Looking in the Mirror

Question: My chavrusa and I have been learning Pirkei Avos with Kehati each morning for the past year. At our current pace, we should be able to finish by Sunday, the 7th of Av. When we finish, we would like to know if we are permitted to have a siyum with a fleishig seuda. While…

Question: As a mourner, is it permissible for me to go to a Chanukah party or a bar mitzvah? Answer: A Chanukah party is often meant to be a light-hearted social event and is therefore inappropriate for a mourner.[1] You may go to a bar mitzvah to which you were invited in order to wish…

Question: Why does our nusach for Shabbos Rosh Chodesh specifically exclude the usual formula "kadesheinu bemitzvosecho …" from Mussaf? The Rinas Yisrael siddur has re-inserted this phrase into the nusach. Answer: That is a good question for which I do not have a good answer. Since the question is so good I will elaborate on…

Question: When entering into a legal contract while leasing a car, purchasing tiles, or signing bank or insurance documents, what should be the agreed-upon venue for resolving disputes? Answer: You should not agree to resolve your dispute with another Jew in a secular court of law.[1] According to halochoh, the appropriate arena for making any…

Question: I have a few parenting questions for Rav Baruch. In our class last week one women claimed that it is forbidden to leave a baby or child sleeping in a locked room. (The issue came up because one woman said she leaves her baby sleeping in the crib while she goes downstairs to meet…

Question: May I ask a non-Jew in America to file a document for me when it is Motza’ei Shabbos or Motza’ei Yom Tov here (in Eretz Yisroel) and still Shabbos or Yom Tov there? Does it make any difference if it is Yom Tov sheni? What if one or more Jews might be involved in…