Question: I am curious about the use of microwave ovens for both milchig and fleishig. Is it permissible to use a microwave for both as long as they are covered and the microwave is kept clean, or is it preferable to use it for only one or the other? Answer: The preferred method is to…

Question: We have a bunch of shaymos. Can we just dig a pit in our garden and bury them? Answer: Shaymos[1] can be buried anywhere. There is no need to bury them in a cemetery. Technically, one could bury shaymos in one’s own garden. There is no minimum depth as to how deep the genizoh…

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: אם הועילה תפלת מרע''ה לכפר על בנ''י מחטאם בעגל איך חזר וניעור החטא ונענשו עליו אח''כ? Answer: הרמב''ן בפרשת כי תשא (לב.יא) מפרש הפסוקים בכי תשא ובעקב שמשה רבינו התפלל פעמיים להקב''ה לטובת ישראל. טרם שירד מן ההר עם הלוחות ד' גילה לו כי שחת עמך וסרו מהר מן הדרך להשתחוות ולזבוח לעגל. מיד…

Question: Is 15 cups of flour enough to make a berochoh when taking challoh? It is 2 kilograms and a cup. Answer: Fifteen cups is a volume measurement and a kilogram is a measurement of weight or mass. They are difficult to convert unless dealing with water. Fifteen cups is equal to 3549 cc, which…

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: Is there any real difference between a very short beard and a clean shave (with a permitted razor)? Is the "tzura of Jew" supposed to be a bushy beard, or does a very short one count, too? How important is it to have a beard, bushy or not? Answer: It is not necessary to…

Question: Is it permissible to urinate or defecate on grass or dirt during Shabbos? Answer:It is permitted to urinate on grass (O.C. 336:3). It is also permitted to defecate on grass or dirt in a city. In either case there is no concern that human waste is helping the plants grow (see last Biur Halocho…

Question: If I turn on a hot water tap on Shabbos by accident, am I allowed to switch it off? Answer: If you accidentally opened a hot water faucet on Shabbos and let cold water enter a tank that heats water, it is forbidden to close the faucet. If you let the water continue running,…