Ask The Rabbi

Making Kiddush for Others Before Accepting Shabbat

At first glance, it seems that your friend is making Kiddush at a time when he is not...

When and How to Accept Tosefet Shabbat

The concept of tosefet first arises regarding Yom Kippur. The gemara learns from the Torah’s mention of fasting...

Playing Major League Baseball on Shabbat

This potentially crucial question – if a professional baseball player were to decide to keep Shabbat, could he...

Use of a Coffee Maker With a Timer on Shabbat

There are two main discussions in the gemara about setting up before Shabbat situations in which a process...

Closing a Door to a Closet Containing Mothballs on Shabbat

Your question is effected by many halachic concepts, including some that are too complex to discuss thoroughly in...

Cake after Kiddush at Night

The short answer is that your idea is permitted. While Kiddush must be recited at the place of...

Starting Mincha of Shabbat a Few Minutes Early

The only primary source we found on the matter is the Tzitz Eliezer, who infers from classical sources...

Is Raw Food That One Expected to be Cooked Muktzeh?

First, we are assuming that the food was not only not fully cooked but not considered even marginally...

Using a Utensil to Catch Muktzeh

While the two cases you give seem to depend on the same issues, there are halachic differences between...

Workers in the House of One Who Has Accepted Shabbat Early

In cases of a non-Jew working on behalf of a Jew on Shabbat, there is a conceptual distinction...

Are Pets Muktzeh on Shabbat?

The gemara states clearly that animals are muktzeh. However, the gemara notes an exception to this rule –...

Itching Flaky Skin on Shabbat

The classic examples of the melacha of gozez (shearing) on Shabbat are the removal of hair and nails...

Cholent Cooking Further on Shabbat

According to your description, the cholent was k’ma’achal ben d’rosai (nominally edible) when you took it off the...

Separating Shemitta Food Before Clearing Plates on Shabbat

There are three main conditions that one needs to fulfill in order to permit the selection of one...

Buying on Credit on Shabbat

It is forbidden to buy things on Shabbat and Yom Tov, either because the navi warns against “looking...

Is a Phone Carried as a Precaution Muktzeh?

Your presentation implies that you do not feel that the cell phone is consistently needed on the level...

The Timing of Selichot

Much of the issue of the timing of the minhag to recite Selichot in the days before Rosh...

Blowing Shofar on the Left Side of the Mouth

The Rama cites the minhag that it is proper to blow the shofar on the right side of...

Causing a Flame to Be Extinguished on Yom Tov

The topic of extinguishing flames on Yom Tov is too extensive to cover thoroughly in this forum. We...

Lighting a Havdala Candle on Yom Tov

Lighting candles is one of the actions that one is permitted to do on Yom Tov but not...

One Who Must Eat on Yom Kippur – How Careful about the Amount?

Regarding all elements of this response, we are discussing a case in which any care taken to minimize...

Must One Stand Throughout Ne’ila?

In this case, it is easier to summarize the halachic sources than to give an absolute ruling. The...

Havdala after Yom Kippur that Fell on Shabbat

How to treat Havdala after Yom Kippur that fell on Shabbat depends on the logic for each individual...

Cutting the Branches of a Neighbor’s Tree that Impinge upon a Sukka

We have discussed in the past some intricacies of the circumstances under which foliage above a sukka renders...

The Purpose of the Hechsher‎{&&}‎ for S’chach

Some of the major criteria for s’chach, such as that it be made from something that grew from...

Drinking Wine on Chol HaMo’ed

There is an obligation of simcha on the holidays, including all of Chol HaMo’ed. The classical way to...

Where to Light Chanuka Lights – Inside or Outside?

[We share this response with the public hesitantly because it is far from clear that one who strives...

Lighting Chanuka Lights on Friday

Indeed, the Chanuka lights must last quite a while on Friday evening. There is a disagreement regarding whether...

Missing Parashat Zachor

Many sources indicate that there is a mitzva from the Torah to read Parashat Zachor, which is made...

Reading Megillat Esther from a Scroll

We cannot give one set answer because the matter depends on the individual person’s abilities and circumstances. Rather,...

A series of responsa books written by the rabbis of the Institute for scholars and rabbis from around the world in all areas of Halacha.

Halachic Advisory Service

Making Kiddush for Others Before Accepting Shabbat

When and How to Accept Tosefet Shabbat

Playing Major League Baseball on Shabbat

Use of a Coffee Maker With a Timer on Shabbat

Closing a Door to a Closet Containing Mothballs on Shabbat

Cake after Kiddush at Night

Starting Mincha of Shabbat a Few Minutes Early

Is Raw Food That One Expected to be Cooked Muktzeh?

Using a Utensil to Catch Muktzeh

Workers in the House of One Who Has Accepted Shabbat Early

Are Pets Muktzeh on Shabbat?

Itching Flaky Skin on Shabbat

Cholent Cooking Further on Shabbat

Separating Shemitta Food Before Clearing Plates on Shabbat

Buying on Credit on Shabbat

Is a Phone Carried as a Precaution Muktzeh?

The Timing of Selichot

Blowing Shofar on the Left Side of the Mouth

Causing a Flame to Be Extinguished on Yom Tov

Lighting a Havdala Candle on Yom Tov

One Who Must Eat on Yom Kippur – How Careful about the Amount?

Must One Stand Throughout Ne’ila?

Havdala after Yom Kippur that Fell on Shabbat

Cutting the Branches of a Neighbor’s Tree that Impinge upon a Sukka

The Purpose of the Hechsher‎{&&}‎ for S’chach

Drinking Wine on Chol HaMo’ed

Where to Light Chanuka Lights – Inside or Outside?

Lighting Chanuka Lights on Friday

Missing Parashat Zachor

Reading Megillat Esther from a Scroll

Ask The Rabbi

A series of responsa books written by the rabbis of the Institute for scholars and rabbis from around the world in all areas of Halacha.

Halachic Advisory Service

Send a question

Making Kiddush for Others Before Accepting Shabbat

When and How to Accept Tosefet Shabbat

Playing Major League Baseball on Shabbat

Use of a Coffee Maker With a Timer on Shabbat

Closing a Door to a Closet Containing Mothballs on Shabbat

Cake after Kiddush at Night

Starting Mincha of Shabbat a Few Minutes Early

Is Raw Food That One Expected to be Cooked Muktzeh?

Using a Utensil to Catch Muktzeh

Workers in the House of One Who Has Accepted Shabbat Early

Are Pets Muktzeh on Shabbat?

Itching Flaky Skin on Shabbat

Cholent Cooking Further on Shabbat

Separating Shemitta Food Before Clearing Plates on Shabbat

Buying on Credit on Shabbat

Is a Phone Carried as a Precaution Muktzeh?

The Timing of Selichot

Blowing Shofar on the Left Side of the Mouth

Causing a Flame to Be Extinguished on Yom Tov

Lighting a Havdala Candle on Yom Tov

One Who Must Eat on Yom Kippur – How Careful about the Amount?

Must One Stand Throughout Ne’ila?

Havdala after Yom Kippur that Fell on Shabbat

Cutting the Branches of a Neighbor’s Tree that Impinge upon a Sukka

The Purpose of the Hechsher‎{&&}‎ for S’chach

Drinking Wine on Chol HaMo’ed

Where to Light Chanuka Lights – Inside or Outside?

Lighting Chanuka Lights on Friday

Missing Parashat Zachor

Reading Megillat Esther from a Scroll

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