Winter has arrived in full force. Coughs echo through the streets, sneezes fill the air in shuls, and every home seems to be a battlefield of tissues and blankets. Mothers issue their marching orders: “Don’t forget your coat! Take gloves! And where is your hat?!”
Chaim Lerner, an average family man, thought he could survive the beginning of winter unscathed. But last night, he felt that telltale tickle in his throat—the one that warns of what’s to come.
And sure enough, he woke up this morning—the sun barely peeking out, his throat burning as if he had swallowed sand in the middle of a desert. He tried to say “Good morning” to his wife, but it came out as a hoarse, crackling whisper.
“You sound terrible,” his wife said with a faint smile. “Maybe you should stay in bed?”
“Bed?!” Chaim exclaimed. “Who’s going to Shacharis? I’m not skipping a minyan just because of a little sore throat.”
Determined, Chaim began to get ready, dragging himself to the medicine cabinet where he remembered his lifesaving stash of Ricola lozenges. He opened the cabinet with relief, but just as he reached for the first wrapper, he stopped abruptly.
“What’s wrong?” his wife called from the kitchen.
“I’m not sure if I can take a lozenge before davening,” he replied.
“Why not?” she asked.
“Why not?! You’re not allowed to eat before davening.”
“But it’s just a lozenge,” she said nonchalantly. “Not a Shabbos meal.”
“Yes, but maybe it’s considered eating,” he countered. “And maybe it’s okay, like coffee… but it’s sweet…”
She laughed. “Chaim, really… I think if it helps you daven better, Hashem will understand.”
“It’s not that simple,” he replied. “I need to ask a rav.”
The Thoughts and Dilemmas
Chaim sat down at the table, his throat burning with every breath. On one hand, he knew the lozenge would provide immediate relief and help him concentrate during davening. On the other hand, he didn’t want to violate halacha. His thoughts raced, a back-and-forth argument in his mind:
“It’s just sucking on a lozenge,” said one side.
“But it’s eating, and you can’t eat before davening,” countered the other.
“Maybe it’s like coffee,” the first side reasoned again.
“But it’s sweet… and what if it’s forbidden?”
Meanwhile, his throat continued to sting.
The Decision and the Solution
In the end, Chaim did the smart thing: he called the rabbanim at the Refuah B’Halacha center, where every question gets a clear and precise answer.
The verdict? It is permitted to use a lozenge before davening.
(עיין משנה ברורה סימן צ’ ס”ק מה)
Stories from Everyday Life – Big Questions, Small Smiles
Chaim’s dilemma might bring a smile, but it’s just one of countless examples of everyday questions that touch on halacha and health.
Rachel, a young mother, asked: “Can I put a bandage on my son’s small cut on Shabbos?”
Shimon, a tech company partner, wondered: “Can I use a portable oxygen device on Yom Kippur?”
Yaakov, a grandfather of many, wanted to know: “Can I take a painkiller during the fast of Tisha B’Av?”
Every question deserves an answer.
Refuah B’Halacha – Your Guide for Medical and Halachic Questions
Do you have halachic questions related to health and medicine? You’re not alone. Refuah B’Halacha is here to provide quick and accurate answers to all the big and small questions that arise in daily life.
Don’t hesitate to reach out. Halacha is not just a set of rules—it’s a way of life, even in the simplest moments of your morning. Because every question deserves an answer.