Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Question: [Wednesday, 24th Teves 5783] A big argument broke out in our Shul regarding a number of different matters in which some members are upset by how things are being run by the management and Gabaim. Tempers flared, voices were raised, as were a few hands, and it was really […]

Question: [Monday, 23rd eves, 5783] I know an Avel cannot get an Aliyah or read from the Torah during Shiva. May he then say the half Kaddish after Kerias Hatorah, or is he not to do so?   Answer: This matter is disputed amongst Poskim, and the Chabad custom is […]

Ayin Hara:[1] A. Introduction: Torah source or superstition? The concept of an evil eye is discussed in many areas of Jewish literature, including the Talmud[2], Midrash[3], and Shulchan Aruch[4], and is a real power that can affect another person negatively. In fact, the Talmudic Sage, Rav, stated that he visited […]

Question: [Sunday, 22nd Teves, 5783] I Baruch Hashem was blessed with Tishe Kavim of Dibbur [i.e. I talk a lot] and have been often told that Hashem gives us a limited amount of words to speak so I should save some up for my later years. Is there any truth […]

Respecting the Tefillin-Part 2-How to carry the Tefillin: One is required to act in a respectful way while wearing Tefillin, and in the presence of Tefillin even when they are not being worn. There exists several laws relating to this matter, including whether one may talk while wearing the Tefillin, […]

Question: [Thursday, 19th Teves 5783] How important is it to sing on Shabbos by the Shabbos table and does Chassidus talk about its importance? Answer: The Alter Rebbe in Torah Or discusses the importance and value of singing on Shabbos in order to bring oneself to Kelos Hanefesh. In his […]

On Shabbos, may one place hot food on a plate that contains food or liquid? Whenever one’s plate contains food on it, whether a solid or liquid, and one desires to place on it hot food, the question of Bishul [the prohibition of cooking food on Shabbos] arises. In certain […]

Question: [Wednesday, 18th Teves 5783] The other day I saw an individual remove his plastic box from his Shel Yad Tefillin prior to the blessing and then put it back on after the wrapping. Is there any reasons or source for doing so? I never take my box off the […]

Saying the names of the angels:[1] The Arizal was very careful to not verbalize the names of angels and considered it a prohibition. He abstained from mentioning even those names of angels which are written in Sefarim [and are known to all]. He was particular in this even when he […]

Question: [Tuesday, 17th Teves 5783] We have only girls and my wife is two months pregnant, may we still Daven for it to be a boy? Answer:               No. After 40 days from conception you may only Daven for the physical and spiritual health of the child, and not for its […]

Baking fish and meat in the same oven-Part 2-One after the other:[1] No residue:[2] It is permitted to bake fish in an oven in which one previously baked meat, and it is permitted to bake meat in an oven in which one previously baked fish, so long as the oven […]

Question: [Monday, 16th Teves, 5783] Our upstairs neighbors are a group of dorm students who are causing us to lose our sleep and our sanity. They blast music, stomp the floor, scream, at all hours of the night. We have tried in every way possible to speak with them and […]

Baking fish and meat in the same oven:[1] A. Simultaneously:[2] It is forbidden to bake fish and meat in the same oven, simultaneously.[3] Covered fish/meat: If the fish and meat are both hermetically covered in a way that vapor is not released during the baking, then everything remains permitted.[4] Furthermore, […]

Question: [Sunday, 15th Teves, 5783] The Rebbe and other Gedolei Yisrael have stated that we are found in the times of Ikvasa Demishicha and by the threshold of Yemos Hamoshiach. How is it possible to believe such a thing when so much suffering and tragedies still occur? Doesn’t this prove […]

Respecting the Tefillin-Part 1-Showing respect to one who is wearing Tefillin: One is required to act in a respectful way while wearing Tefillin, and in the presence of Tefillin even when they are not being worn. There exists several laws relating to this matter, including whether one may talk while […]

Making an overhand knot and opening such knots on Shabbos:[1] A. Background: Two of the 39 prohibited Shabbos Melachos is Kosher and Matir, which is a prohibition against tying and untying knots on Shabbos.[2] In certain cases, they tying or untying of a knot is under Biblical prohibition, while in […]

Question: [Thursday, 5th Teves 5783] I was learning from a Sefer on Shabbos and needed a clip to help hold down the pages of my book so it does not flip shut. My wife suggested that I take a laundry clip from the laundry line to use for this purpose. […]

Question: [Wednesday, 11th Teves 5783] Must a pool have a fence surrounding it? We own an outdoor pool in our summer home which we also use to rent out as an air B&B and it does not have a fence surrounding it. While we specifically inform all of our guests […]

Public decorum according to Halacha-Performing appalling acts in front of other people:[1] [It is forbidden to perform an appalling act in front of another person, and one who does so will in the future be brought to judgment over it], as the verse in the end of Koheles[2] states “[Ki […]

Question: [Monday, 9th Teves, 5783] It often happens that we do not yet have a Minyan when the Chazan begins Rebbe Yishmael, prior to Hodu, and then a tenth man arrives right before Kaddish, or we call 10th man right before Kaddish, and then right away say Kaddish. Someone however […]

Question: [Sunday, 8th Teves, 5783] This past Thursday, in the swearing in of the new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, he opened his speech on the podium with the blessing of Shehechiyanu, with God’s name. My question is whether it was permitted for him to do so and if so if […]

Sitting on a box/bench/bed that contains Sefarim: Some Poskim[1] rule it is forbidden to sit on a box that contains Sefarim inside.[2] [The same would apply to a bed or bench that opens up and contains Sefarim stored inside.] This applies even if the Sefarim are wrapped in many coverings, […]

Question: [Wednesday, 4th Teves 5783] Chassidim in general and Chabad Chassidim in particular have accepted the rulings of the Shulchan Aruch Harav and use it as their main source of study of Jewish law. What is our perspective regarding the Mishneh Berurah, which is the most popular Halacha Sefer studied […]

Question: [Wednesday, 3rd Teves 5783] I was recently told that if a baby is found abandoned without any records of his identity, then the determination of his identity, whether Jew or Gentile is determined by the identity of the majority of the people in the area. Is this correct? Answer:               […]

Olives-The restrictions in eating olives due to fear of memory loss:[1] One who is accustomed[2] to eating olives, forgets his learning.[3] It can cause one to forget his learning of the past 70 years.[4] Pickled versus raw olives: Some Poskim[5] rule that this worry applies only to raw olives over […]

Question: [Monday, 2nd Teves, 5783] Is it necessary for the Chazan take three steps back and forwards before Chazaras Hashatz as we all do prior to starting our private Shemoneh Esrei? I heard that it is not neccessary, but always see all the Chazzanim doing it.   Answer: In the […]

Question: [Sunday, 1st Teves, 5783] We were away for Shabbos and will be returning home right after Shabbos. Where should we light the candles, when we arrive home, or by our current location before we leave? Answer: If you will not arrive back home late, then you should delay lighting […]

Lighting candles by both entrances if one who has two entrances to his home:[1] A courtyard [or house[2]] that has two opening [to the public] from two different directions[3] is required to have a Menorah lit by both entrances.[4] One Menorah is lit with a blessing while the second is […]

Shabbos Chanukah[1] This chapter is a compilation of laws relating to Shabbos Chanukah that have been gathered from all the chapters of the book. Further details of the particular laws can be found in their main subject in the relevant chapter. Mincha Erev Shabbos?[2] Mincha is prayed [early] on Erev […]

Shabbos Chanukah[1] 1. Mincha Erev Shabbos?[2] Mincha is prayed [early] on Erev Shabbos, prior to lighting the Chanukah candles.[3] [In a time of need, however, one may light the candles prior to Mincha.[4] If one is unable to Daven Mincha with a Minyan prior to candle lighting, it is better […]

Eating and doing Melacha before candle lighting:[1] When the time of lighting Chanukah candles arrives [each in accordance to their custom[2]] it remains forbidden to eat a meal, do work, or even learn Torah, until the candles are lit.[3] Half hour prior to candle lighting: Some Poskim[4] rule one is […]

Question: [Wednesday, 27th Kisleiv 5783] After lighting the menorah, I noticed that it was a little too close to the doorpost, and the flame can cause the wood door post to catch fire, so I moved the menorah which was on a stool a few inches away from the doorpost. […]

Question: [Tuesday, 26th Kisleiv, 5783] Is it true that all the holidays will be nullified in the future era except for Chanukah and Purim? Is there a source for this? Answer: The Sages state that in the future era, all the Holidays will be nullified with exception to Purim and […]

Where are students who dorm [i.e. Yeshiva Bochurim, seminary girls, college students, soldiers on base] to light the Chanukah candles-In their dorm room, or dining room?[1] A. Background: Their lighting obligation:[2] Bochurim [single Yeshiva students, as well as Bochurot, single girls] who live in Yeshiva [or seminary] do not fulfill […]

Question: [Monday, 25h Kisleiv, 5783] I run a store which works late hours and wanted to know if I can fulfill my obligation of lighting candles by lighting candles in the store such as in my office where I spend a lot of my time during the day at work? […]

Question: [Sunday, 24th Kisleiv, 5783] I was wondering what is the law if I will be going on Mivtzaim to help other Jews light Chanukah candles, and in some cases I will need to say the blessings for them. Number one, is it permitted for me to say the blessing […]

Question: [Thursday, 14th Kisleiv 5783] I am currently in Israel and have a gentile employee in the United States and wanted to know if it is permitted for me to converse with him after Shabbos is over for me in Israel, but while it is still Shabbos in the US? […]

Question: [Wednesday, 20th Kisleiv 5783] I came a little late for a Seuda and there were no more whole loaves available, as they were all broken into. Is there any preference regarding which of the broken loaves I say Hamotzi over such as a small broken loaf versus a large […]

Question: [Tuesday, 19th Kisleiv, 5783] I tried to keep up with the Daf Yomi and daily Rambam, but often due to time constraints and due to simple lacking of Talmudic skills it can happen that I don’t understand anything that I read on the Daf or Rambam, or understand it […]

If one is traveling overnight [i.e. plane, car] what is he to do about lighting Chanukah candles?[1] A. Background Halachos: Relying on one’s family’s lighting:[2] One who is staying as a guest in another person’s home during Chanukah, is not obligated to light candles if his wife [or other family […]

Question: [Tuesday, 22nd Kisleiv 5781] According to the Chabad custom, when should we initially light the candles? I’ve heard so many different things such as immediately after sunset or anytime between sunset and nightfall or immediately before nightfall or 10 minutes after nightfall. Which one is correct?   Answer: According […]

Question: [Sunday, 10th Kisleiv, 5783] Is it possible for angels to sin? I am a bit confused about the subject as everyone always says that angels can’t sin and that’s why they are called angels and therefore they do not even have freedom of choice. This is the basic difference […]

Question: [Thursday, 14th Kisleiv 5783] I have a relative who works in investments and has offered members of our family a great financial opportunity to invest in a string of nursing homes which we hope will bring in a nice income. However, when I was discussing this with a friend […]

Measuring on Shabbos or Yom Tov for the sake of a Mitzvah & Shiureiy Mitzvah:[1] Regarding Shabbos the Poskim[2] rule that it is permitted to measure on Shabbos a Mitzvah measurement [i.e. Medida Shel Mitzvah].[3] However, regarding Yom Tov the Poskim[4] rule that is that it is forbidden to measure […]

Giving Tzedaka at night:[1] A. The law: Based on Kabbalah, one is to avoid giving charity at night [until midnight, if he is able to give the charity during daytime].[2] [However, from the letter of the law it is certainly permitted to do so, and it is not considered a […]

Question: [Tuesday, 12th Kisleiv, 5783] I was wearing my Tefillin with my front straps of the Shel Rosh tucked into my Gartel and someone came over to me and said that it is not our custom in Chabad to do so. Is this accurate, and if so then what do […]

Katlanis-Remarrying after two or more deaths of previous spouses r”l:[1] Widow: A woman who became widowed twice [was married or Halachically engaged/Mekudeshes twice, and each of her husbands passed away during the marriage, or after the Kiddushin before the Nessuin[2]] is not to remarry a third time as she is […]

Question: [Monday, 11th Kisleiv, 5783] I was listening to a very popular radio show which features a very well-known and respected Rav and leading Posek who answers questions from listeners on the radio. One of the listeners asked him if there’s any source for the custom of some Jews to […]

May one sit by the corner of a table-and does it affect your chances of getting married? Many of the populace are accustomed for single men and women not to sit by the corner of a table as doing so prevents one from finding a Zivug.[1] There is no known […]

Question: [Sunday, 10th Kisleiv, 5783] I was asked to switch the Chazan by Yishtabach, and I accidentally already finished Pesukei Dezimra and said Yishtabach by the time it came time for me to switch when the Chazan for Pesukei Dezimra reached Yishtabach. What am I to do? Answer: In such […]

Passing a baby over a table: Many of the populace are accustomed not to pass a child over a table.[1] There is no known source for this custom in any Jewish literature, and it certainly does not derive from the Talmud or Poskim.[2] The Halachic debate: Some Poskim[3] would negate […]