Looking in the Mirror

Question: Answer: Human leaders are vulnerable to making mistakes or being swayed in their decision-making by motivations that are not necessarily in the best interests of the people they are meant to serve. This can lead to major historical changes, and those harmed may feel frustrated, anxious and even depressed as a result of the…

Question: A fleishig plastic container was mistakenly put in the milchig sink (It was last used to microwave some parve hotdogs.) I made a cup of coffee with milk, stirred it with a metal spoon, and then threw the spoon in the sink. It landed in the fleishig container. Is it treif? Answer:Everything is still…

Question: This is not your run-of-the-mill rabbi question, but by chance might you have the book that has the correct spelling of names? My daughter is having her siddur party and we can't figure out if Frayda has 2 yuds or one and if it has an aleph at the end or a hei. (When…

Question: I learned in the Mishna Berura that one should put on one's tallis and tefillin at home and then walk to shul. The Mechaber, Ramo and M.B. are all in agreement that this is the mitzva min hamuvchar. The only heter they mention for not doing it is if one were going to walk…

Question: The issue with the crockpot has me concerned, not from a halachic perspective (I had the pleasure of learning hotmanah) but from a social one. Thousands upon thousands of upright, frum and yirei shomayim Jews have been using crockpots since they were invented. Year after year the family waited as the cholent was served…

Question: We have a potted plant in our house that my wife wants to take to her office. Are there any shemitta-related pitfalls that we should beware of during transit? Answer: There are three main opinions on the matter. The Chazon Ish forbids transporting a plant from one building to another since it will pass…