Ha-Rav
answers hundreds of text message questions a day! Here's a sample:
Food in a Restroom
Q: Is it permissible to bring
food, which is wrapped up, into the restroom?
A: One should not do so from
the outset, but it is permissible after the fact. If the room also contains a shower or
bathtub, it is permissible from the outset.
Shut Yabia Omer 4:5. Shut
Teshuvot Ve-Nanhagot 2:4.
Telephone Call in Restroom
Q: Is it permissible to
answer an urgent cell phone call in the restroom?
A: Yes, but not while using
the restroom. Piskei Teshuvot 3:3.
Netilat Yadayim after
Donating Blood
Q: Is one obligated to do
Netilat Yadayim after donating blood, as in after blood-letting?
A: No. Since regarding spiritual matter, we only do
what is specifically said and do not extrapolate from it. Halichot Shlomo 20:19.
Lying to Customers
Q: I work for a cell phone
company and they asked me to lie to customers.
A: It is certainly forbidden.
Q: Then they will fire me.
A: Let them fire you. We do not perform a transgression for
money. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 656.
Charedim and Redemption
Q: How is it possible for the
Charedim not to see the Redemption?
Isn't this heresy?
A: No. Confusion.
Translation of the Gemara
Q: Is it possible to use a
translation of the Gemara if it greatly helps me?
A: Certainly. If this helps greatly – great.
War against Inclination
Q: I am constantly trying to
improve my character traits, but I feel that I am not advancing.
A: You are advancing. Nevertheless, one must understand that a
person is obligated to wage an internal war against the evil inclination during
the entire course of his life, and this is Hashem's will (beginning of Mesilat
Yesharim).
Amen without a Kippah
Q: Is it permissible for a
person without a Kippah to say Amen?
A: Yes. It is not one of the Names of Hashem. See Shut Yabia Omer 6:15 #50.
Davening without a Kippah
Q: If a person davens without
a Kippah must he repeat the Shemoneh Esrei?
A: After the fact, if he does
so accidentally, he does not have to repeat it.
Shut Yeshuot Moshe #15.
Christian Date
Q: Is there a difference
between using the Hebrew date and the secular date?
A: It is not the secular date
but the Christian date and one should flee from it, as the great halachic
authorities ruled, and also Rabbenu Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah (Shut She'eilat Shlomo
1:328).
