Daily Life

Hi. I heard from several friends that if a woman gets a no chip gel manicure she does not have to take off the nail polish for going to the mikvah because it's considered attached to the nail. Is this correct? I've never heard of this before until recently.

Hello Rabbi, I have a question regarding Ashkenazi tradition. I know that we don't typically name children after living relatives. However, I'm wondering about the practice of using the maiden name of a relative/friend/person I love and admire as a way to honor her. Since the person no longer carries the maiden name after getting married, could using it be considered against Jewish tradition? Or would that be considered as a meaningful and respectful gesture? Could you please provide some guidance? Thank you for your time and advice. Marina.

Can I tweeze my eyebrows on the 3 weeks?

I know it is a positive commandment to wear a tallis katan all day. But is it a violation of a negative commandment to fail to do so? Personally I find it physically uncomfortable to wear this garment. It makes me feel constrained. I don’t mind putting it on just for prayers, which is what I‘ve been doing lately, but I cannot stand wearing it all day. I know that as a rabbi, you will probably tell me that it is a mitzvah, and I should fulfill this mitzvah, regardless of any discomfort it may bring. But that is just too much suffering for me and I can’t take it. I found that when I tried to wear the garment all day, I grew to loathe it, leading me to not using it at all for almost a year. Then I tried putting it on for morning prayer only, and I found I could tolerate it much better.

Is it ok to pay my teenager’s salary anonymously in order to help her get hired for a job as an art teacher’s assistant at a Gan Israel Camp? I feel it would be good career experience ( she thinks she might want to teach art) for her to work as an art teaching assistant and it would benefit the camp. However the camp cannot afford to pay her more than the traditional $50!per week that they pay other teens. My daughter could use the boost in confidence, the experience and the Jewish atmosphere that she is otherwise lacking. The camp director said he would keep my sponsorship a secret. Thanks!