א׳ ניסן ה׳תשפ״ו | March 19, 2026
AskTheRav Hotline Extends Hours for Pesach
As every home gears up for Pesach, the AskTheRav hotline has announced extended operating hours, offering full service from 9 am to 10 pm from Rosh Chodesh Nissan leading up to Yom Tov.
As every home gears up for Pesach, the AskTheRav hotline has announced extended operating hours, offering full service from 9 am to 10 pm from Rosh Chodesh Nissan leading up to Yom Tov. This expansion aims to cater to the increased demand for guidance on matters related to Pesach preparations, ensuring individuals have access to timely assistance and clarification.
After over 8 years of serving the community and addressing thousands of questions, AskTheRav has firmly established itself as a reliable source for navigating halachic intricacies. With Pesach’s arrival, inquiries regarding kosher for Pesach food, observance of minhagim of Yom Tov, and other related matters become more prevalent, underlining the need for accessible support during this period.
The AskTheRav Hotline works together with AskTheRav.com, where individuals could submit their halachic questions and receive a comprehensive, referenced answer within 24 hours. The site’s archives contain an easily searchable repository of popular answered shaalos as a more accessible resource.
The hotline, where callers can connect with rabbinical experts for individual halachic consultations, provides a more immediate and personal touch to the community’s need for halachic advice.
For immediate halachic guidance, contact the AskTheRav Hotline at 718-604-8000, extension 1. Operating hours until Pesach are:
* Sunday through Thursday – 9 am to 10 pm EST.
* Friday – 9 am to one hour before Shabbos.
* The hotline will be operating on the night of Bedikas Chometz until 7:45 pm, resuming from 11pm until 1am.
Additionally, chometz can be sold through AskTheRav at mechira.com.
As we engage in the meticulous preparations for Pesach, we can rely on the AskTheRav hotline for assistance, whether it involves clarifying halachic matters, seeking practical advice, or finding reassurance in fulfilling our Torah obligations. The extended hours offer us flexibility and accessibility, enabling us to seek guidance at our convenience as we navigate the complexities of preparing for Pesach.
COMMENTS
AskTheRav opened in Nissan 5778
Does no one see the issue with this whole idea? The very essence of asking a rov is about getting a personal answer, not one that’s good for anyone!
I’m curious since when did this become a bais din for Lubavitch. I thought the crown heights beis din was for crown Heights. Aren’t the Rabbonim overloaded enough serving crown heights. They usually put me on hold and rush me through my calls. I’m not sure why they are looking to do more then they can handle at this point. As a member of crown heights I’d support a bais din for local needs. Perhaps the shuluchim office or merkos should deal with the needs of shluchim around the world.
The Beis din has been answering questions for shluchim since its inception in 1986 as per the Rebbe’s encouragement. For the last 7 years they have a succesful platform answering questions via asktherav and more recently, i think three years already, via their hotline. I’ve always had a pleasant experience when he’s in the Hotline. When calling one of the rabbis of the BD directly, they might have to rush you. Either way, I don’t understand the need to duplicate their services. If more man power is needed , it wouldn’t make sense to have others do the same, but rather merge with them. Your idea that others should start the same exact service – that would overload and duplicate the resources in our community and would not make sense. It might also be a serious halachic issue of hasgas gevul. In the past, the Rebbe wrote sharply about others offering similar services to the BD.
I’d love to see mergers and collaboration. I just think the Crown Heights community should focus on fixing their boat, getting a third rov and influencing the 1000s of families that don’t feel connected to the bais. There are enough organizations helping Shluchim. We need the bais din to focus every ounce of energy on helping our kehila and it’s close to 80 shuls.
That a lot of those families have zero interest in litening to what the Rabbonim say no matter who they are
Why would someone want to join the bais din in this place where all they get is backlash
I’m sure the Rabonim answering can see who is asking, it probably means it’s hidden from the public and you can really that you’re question is kept private
They don’t ask who’s emailing. Think about it, how much information can you tell from an email? Moreover, they’re encouraging people to look up the question because it may have already been answered!
Can you provide the source from the Rebbe, that the Bais Din of crown heights was for the wider community of Shluchim?
Also would love to see where the Rebbe negates Torah services that overlap? I thought Torah encouraged that קנאת סופרים תרבה חכמה?
We need more morei horaah in Lubavitch! The more the better.
There is a new Bais Hora’ah Chabad, that is still in beta, but me and all my friends are finding it very helpful. You can text and get a quick response with the name of the rov, you can call and they’ll answer right away and or call you back quickly. Might want to check it out https://baishoraahchabad.com/. You can whatsapp and text 347-688-7916. I’ve asked 3 questions this week and got quick clear answers right away. I think it a project of Merkos 302. It’s still in beta but they are answering questions.
I also like asktherav.com, I find it more helpful for research, they want you to check their database (which is tremendous) before asking a question, they sometimes get frustrated when you ask questions that are already on their database (which I understand). Sometimes I’m a mom in a kitchen, and I need a quick answer on the spot when some cheese falls into my pot.
I think there is room for more and more resources for everyone. We do need more Rabbonim that are dedicated to this kind of work. Thank you Rabbi Braun and your team for all you do for Crown Heights, and thank you to anyone else stepping up to the plate!
My two cents. A happier mom