Question: As a female travel agent working with religiously observant coworkers, I rarely run into halachically problematic situations. When the office closes at 5:00 pm, the doors are locked and the shades are drawn. Sometimes a few employees stay working into the night. The nights I stay late there are usually two or three other…
Question: A Vaad gives its certification to Starbucks in one part of the country where the flavors are kosher. As far as I can see (from the customer side of the counter), the flavor shots come from pumps inserted into the bottles. These pumps have a small reservoir around the neck of the bottle that…
Question: Does a glass saltshaker require tevilla? Answer: A saltshaker that has a glass container to hold the salt and a glass cover with holes in it needs tevilla with a beracha. Salt is considered a food item, and since it comes in direct contact with the glass, it requires tevilla. A glass container that…
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: I approached the prospective seller of an apartment intending to close a deal to purchase it, only to find him seated with another person interested in the apartment. I am familiar with the principle of עני המהפך בחררה, according to which it is ethically reprehensible to snatch a deal from another Jew when I…
Question: Hertzl from Ramat Beit Shemesh asked: My mum is coming to visit immediately after Tisha B'Av, and I want the garden to look neat and clean upon her arrival. On what days are we permitted to hire a gardener to do work such as trimming trees and shrubbery, mowing the lawn, and removing weeds?…
Question: Someone mentioned to me that it is assur to drink wine and listen to music at the same time-even at home with my wife-as it might lead to frivolity and/or inappropriate behavior. Is this the case? If so, where might I look it up? Answer: It is a temporary issur-until the Beis Hamikdash is…
Question: I have a she'aila that I was hoping you could help me with. To put it bluntly, I am looking for a heter to daven Shacharis in the Old City. My problem is that in order to get to the yeshiva on time (seder starts at 9 a.m.) I have to daven at honeitz…
Question: ראובן הפריש מעשר כספים מנכסיו, ואח''כ החליט למוסרו לת''ת שבו לומד בנו. משיקולים פינאנסיים רצה האב למסור צ'ק למוסד אחר בעיר אחרת, ולאחר שהמוסד יפקיד הצ'ק בחשבונו, עליו להוציא מזומנים ולהעבירו לת''ת של בנו. המוסד הסכים לכך, והופקד צ'ק של אלפי שקלים, והשיג מזומנים. המוסד מצא שליח שנוסע מעיר לעיר שמוכן להביא המזומנים מהמוסד…
Question: Is it an aveira to sit on a dining room table? I have heard that a table is likened to a mizbeach and one shouldn't do it, but is it an actual prohibition? Answer: The common saying that one should not sit on a table because a table is like a mizbeach is partially…