Living the halachic process

Use of a Crock Pot on Shabbat

There are many legitimate positions. We will explain and put things in perspective regarding the three main issues:...

Food Heated by a Non-Jew on Shabbat

When a non-Jew does melacha on behalf of Jews, even without their prompting, they may not benefit from...

Using a Blanket to Cover a Shabbat Hot Plate

Hatmana...

Mashing and Mixing Avocado Salad on Shabbat

We will begin by discussing the permissibility of mashing avocados on Shabbat. The gemara states that chopping a...

Mistake on Shabbat Regarding the Use of a Masher

The main issue involved in this question is the definition of tochein (grinding). Although the classic case is...

Using Diapers with Disintegrating Markings on Shabbat

There is a Torah-level violation to erase (mochek) writing or, according to many authorities, a picture or a...

Using a Rickshaw on Shabbat

We will begin with the smaller problem – namely, using a bicycle on Shabbat, irrespective of the place...

Wearing a Reflective Armband Without an Eiruv

There are two categories of situations in which one may have an object on his body without violating...

Muktzeh in a Pocket

There are few questions to explore. Although the money is muktzeh, does it make the suit jacket muktzeh?...

Folding a Page as a Marker on Shabbat

We will start with the related question of making simple marks in a book to highlight a specific...

Coin Collection on Shabbat

This question reminds us of a similar one we answered years ago regarding whether a rock collection is...

One Who Lit Shabbat Candles Properly but Failed to Use Them

The Shulchan Aruch rules that single men who do not live with their families must light Shabbat candles...

Removing Air from a Wine Bottle on Shabbat

Our research indicates that at least some wine experts are more discriminating than you and say that, even...

Undoing Early Acceptance of Shabbat

The gemara discusses the concept of acceptance of Shabbat based on mistaken information (b’ta’ut) – specifically, when people...

A Woman Blowing Shofar for a Man

First, let us confirm your assumption that a woman cannot enable a man to fulfill his shofar obligation...

Is it Wise to Keep Teru’ot to a Minimum?

The gemara states that the length of a single teki’ah blast is like that of a set of...

Eating on Erev Yom Kippur

The gemara mentions the importance of eating on Erev Yom Kippur, stating that if one eats on this...

Avinu Malkeinu when Yom Kippur Falls on Shabbat

Based on your question, we imagine you are Ashkenazi, as most Sephardi communities do, in fact, recite Avinu...

Disqualification of an Etrog – Pitam and Oketz

The mishna states explicitly that when the pitam is removed, the etrog is pasul, whereas when the oketz...

Kiddush of Yom Tov that Falls on Motzaei Shabbat

First of all, we recommend that you take a good look in advance at the siddur, so as...

The Need for a Shamash Candle Nowadays

The short answer is: yes and no. As always, we will start with background. The gemara states that...

Chanuka Lighting for those in Transit

In general, when one is away from home during an entire night of Chanuka and is unable to...

Chanuka Lighting and Havdala – Which Comes First?

In terms of practice, the minhag in shuls is to light Chanuka candles first. Regarding the home, Sephardim...

Women’s Obligation to Hear Parashat Zachor

There is a mitzva from the Torah to remember the actions of Amalek. This mitzva is related scripturally...

Noise-Making during Megilla Reading

The Avudraham is one of the earliest sources of the minhag of making noise when Haman’s name is...

Megilla Reading for Visitors to Jerusalem

The first question is whether it is proper to read Megillat Esther in Jerusalem when it is not...

Checking Books for Chametz

The gemara, in discussing the need for bitul (nullification of) chametz, says that peirurim (small pieces or crumbs)...

Participation in a Siyum by Skype

In the context of the halacha not to fast throughout the month of Nisan, Massechet Sofrim states that...

Roasted Foods on Pesach

The mishna says that whether one may eat roasted meat at the Seder depends on the local minhag....

Kitniyot Observance for Vegetarians and Vegans

In general, we do not believe that a person’s choice of diet, even if it is based on...