Search results for: ""hetter""

Heter Iska in Normal Language
If you use a heter iska for a loan, the document should be in English or whatever is the normal language of both parties.
 
Shabbat: Water Heater below 120° F
If you keep your water heater permanently set to less than 120° F (49° C) and if you turn off the heater before Shabbat, you may use that hot water on Shabbat. But you may not lower the setting just before Shabbat and then use hot water from that heater, since the water in the tank will still be hotter than 120° F for many hours (or even a day or more) after lowering the heater temperature.
Note If you will be using a large volume of hot water during Shabbat, consult a rabbi since the heating element might inevitably be turned on and that would be forbidden on Shabbat.
 
Shabbat: Water Heater above 120° F
On Shabbat, you may not use water from any type of water heater, including solar heaters, if the water in the tank (or reservoir) is above 120° F (49 C).
Shabbat: Moving Flame Heater
On Shabbat, you may not move a kerosene or other heater that has a flame.
 
Shabbat: Moving Electric Heater
You may pick up and move an electric heater on Shabbat (and Jewish festivals) if it is:
  • Off, in order to use the space where it is.
  • On, in order to use the space where it is OR if you need the heat elsewhere.
Note You may not unplug the heater if it is on. You may unplug it if it is off, but only in order to move it.
General Law on Heter Iska
A Jew is not permitted to charge interest (ribit) for a loan made to another Jew. A heter iska should be used in any case where a loan has been made between Jews if more money will be paid back than what was received.
Note In some cases, if you prepay for a purchase and thereby get a discount, it might be considered as interest paid on a loan, and you would need a heter iska.
Jewish Festivals: Adjusting Heater
On Jewish festivals, you may adjust a heater with an analog thermostat:
  • UP when running, and
  • DOWN or OFF when not running.
Reason This is due to grama, which is permissible on Jewish festivals (but not on Shabbat).
Note You may not adjust a digital thermostat.
Jewish Festivals: Moving Flame Heater
Unlike on Shabbat, you may move a kerosene or other heater that has a flame burning on Jewish festivals.
Jewish Festivals: Moving Electric Heater
You may pick up and move an electric heater that is ON on Jewish festivals (and Shabbat) only if:
  • You need the heat elsewhere, or
  • You need to use the space where the heater is standing.
Note You may not unplug it.
Toveling: Utensils: Electrical Cord or Heater
A utensil that requires immersion in a mikva should be immersed even if the utensil is connected to an electrical cord or heater, unless by immersing it you will ruin the entire appliance.
 
Sponges and Dairy/Meat
Situation You inadvertently use a brush or sponge (hotter than 120° F--49° C) of one gender on a utensil of the opposite gender.
Status The sponge or brush becomes non-kosher, but ask a rabbi about the status of the utensil.
Non-Kosher Microwave Oven: Hot Oven, Liquid or Solid Food
If the walls of a non-kosher microwave oven get hotter than 120° F, you must double wrap any liquid or solid food you cook in that oven.
Note If you did not double wrap liquid or solid food cooked in a non-kosher microwave oven, consult a rabbi about whether you may eat the food.
Kashrut: Dairy/Meat: Microwave Oven Dishes
You may microwave a dairy food in a meat (or meat food in a dairy) glass (or Pyrex or Corelle) utensil. Even if the food gets hotter than 120 degrees, the food and utensil are still both kosher. (This is not true if placed in a conventional oven!)
Jewish Festivals: Temperature Controls and Grama
On Jewish festivals, “grama” (indirect action) is permissible. For adjusting temperature controls on Jewish festivals, see Jewish Festivals: Adjusting Air Conditioner Temperatures and Jewish Festivals: Adjusting Heater.
 
Burial: Eretz Yisrael If Did Not Live There
You should not be buried in Eretz Yisrael if you could have lived in Eretz Yisrael but chose not to. If you could not live there or if you had a heter to not live there, it is OK to be buried there.
Note The reason to be buried in Eretz Yisrael is for Resurrection of the Dead (techiyat ha'meitim), which will only happen in Eretz Yisrael.  But the entire world will eventually become Eretz Yisrael, so it is only an issue of time.