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
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".
Halacha Questions
If a person receives torah via a text message, is it muttar to read it while standing in the bathroom? What is the halachic status of our bathrooms, and of digital texts of Torah? I have heard that digital text is not ksav, and that our bathroom might not have the same status as old bathrooms.
The Chazon Ish is unsure about the halachic status of our bathrooms, and concludes that one should be machmir. Other achronim concur with this. Even if digital text is not called ksav, reading a text message containing torah would at least constitute thinking about divrei torah, which is ossur in a beis hakisei. Therefore, one should not read a Torah text message in a bathroom.
עי' חזו"א או"ח סי' יז ס"ק ד וס"ק יא, שו"ת אגרות משה אהע"ז ח"א סי' קיד ד"ה ובענין בית הכסא, שו"ת מנחת יצחק ח"א סי' ס, שו"ת יביע אמור ח"ג או"ח סי' ב, שו"ת ציץ אליעזר ח"ז סי' ה, שו"ת חלקת יעקב או"ח סי' ב
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