Reliable Ask-a-Rabbi Websites

Question

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.

What are some useful and reliable websites to get practical Rabbinic advice?

Aren't you afraid of promoting seriously non-ideal methods of getting pesak? — Isaac Moses, Jun 15 '11 at 19:04
@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 http://www.yoatzot.org/ask.php — Isaac Moses, Jun 15 '11 at 19:11
@yydl I agree with you for that purpose, particularly, it's worth compiling such a list, probably actually on [main] rather than here. — Isaac Moses, Jun 15 '11 at 19:34
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
. . .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
@WAF Indeed, from personal experience there are times where the Rav himself referred me to another Rav more knowledgeable in the area at hand. — yydl, Jun 16 '11 at 00:00
@IsaacMoses - http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/2236/is-the-lemon-slice-added-to-a-soda-in-many-bars-a-problem-kosher-wise/2237#comment34823_2237 — Adam Mosheh, May 15 '12 at 23:57
I think it would be important to just ask your personal Rabbi. — Josh, May 03 '17 at 21:57
Mesora.org is one of the best ask the rabbi websites you could find. — Turk Hill, Mar 24 '21 at 23:58
similar: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/136262/anonymous-shaila-lines — mbloch, Aug 02 '23 at 03:29

score 19 · Accepted Answer · edited May 17 '16 at 05:40

19

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.

edited May 17 '16 at 05:40

ray

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answered Jun 16 '11 at 18:02

jake

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That's quite generous of them. – Isaac Moses Jun 16 '11 at 18:48
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the cRc also provides such a service: http://www.crcweb.org/answers_to_shaalos.php – Curiouser Jun 20 '11 at 18:20
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@curiouser perhaps add that as its own answer – HodofHod Dec 26 '11 at 00:34

score 16 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 16 '11 at 03:02

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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".

answered Jun 16 '11 at 03:02

msh210

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score 13 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 16 '11 at 13:38

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http://www.aish.com/atr/

http://www.dinonline.org/ask-the-rabbi/

http://www.chabad.org/asktherabbi/default_cdo/jewish/Ask-the-Rabbi.htm

answered Jun 16 '11 at 13:38

Gershon Gold

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Din Online is from one of the best. They have an amazing group of Talmidei Chachamim there to help with all the shailos. – Yehoshua Dec 27 '12 at 20:17

score 12 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 16 '11 at 01:16

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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.

answered Aug 16 '11 at 01:16

G Moses

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Hello G Moses, and welcome to Judaism.SE! Thanks for the topic-specific recommendation. – WAF Aug 16 '11 at 01:32
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Is that eastern time? (I'm guessing, based on the area code.) – msh210 Aug 16 '11 at 04:23

score 10 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 17 '11 at 02:17

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

answered Jun 17 '11 at 02:17

Ariel K

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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 01:43
I work at Eretz Hemdah and would be happy to clarify if something is not clear. – Ofer Livnat Oct 30 '13 at 13:01

score 5 · Answer 6 · edited May 11 '12 at 06:05

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.

score 5 · Answer 7 · edited May 11 '12 at 21:49

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http://www.aish.com/atr/ask/
http://www.askmoses.com/
http://www.asktherabbi.org/ - this is from gateways and they're usually fast and reliable
YU has something for YU/RCA rabbis called http://www.Rabanan.org which has a very thorough responsa feature.

edited May 11 '12 at 21:49

ertert3terte

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answered May 11 '12 at 16:36

rachav

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As noted above askmoses.com does not provide pesak, only general answers. – May 17 '17 at 23:45

score 4 · Answer 8 · edited Jul 25 '22 at 11:25

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For those who want to ask in Russian, both halacha and hashkafa, as well as personal relationships (updated on 2021-03-24):

www.toldot.ru - Toldot Yeshurun, a network of very knowledgeable Russian rabbanim, including R' Asher Kushnir and R' Reuven Kuklin. They also often bring in family psychologists to answer the questions as well. They guarantee your question will be addressed by someone.
www.evrey.com - R' Eliyahu Essas
Atlanta Russian Jewish community - R' Isroel Zelman, seems to me that all questions are answered as well, sometimes with a slight time delay.
www.istok.ru - R' Chaim Burshtein, Chief Rabbi of Lithuania
imrey.org - R' Reuven Kuklin, Israel (could not easily find how to ask a question though)

edited Jul 25 '22 at 11:25

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answered Dec 27 '12 at 20:03

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Thank you for these additions. Do you have personal experience with these sites? Do you read Russian? – Monica Cellio Dec 27 '12 at 22:56
@MonicaCellio Yes, I have experience with the first two, and know R' Zelman personally, as well as some rabbeim from Toldot, as well as some talmidim of R' Essas... Russian is my mother tongue... – gt6989b Dec 28 '12 at 15:45
Great, thanks for the further information! – Monica Cellio Dec 28 '12 at 21:25
Worth noting that when I click the link to evrey.com, it takes to me the webpage for target (the store). When i type in evrey.com into the browser, it does work. – Binyomin Mar 23 '21 at 23:09
@Binyomin thank you, corrected – gt6989b Mar 24 '21 at 11:55
@Binyomin used the opportunity to add a few more sites – gt6989b Mar 24 '21 at 12:04

score 4 · Answer 9 · answered Sep 20 '15 at 20:42

The THE FEDERATION OF SYNAGOGUES in the UK offers the service described at http://www.federationofsynagogues.com/askthefederation/

It says:

Ask the Federation is a service of the Federation Beis Din to the wider kehilla.

Ask your shailos in one of two ways... 1. ShailaText - send an SMS to 07860 017 641 for a personal response within four working hours

ShailaOnline - join the conversation in our growing Facebook community - post your question on the group for a response in under 24 hours.

In memory of Dayan Gershon Lopian z"tl

SMS number has changed to +447403939613. – chortkov2 Aug 01 '23 at 21:34 — chortkov2, Aug 01 '23 at 21:34

score 3 · Answer 10 · answered Aug 17 '11 at 20:34

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

answered Aug 17 '11 at 20:34

Double AA

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B''H Bi'ezras -- Boruch Hashem · Answer 11 · 2021-08-20T08:46:56.633

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I found this which seems promising

https://www.chayimaruchim.com/contact.asp?pagetype=Rabbi

Even though they seem to imply on their site to be mostly healthcare related only, I personally called them and asked a generic halachic question about davening that had nothing to do with healthcare and the guy happily answered

edited Aug 20 '21 at 08:46

answered Aug 19 '21 at 22:16

B''H Bi'ezras -- Boruch Hashem

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score 2 · Answer 12 · edited Jun 28 '13 at 17:14

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Halachipedia (Rabbi Yitzchok Levy of Lakewood answers questions): http://www.halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Ask_the_Rabbi

edited Jun 28 '13 at 17:14

msh210

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answered May 11 '12 at 21:09

Adam Mosheh

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they don't have an ask the rabbi service anymore – הנער הזה Jul 22 '14 at 13:23

score 2 · Answer 13 · edited Dec 28 '12 at 05:36

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For Yeshivas Rabbenu Yitzchak Elchanan (RIETS/YU) alumni and RCA members only there is a very reliable responsa service on http://rabbanan.org

edited Dec 28 '12 at 05:36

msh210

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answered Dec 27 '12 at 20:14

score 2 · Answer 14 · edited Jul 31 '15 at 05:54

There is a relatively new website (soon to be app) I set up for this specific reason (a user friendly system for a quick response to halachic or any torah questions that a Jew might have) here is a brief summary of the goals of my website:

Do these situations sound familiar? You did not know the correct Bracha... Your husband mixed up the milchig and fleishig dishes (again!)... You had a question that you didn't feel comfortable asking someone who knows you... You feel guilty "bothering" the Rabbi with your "simple questions" all the time...

Too often, many of us will convince ourselves that we THINK we know the correct thing to do and that we are PROBABLY right.

Pocketrabbi.com is taking your Orthodox Jewish observance to the next level by making sure that you never again have to act as your own Rabbi when you don't know what to do, and that NONE of the questions that you have related to Judaism go unanswered.

check it out:

www.pocketrabbi.com

www.facebook.com/PocketRabbi

@ShmuelBrin The website link still goes to a "coming soon" page. It is not ready yet. — sabbahillel, Mar 31 '16 at 15:06

score 2 · Answer 15 · answered May 19 '14 at 17:06

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One may ask questions of well-known dati leumi posek Rav Shlomo Aviner by emailing his assistant at toratravaviner@yahoo.com. The assistant always answers questions (after asking the question to the Rav).

answered May 19 '14 at 17:06

Kordovero

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score 0 · Answer 16 · answered Jun 23 '21 at 08:54

Dinonline.org

Kollel “Choshen Mishpat” was founded in 1995. The founders’ goal was to raise the public’s awareness to the Mitzvos Bein Adam Lechavero and to the Halachos pertaining to Dinei Mamonos (financial matters). At the head of the institution stand Rabbi Yosef Fleischman Shlit”a and Rabbi Asher Flegg Shlit”a. The Kollel numbers around 120 scholars, many of whom received Semicha (Halachic ordination) for Rabbinate and Dayanut both from Gedolei Yisrael and from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The alumni of the Kollel serve as Dayanim in Batei Dinim around the world and in the Kollel’s Beis Din.

Over the years there developed alongside the Kollel other frameworks related to these issues.

Beis Din for monetary matters “Nesivos Chaim”
Beis Hora’ah for people interested in consulting in matters pertaining to monetary and business matters is free of charge.
Research Institute – Which employs some of the Kollel alumni and puts out various publications.
“Alon Hamishpat” – Since 2006 the Kollel puts out a monthly publication with an international circulation of thousands of copies. In the publication one can find essays on current topics, practical halachos, rulings of the Beis Din and more.
Seminars – three times annually the Kollel conducts seminars in monetary laws.
Dinonline.org – the site that you are visiting right now. We hope you will enjoy it.

Did you write this? "the site that you are visiting right now" huh? — Double AA, Jun 23 '21 at 11:38

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