Ask the Rabbi

Question: Why do we recite a fifth prayer – Ne’ilah – on Yom Kippur but on no other day of the year? G. Goodman

Question: How should one do teshuvah during this Elul and Yamim Nora’im season? Zvi Unger

Question: How should one do teshuvah during this Elul and Yamim Nora’im season? Zvi Unger

Question: I’ve always been intrigued by the large assemblage that gathers at the gravesite of R. Meir Ba’al HaNes in Tiberias on his yahrzeit, the 14th of Iyar. Why is such attention directed to his gravesite, in particular? F. Hager

Question: I’ve always been intrigued by the large assemblage that gathers at the gravesite of R. Meir Ba’al HaNes in Tiberias on his yahrzeit, the 14th of Iyar. Why is such attention directed to his gravesite, in particular? F. Hager

Question: I’ve always been intrigued by the large assemblage that gathers at the gravesite of R. Meir Ba’al HaNes in Tiberias on his yahrzeit, the 14th of Iyar. Why is such attention directed to his gravesite, in particular? F. Hager

Question: Why do some people have the custom to study Mishnayot for the departed? Also, does Pirkei Avot have five chapters or six? In my Mishnayot, it has five, but in my siddur it has six. Harold Klein

Question: If the fast of Tisha B’Av concludes the mourning period for the destruction of the Temple, why wait until the 15th of Av to rejoice? Sara Gutman

Question: Since learning Torah on Tisha B’Av is forbidden, why are we allowed to read from the Torah at Shacharit and Mincha of Tisha B’Av? (And is an aveil also forbidden to learn Torah?) Menachem

Question: Why is saying Shehecheyanu prohibited during the Three Weeks? How is it different than other blessings? M. Jakobowitz Philadelphia, PA

Question: May a person eat leftover Shabbos meat in the Nine Days so as not to violate the prohibition of bal tashchit (wastefulness)? Rabbi Yaakov Spivak Rosh Kollel, Kollel Ayshel Avraham Monsey, NY

Question: May a person eat leftover Shabbos meat in the Nine Days so as not to violate the prohibition of bal tashchit (wastefulness)? Rabbi Yaakov Spivak Rosh Kollel, Kollel Ayshel Avraham Monsey, NY

Question: In the haftara for Parashat Naso, we read about Manoach’s wife (mother of Shimshon), seeing things that her husband did not. We are never told, however, what her name is. Why? Yossy Guttman

Question: In the haftara for Parashat Naso, we read about Manoach’s wife (mother of Shimshon), seeing things that her husband did not. We are never told, however, what her name was. Why? Yossy Guttman

Question: How does a person thank Hashem for giving him a child? Yossy Guttman

Question: Can I take pills on Shabbos that my doctor prescribed for me? I am diabetic, so skipping a day’s dosage might prove harmful. No Name Please

Question: If a person passes away on Yom Tov, do we bury him on Yom Tov or wait until after Yom Tov? No Name, Please

Question: If a person passes away on Yom Tov, do we bury him on Yom Tov or wait until after Yom Tov? No Name Please

Question: If a person passes away on Yom Tov, do we bury him on Yom Tov or wait until after Yom Tov? No Name Please

Question: Why do we celebrate two days of Yom Tov if we have a fixed calendar today and know when Yom Tov truly is? Aryeh Roth

I’ve been invited to numerous simchas during Sefirah in the past few years that did not seem to conform to the halachic restrictions of this period. I’ve been told that you addressed this topic in the past. Can you address it again as I don’t want to offend anyone by staying at home? Name Withheld By Request

Question: I’ve been invited to numerous simchas during Sefirah in the past few years that did not seem to conform to the halachic restrictions of this period. I’ve been told that you addressed this topic in the past. Can you address it again as I don’t want to offend anyone by staying at home? Name Withheld By Request

Question: I’ve been invited to numerous simchas during Sefirah in the past few years that did not seem to conform to the halachic restrictions of this period. I’ve been told that you addressed this topic in the past. Can you address it again as I don't want to offend anyone? Name Withheld By Request

Question: I have two questions: 1) Why does each person recite Kiddush at the Seder when only the head of the household does so the rest of the year? 2) Why do we eat an egg at the Seder? S. Schwartz

Question: How can one make one's home kosher for Passover with minimal expense and effort. Name withheld

Question: We often pray to Hashem for yiras shamayim (e.g., in Birkas Rosh Chodesh). But how can we ask Hashem to give us fear of Him? Martin Freundlich

Question: I’ve noticed that some people fill their kiddush and havdallah cups to the point that they overflow. Is there a halachic source for this practice? Doesn’t it amount to bal tashchit? Bernard Gold

Question: I’ve noticed that some people fill their Kiddush and Havdallah cups to the point that they overflow. Is there a halachic source for this pratice? Doesn’t it amount to bal tashchit? Bernard Gold

Question: Can a person eat the Purim se’udah at night if he will be traveling on Purim day? Anonymous

Question: Is mishlo’ach manot a form of tzedakah like matanot la’evyonim? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, NY