Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Tread Carefully December 5, 2024 Q When visiting a cemetery, may one stand on or walk over a kever? May one lean on a gravestone or place a siddur or a water bottle on it? A The Gemara (Sanhedrin 47b)…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Declared Interest November 28, 2024 Q My friend loaned me money and incurred expenses in withdrawing it and getting it to me. May I buy him a small gift to show my appreciation for his efforts? A The de’Oreisa prohibition against…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
In Second Place November 21, 2024 Q If I start eating in my car and wish to continue after I exit it, do I need another bracha? A A person who is eating and changes his location (shinui makom) is…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Time Travel November 14, 2024 Q On Shabbos, may one adjust the pegs of a plug-in timer (a.k.a. Shabbos clock) to change its schedule? A Adjusting the timer’s pegs does one of two things: It prolongs the machine’s current state,…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Milk Tolerance November 7, 2024 Q May almond milk be used in a meat or chicken recipe? A The Rama (Y.D. 87:3) says that mixing almond milk with meat is forbidden under the principle of mar’is ayin, because onlookers might…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Response Time Rav Aryeh Finkel October 31, 2024 Q While saying yihyu leratzon or Elokei Netzor at the end of Shmoneh Esrei, which tfilah responses may I say? A During Shmoneh Esrei, one stands before Hashem as before a human…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Meal Prep HaRav Shraga Kallus October 16, 2024 Q Is all food preparation permitted on Yom Tov? A Generally, melacha for ochel nefesh is permitted on Yom Tov, but there are exceptions; here are several of them: One may not prepare…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Fast Food October 1, 2024 Q May I swallow a pill on Yom Kippur? A If taken to alleviate discomfort rather than illness (see note in Halichos Shlomo 5:8), a pill is forbidden: If it is flavored, it is considered…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Full Blast September 26, 2024 Q If I heard a cough or a sneeze during a shofar blast, was I yotzei? A There is a general rule that trei kalei lo mishtam’ei (two simultaneous sounds are not discerned). But shofar…
Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline
Harachaman Hu Yakim September 19, 2024 Q Why do we say the Harachaman supplications at the end of Birkas Hamazon? Is their recitation mandatory? A The first three brachos of bentching are a chiyuv de’Oreisa; the fourth is a chiyuv…