1) Which Brocho should be said on frozen Grape Juice? [1] 2) I wear a bandage on my ankle, to keep the ankle from moving when doing exercise. May I wear it in the street on Shabbos? [2] 3) What should be the attitude of a Jewish child to his/her non-Jewish father? [3] 4) And what a Jewish father and non-Jewish children? 5) A Kohen married a divorcee; does their firstborn boy require Pidyon haBen ? [4] 6) The said boy now got married and had a bechor . At the Pidyon haBen , the father says to the...
Jul 15, 2025•57 min•Season 5Ep. 38
1) The Shai laMora Sidur writes that in an early print of the AR’s Sidur (Berditshev 5578), the word Shabbos in the Amidah and Kiddush is vowelized with a Komatz : Shabbos Kodshecho . This seems more accurate than the nikud in most Sidurim : Shabbas Kodshecho . Comment? [1] 2) I need to buy a new Tallis. Is there any difference whether I buy from a local supplier or I buy online from overseas? [2] 3) May we celebrate a Siyum Sefer Torah during the Three Weeks? [3] 4) We are taught that Malochim...
Jul 04, 2025•52 min
1) Our Chabad House is launching a Charidy campaign in two weeks time. My father-in-law loaned a substantial amount of money to a colleague and he said: “Don’t forget the upcoming Charidy”. Was that a charge of Ribbis? [1] 2) In a non-Chabad Shul, when the Chazan says Birkas Kohanim, should I [quietly] say Omein - as per our minhag, or should I say כן יהי רצון – as per the Shul’s minhag? [2] 3) Similarly, in Kaddish – should I answer בריך הוא or Omein ? [3] 4) A Yisroel became a father on Shabbo...
Jun 20, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 35
1) At Hodu we were nine men. We started Davening and shortly thereafter the tenth man arrived. Can Kaddish deRabonon be said right away or does someone need to finish off the braysa of Reb Yishmoel aloud? [1] 2) When the name of Hashem name comes up in the Zohar etc. in Tikun Leil Shovuos , should it be uttered in the normal manner? [2] 3) Where I keep my car I need to pay for parking on a daily basis. May I ask a Goy to do this for me? Is there any preference that I reimburse the Goy after Shab...
Jun 13, 2025•53 min•Season 5Ep. 34
1) Just before Kiddush on Sunday evening I remembered that I had forgotten to make Havdolo on Motzei Shabbos . How do I now go about doing Kiddush and Havdolo ? [1] 2) I have a metal baking-tin for making cupcakes. I only use it with paper liners. Does the tin need to be immersed in a Mikveh ? [2] 3) May I use a sieve or a colander for immersing numerous small utensils in a Mikveh ? [3] 4) A tenant of ours installed a new kitchen. He is now moving on but he’s requesting that we reimburse for the...
Jun 06, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 33
1) Is the heter to daven Maariv from Plag limited to a Minyan? [1] 2) In the 1st parsha of Pinchos I see two versions of the tune for the word המוכה: [2] 3) In the the מי שבירך said at a Bris, the Tzedaka is dedicated specifically to Bikur Cholim. Is that universal? [3] 4) For Havdolo, is there a preference to use cloves? [4] 5) We don’t daven Maariv nor make Kiddush early on the eve of Shovuos, not to ‘shorten’ the 49 days of Sefiras haOmer. What about lighting candles, with Shehecheyonu?? [5] ...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 31
1) With regard to the custom to leave a bit of the end of the Challah , does it apply only to the Lechem Mishneh , or to other bread too? [1] 2) We use plastic tablecloths from a roll. If we didn’t manage to prepare before Shabbos, may we tear off the roll on Shabbos? [2] 3) I wish to begin Shmoine Esrei and there’s someonebehind me who’s already begun. May I take the three steps before my Shmoine Esrei ? [3] 4) May one make ‘no-bake cheesecake’ on Shabbos? [4] 5) Can I mix psyllium husk with wa...
May 23, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 31
1) We recently discussed responding Omein to someone else’s brocho whilst in the process of donning one’s own Tefilin . Reb Akiva Eiger has an interesting proof: [1] 2) I’m affixing a Mezuza in the home of one who’s wheelchair-bound ר"ל. May the homeowner recite the brocho as I’m about to affix his Mezuza ? [2] 3) When the father isn’t present at a boy’s bris, who says the brocho להכניסו? [3] 4) A food wrapper has a QR code. Am I allowed to tear through it or is it like text? [4] 5) At the end o...
May 19, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 30
1) Siyum on Rambam , Sefer Zmanim ; start Sefer Noshim . [1] 2) Feedback on comments on the Laws of Shema [2] , aired seven weeks ago at Siyum Sefer haMada ( Shiur #23). 3) I was contacted by a Jewish couple, touring on a nearby island. I know them as traditional, but not Shomer Shabbos . They were seeking kosher wine for Kiddush on Shabbos. I know of a possibility of kosher wine being accessible on that island, but it would be non- mevushal . Is it perhaps preferable that they make Kiddush over...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 29
The first 10 minutes of this shiur were accidentally not recorded. Below is a link to the beginning of the shiur in Hebrew: https://youtu.be/sa1O4hmnRf0 1) In Modim we say הטוב כי לא כלו רחמיך, המרחם כי לא תמו חסדיך. Wouldn’t it have been more logical to link Toiv with Chessed and Rachamim with Rachamim ? [1] 2) At our public Seder I struggled to be heard throughout the room. Would I be able to use a hailer, i.e. a non-electric horn, to project my voice? [2] 3) May I buy shares in a company that...
May 02, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 28
1) I’ve said HaMapil and then realise that I haven’t counted Sefirah . What should I do? [1] 2) A non- Shomer Shabbos picked up an open bottle of wine (not mevushal) to check the label. Is the wine Nesech ? [2] 3) At Kiddush on one of the last nights of Pesach I said שהחיינו. Having realized my error, may I now drink the Kiddush wine? [3] 4) At Kiddush on the past Motzei Shabbos I realised that I had forgotten to include VaTodieinu in Maariv and I had carried something home from Shul . What now?...
Apr 25, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 27
1) One of the participants at the Rebbe’sSeder in the year 5719 (’59) said the Al Netilas Yodayim at Urchatz. The Rebbe told to eat his Matzo right then. At the farbrengen of Acharon shel Pesach the Rebbe discussed this further. In a newly published letter the Rebbe explains why he didn’t tell the man to wear gloves until time for Matzo: [1] 2) May one trim nails of children during Chol haMoed ? [2] 3) Someone wishes to offer cash for post-dated cheques for less than the amount written in the ch...
Apr 25, 2025•50 min•Season 5Ep. 26
1) We didn’t see the Rebbe making an event of Birkas haIlanos . Any insights?[1] 2) Our Shul is within an Eruv. Is there room to permit me to distribute Shmura Matzo on Shabbos to people who won’t come to Shul in the evening, for use at their Seder? [2] 3) May I mash cooked potatoes on Yomtov with a designated mashing tool? [3] 4) A Jewish lad works as a waiter in a non-Kosher restaurant. He’s already taking off for Yomtov proper and he’s worried that if he misses the whole week he may lose his ...
Apr 04, 2025•43 min•Season 5Ep. 25
1) Feedback on definition of Mitzva min haTorah הוכח תוכיח: [1] 2) Does an egg-steamer need to be toivelled ? [2] 3) A young Baalas-Tshuva , lives with Grandma – who isn’t religious at all. The young lady is away over Pesach whilst Grandma is staying home and has no plans to desist from Chomeitz . Does the young lady need to kasher her kitchen upon her return? [3] 4) Further re. Hamoitzi in one room and bentsching elsewhere under the same roof: [4] 5) Should I make a point of putting on leather ...
Mar 30, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 24
1) Siyum on Rambam Sefer haMada : 2) Guidelines to setting up Communal Sedorim for 1st night Seder : [1] 3) On Shabbos Erev Pesach , if I eat chometz in one location and continue eating in a second location, where should I bentch ? [2] 4) May one eat Kitniyos on Erev Pesach ? [3] 5) Poreis Mapoh and making Kiddush during the 7th hour: [4] 6) On Shabbos, may one dress a toddler with an extra Pamper before going out somewhere, to be handyfor when the child will need to be changed? [5] 7) The Alter...
Mar 22, 2025•57 min•Season 5Ep. 23
1) What is the meaning of מעין הברכות, said on Shabbos eve? [1] 2) My mechutan and I share the same first name. Is that an issue? [2] 3) Four seminary girls agreed to go jeeping together on a day off and to share the cost. One girl fell ill and pulled out. Does she still have to pay her share? [3] 4) A boy was born on the 30th of Adar 1. His Barmitzvah isin a regular year, but which day? [4] 5) We have two men wishing to have Maftir this Shabbos [ Zochor ], but only one Baal Korei . Could we tak...
Mar 10, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 22
1) Can one fulfil the Mitzva of Megila when hearing the reading via a hearing-aid? [1] 2) May we purchase a lease of the grounds of a church to use for our teen-camp? [2] 3) At Maariv , the 10th man left during the Amida . Doesthe Chazan say Kaddish Tiskabel ? [3] 4) Due to my chronic thirst, I often wake up in middle of my sleep to sip some water. Do I have to wash Negel Vasser before drinking? Say the brocho על נטילת ידים? Even if not: what about saying the brocho שהכל in the presence of used ...
Mar 03, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 21
1) Need we have meat for our Purim meal? [1] 2) Does a Kohen under BarMitzva join the adults for BirchasKohanim ? [2] 3) Is there Torah guidance re. putting a pet to sleep due to its frail condition? [3] 4) May I put cold water in an electric urn just before Shabbos? [4] 5) A Kohen shouldn’t marry a woman whose mother is Jewish but her fatherisn’t. If they did get married they don’t have to separate. Does the ‘defect’ carry over to the next generation, i.e. may a Kohen marry their daughter? [5] ...
Feb 24, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 20
1) There’s a new Tefilin -protector on themarket. Is it appropriate for Minhag Chabad ?[1] 2) May cold food be placed in a warming-cupboard on Shabbos? [2] 3) What would be the equivalent of a blech in order to permit returning hot food back into our ovens? [3] 4) I’m visiting a community on Purim. The local Rabbi has organized Mishloach Monos from family to family. Is there value in me bringing a single package of Mishloach Monos to be passed around: A gives the package to B, Bgives the package...
Feb 18, 2025•49 min•Season 5Ep. 19
1) What is the difference between Yisgadal veYiskadash and Yigadeil veYiskadeish ? [1] 2) What may I do to dispose of bread that won’t be eaten? [2] 3) I have a choice between davening Maariv with a minyan before nightfall, or to daven after nightfall alone. Which is advisable? [3] 4) I have a hotplate upon which I sometimes place food direct. Does it require Tevila ? [4] 5) My chapped lips sometimes bleed. May I swallow that blood? [5] 6) I bake bread in a Meaty oven and label it as such. Is th...
Feb 11, 2025•41 min•Season 5Ep. 18
1) Many Sidurim have a list of verses corresponding to people’s names, to be recited before stepping back at the end of the Shmone Esrei . I found some of those verses to be difficult for my younger pupils. Can I recommend a simpler verse instead? [1] 2) Is playing football on Shabbos permitted? [2] 3) A non-frum Jew kindly lent money to my Beis Chabad, but he wrote the cheque on Shabbos . May I deposit the cheque? [3] 4) Why does Chabad not say א-ל מלך נאמן before Shema ? [4] 5) Following on fr...
Feb 04, 2025•59 min•Season 5Ep. 17
1) I struggle with completing the whole Tehilim on the morning of Shabbos Mevorchim. Should I make a head-start Friday night, or make it up the following Shabbos? [1] 2) Is it Chabad custom to place ash on the head of a Chosson prior to his Chupah? [2] 3) I woke up before dawn and said the brocho הנותן לשכוי בינה. I also said the brocho שעשה לי כל צרכי, although I wasn’t wearing leather shoes. Should I repeat after dawn? [3] 4) A boy born between sunset and ‘3 stars’; which day does he become Ba...
Jan 31, 2025•59 min•Season 5Ep. 16
1) After completing their blessings, the Kohanim say a prayer. They are advised to synchronize the end of this prayer with the Chazan’s ending of the brocho שים שלום, so that the Omein said by the congregation will apply for both. When the Chazan’s brocho is protracted, should the Kohanim’s start early or late? [1] 2) Are we allowed to ask a Goy to procure refreshments for our Shabbos event after we’ve run out of supplies? [2] 3) On Tisha b’Av we don’t sit directly on the floor, but place someth...
Jan 21, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 15
1) In Tehilim #37 there are verses beginning with each of the א-ב in sequence, with the exception of the letter ע. Why was that letter omitted? [1] 2) Our Beis Chabad has a set time for Friday-night Maariv. Due to the fast this Friday, may I make Kiddush and break my fast before Maariv? [2] 3) Purim this year is on a Friday. Would we be allowed to start our communal Purim meal close before Shabbos, pause for candle-lighting, and then continue with Kiddush & Lechem Mishne and the Shabbos meal...
Jan 13, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 14
1) Please address the opening of the Oron Kodesh to Jewish or non-Jewish visitors: [1] 2) Does a blind person have the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah? [2] 3) I like to make a fruit-drink with berries. I have a jug that will pour the drink whilst retaining the berries. May this jug be used on Shabbos? [3] 4) A woman repaired the shirt she tore kriah with when her mother died. Is she allowed to use that shirt? [4] 5) Is there a known explanation why we alternate hands when washing Negel Vasser ? ...
Jan 09, 2025•59 min•Season 5Ep. 13
1) We’re having a staff Chanukah party. May we give each participant 5 Euro to play with and the winner takes the lot? [1] 2) May a Kohen marry the daughter born to a couple who are both Geirim? [2] 3) Meaty sausages were warmed up in a meaty oven, in a milky tray that was lined with greaseproof paper. Does the paper prevent transmission of taste from food to tin? [3] 4) Does lighting Menorah in Shul or in a public require a Minyan to be present? [4] 5) Does a food-thermostat need to be toivelle...
Jan 02, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 12
A weekly shiur by Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin, Rov of Anash in London, explores interesting Torah questions and halachic dilemmas. The following issues are discussed by Dayan Raskin in this week’s episode: 1) The Tzitzis on one corner of my Tallis-Koton are literally hanging on a thread. Are they still kosher? If yes: how can I reinforce the ‘bridge’ that holds the Tzitzis in place? [1] 2) Apparently, there’s no concern that a scarf should need Tzitzis . Otherwise we would be rounding one of the ...
Dec 27, 2024•44 min•Season 5Ep. 11
1) Siyum on Rambam Sefer Nezikin. 2) In error I sent £1000 to a Tzedoko account. Is the Tzedoko ’s manager permitted to reimburse the money to my account? [1] 3) I’ve heard of a Segula : to recite Chapter 20 of Tehilim during pregnancy. Please enlighten me: [2] 4) Some Sefardim are lenient re. chazarah and permit placing food from the fridge onto the hotplate on Shabbos. May an Ashkenazi eat from this? [3] 5) A nozzle-extension to a tap, does it need to be toivelled ? [4] 6) In our (Central Euro...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 10
1) In this week’s Rambam we learned about the obligation [or not] to return an object that was knowingly cast away by it’s owner. At the end of our day-camp we have lots of good stuff, left by the kids. May we use them for another purpose? [1] 2) Someone poured מים אחרונים on his fingers from a bottle of water. May we drink the remaining water? [2] 3) Is an L-shaped doorway required to have a Mezuzah? [3] 4) I have Tefillin in my travel-bag; may I place the bag on the floor? [4] 5) On Friday nig...
Dec 09, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 9
1) I have a non-Jewish lodger in my home. Does the door to his room need a mezuzah? [1] 2) We had six men reciting the Amidah together. May one of those who lagged behind take over for the Repetition of the Amidah ? [2] 3) I mixed up the wires and plugged in the crock-pot with the cholent to the time-switch and the hotplate remained on. May I lift the cholent while still hot and place it on the hotplate? [3] 4) I own two let-out properties and I live on the rental income. Recently I needed to sp...
Dec 02, 2024•44 min•Season 5Ep. 8
