Halacha Deep Dive

1

Killing Bugs & Bees on Yom Tov

Sep 22, 2026

21:49

Can you kill that pesky mosquito in your sukkah on Yom Tov? What about that bee that is getting everyone nervous?

2

Machnisei Rachamaim & Davening to Malachim

Sep 7, 2026

20:14

Should you skip Machnisei Rachamim? Are you allowed to daven to malachim?

3

The Bracha on Wraps

Sep 1, 2026

28:20

Do you make a Mezonos or Hamotzi on a wrap? Does it make a difference how much you eat?

4

Feeding Animals Human Food

Aug 26, 2026

28:49

Can your kids feed their lunch to a goat in the petting zoo? Can you give your pet a piece of your supper?

5

Making a Bracha on Listerine Strips

Aug 18, 2026

19:03

Do Listerine strips (pocketpacks) require a bracha?

6

Zoom Siyum during the Nine Days

Jul 12, 2026

25:08

Can you eat meat during the nine days after hearing a siyum on zoom or on the phone? What about a bechor on Erev Pesach?

7

Arts & Crafts made from Food

Jul 8, 2026

19:33

Can you use food for an arts & crafts project? Painting pasta & beans etc.

8

Shabbos Makeup

Jun 29, 2026

20:12

Is there makeup that can be used on Shabbos?

9

Paintball

Jun 17, 2026

29:04

Is it permitted to go paintballing?

10

Black Ivory & Civet Cat Coffees

Jun 8, 2026

21:15

These are some of the worlds most expensive coffees, are they kosher?

11

Putting a Computer on top of Seforim

May 25, 2026

22:54

Can a computer that has Torah on it (ie, Otzar Chochma, Bar Ilan) be put down on top of a sefer?

12

Raffles on Shabbos

May 18, 2026

21:47

Can you make a raffle on Shabbos? For Avos U'banim, bnos, or pirchei?

13

Wearing your Tzitzis: In or Out?

May 10, 2026

23:06

Should the strings of your tzitzis be visible or tucked away?

14

Sous Vide & Navel Pastrami on Shabbos

Apr 26, 2026

29:46

Is sous vide a violation of hatmanah (insulating) on Shabbos? What about navel pastrami or raw chulent pastrami? Is this any different than putting a kugel in your chulent?

15

Mezuzah on a House that was Sold for Pesach

Apr 19, 2026

22:44

Do you have to re-attach the mezuzahs on a house that was sold to a goy for Pesach?

16

Braces & Fillings on Pesach

Mar 22, 2026

21:27

Are your fillings chametzdik? Can you eat hot food on Pesach?

17

Selling Sourdough Starter with your Chametz

Mar 9, 2026

30:21

Can you sell sourdough starter if you only want your starter? Can you stock up on chametz with intention to sell it over pesach?

18

Toveling a Tray used for Shaloch Manos

Mar 2, 2026

19:37

Does one have to do tevilas keilim on a glass cake tray or candy dish given for Shaloch Manos

19

Wearing a Hospital Bracelet on Shabbos

Feb 26, 2026

20:33

Can you wear a hospital bracelet in an area without an eruv? What about a visitors sticker?

20

Hot Souffle on Shabbos

Feb 12, 2026

23:23

Can you heat up a half baked souffle on Shabbos? What about one with a chocolatey inside? Serving it with a scoop of ice cream?

21

Starbucks VIA & Microground Coffee on Shabbos

Feb 2, 2026

28:39

Can you make Starbucks VIA the same way you make any instant coffee on Shabbos? Is there any way to make a microground coffee on Shabbos?

22

The Kashrus of Medications, Vitamins & Supplements

Jan 18, 2026

24:57

Are all medicines kosher? What about vitamins? Tablets, gelatin capsules, softgels, chewables & liquids.

23

Gelatin

Jan 11, 2026

20:40

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

24

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?

25

Public Menorah Lighting

Dec 15, 2025

23:11

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

26

Mesh Tzitzis

Dec 8, 2025

16:32

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

27

Undershirt Tzitzis

Nov 26, 2025

23:11

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

28

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?

29

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?

30

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"

31

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?

32

Credit Unions

Sep 28, 2025

24:52

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

33

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?

34

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?

35

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?

36

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?

37

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?

38

Acapella During the Three Weeks

Jul 15, 2025

16:00

Can one listen to Acapella during Bein Hamitzarim?

39

Women & Zimun

Jul 9, 2025

21:48

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

40

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?

41

Crockpot for Shabbos

Jun 10, 2025

24:02

Can a crockpot be used on Shabbos?

42

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?

43

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?

44

When to Correct the Baal Koreh

May 19, 2025

18:21

What mistkaes do we make the baal koreh fix?

45

Non-Mevushal Wine poured by a Mechalel Shabbos

May 14, 2025

21:05

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

46

Woman & Kaddish

Apr 27, 2025

21:37

Can a woman say kaddish?

47

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?

48

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?

49

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

50

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