Question I was recently offered to purchase a laundromat in a non-Jewish neighborhood. The business consists of a number of washing machines and dryers that are coin-operated. It sounds like a good investment and I would like to go ahead with it. However, this operation is open 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. My question is: What should I do about Shabbos ? Thank you. A. D. Rav Auerbach   You may certainly go ahead with this deal and I give you my brocha that it should brin

Question My wife goes crazy when the dishes are in the sink over Shabbos . She heard that there is a heter  to wash them if it bothers her. Is this the halacha ? Thanks. Rav Zafrani The first thing you need to do is make sure that the dishes are being washed without a problem of meleches sechitah , such as by using netting and not a sponge. Even if that is the case, I do not feel that the mess justifies washing the dishes on Shabbos . If one will not need the dishes for the r

I have been studying the halachos  of borer  for the past three months and have come across some very fine points. There are a number of questions I would like to ask the rov , if possible. Thank you. Chaim Tzvi Uzvolk Rubik’s Cube Revisited Question A number of years ago, I read an article in the Yated  where the rov permitted playing with a Rubik’s Cube on Shabbos . Recently, there was a sefer  published on borer  which cites, in the rov ’s name, that it is forbidden to pla

Question Last week, I asked about how to deal with the electric doors here in the hospital on Shabbos . Rav Zafrani explained to me that the best course of action is just to stand by the doors until someone realizes that you need to get through. Most of the time, Jewish nurses were buzzing the door open for me. This got me worried: Am I not causing another Jew to sin? Thank you. Rav Auerbach  While obviously the best option would be for a non-Jew to open the door, I concur wi

Question My daughter is in the psychiatric ward of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Israel, as she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hears voices telling her to commit suicide. Because of the delicate condition of my daughter and many of the patients in that ward, they are locked in with double doors that are secured by an electric lock. During the week, when a visitor needs to enter or leave the premises, they ring a bell and one of the staff buzzes open the doors. Sometime

Question I was taught when I got married that when benching licht , I should wave my hands around the licht  three times before covering my eyes and making the brocha . I recently heard that there is no source for this and that there is no need to do it — that the only thing I need to do is cover my eyes. Is it correct that there is no inyan  to wave one’s hands around the candles? And if that is the case, should I stop doing so, even though it seems to be a well-established

Makeh B'patish  with Aluminum Trays Question One of the common items found in a Jewish home (at least of those located in one of the...

Extending and Shortening a Fast on a Plane Trip Question Ever year I travel from Israel to the USA to give chizuk to Yidden in America...

Question I have a large family and we generally have many guests for Shabbos . We have a limited amount of plates and silverware, and...

Question I have an exquisite Shabbos  dress that has strings on the inside. When I want to expand the dress, I undo the knots in the...

Question My wife and I and our baby son spent last Shabbos at the home of a rebbi of mine. Late at night, I went to use the restroom...

Glatt Kosher Shabbos Toothbrushes Question I recently saw a “glatt kosher Shabbos toothbrush” advertised. Is it permitted to use it on...

Question When I was abroad, I purchased a new suit and did not put it on until right before Pesach . The pockets of the suit were sewn...

Question Last Shabbos , I was about to prepare my weekly cup of pre- Shacharis  coffee when one of the mispallelim  told me that...

Question My parents are of Ashkenazi descent, but I was not raised religious. I have been a baal teshuva for a number of years, and I...

Semicha Celebration Question I have studied hilchos Shabbos b’iyun for the past three years in Rabbi Travis’ kollel , and after taking...

Question I am a middle-aged woman who lives by herself in Yerushalayim. I am currently in bidud, quarantine, for corona. I suffer from...

Wearing a KN95 Mask on Shabbos Question May one wear a mask over his face or mouth on Shabbos in an area that has no eruv ? Is it any...

Question This year, on Purim , we wanted to do something unique for mishloach manos  that would truly bring joy to our friends and...

Question I recently saw a “glatt kosher Shabbos toothbrush” advertised. Is it permitted to use it on Shabbos with water? Even if it is...