Halacha Deep Dive

1

Gelatin

Jan 11, 2026

20:40

Does gelatin need to come from a kosher-slaughtered animal? Is it fleishigs?

2

Electric Lights for Shabbos Candles, Havdalah & Chanukah

Dec 22, 2025

26:25

Can you use an electric menorah? If you are in a hospital or hotel for Shabbos can you use the lights for Shabbos licht or Havdalah?

3

Public Menorah Lighting

Dec 15, 2025

23:11

Can a bracha be made on lighting a menorah in a park or another public are?

4

Mesh Tzitzis

Dec 8, 2025

16:32

Does one fulfill the mitzvah of tzitzis with a mesh garment?

5

Undershirt Tzitzis

Nov 26, 2025

23:11

Is an undershirt that has four corners and tzizis valid for the mitzvah of tzitzis?

6

Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Cookware

Nov 17, 2025

26:56

How to kasher a pre-seasoned pot? Hagalah or libun? Do you have to scrape off the layer of oil?

7

Washing your Hands in the Bathroom

Nov 10, 2025

23:12

Does washing your hands in the bathroom work? To say a bracha? To wash for bread? For negal vasser in the morning?

8

Hinting to a Goy on Shabbos

Nov 3, 2025

29:22

Can you hint to a goy to turn off your lights on Shabbos? To turn on your AC? "I can't sleep in this room with the light on"

9

Putting a Child in Front of a Light Switch on Shabbos

Oct 27, 2025

16:12

Can you get a young child to do melacha for you on Shabbos?

10

Credit Unions

Sep 28, 2025

24:52

Can you take a loan from or open an account with a credit union

11

Bowing to the Ground on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Sep 22, 2025

17:44

Do you need to put a mat in front of you when you bow on Yomim Noraim?

12

Are Papayas Kosher?

Sep 14, 2025

21:38

Are all papayas orlah? Can you use a papaya for your new fruit on the second night of Rosh Hashana?

13

Cleaning Ladies & Housekeepers on Shabbos

Sep 9, 2025

26:16

What can you allow your cleaning lady or housekeeper to do in your house on Shabbos?

14

Taking Fasting Pills on Shabbos

Jul 30, 2025

22:37

Can you take a fasting pill on Shabbos? Is there a difference between tzom kal and delayed release pills?

15

Real Estate & Nursing Homes on Shabbos

Jul 23, 2025

26:52

How can a Jewish owned nursing home or real estate owner operate on Shabbos?

16

Acapella During the Three Weeks

Jul 15, 2025

16:00

Can one listen to Acapella during Bein Hamitzarim?

17

Women & Zimun

Jul 9, 2025

21:48

Are women required to answer to a zimun? Can 3 women make their own zimun?

18

Bentching Gomel after Flying

Jul 3, 2025

20:17

Does one make a gomel after a flight? Does it make a difference if you are flying domestic or international?

19

Crockpot for Shabbos

Jun 10, 2025

24:02

Can a crockpot be used on Shabbos?

20

Moving Garbage Cans to the Curb on Yom Tov

Jun 1, 2025

25:23

Can you move the trash can to curb on Yom Tov? Can you move the can back after pickup?

21

Shabbos on a Cruise

May 27, 2025

19:29

Can you take a cruise that will be at sea on Shabbos? Does it make a difference when you get onboard? Does it make a difference how many Jews are on the boat?

22

When to Correct the Baal Koreh

May 19, 2025

18:21

What mistkaes do we make the baal koreh fix?

23

Non-Mevushal Wine poured by a Mechalel Shabbos

May 14, 2025

21:05

Can you drink non- mevushal wine poured by a mechalel Shabbos?

24

Woman & Kaddish

Apr 27, 2025

21:37

Can a woman say kaddish?

25

When should you have the Shabbos Day Seudah

Apr 22, 2025

17:51

Do you have to start before chatzos? Can morning seudah into two and have shalosh seudos then?

26

The Latest Time to Finish the Afikomen and the 4th Kos

Mar 24, 2025

20:52

What time do you have to finish the Afikomen by? Is there a deadline for Hallel and the 4th Kos?

27

Machine Matzah

Mar 16, 2025

22:43

Can you use Machine Matzah on Pesach? For the Sedarim?The Norfolk Kollel annual fundraiser is live! Please help support the Halacha Deep Dive ! charidy.com/norfolkkollel/deepdive

28

Merging the Purim & Shabbos Seudos - "Pores Mapa"

Mar 10, 2025

31:57

Can your Purim seudah go straight into your Shabbos seuda? The issues and possible solutions. The Norfolk Kollel is having its annual fundraiser. To help support the Halacha Deep Dive please donate at charidy.com/norfolkkollel/deepdive. Thank you

29

Aluminum Pans & Styrorofam Cups

Mar 4, 2025

18:42

Are they kosher?

30

Hair Dye for Men

Feb 24, 2025

23:22

Can a man dye his hair? For work? A shidduch?

31

Pictures & Videos of Hostages Released on Shabbos

Feb 11, 2025

19:05

Can you look at a picture of hostages being released on Shabbos?

32

Changing a Diaper in Front of Seforim

Feb 6, 2025

19:58

Can you change a baby in front of seforim? In front of your Shabbos licht?

33

Singing Zemiros with your Wife & Daughters

Jan 23, 2025

20:43

Can you sing zemiros together with the female members of your family? Can you sing bentching together?

34

The Latest Time to do Melacha on Erev Shabbos

Jan 6, 2025

22:00

What is the latest time you can do melacha on Erev Shabbos? When should you finish mincha on Friday?

35

Is a cross avoda zarah?

Dec 22, 2024

24:19

Can do business with crosses? Can you bend down if there is a cross in the front of the room?

36

Kosher Cheese

Dec 18, 2024

22:43

What makes cheese kosher? Is there a difference between Mozzarella and cottage cheese?

37

How to Put On Your Tallis

Dec 8, 2024

18:18

How to wrap yourself when you make a bracha on your tallis

38

Using the Shul's Tallis

Nov 25, 2024

20:48

Do you make a bracha when using the Shul's tallis? What about when you borrow one from your friend?

39

Urns on Shabbos

Nov 17, 2024

22:50

Can you use an urn with a water gauge on Shabbos? Does the water in your urn need to be fully cooked before Shabbos?

40

Pizza Makers & Urns With Hashgacha 'No Tevila Required'

Nov 12, 2024

24:58

How is tevilah avoided? What is necessary for the hashgacha? Is that hashgacha valid when bought from a non-Jew?

41

Toiveling a Keurig

Nov 3, 2024

24:07

Does a Keurig require Tevilas keilim?

42

The Bracha on Hydroponic Vegetables

Oct 28, 2024

20:47

What bracha is made on hydroponic vegetables? Haadama or shehakol?

43

Bamboo Schach Mats

Oct 14, 2024

21:53

What are the possible problems with using bamboo mats for schach? Why do they need a hechsher? How to use them properly

44

Eruv Tavshilin

Sep 22, 2024

27:54

When is the earliest that you can ake an eruv tavshilin? Can you put up a cholent late on the second day of Yom Tov?

45

Washing Dishes on Shabbos

Sep 16, 2024

22:21

Can you wash your dishes on Shabbos

46

Making a Smoothie with Unwashed Strawberries

Aug 15, 2024

20:03

Do you need to wash or check your strawberries for bugs before blending them for a smoothie?

47

Whipped Cream on Shabbos

Jul 24, 2024

23:27

Can you use whipped cream on Shabbos? Can you make ice cubes? Melt frozen milk?

48

Neutering & Spaying Pets

Jul 14, 2024

17:48

Can you neuter your pet? Does it make a difference if the vet is a Jew? What about a female animal?

49

Negative Online Reviews

Jul 11, 2024

21:23

Are you allowed to post a negative online review? Does it make a difference if it is Amazon or Google?

50

Cleaning Contact Lenses on Shabbos

Jul 2, 2024

19:07

Can you clean your contact lenses on Shabbos? Can you use multi purpose solution? Saline solution?