Author S Goldstein

Question: [Monday, 9th Sivan 5783] We were a group of 10 during a meal, three of which did not wash but did eat other foods which require an after blessing. The other seven washed on bread, however the problem is that one of them already Bentched. So basically, my question […]

Question: [Sunday, 13th Tamuz, 5783] I have heard various conflicting things of the relationship between Balaam and Lavan with some saying that they were the same person and others saying that they were relatives and others saying that there is no connection. Can you clarify this matter? Answer: Indeed, in […]

May one use a strainer or straining spoon or straining pot on Shabbos:[1] A. Background laws: The prohibition to separate using a utensil:[2] One who separates through the use of a vessel, is Biblically liable for the Borer prohibition if the vessel is designated for Borer purposes, such as a […]

Question: [Monday, 8th Tamuz 5783] I heard mentioned in a Shiur on this week’s Parsha that the ash of the red heifer was placed on top of the water that was in the bucket. I was puzzled by this and showed the Rabbi that the verse explicitly states that the […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy Now! Halachos relating to a married couples bedroom 1. Which direction should the beds face and should one face upon sleeping?[1] From North to South:[2] Just as it is forbidden for one to face East or West when having a bowel […]

Davening Mincha past sunset:[1] The prayer of Mincha may be recited until evening.[2] It is disputed amongst Poskim as to the definition of “evening.” Some Poskim[3] rule it is permitted [even initially[4]] to Daven Mincha past sunset, up until Tzeis Hakochavim.[5] Other Poskim[6] rule one may not Daven Mincha past […]

 The saying of Yehalelu and Hodu Al Eretz when returning the Torah: A. The custom: Yehalelu:[1] The verse of Yehalelu[2] is recited by the Chazan when the Sefer Torah is being brought to the Aron. Hodu Al Eretz Veshamayim:[3] After the recital of Yehalelu, the congregation responds with the […]

The laws associated with a cemetery and visiting of a Kever-Summary   Introduction: This chapter will discuss all the details relevant towards grave visiting, including the times that one should and should not go, the people who should and should not go, the behavioral restrictions applicable at a gravesite, the […]

Spilling out all drawn water in the vicinity when a person passes away:[1] It is customary to spill out all the drawn water in the neighborhood in which the person passed away.[2] [Water of the neighborhood should be spilled even if a child, who is less than thirty days old, […]

The Nussach of Hallel: The language:[1] From the letter of the law, Hallel may be recited in any language. One fulfills his obligation even if he does not understand the language that he is reading. [Nevertheless, it is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar to recite Hallel in Lashon Hakodesh.[2]] Which verses […]

The obligation to recite Hallel on Rosh Chodesh:[1] On Rosh Chodesh one recites the abridged Hallel [i.e. half Hallel].[2] This applies for both a congregation and a person who is praying in private.[3] The paragraphs of Lo Lanu and Ahavti are skipped.[4] Obligation or custom: The recital of Hallel on […]

The definition of a Tinok Shenishba and the status of today’s non-religious Jews:[1] The concept of a Tinok Shenishba is recorded in the Talmud[2] and Rishonim[3], and is defined as a person who is an Apikores in his belief system or a Mumar in his Torah observance, but does not […]

Laws of Kibud Av Vaeim relevant to children who were adopted:[1] A. Is an adopted child obligated in the laws of Kibud Av Vaeim towards his adoptive parents?[2] A child who was adopted is not obligated in the scriptural Mitzvah of honoring and fearing his adoptive father and mother.[3] Nonetheless, […]

Purchase “From Rav’s Desk” Q&A’s 3 Volumes* *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Reddit Email Join Daily Halacha distribution list Sponsor an Episode Donate Question: [Monday, 9th Sivan 5783] I would like to know if there’s any issue with getting a cosmetic or […]

Tasting the Shabbos foods on Erev Shabbos: A. The law:[1] One is to taste the Shabbos foods on Erev Shabbos. Which foods:[2] It is proper to taste each and every dish of food. B. The reasons behind the custom: Check if needs spices or other additions:[3] The simple reason for […]

Fact or myth-Pouring liquids backwards:[1] A. The custom: Many of the populace are accustomed to not pour liquids backwards. Below we will discuss the details of this tradition, its sources, reasons, Halachic pushback’s, and whether its practice is to be encouraged or discouraged from being followed. B. Does it have […]

Communication and visitations-Staying in touch with one’s parents:[1] A. Living near one’s parents:[2] It is proper for one to live near his parents in order so one can properly honor them and help them with their needs. This especially applies once parents are old. Nonetheless, this is not necessarily an […]

Question: [Sunday, 15th Sivan, 5783] We were on a class field trip in the mountains the other day with our school and when it came time for lunch almost nobody bothered to wash their hands for the bread. They simply ate the bread through the bag claiming that when you’re […]

Tzoa-Davening and learning near feces and urine[1]: Summary of laws-Part 1 1. The Biblical prohibition:[2] It is Biblically forbidden for one to pray, say the Shema, or learn Torah, within the sight, or close proximity, of feces [i.e. Tzoa]. The source in scripture: This prohibition is derived from the verse […]

Question: [Thursday, 12th Sivan, 5783] On Yom Tov when we got up to the Shemoneh Esrei of Shacharis and needed to turn the pages in order to reach the Yom Tov Shemoneh Esrei, I absentmindedly turned to the Musaf Shemoneh Esrei of Yom Tov, and ended up praying the entire […]

Giving a massage on Shabbos:[1] Introduction: Giving a massage on Shabbos, although does not touch upon any biblical prohibition, contains several rabbinical regulations which are rooted in the general prohibition of giving medical treatment, and a prohibition against doing mundane activity known as Uvdin Dechol. The regulations and laws depends […]

Fact or myth-May one eat the ends of the bread/Challah or must one throw it out:[1] Many people are accustomed to cut off the ends of a loaf of bread and not to eat it.[2] Others, however, are not accustomed to avoid eating the ends of the bread, and on […]

Question: [Wednesday, 11th Sivan 5783] For several weeks we have been looking into leasing a certain apartment through a Frum broker and finally agreed to go through with the rental, sending the broker a message that we have decided to rent the apartment. He told us he would bring the […]

Question: [Tuesday, 10th Sivan, 5782] I am getting married next week and would like to use a special silver cup that is a family heirloom for the blessings that are said under the Chuppah. The cup was inherited from my great grandfather who was a Holocaust survivor and who himself […]

May stepsiblings[1] get married to each other:[2] There is no Halachic restriction against stepsiblings getting married to each other being that they have no biological relation.[3] Nonetheless, based on the writings of Rebbe Yehuda Hachassid, one should not do so.[4] [However, there is no issue with a person marrying the […]

Question: [Monday, 9th Sivan 5783] It is very common when placing an order by a restaurant, or even by a supermarket, to have it delivered by a Gentile delivery driver and worker. This is becoming even more common today with the Uber eat app, in which the uber driver picks […]

Speech-Honoring one’s parents through speech:[1] A. Speaking respectfully:[2] Included in the mitzvah of honoring one’s parents is to speak to them with respect. One is to speak with them in a soft and appeasing tone, as if one is talking to the king. Speaking to one’s parents in the third […]

Question: [Sunday, 8th Sivan, 5783] I just finished breakfast and was in a rush to catch the train to get to work, and I absentmindedly left my home without reciting Birchas Hamazon for my breakfast meal which included bread, even though I had intended to say it before I left. […]

Traveling to and from Israel after Shavuos in years that Parshiyos are not aligned:[1] In years that the first day of Shavuos falls on Erev Shabbos, then on Shabbos in Eretz Yisrael the weekly Parsha [i.e. Naso] is read, while the Diaspora differs the weekly Parsha and instead reads the […]

Question: [Wednesday, 4th Sivan 5783] I always immerse in a Mikveh on the afternoon of Erev Shabbos in preparation for Shabbos. Should one also do so in occurrences [such as this year’s Shavuos], when Yom Tov falls on Erev Shabbos, and hence one would be immersing on the afternoon of […]

Question: [Sunday, 24th Nisan, 5782] When is Yizkor to be said in years that the second day of Shavuos falls on Shabbos? On Shabbos? On Friday, the first day of Chag as said in Israel? Or not at all? Answer: On Shabbos. Yizkor is customarily recited [in the diaspora] on […]

Question: [Monday, 2nd Sivan 5783] I am wondering regarding what is the correct Nussach to say in Lecha Dodi in Israel this Friday night. Should we say Berina being that it is no longer Yom Tov, or should we say Besimcha being that we are coming off the joy of […]

Shavuos that falls on Erev Shabbos-Laws and reminders: A. Thursday-Erev Shavuos: Perform Eruv Tavshilin. Light a 24 hour candle on Erev Shavuos to use to light candles on Friday. B. Friday-Shavuos day: When to eat the Yom Tov meal:[1] When Yom Tov falls on Erev Shabbos one is to start […]

Question: [Sunday, 30th Iyar, 5783] My four-year-old child recently passed away r”l from a prolonged medical condition. I am hearing conflicting things from different Rabbis who came to me during Shiva regarding how long the Kaddish is to be recited for. Some told me not to say Kaddish at all, […]

Question: [Thursday, 27th Iyar, 5783] Is there any allowance to swim on Yom Tov. We have a pool in our backyard and for some reason while our family was accustomed not to swim on Shabbos we were accustomed to swim on Yom Tov. Is this Halachically accurate, and is there […]

Av Harachaim on Shabbos Mivarchim Sivan and on Shabbos before Shavuos:[1] Av Harachamim is recited on Shabbos Mivarchim Sivan.[2] Saying Av Harachamim if a Baal Bris or Chasan is in Shul, and by Shabbos before Shavuos:[3]  Even in the event that a Bris is taking place in Shul [or if […]

Donate Subscribe for Daily Email Thursday, 27th Iyar 5783/May 18, 2023 Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on telegram Telegram Share on email Email Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on print Print Purchase Sefer Parshas Bamidbar Chamishi The Levite census, their jobs, leaders, and area of encampment: […]

Question: [Wednesday, 26th Iyar 5783] My children found a small adult bike in good condition lingering in the bushes in a park in the local neighborhood. At first they just left it there but after coming back to the park three days later, the bike was still there, so they […]

Drinking warm water:[1] [Talmud/Shulchan Aruch Harav/Achronim] One is to never drink warm water in a metal vessel due to that they damage the body[2], unless one places something into it which is commonly placed into beverages, such as herbs, or spices, or roots of good scenting plants [i.e. Besamim] and […]

Donate Subscribe for Daily Email Wednesday, 26th Iyar 5783/May 17, 2023 Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on telegram Telegram Share on email Email Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on print Print Purchase Sefer Parshas Bamidbar Revi’i The descendants of Aaron: The following are the offspring of […]

Donate Subscribe for Daily Email Tuesday, 25th Iyar 5783/May 16, 2023 Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on telegram Telegram Share on email Email Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on print Print Purchase Sefer Parshas Bamidbar Shelishi Hashem told Moshe that the following is the order that […]

Question: [Tuesday, 25th Iyar 5783] I am a middle aged woman engaged to a middle-aged man who is a Baal Teshuvah and comes from a very interesting background. His grandparents were Orthodox Jews in the lower East side of Manhattan and were actually acquainted with Rav Moshe Feinstein when they […]

Honoring one’s parents in one’s thought & feelings:[1] Included in the mitzvah to honor one’s parents are matters relating to thought, speech, and action. The mitzvah of honor affects how one should think of one’s parents, how one should speak of one’s parents and to ones parents, and the matters […]

Donate Subscribe for Daily Email Monday, 24th Iyar 5783/May 15, 2023 Share on whatsapp WhatsApp Share on telegram Telegram Share on email Email Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on print Print Purchase Sefer Parshas Bamidbar Sheiyni The census of men in the Twelve tribes above age […]

Question: [Monday, 24th Iyar 5783] We are going on a camping trip with our students from school and would like to know if it is at all possible to use the public grills that will be found in our camping site. We plan on bringing our own coals, and we […]

Question: [Sunday, 23rd Iyar, 5783] I received the last Aliyah of Shevi’i this past Shabbos and was wondering according to our custom for the Olah to also recite Chazak Chazak Vinischazeik if I should say it together with the congregation or together with the Baal Korei? I saw that in […]