STAR-K CERTIFICATIONrealizes that there is no substitute for a person's own Rav. However, in today's busy and connected world many people have difficulty getting in touch with their Rabbanim when they are needed. In an effort to offer a solution to this challenge, STAR-K launched its Institute of Halachah as a public service. Over the years, the agency's Kashrus Hotline has answered more and more halachic questions beyond the scope of Kashrus information, from consumers the world over, beyond the standard steady stream of inquiries regarding the kosher status of foods and certified Sabbath mode appliances which has made the STAR-K Kosher Hotline famous. The formation of a separate official division within STAR-K testifies to the need for addressing these issues.
The Institute of Halachah is directed by HaRav Mordechai Frankel, under the guidance of HaRav Moshe Heinemann, STAR-K's Rabbinic Administrator. It is an invaluable resource for a diverse array of rabbis to discuss general halachic matters, as well as gain access to source materials for shiurim and answers to congregants' questions.
Shailos may emailed using the form below, or called into the Institute of Halacha at 410-484-4110 x238. Rabbi Frankel or on occasion another STAR-K Rabbi will respond to your email or return your call if you leave a message and phone number.
Previously Asked Questions
Comments or questions regarding these answers can be emailed to halacha@star-k.org. Only generic questions and answers are posted here. All sensitive questions and answers are kept strictly private.
Halacha Questions
May one use illegal drugs? If not, may one buy them and give them to a friend who does use them? May one sell drugs?
The Shulchan Aruch quotes the Rambam as saying that there is a mitzva deoraissa to remove and guard oneself from any life-threatening hazard. The requirement to remove the hazard seems to imply that endangering another Jew’s health is also included in the issur. However, Chazal say that risks that normal regular people take are permitted. For example, it is perfectly fine to drive a car, even though there are some inherent risks. Rav Moshe Feinstein writes that smoking cigarettes is considered a normal activity, and even though it is preferable not to smoke it is permitted to give a cigarette to someone else who does smoke. Some people argue that Rav Moshe wrote this teshuva many years ago, and now that the dangers of smoking are much clearer even Rav Moshe would agree that it is forbidden. That is debatable, as smoking is still legal and commonplace. However, it is illegal to use drugs, at least for non-medicinal uses. Certainly, among frum people it is considered unacceptable. Therefore, Rav Moshe would presumably agree that it is forbidden to do so, and one may not use drugs or give or sell them to another Jew. A person is also halachically obligated to keep the law of the land, which forbids him from selling them to a non-Jew. Furthermore, there is a fundamental ethical problem with using illegal drugs. Hashem created Yidden with a purpose, and he gave us the seichel to be able to accomplish that purpose. Using recreational drugs is a rejection of that seichel, and is therefore tantamount to a rejection of the purpose of Hashem’s creation.
עי' בשו"ע חו"מ סי' תכז סעי' ח וערוך השלחן שם, דרכי תשובה יו"ד סי' קטז ס"ק נז, שו"ת אגרות משה יו"ד ח"ב סי' מט. ואף שלא שייך כאן האיסור של לפני עור כיון דלא הוי בתרי עברי דנהרא מ"מ הוי מסייע ידי עוברי עבירה שאסור מדרבנן. ועי' במג,א סי' שמז ס"ק ד ובגדול מרבבה יו"ד סי' קנא על הש"ך ס"ק ו מש"כ בזה.
Halacha Questions
I recently purchased a Wahl hair clipper. When I use it around my ears, I want to make sure that I leave my peyos ha?rosh long enough and don?t cut too close. The clipper comes with different sizes of guide-combs. Should I use the 1 or the 2?
Rav Heinemann paskens that the hair of the peyos ha?rosh should be left at least 3 millimeters long. On the Wahl website it says that the Wahl ?Color Pro? clipper comes with the following comb sizes: No. ? - 1/16" (1.5mm), No. 1 - 1/8" (3mm), No. 2 - 1/4" (6mm), and another six larger sizes. The ? size should not be used, but all the other sizes are fine.
Halacha Questions
What is the brocha on pancakes?
If the pancakes are very thin then the bracha is mezonos. If they are not so thin and are not fried in oil, then they would be classified as pas habah bekisnin. The bracha would be mezonos if a person ate less than a shiur of kevias seudah or hamotzee if he ate a shiur of kevius seudah or more.
עי' בשו"ע או"ח סי' קסח סעי' טו ובמ"ב שם ובס"ק לח
Halacha Questions
What are the halachic guidelines for one who is davening in a minyan that has different minhagim than his own? Should one conform, and to what extent? For example, the minyan follows nusach Sefard, while he personally follows nusach Ashkenaz.
Rav Moshe Feinstein discusses a nusach Ashkenaz person davening in a nusach Sefard minyan. He says that – (1) He should say pesukei dezimrah quietly in his own nusach. (2) He can say birchas krias shema out loud in the nusach of the shul, or he can say it quietly in his own nusach. (3) Kedusha, which is said out loud, he should say in the nusach of the shul. (4) He should say the vidui and 13 middos harachamim with them. (However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rav Elyashiv say that nowadays a person can follow his minhag regarding nefilas apayim wherever he is, as long as he does not stick out). If the Ashkenazi is the sheliach tzibbur then he should say everything like the nusach of the shul.
עי' בכל זה בשו"ת אגרות משה או"ח ח"ב סי' כג וח"ג סי' פט. ובספר אשי ישראל פכ"ה ס"ק ה כתב "אם נמצא בבית הכנסת שנהגו לומר בו תחנון קודם והוא רחום אינו חייב לנהוג כמותם, והוא הדין להפך". ובהערה כ"א שם כתב, "שמעתי מהגרש"ז אויערבאך זצ"ל דכיון שכיום בכל מקום יש שנוהגים כך ויש שנוהגים אחרת אין חשש של לא תתגודדו, אך אפשר שאם כל הנמצאים בביהכ"נ אומרים והוא רחום קודם תחנון והדבר ניכר אם ינהג אחרת, ינהג כמותם. וכ"ה בשם הגרי"ש אלישיב (שליט"א) [זצ"ל] בספר תפילה כהלכתה פרק ד הערה כו".
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