Looking in the Mirror

Question: A friend of ours borrowed some books and then lost them. She replaced the books at her own expense and a week later found the original ones. She would (naturally) prefer to return the new books to the shop where she bought them, but in the meantime we have written our name into the…

Question: We recently bought an electric hot-water urn for Shabbos. Previously we just stored water in a flask. This last Shabbos I found myself pouring hot water from the electric urn directly onto instant tea – the same way I used to do from the flask. In case the Rav is not familiar with this…

Question: I recently came across some unkashered, frozen beef liver. When I kasher it, is it considered as if it had been kashered within 72 hours after shechitoh (since it was frozen during this time period)? Answer: Beef liver can only be broiled. Normal kashering with salt is insufficient.[1] It is permissible to wait more…

Question: Our eldest son would be much happier if we didn't sell chometz or buy chometz that another Jew sold for Pesach. If doing this is not overly burdensome and oppressive, I would consider it. Can you give me the ground rules for both? Answer: Theoretically, selling chometz is fine. It just has to be…

Question: The Kehilla had considered the idea of a tiyul to catch the Chilazon, used to make techeles. Rav Rubanowitz had the following email discussion with the tour guide and the tour guide's Rav regarding whether this was permitted or not. Answer: בס"ד ה' תשרי תשס"ה כבוד הרב פטרובר, בעקבות שיחתנו אני שולח מכתב זה…

Question: May I wash my car using the water from the fire hose found in the parking lot? There is a main water meter for the building, and then the water passes through separate meters for each apartment. The water company adds the water usage of all the apartments and subtracts the total from the…