Author S Goldstein

Question: [Sunday, 24th Tishreiy, 5784] Due to the major terrorist attacks and barrage of missiles that have occurred throughout in Israel over Shabbos I am receiving WhatsApp messages from relatives in the USA who are worried sick and asking as to my well-being and as to that of my family. […]

May one leave the news playing on a radio, phone, or computer, into Shabbos during times of war?[1] The general rule: Some Poskim[2] rule that there involves no prohibition in leaving the radio on into Shabbos, or having a timer activate it on Shabbos. However the majority of Poskim[3] have […]

What to do if you hear an air raid siren in the middle of Shemoneh Esrei Question: I live in Israel and was in middle of Davening Shemoneh Esrei when an air raid siren went off. I immediately ran to the closest bomb shelter but was unsure what to do […]

The vengeance of a murder victim in Halacha: The unprecedented, horrific and harrowing pogrom on Simchas Torah, which has left over 1000 Jewish men women and children savagely murdered in cold blood by a barbaric inhumane enemy, has rightfully boiled the blood of anger and vengeance within Jews in the […]

Question: I heard that it’s forbidden or discouraged for one to wear clothing that was worn in the past by a gentile? Is this true? I would like to buy some secondhand clothing from a thrift shop which receives its clothing mainly from a Gentile clientele.   Answer:               There is […]

Endangering one’s life in order to help save the life of another: The Torah commands us not to stand idle while a fellow Jews blood is being spilled, as the verse states “Lo Samod Al Dam Reiacha.” Rather, one must do all in his capability to save the person’s life. […]

Question: I am livid over the news that has come out of Israel during Simchas Torah. I feel I need to do something to help and assist our brethren in Israel who are fighting for their very existence. As much as I want to do this to help for the […]

Should one eat Mezonos and say the blessing of Leisheiv Basukkah after shaking Lulav?[1] Some Chassidim are particular, based on an acclaimed oral[2] statement of the Rebbe to a certain individual Chassid during the Yom Tov meals, to eat a Kibeitza of Mezonos and say Leisheiv Basukkah after shaking the […]

Question: I have a job working in a grocery shop during the year and was asked to come in during Chol Hamoed, which is a regular workday. May I do so?   Answer:               Yes. It is permitted for you to continue to work as normal in a grocery shop over […]

Chapter 1: Melacha on Chol Hamoed 1. The importance of guarding the Moed: The Sages stated that one who belittles the Moed does not have a portion in the world to come and it is considered as if he has served idols. Hence, one must be very careful in the […]

The purpose of Chol Hamoed: Torah learning: The entire purpose of Chol Hamoed is for the sake of the Jewish people dedicating themselves towards Torah learning. Throughout the year we are involved in mundane work in efforts to sustain our family and contribute to society. The week of Chol Hamoed […]

Question: When Yom Tov falls on Shabbos and Erev Sukkos is Erev Shabbos, when is one to bind the Lulav together, on Erev Yom Tov, Erev Shabbos, or keep them in the fridge and bind them Motzei Shabbos or Sunday morning?   Answer:               According to Chabad custom, it is to […]

Question: In the past I heard that if a person is careful to fulfill the mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukkah then this is a Segula for Shalom Bayis. Is this accurate?   Answer:               Yes, there is a source for this statement in the Yifei Laleiv who writes as follows: […]

Question: I do not have enough outdoor space to build a sukkah and will have to rely on people’s sukkah in the neighborhood. My question is whether I need to ask permission to enter their sukkah. Obviously if I plan on eating a meal with my family in their sukkah […]

Question: I am on a psychiatric pill which is required to be taken every single day at the same exact time for it to properly work. This is my first Yom Kippur on the pill and I would like to know what I am supposed to do on Yom Kippur […]

Question: I was told that this year since Sukkos falls on Shabbos, we are therefore lenient in various laws of the Daled Minim, including that this year we do not have to be careful that the middle leaf, known as the Tiyomes, be completely closed on its top. Is this […]

Question: I met an individual who told me that he refuses to do Kaparos on chickens because he feels that the way it is done is cruel to the chickens, being that amongst other factors the slaughtering takes place in view of all the other chickens, and this causes unnecessary […]

Question: Our Baal Tokeai did not make a really noticeable break between the Shevarim and Terua in the set of Tashrat, in the blowing that follows the reading of the Torah? Were these blows valid? To note, he claims that he did make a very slight break which perhaps us […]

Question: We are the only Orthodox family in our town and do not live near any Orthodox congregation for us to be able to do Hataras Nedarim. Can we do it amongst our family members, such as to have me the father and another two of my sons do the […]

Question: I know that in general it is forbidden for one to pray to God for his physical needs on Shabbos, and hence we don’t directly pray for the sick on Shabbos, and don’t pray for our livelihood. What about this year that Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, does this […]

Question: I am a woman and recently bought a Shofar which I have been blowing for myself throughout the month of Elul. Am I allowed to also blow on Rosh Hashanah on behalf of myself and others, if I’m not able to make it a shul.   Answer: Although it […]

Question: I have what many would consider an addiction to chocolate and I have chocolate every single day. The specific brand of chocolate that I eat all contain hazelnuts to some degree. In previous years from Rosh Hashanah until after Simchas Torah I would simply by the chocolate flavor that […]

Question: I bought myself a prepackaged Esrog yesterday and found it to have a really large pimple like bump towards its lower half. Other than that it is a beautiful, clean, and yellow expert which is large and properly shaped. Is my Esrog still kosher?   Answer:               Yes, your Esrog […]

Shabbos Mevarchim Tishrei:[1] No blessing before Musaf:[2] On the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah we do not bless the coming month despite this being the custom on every Shabbos that precedes Rosh Chodesh.[3] Tehillim:[4] The entire book of Tehillim is recited before Shacharis just as on any other Shabbos Mevarchim. Av […]

Question: I made a huge order of meat and chicken for the holiday season which was unable to all fit into my freezer so I asked my next-door neighbor if I can put some of my meat into their freezer to which they complied. They even came over to my […]

Selichos: A. On which days is Selichos recited?[1] Ashkenazim:[2] Selichos is recited for a minimum of four days prior to Rosh Hashanah.[3] Selichos is said starting from the Sunday [Motzei Shabbos, immediately after midnight[4]], of the week of, or the week prior to Rosh Hashanah. Being we need to say […]

Mezuzah on Store or office-Is a storefront or office obligated to have a Mezuzah and is a blessing to be recited?[1] Stores that are found in the marketplace are exempt from requiring a Mezuzah to be placed on their doorpost.[2] Temporary stores-Pop up shops, flee market, fare:[3] According to all […]

Question: Hi, I am in my later years and going on a Shidduch with an older man who became a Baal Teshuvah and was previously married to a Gentile woman with whom he had children. His children have since converted to orthodox Judaisim. I am wondering if I would require […]

Question: Is there any special order that should be followed when bathing the body? Answer:               Yes. When bathing one’s body one begins with washing his head, as the head is the king of all the limbs. One then washes his right hand first and only then proceeds to his left. […]

Question: I was reading my kids a bedtime story and accidentally fell asleep prior to Davening Maariv and woke up at five in the morning. May I still Daven Maariv?   Answer:               Since five in the morning in your locality is past Alos Hashachar but before sunrise, therefore you are […]

Question: I purchased a hand held lemon squeezer which is meant to squeeze fresh lemon juice from a lemon into salad? I know that on Shabbos it is permitted to squeeze juice directly into salad. My question is if I can use this handheld nonelectric lemon squeezer to do so? […]

The Rebbe’s position on smoking cigarettes:[1] Not to proclaim that it is prohibited to smoke: The Rebbe refused to personally come out with a proclamation or decree that smoking is forbidden according to Jewish law, and nor did he endorse such a proclamation by other rabbis. The Rebbe expressed several […]

Question: Someone in our neighborhood [a fellow Jew] publicized that they are selling their fridge. We contacted them and agreed upon the sale price although I explained to the seller that I don’t yet have the money to pay him and I will pay him the next month. He agreed […]

Question: I have a very demanding work schedule which often requires me to stay late at work and miss dinner at home. My wife is understanding but does not like the fact that on such nights I buy and eat dinner by my workplace and come home and not eat […]

Fleishig born eggs-Eggs found in a chicken after slaughtering:[1] While a chicken is alive, it is only permitted to eat eggs that are naturally laid by the chicken after the gestation period is complete. If, however, the egg was removed or knocked out of the live chicken, and was not […]

Question: My 10-year-old daughter won a raffle in her class for a very good quality metal thermos. There is a Keilim Mikveh right next door to her school building and she would like to know if she can Toivel it herself, or if she must give it to an adult […]

Fleishig eggs: A. Hardboiled eggs cooked with meat:[1] If an egg was cooked together with meat or poultry [i.e. Fleishig stew or Chulent] then the egg becomes Fleishig and it is forbidden to eat the egg with dairy. Furthermore, one must wait 6 hours after eating the egg prior to […]

Question: I am aware of the law and custom that when wishing someone farewell one should avoid using the term “Leich Beshalom” go with peace and should rather say “Leich Leshalom” go to peace. My question is regarding if one should also be careful in this when wishing their return […]

Accidentally ate a new fruit without saying Shehechiyanu-May Shehechiyanu still be said?[1] If one ate a new fruit without saying Shehechiyanu, then some Poskim[2] rule that Shehechiyanu may be said the next time he eats the fruit. Other Poskim[3], however, rule that Shehechiyanu may no longer be said and he […]

Question: Do I have to be careful to also cut my toenails on every Erev Shabbos, just as I cut my hand nails, and if so when do I have to cut them as I know we don’t cut both the hand and toenails on the same day?   Answer:               […]

Question: I have gentile friends and relatives and would like to know if there’s any issue with writing to them in the month of Elul the cordial blessing of Kesiva Vechasima Tova as we wish fellow Jews?   Answer:               Yes, you may do so, and so was done by the […]

Question: We are Gabaim of a Shul and have the following predicament: An individual donated an expensive Paroches to our Shul three years ago Leiluiy Nishmas for his father A”H, and now another shul member has donated a Paroches which is more expensive and nicer than the original one and […]

Question: I work as a merchant selling Mezuzos and Tefillin [i.e. Socher Stam]. The Parshiyos are supplied to me from various Sofrim which I choose. I was recently told by a customer that I should not be taking any Parshiyos of Tefillin and Mezuzos that are written by Bochurim being […]

Is a room or home to have a Mezuzah if both a Jew and gentile live there [i.e. gentile roommate or housemate]?[1] In general, a home of partners is obligated to have a Mezuzah. Thus, even if a home is occupied [owner/rented] by many people who share joint ownership or […]

Is the blessing of Shehechiyanu optional or obligatory?[1] The saying of the blessing of Shehechiyanu [over new fruits and joyous tidings[2]] is not obligatory and was instituted by the Sages as an optional blessing that one is allowed to say if he so feels, in those instances permitted by the […]

Question: [Thursday 19th Iyar 5780] I tend to daven sometimes in a Chassidishe Shteibel for Mincha where I believe their minhag is not to say tachanun by Mincha even on reg days, my question is if I should say tachanun quietly even though they don’t or should I follow the […]

May one cut his nails when Rosh Chodesh falls on Erev Shabbos?[1] Normally, one may[2] not cut their nails[3] on Rosh Chodesh.[4] However, when Rosh Chodesh falls on Erev Shabbos, some Poskim[5] rule it is permitted to cut the nails on Erev Shabbos Rosh Chodesh, and so is the implied […]

Question: I know that are not allowed to make money or do business on Shabbos. What do I do about my air B&B when I rent it out to Jewish families over Shabbos am I not allowed to charge them for their stay on Shabbos?   Answer:               There is no […]