up vote 7 down vote favorite
1
share [g+] share [fb]

There are some times on this site where questioners will be directed to "ask their Rabbi." While it's always optimal to have such people discuss the question with their own Rabbi (and such action should be stressed), there are times when people either don't actually have a Rabbi [yikes], or are embarrassed to ask such questions to their own Rabbi.

I therefore believe we should compile a list of online methods to get practical Rabbinical advice...

link|improve this question
64% accept rate
Aren't you afraid of promoting seriously non-ideal methods of getting pesak? – Isaac Moses♦ Jun 15 '11 at 19:04
1  
@Issac are websites like askmoses that bad? – yydl Jun 15 '11 at 19:05
@yydl askmoses, in particular, actually does not provide pesak. They are careful to only answer in general terms. For those who do, isn't it seriously non-ideal to get pesak from a rabbi who doesn't know you, via one-message-each communication? I suppose embarrassing topics could be a worthwhile area for this, given the inherent issues associated with talking to a rabbi whom one knows, and that a possible entry for that could be yoatzot.org/ask.php – Isaac Moses♦ Jun 15 '11 at 19:11
1  
Before we get carried away with resorting to innovative methods of eliciting p'sak I think the emphatic pronoun in the question deserves some elaboration. Although this whole discussion is based on the famous words of Y'hoshu'a ben P'rachya to "make yourself a teacher", my understanding is that we interpret this directive practically as allowing for (or preferring) making multiple decisors for oneself - to pertain to particular areas of expertise. . . – WAF♦ Jun 15 '11 at 21:26
1  
. . .In selecting one's rav, one considers the degree of comfort one will have in asking for practical advice from that person. If that threshhold is reached for most questions, but not all, then it behooves the person to find a rav who is both expert and comfortable in the neglected area, without violating the aforementioned instruction. – WAF♦ Jun 15 '11 at 21:31
show 6 more comments
feedback

migrated from meta.judaism.stackexchange.com Jun 16 '11 at 17:45

This question came from our discussion, support, and feature requests site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more.

9 Answers

up vote 8 down vote accepted

For all sh'eilos, if one does not have a personal rav, or one's rav is not available, Star-K initiated the "Institute of Halacha", run by R' Mordechai Frankel of Baltimore and endorsed by R' Moshe Heinemann. Questions may be emailed or called in during certain hours. See here for email address and phone number.

link|improve this answer
1  
That's quite generous of them. – Isaac Moses♦ Jun 16 '11 at 18:48
4  
the cRc also provides such a service: crcweb.org/answers_to_shaalos.php – Curiouser Jun 20 '11 at 18:20
@curiouser perhaps add that as its own answer – HodofHod♦ Dec 26 '11 at 0:34
feedback
up vote 7 down vote

For Choshen Mishpat and ribis questions, I've had the Business Halacha Institute recommended to me. It has an ask-the-rabbi service (via e-mail or, I think, phone) it calls "Halacha Hotline".

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 6 down vote

The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation has a number you can call with halachic questions relating to sh'mirat halashon, or proper speech. It's 718-951-3696, and it's available from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

link|improve this answer
Hello G Moses, and welcome to Judaism.SE! Thanks for the topic-specific recommendation. – WAF♦ Aug 16 '11 at 1:32
Is that eastern time? (I'm guessing, based on the area code.) – msh210♦ Aug 16 '11 at 4:23
feedback
up vote 5 down vote

In Israel, there are a few resources. Eretz Hemdah is one in English and they refer difficult questions to senior poskim.

link|improve this answer
Personally I've had trouble understanding the English in some of their replies in the past; maybe it's a lost-in-translation thing. – Shalom Aug 16 '11 at 1:43
feedback
up vote 2 down vote

http://revach.net/ask/ but they don't always answer every question.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

  • Rabimeir.com (you can go to the Shu"t section on the menu - but you have to ask in Hebrew) - HaGaon HaRav Meir Eliyahu Shelit"a

  • Doresh-tzion.co.il (you can go to shu"t behalacha section on the side menu - but you have to ask in Hebrew) this is the Q&A of HaGaon HaRav Bentzion Mutzafi Shlit"a (a Posek)

  • Kisse-r.co.il - Answered by staff members at the esteemed Kisse Rahamim Yeshiva in Bene Berak headed by HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz Shelti"a (a Posek); occasionally he will answer the questions.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote
link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote -1 down vote

Halachipedia (Rabbi Yitzchok Levy (see comments section below)) - http://www.halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Ask_the_Rabbi

link|improve this answer
Who's behind the website? – Shmuel Brin May 11 at 21:49
Yitzchak "Ike" Sultan is the creator of Halachipedia. I'm not sure which rabbi is the rabbi asked. – Adam Mosheh May 11 at 21:54
for the same expense, one can also ask here. – Shmuel Brin May 11 at 21:55
Why can't one ask here? Mi.Yodeya is a great resource. – Adam Mosheh May 11 at 22:01
show 1 more comment
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.