Ask the Rav

Birkhoth Hashahar/Morning Blessings

• Is the correct nusach “hamekadesh shemo berabim” or “hamekadesh et shimcha berabim”? Should it be said with HASHEM’s name?
• Should “hamekadesh et shimcha berabim” be recited?
• When should birkot hashachar and birkot hatorah be said if one sleeps during the day and is awake at night?

Birkath Hamazon

• When should one say Birkat haMazon over a kos?

Blessings Before Eating

• Is a bracha to be recited before and after taking medicine?
• Should “ha’etz” or “ha’adama” be said on 100% fruit or vegetable juice?
• What blessing should be said on vegetables grown in hydroponic containers?
• When does one say “Boreh Minei Kesanin”?

Blessings After Eating

• Is it correct to say “boreh ph’ri” or “boreh p’ri”? How about “hagefen” or “hagafen”?
• Should one say a blessing on the wine over which one says birkat hamazon?
• What is the correct nusach of boreh nefashot?
• When should one say Birkat haMazon over a kos?

General Questions about Berachoth

• When is an incomplete blessing a bracha levatala?

Miscellaneous Blessings

• Should one say a bracha upon taking vitamins?
• Should one say “HaTov VeHametiv” over a girl’s birth?
• Should one say the prayer/address to angels before entering the bathroom that is mentioned in both the Talmuds?
• When is one obligated to say the bracha “Dayan HaEmet”?

Sheheheyanu

• When should one say “shehecheyanu” on new clothes?

Hanukah

• Does the type of light that one lights matter for Hanukka, Shabbat, and havdala?
• If one is staying in a hotel that doesn’t permit flames, may an electric menorah or a lightbulb be used?
• Should one light an incandescent menorah while traveling, or is one exempt?
• What non-obligatory minhagim are recommended for Hannukah?

Pesah – see separate tab

Purim

• Can one answer amen over a live broadcast?
• Can one bring children to the synagogue to hear the Megillah if it is likely that they will make a lot of noise?
• Can one fulfill one’s obligation to hear the Megillah over a live Zoom broadcast?
• Can one pray the Amida after drinking some alcohol on Purim?
• Can/should one merge the Purim meal with the Shabbat meal? If so, how would one do so?
• How many times is one required to listen to the Megillah? Is one more important than the other?
• How should Purim be celebrated when it falls on erev Shabbat? When should the meal be held, and should it be held at a different time if Purim does not fall on erev Shabbat?
• If a single word was misheard, should the entire Megillah be re-read?
• In which cities in Israel should Shushan Purim be celebrated, apart from Jerusalem?
• Is it permissible to pray the Amida in costume?
• Is it preferable to wear Shabbat clothing on Purim, as opposed to fancy clothes or weekday clothes? How about costumes?
• Is there a mitzva to drink wine on Purim? Is red wine preferable? Do other alcoholic beverages count? How much should be drunk?
• Is there a problem with kids’ dressing up as cartoon characters or superheroes?
• May one write vowels and tropes into the Megillah?
• Should Tachanun be said when people in other cities are celebrating Purim?
• What are the basic requirements for mishloach manot and matanot le’evyonim?
• What is one obligated to do in a city that might have been walled in the time of Joshua?
• What is the minimum amount of Matanot L’Evyonim?
• What is the point of drinking on Purim?
• When should “Shehecheyanu…” be said on the Megillah?
• Which day of Purim should a resident of Jerusalem keep when visiting other places, and vice versa? Can one ever be obligated in 0 or 2 days?

Rosh Hodesh

• How many days of Rosh Chodesh should be observed following a month of 30 days, when the common custom is to observe 2 days?
• Should one say a blessing on Hallel for Rosh Chodesh and the last days of Passover? Should one say Hallel on those days without a minyan? What is the correct nusach for the blessings on Hallel?

Sefirath Ha’omer

• Can one shave on all days of the Omer, or only Erev Shabbat? What is the origin of minhagim practiced throughout the Omer?

Baking Massoth

• Can one bake matzah using an electric stove?
• Does the addition of oil, honey, eggs, or salt affect the rate at which dough ferments? What is the time limit for making matzah ashira?
• For baking matza on baking stones on a grill, must one kasher the grill (and if so, how)? Would the matzah be basari/fleishig?

Kashering for Pesach

• Does one need to kasher a hot plate or plata for Passover? How?
• Can Corelle be kashered during the year and on Passover?

Mechirath Hamess – Selling/Giving Hamess to a Non-Jew

• Can a non-Jew use one’s toaster for chametz on Passover?

The Seder

• Apart from the korban pesach, how would a seder according to minhag eretz yisrael look like?
• At what degree of severity of an allergic reaction is one exempt from eating foods during the seder? Should one take Benadryl before the seder to eat the foods, if it allows them to?
• Can people hit each other with scallions and onions during “Dayenu”?
• Can the karpas be part of a larger dipping course?
• Closing thoughts on the Seder
• How can a type I diabetic fulfill their obligation of drinking four cups?
• How much karpas should be eaten, and should a blessing be said after it?
• How quickly must one drink the wine of the four cups?
• If one does say the blessing after karpas, what is its correct nusach?
• May one eat roasted meat on the seder?
• Clarification: Roasted meat
• Must the cups be filled all the way up, or just for a revi’it?
• Should a fifth cup be poured for Hallel haGadol?
• What does the Rav think of multiple people reading different parts of the haggada?
• What does the Rav think of spilling 10 drops of wine for the plagues and then washing them off?
• Which of the four cups should have blessings said before and after them?

What Items are Kosher for Pesach to Eat/Own

• Are baking soda, baking powder, or any types of yeast chametz? Do they need a hechsher?
• Can one eat a jam made before Passover with non-kashered stainless steel utensils on the holiday?
• Can one have protein powder with dextrose on Passover?
• Can one own vinegar, acetic acid, or ingredients containing them on Passover?
• Do single-ingredient products need a hechsher for Passover, like dried fruits, coconut oil, and kitniyot in open bins?
• Does non-kosher for Passover alcohol not from chametz need to be disposed?
• Does pure corn (or any non-chametz) alcohol have to be kosher for Passover?
• Does sunflower oil (and oils in general) need to have a hechsher for Passover?
• During Passover, can one eat non-chametz food that had been made before the holiday with utensils that hadn’t been kashered yet?
• Is there any reason to be concerned about the matzah ashira one finds in shops?
• May one own stocks in companies that sell non-kosher food or chametz?
• Should we be eating imitation chametz products on Pesach? What about children?

Jewish Calendar

• Should we refrain from using Gregorian dates and month names?

Jews who Deny G-d

• Can Jews who deny HASHEM be part of a minyan/zimmun?

Respect for Torah/Talmud Torah

• Can one sit on a bench with sefarim on it?
• Is it required to kiss items used for mitzvot?

Kosher Food

• Are cows that had C-sections unkosher?
• Are there any rules of thumb one can follow with hechshers in Israel?
• Can one eat gelatin made from the bones of non-kosher animals?
• How should one check for bugs in fruit and vegetables? Are some forms of produce to be considered forbidden?
• How should one deal with insects in broccoli and dried figs?
• Is it enough to look at an ingredients list to determine if an item is kosher?
• Is one obligated to buy mehadrin chicken, or does a rabbanut certification suffice?
• Is one obligated to eat Glatt Kosher red meat?
• Must one check for hechshers in Israel? Can all hechshers in Israel be relied upon?

Meat and Dairy

• Do the properties of davar charif apply today?
• Does a kosher kitchen need to have two ovens?
• Does one need to wait between cooking meat and milk in a normal oven?
• Can a clay oven be used for both meat and milk?
• How long should one wait between meat and dairy?
• How should one make dairy bread if more than one meal’s worth of it is being baked?
• Is it permitted to eat meat and fish together?
• Under what circumstances can one bake dairy bread?

Tevillath Kelim

• Which items require tevila? How about disposable items?

Wine

• Do non-religious Jews make non-mevushal wine non-kosher?
• What qualifies as mevushal wine?

Beginning and Ending of Shabbath

• How to make sure a guest doesn’t say kriyat shema before tzait hakochavim if Shabbat is brought in early?
• Is there a mitzvah to extend Shabbat after tzait hakochavim?
• Should one extend Shabbat on Saturday evening?
• What should be done if one’s synagogue is running late for a plag minyan on Shabbat?

Carrying/Hossa’ah/Eruv

• Can religious people on an apartment floor create an eruv without the non-religious ones being mevatel their reshut? Are separate floors considered as separate courtyards for this issue?
• Can women wear jewelry outside of an eruv on Shabbat?
• For the purposes of carrying, what type of domain are covered areas in the main street in the town of Harish?
• How should a Shabbat belt be worn? Can a normal belt be worn over it decoratively?
• Is it permissible to eat food that was carried in an non-kosher eruv on Shabbat?

Food Preparation on Shabbath

• Are there any cases when one can not open a package of food on Shabbat?
• Can a French press be used on Shabbat from a borer perspective?
• Can one chop salads finely on Shabbat?
  • Should one reprimand people who chop food too finely on Shabbat?
• Can one open bottles with metals or plastic caps on Shabbat?
• Is tearing wrapping on food prohibited on Shabbat? What about breaking letters made from icing?
• Is there an issue of borer in pouring off gravy from a chicken? How can it be avoided?
• What are the general rules of borer?
• When is water hot enough to cook (yad soledet bo)?
• Why can coffee not be made with roasted beans on Shabbat?

Havdallah

• Is it forbidden to drink between Arvit on Motz’ei Shabbat and havdala?
• Is it necessary to use a multi-wick candle for Havdalah?
• Is it permissible to use beer or milk for Havdalah in lieu of wine?
• Is non-alcoholic grape juice preferable to an alcoholic beverage (that is not wine) for havdalah?
• What spices should one use for Havdalah?

Miscellaneous

• Can one sort toys and games on Shabbat, or is it prohibited by borer? Should they be played with on Shabbat?
• Is it permissible to ride a bike on Shabbat for fun?
• May hair be combed/brushed on Shabbat?

Muksseh

• If the issue with using electronics is because of uv’din d’chol, can they be used to study Torah?
• Why is it prohibited to manipulate electronic devices which do not generate heat on Shabbat?

Ner Shabbath

• Can Shabbat candles be lit before plag hamincha so one can make it to an early Shabbat minyan?
• Does the type of light that one lights matter for Hanukka, Shabbat, and havdala?

Outlook Towards Shabbath

• What should one be doing on Shabbat, especially if one finds it difficult to devote the entire day to Torah study?

Pets

• Are pet birds and bird cages muktzeh on Shabbat?
• How should one walk a dog on Shabbat?
• Is there any issue with a dog having a microchip?
• What can be done with the mess the dog makes?

Shabbath Meals

• How should Friday night kiddush begin?
• Is melaveh malka obligatory, and if so what must one eat?
• What text does the Rav use for Kiddush on Friday evening?

Shabbath Prayers

• Can one turn around and bow during Lecha Dodi?
• Does the type of light that one lights matter for Hanukka, Shabbat, and havdala?
• Is it permissible to eat a light breakfast before shacharit on Shabbat?
• Is it permissible to pray Mincha at Mincha Gedola on Shabbat afternoon?
• Is one obligated to recall the Exodus in the Friday night prayers?
• What should be done if one’s synagogue is running late for a plag minyan on Shabbat?

General Questions on Shmitah

• Can cuttings from an outdoor perennial herb be potted during shmitah?
• Can one buy produce from a shop owner that weighs the produce when selling it during shmitah?
• Does Shmitta apply to mushrooms? How should one grow mushrooms in a Shmitta year?
• Is it desirable to buy produce with a card or check instead of cash during shmitah?
• May one buy produce for more than three meals of food during shmitah if one can’t buy on a daily basis?

Orlah

• What precautions must one take when purchasing fruits in Israel with regards to Orlah?

Ssissith/Talith

• Can the sides of a tallit katan be sewn together? Can a tallit katan be worn directly on the skin? What materials are obligated in tzitzit? Can the tzitzit strings be trimmed with metal?
• When is a garment obligated in tzitzit? What is the minimum size? Can one wear a tallit smaller that the minimum size on Shabbat?

Tefillin

• Can “Lishmor Chukav” be said at sunset after not having worn tefillin for several hours?
• Can one eat, work, and drink with tefillin on?
• Can the blessing of “Lishmor Chukav” be said at night if one wears tefillin into the night?
• Is there a correct way to wrap tefillin?
• Should one wear Rabbeinu Tam tefillin?
• Clarification: Wearing Rabbeinu Tam Tefillin
• What is the minimum level of concentration for tefillin?

Bowing and Proper Conduct During Tefillah

• How should one bow in the amida?
• How should one hold one’s hands during prayer?
• Praying & bowing in a synagogue not facing Jerusalem?

Hazarath Hashass

• Can one say birkat kohanim from outside a synagogue?
• Should one do netilat yadaim for chazarat haShatz?

Hallel

• Should one say a blessing on Hallel for Rosh Chodesh and the last days of Passover? Should one say Hallel on those days without a minyan? What is the correct nusach for the blessings on Hallel?

Tefillah

• Can one turn around and bow during Lecha Dodi?
• If one is already standing, should one remain standing for kaddish?
• Repeating Mincha said between chatzot & mincha gedola?
• Should one say Eizehu Mekoman at the beginning of prayer?
• Should one sit or stand for kaddish? What if the synagogue has a certain practice? What if the Ashkenazim all stand and the Sephardim sit? How should “brikh hu” be responded to?
• What parts of prayer must be pronounced correctly?
• What should be said during tachanun? When and how should one do nefilat apayim?
• When can Arvit be said between plag hamincha and shkiya?

Qriy’ath Shema

• By what time must kriyat shema be said at night? How about hamapil?
• How to make sure a guest doesn’t say kriyat shema before tzait hakochavim if Shabbat is brought in early?
• Must one sit/lie down during kriyat shema al hamita or ever repeat it?
• Should the 3rd paragraph of the Shema be said at night?
• What should be said during bedtime Shema?

Army/Self Defense

• Is it a mitzva for Jewish males to know how to defend themselves?

Hinuch

• When and how should children be taught tzniut? What should they be told when they see adults not following it?

Proper Pronunciation/Havara

• What is the correct pronunciation of the Shewa?

Shaving/Trimming

• Is one allowed to trim so that less than 5mm on one’s sideburns remains?
• What are the borders of one’s beard, and what is the number on a hair trimmer which one can use on one’s head?

Tzedaqah/Charity

• Is one allowed to pull out or dye white beard hairs?
• Is one obligated to give tzedaka? Do taxes or school tuition count?
• Is there a fixed percentage of income that needs to be given for tzedaka?

Tzniyut

• Are shorts for men in keeping with the laws of tzniyut? For boys? If they’re at a beach or playing sports?
• Is a bride obligated to cover her hair at her wedding?
• Is a divorcee or widow obligated to cover her hair?
• Is a single woman required to cover her hair?

Yihud

• Is there a problem of yichud if one’s wife is in the city? When she is not?

Yahrtzeit

• How should yartzeits be observed?