Looking in the Mirror

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…

Question: Someone told me I must remove our dog from the room when we make kiddush and birkas hamotzi. Is this true? Is our dog muktze on Shabbos? Answer: Your dog can be in the room for kiddush and hamotzi. If someone touches the dog, he should not make the berochoh until he has washed…

Question: I returned from a vacation to fact that our houseguest cooked two milkich cakes (liquid batter) and then one small pan of milkich muffins (also liquid batter) in our fleishik oven. Some of the stuff in new alum tins and some in pareve muffin tins. The oven is an Aino Ben Yomo fleishik. Normal…

Question: Answer: People often entertain themselves by poking fun at the ruthlessness and opportunism of lawyers, but when it is their turn to stand before a judge they invariably want the most aggressive, polished attorney at their side. For a defendant in a secular court of law this is acceptable; however, the legitimacy of an…

Question: Is it forbidden to look into someone else's garden just as it is forbidden to look into someone's house? Answer: It is forbidden to look into another Jew’s yard and watch the people there (Ramo, C.M. 154:3, 154:7). If your Jewish neighbor will minimize his activities as a result, it is as if you…

Question: If students have a Jewish history test on Sunday, are they permitted to study for the test on Shabbos? Answer: If students have a Jewish history test on Sunday, are they permitted to study for the test on Shabbos? It is permissible to study a Torah subject on Shabbos even if you are studying…