has it, this game was historically played in the times of the Greeks when it was prohibited for Jews to study Torah. They would study Torah in secret and […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Having a Gentile caretaker light the candles and retracting a mistaken Psak
Question: [Tuesday, 29th Kisleiv 5781] My father lives in an assisted living complex and has tremendous difficulty moving around, including movement of his arms. I have tried to be with him for each night of Hanukkah to light the candles with him although tonight I will not be able to […]
