Search results for: ""Onen""

Who Is Main Torah Teacher (Rav Muvhak)
It is theoretically possible--but highly unlikely--to have one main teacher (rav muvhak) who taught you most of your Torah knowledge. However, a rav muvhak might exist for a person who was not brought up religiously observant and did not have a traditional Jewish education.
 
Jewish Festivals: Earliest Mincha
The earliest permissible time to say mincha before a Jewish festival is one-half hour after halachic midday, as with all mincha prayers including before Shabbat.
Note You may begin the second day of any Jewish festival as early as plag ha'mincha. You should ideally say mincha before plag and then say ma'ariv after plag; but if you are praying with a minyan, you may say mincha anytime after plag and then say ma'ariv immediately afterward, just as on Shabbat.
Note However, there is nothing gained by saying mincha early before a Jewish festival:
  • We don't want to start Rosh Hashana (Yom HaDin) early and no one wants to start Yom Kippur early.
  • You may not start either seder until after dark on Passover.
  • You could eat in a sukka before dark on either of the first two days of Sukkot, but you would not fulfill the requirement of eating in a sukka since it was not dark.  
  • Likewise, the first day of Shavuot does not begin until after dark.
  • Since you may not say the blessing on eating in a sukka on Shmini Atzeret (which you would have to do if you eat before dark), there is nothing gained by saying mincha and ma'ariv early on that day, either.
So, as a practical matter, the only days on which saying mincha and ma'ariv early would allow beginning the holiday early are the second day of Shavuot, the second day of Rosh Hashana, and the last days of Passover.

Kaddish for Parents/Exceptions
Mourner's kaddish is only supposed to be said for parents, unless no one else is saying kaddish for the dead person. If both your parents are still alive, you may not say mourner's kaddish for someone else unless you get your parents' permission.
 
Brit Mila: When Is Eighth Day
As long as the boy was born before sunset (even one minute before), this time period counts as the first day.  Normally, the brit mila will be performed on the following week on that same day of the week (the baby's eighth day). If the baby was born between sunset and dark, consult a rabbi or mohel.
Shabbat: Asking Non-Jew To Help with Electric Door/Elevator

You may ask a non-Jew to open an electric door or to push the button to summon an elevator for you on Shabbat--even if he does not need to get to the floor you want--if you need to get to your room for any mitzva or Shabbat purpose, such as for a nap, to eat, or use the toilet.

Reason Even if a light comes on, it is d'rabanan (you do not need the light) and, therefore, you are permitted to ask the non-Jew to push the button.

Shalom Doormat
You should not own nor step on a doormat that says “Shalom.”
Reason This is one of God's names.
Tum'a: Leather Shoes and Washing
After touching leather shoes, you must wash your hands using the One-Time Method before saying blessings or prayers or before learning Torah.
Note If you do not have any water with which to wash your hands, say the blessing or prayer anyway but wipe your hands off on something before saying the blessing.
Amida: Standing with Feet Together
Stand with your feet together to resemble the angels, who only have one leg, during the private amida and for kedusha.
Baking COVERED/UNCOVERED Dairy and Meat Consecutively
Situation You cooked food of both genders:
  • In a clean oven,
  • In separate utensils,
  • UNCOVERED but consecutively (even within 24 hours).
    Note The first food must be removed before the second one is put into the oven.
Status
  • If one or both are solid (non-liquid) at either the beginning OR end of the cooking OR both beginning and end:
They are both kosher; both food and pan.
  • If they were both liquid:
The second one is probably not kosher (both food and pan), but consult a rabbi.
Note
  • If both are covered, they are both kosher.
  • If the first one to be cooked was covered, they are both kosher. 
  • If the first one was uncovered, they may both have become non-kosher--consult a rabbi.
Kashrut: Dairy/Meat: Physical Separations: Dairy and Meat on Table
Situation Two eat at the same table, one person is eating dairy and the other, meat.
What To Do Separate the dairy and meat-containing foods using separate placemats or any type of physical barrier.
Note You do not need to use a separator if the people at the table are strangers to each other; the separation is needed only if they know each other from before.
Reason Separation serves as a reminder not to eat the opposite-gender food.
Chanuka: Candles: Lighting on Friday
On Friday of Chanuka, light Shabbat candles after Chanuka candles; at least one Chanuka candle must burn until at least 30 minutes after dark.
If a man forgets to light the Chanuka candles, he may still light them until sunset or until he says Mizmor shir l'yom haShabbat, whichever comes earlier. 
But women start Shabbat when they light the Shabbat candles and so they may not light Chanuka candles after lighting Shabbat candles.
 
Sukka: Leaving: First Night: Rain
Rain on the first night of Sukkot is only considered a bad omen in Eretz Yisrael.
Reason It does not normally rain there at that time of year.
 
Quinoa
Quinoa is not chametz because it does not ferment without adding yeast and it is not one of the original Five Grains.
Burial: Kaddish: Attending Minyan
It is a mitzva to attend the minyan at a burial, but no one needs to interrupt his day in order to do so.
SheHakol: Drinks while in Flight
If you intend to continue drinking during a flight, you may say one blessing on beverages (she'hakol) and continue drinking for the entire flight.