HaRav Yishai Natan - I rent an apartment from a fellow Jew, and the rent is due on the first of each month. I often forget to pay on time, or for different reasons I end up paying a few days late. When I mentioned this to someone, he suggested that I may have been transgressing the issur of Bal Talin each time this happened. Is he correct? Am I over the averah of Bal … [Read more...]
The Betty Crocker Mix-Up
In yeshiva we have two Betty Crocker pizza makers, known as “Betties” — one for halavi and one besari. Someone accidentally put eggs and cheese into the besari Betty. The question is whether the eggs may be eaten, and whether the Betty has to be thrown out. After verifying that the Betty was not used for meat within the last 24 hours - eno ben yomo, and that it didn’t have … [Read more...]
Covering Hair and Shaitels
HaRav Yishai Natan - The Midrash in Parashat Korah, says that the wife of On ben Pelet saved him. On ben Pelet was originally together with Korah and his group, planning to rebel against Moshe. His wife told him, “This does not make any sense. You are going to rebel against Moshe, but you are not even going to receive any position. You will not become a Kohen, … [Read more...]
Cream cheese and Lox
HaRav Yishai Natan - Can I eat fish and cheese? Maran, Bet Yosef (siman 87) writes clearly that one should not eat fish and milk together because it is dangerous for one’s health. The Rama, in Darche Moshe (4), writes: “Never in my life have I seen people be careful about eating fish and milk. It seems the Bet Yosef mixed Basar BeHalav together.” He is referring to a … [Read more...]
Toms River Airbnb
HaRav Yishai Natan - I live in Brooklyn, and my wife wanted to go away for the weekend to Toms River, New Jersey. I told her that my uncle has a nice house in Toms River that he rents out as an Airbnb. He had recently given it to my brother for free for an extended weekend, I’m sure he’ll let us do the same. I called my uncle and asked him if the house was rented out that … [Read more...]