Stop Sign February 8, 2024 Q I’m filling out a legal form that concludes, “By signing below, I hereby swear that the information provided is true.” May I sign this, either by hand or digitally via DocuSign? A Many…
Text Evasion February 1, 2024 Q A non-Jewish coworker approached me to discuss some questions he had about the Bible. How should I handle this? A You should try your best to avoid such conversations. Chazal forbid the teaching of…
Snowman: Abominable? January 25, 2024 Q May one build a snowman on Shabbos? A Clean rainwater is not mukzteh, whether it fell before or on Shabbos (Mishnah Brurah 338:30); most poskim apply this to snow as well. But R’ Moshe…
Social Decline January 18, 2024 Q I gave my credit card to a tzedakah collector, but the charge was declined, so he requested cash instead. Am I obligated to give it to him? A If you have cash, you must…
Into the Mix January 11, 2024 Q What bracha is made on cholent? A In general, when determining the bracha of a dish that has multiple components, if one is the ikar (main component) and others tafeil (secondary), making a bracha…
Debt Relief January 4, 2024 Q My friend is still awaiting his 2022 tax refund of $10,000. In desperate need of the funds, he asked me to lend him the money. He says that when the refund arrives, he will…
Fair Hearing December 28, 2023 Q A man in my shul wears hearing aids. May I speak to him on Shabbos, given that my voice will trigger electrical activity in the device? A The poskim address several issues with hearing…
The Jig Is Up December 21, 2023 Q May children solve jigsaw puzzles on Shabbos? A The early poskim debate whether opening and closing a book that has words written on its page edges violates mocheik and koseiv (erasing and…
Mom and Pop December 14, 2023 Q when davening for a sick person, why is he referred to as the son of his mother? When davening for other needs, e.g., that a soldier be protected, should I use his mother's…
Women's Rites December 7, 2023 Q From what kind of work should women refrain while the Chanuka lights are burning? A The Shulchan Aruch (670:1) cites a minhag that women refrain from melacha during the first half-hour that the Chanukah lights…