We are pleased to announce that an RCE Halachah Hotline has been established, enabling rabbis to forward queries on any area of halachah to the esteemed members of the RCE’s rabbinical council. These council members have volunteered to make themselves available for the sake of the European communities.

This hotline is specifically for the community rabbis, who feel that it is necessary to establish an open line of communication for halachic discussion with the members of the Rabbinical Council. The Halachah Hotline system is unique in that it is so accessible, providing the rabbis a way to ask for advice or to receive a halachic ruling on the spot.

After consulting with the Rabbinical Council’s presidium and membership, it was decided that although the Rabbanim who respond to the queries have many years of experience, and expertise in all areas of halachah, it is more efficient for a specific rabbi to be consulted for each area. Below is a list of the areas of halachah covered and the rabbi responsible for each of them. When someone calls the hotline, these areas of halachah will be listed for him there as well.

Marriage, divorce, and general questions: Rabbi Yirmiyahu Cohen, shlit”a, Av Beis Din of Paris, France

Kashrus and general questions: Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Lichtenstein, shlit”a, rabbi and Av Beis Din of the Federation Synagogues in London, England

Monetary issues: Rabbi Yaakov David Schmahl, Dayan of the Shomrei Hadas community in Antwerp, Belgium

Shabbat and Yom Tov: Rabbi Michael Shmerla, Av Beis Din of Strasbourg, France

Orach Chaim: Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, Av Beis Din of Badatz D’kehillos Hachareidim in Budapest, Hungary

Mikvehs and family purity issues: Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Raskin, rabbi of the Rabbinical Union in London, England

Chinuch and shalom bayis: Rabbi Binyamin Jacobs, chairman of the Rabbinical Council of the Netherlands

Any discussion with these rabbis will be comfortable and discreet. If the Council member rabbi is unable to answer a call immediately, the caller can leave a voice message with the query to his personal voice mail, so that only he will be able to listen to it.

We believe that this important project is another step in facilitating the dynamic relationship between the community rabbis and the Rabbinical Council, affording them a unique opportunity to be helped in dealing with the questions that come before them on a daily basis.

The Halachah Hotline phone number: (+322) 588-4371

With blessings that Hashem will assist all of us in doing what is best for Him.

Gmar chasimah tovah!