Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Erev Yom Kippur Kaparos Buy two 24-hour candles. One for the shul for married men and one for the house for Havdala. Davening: No Tachanun/Avinu Malkeinu/Mizmor Lesoda in Shacharis No Avinu Malkeinu even if falls on Erev Shabbos Receive Lekach Ask forgiveness from people that you hurt Mitzvah to eat. […]

Should Chassidim cry in their Rosh Hashanah prayers? Question: In some congregations I see that a lot of people cry during their prayer of the high holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I would like to know what the Chabad perspective is on the matter, as I have not really […]

 Laws relevant to years that Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos: 1. Erev Rosh Hashanah: A. Blowing Shofar Erev Shabbos:[1]   One does not blow the Shofar on Erev Rosh Hashanah.[2] This applies beginning from the night of Erev Rosh Hashanah [the night of the 29th of Elul].[3] This applies […]

Reading Tikkunei Zohar in Chodesh Elul: Some have a custom to read the Tikkunei Zohar during Elul, one each of the 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur.[1] They begin the reading on Rosh Chodesh Elul and complete it on Yom Kippur.[2] Some prints of Tikkunei Zohar contain […]

Lending a rented or borrowed item to another:[1] *Important note: In all cases that the owner explicitly stated his desire vis a vis the item being used by another person, one must obey those desires, whatever they may be. The following Halacha refers to a case that no preconditions or […]

Is the Mitzvah to honor one’s parents considered a Mitzvah between man and G-d [i.e. Bein Adam Lamakom] or between man and his fellow [i.e. Bein Adam Lechaveiro]?[1] Some Poskim[2] learn that the mitzvot honor one’s parents is a Mitzvah between man and G-d and not between man and his […]

Tachanun on day of Hachnasas Sefer Torah Hakelali Leyaldei Yisrael Question: Should Tachanun be recited in Chabad shuls in Eretz Yisrael on the day of the Hachansas Sefer Torah Hakelali Liyaldei Yisrael. The actual celebration and Hachnsa will take place by the Kosel Hamaravi, however, it will be attended by […]

Asher Yatzar-Concentration and meaning Lack of concentration possibly invalidates the blessing:[1] If one does not understand the words of a blessing or thinks of other matters while reciting it, according to some opinions it is considered as if he did not recite the blessing at all and is hence required […]

Traveling On Erev Shabbos:[1] One must reach his Shabbos destination prior to 4 hours and 48 minutes[2] [see footnote] having passed from the beginning of day.[3] [See Q&A] This is due to concern that if he arrives later than the above time there will not be enough time to prepare […]

Importance of learning Torah at night:[1] It is a Biblical Mitzvah and command to learn Torah both by day and night.[2] Furthermore, one must be careful in his Torah study at night even more than during the day, and one who is not careful in this, his punishment is great.[3] […]

  Mourning customs applicable on Motzei Tisha B’av  [Tenth of Av] when falls on Thursday night-Friday:[1] A. The general law in a regular year: [From the letter of the law] it is permitted for one to get a haircut and do laundry [and end all other mourning customs such as […]

Yichud with a woman and her mother/daughter in-law:[1] It is permitted to be in Yichud with a woman and her mother/daughter in-law.[2] [This refers to her husband’s mother, her son’s wife.[3] It is permitted to be in Yichud with such a pair even at night.[4] This allowance applies even if […]

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Avoiding dangerous activity during the three weeks: From the laws which warn against hitting a child[1], or walking during certain times of the day[2], we learn that there is an element of danger involved during the period of the three […]

If one is flying on a fast day and is extending or hastening the sunset, when is he to break his fast? He is to break his fast as soon as Tzeis Hakochavim arrives in the area that he is currently in. Thus, if he flew from the U.S. to […]

Question: [Motzei Shabbos 7th Elul 5781] This Motzei Shabbos is already six days past the Molad, but has yet to reach seven days past the Molad. Now, I know that in general we are careful to wait until the 7th to recite Kiddush Levana, although my question is whether one […]

Question: [Sunday, 3rd Tammuz, 5781] Should one recite Tachanun on the day of Gimmel Tamuz? Answer: Those who feel an abundance of joy on this day in commemoration of the release of the previous Rebbe from a decree of “opposite of life,” may omit the saying of Tachanun, as is […]

May the straps of the Tefillin that are wrapped around the arm touch each other or overlap? Touching on sides: The wrapping of the Tefillin straps around the forearm [between the bicep/upper arm, and the wrist] is done due to custom, and not due to a Halachic requirement.[1] Accordingly, there […]

Cleaning, shining, and polishing shoes on Shabbos:[1] A. Background of prohibitions: The act of cleaning, shining, or polishing shoes on Shabbos may touch upon one of several prohibitions: The tanning prohibition by leather shoes:[2] It is Biblically forbidden to tan new leather on Shabbos.[3] Softening the new leather and oiling […]

Making a Tattoo:[1] The verse[2] states “And the writing of a tattoo you shall not place on yourselves.” From here it is learned that it is Biblically forbidden to make a Tattoo on one’s skin.[3] One who does so transgresses the above negative command, and according to some Poskim[4], also […]