What is torah box question au rav?

"Ask the Rabbi" (She'elat Rav) on TorahBox

TorahBox ("Torah Box") is a popular French-language Jewish website and media platform that provides Torah content, and their "Question au Rav" ("Ask the Rabbi") feature is an online service where users can submit Jewish law and life questions to qualified rabbis and receive answers rooted in halacha (Jewish law) and Torah tradition. It is one of the most widely used Torah Q&A resources in the French-speaking Jewish world.

Key Takeaways

TorahBox Question au Rav is a French-language "Ask the Rabbi" service providing halachic and Torah guidance online.
It follows a tradition rooted in the concept of she'elat chacham (asking a wise Torah scholar) that is fundamental to Jewish practice.
The Torah itself commands us to seek rabbinic guidance: "וְשָׁאַלְתָּ... וְהִגִּידוּ לְךָ" — "And you shall ask... and they shall tell you" [Deuteronomy 17:9].
Submitting questions to a rabbi is not just permitted but obligatory in many halachic situations.
The service makes Torah knowledge accessible to French-speaking Jews worldwide.

The Torah Basis for "Asking the Rabbi"

The Biblical Commandment

The Torah explicitly establishes the institution of asking qualified scholars for guidance:

"וּבָאתָ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם וְאֶל־הַשֹּׁפֵט... וְשָׁאַלְתָּ" "And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge... and you shall inquire" [Deuteronomy 17:9]

Rambam (Maimonides) codifies this as one of the foundations of the Torah transmission system — every generation must have qualified decisors (poskim) whom the people can consult [Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Mamrim 1:1].

The Talmudic Principle

The Talmud teaches:

"עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב" — "Make for yourself a rabbi" [Avot 1:6, attributed to Yehoshua ben Perachya]

This is understood not merely as advice, but as a practical necessity — every Jew should have a consistent rabbinic authority to consult for guidance.

Why Asking a Rabbi Is So Important

Avoiding Halachic Error

The Shulchan Aruch (the primary code of Jewish law by Rabbi Yosef Karo) rules on thousands of practical matters, but the application of halacha to specific situations requires a trained scholar. The Talmud warns:

"כָּל הַמּוֹרֶה הֲלָכָה בִּפְנֵי רַבּוֹ חַיָּב מִיתָה" — "One who rules on halacha in front of his rabbi deserves death" [Eruvin 63a]

This teaches the gravity of halachic decision-making and why one should not rule for oneself without proper knowledge.

The Value of Accessible Torah Guidance

Platforms like TorahBox's Question au Rav serve a vital communal function by:

Making rabbinic guidance accessible to Jews who may not have a local Orthodox community
Providing answers in French, making Torah accessible to Sephardic and Ashkenazic French-speaking communities
Covering topics from Shabbat and kashrut to family purity (taharat hamishpacha) and lifecycle events

How to Use Such a Service Wisely

It Is a Starting Point, Not a Replacement

Online rabbinic services are valuable, but classical poskim emphasize that:

Personal circumstances matter — a rabbi answering online cannot always know all the relevant details of your situation
For serious questions (medical, marital, financial with halachic implications), an in-person consultation is strongly preferred
The Talmud teaches "הוי מתון בדין" — "Be deliberate in judgment" [Avot 1:1], meaning complex matters deserve careful personal attention

Types of Questions Typically Addressed

On platforms like TorahBox, rabbis typically address:

🕯️ Shabbat & Holidays — permitted and forbidden activities
🥩 Kashrut — kosher food laws and practical scenarios
👨‍👩‍👧 Family Life — marriage, mourning, lifecycle events
🙏 Prayer & Blessings — correct practice and missed prayers
💼 Business Ethics — choshen mishpat (financial halacha)

For personal halachic guidance on any specific matter, always consult your local rabbi or posek, as individual circumstances greatly affect the ruling.