Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

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 […]

Measuring on Shabbos:[1] The prohibition:[2] It is forbidden to measure [or weigh[3]] anything on Shabbos [or Yom Tov[4]].[5] This applies whether with one’s hands or with a measuring tape [or with a vessel[6]].[7] This applies whether for business or personal related purposes.[8] [This applies whether one uses a mechanical or […]

Question: [Thursday, 7th Kisleiv 5783] I borrowed an item from an individual and will be seeing them on Shabbos. May I return the item to them on Shabbos? Answer: You may only return a borrowed item on Shabbos if the individual has a use for the item on Shabbos. If […]

Dog owning prohibitions and restrictions:[1] A. The prohibition against owning a dangerous or intimidating dog:[2] It is [Biblically[3]] forbidden for one to raise a dangerous or vicious dog. [One who does so transgresses both a Biblical positive and negative command which obligates one to get rid of safety hazards.[4]] The […]

Question: [Wednesday, 6th Kisleiv 5783] Is the earliest time for Davening Mincha Gedola calculated as 30 minutes past midday, or as Shaos Zemaniyos. I am asking because I noticed in the calendar that they calculate Mincha Gedola as 30 minutes past midday throughout the year, and it does not change. […]

Married women covering their hair even when alone at home:[1] Some Poskim[2] rule that, from the letter of the law, a married woman is not required to cover her hair in the privacy of her home or room when no one else is around.[3] [According to this opinion, she may […]

Sleeping with versus without socks: A. The Halachic issue of removing the socks and revealing the feet:[1] Communities of people that never reveal the feet:[2] (In those areas that it is not common to ever walk with revealed feet, even in the summer, they must be careful to always have […]

Question: [Sunday, 3rd Kisleiv, 5783] In response to your recent article on the subject of avoiding drinking wine that was seen by Gentile, does this apply even to wine that is inside a kiddush cup? As it was witnessed by the Rebbe by Kos Shel Bracha that he poured wine […]

The significance of 12 years of age: When a girl turns 12 years of age she becomes Biblically obligated in Torah and Mitzvos.[1] Until that age she is considered a Ketana, and is Biblically exempt from keeping Mitzvos.   The completion of the entrance of the G-dly soul into the […]

Question: [Thursday, 30th MarCheshvan 5783] The kitchen department of our learning institution which contains a dormitory just purchased a warming cabinet which is meant to store food after it is already cooked so it stays warm. I would like to know if there’s any issue with us using this on […]

Question: [Wednesday, 29th MarCheshvan 5783] I am the Gabbaiy of a Shul and I have the following unusual question. One of the congregants in our synagogue is in a year’s long financial dispute with our set Baal Korei, in which a lot of bad blood has been created between them. […]

Are the souls of the dead aware of what’s happening below in this world? A. Sources which imply that the dead are unaware of the happenings of below: Koheles and Rebbe Yonason in Brachos: It states in the verse in Koheles[1] that “Ein Hameisim Yodim Meuma/the dead know nothing.” The […]

Cleaning the table before Birchas Hamazon-what is to remain-Full article?[1] A. Slices and crumbs of bread: Not to finish all the bread during the meal:[2] Whoever does not leave some bread on his table [throughout the meal[3]] will never see a sign of blessing [and doing so can cause poverty[4]].[5] […]

Question: [Monday, 27th MarCheshvan, 5783] Is there any prohibition involved in entering a Mosque? To explain the context, we are going on a trip to a foreign country which has a Muslim majority and some of the tourist sites include mosques, and I would like to know if there’s any […]

Bringing or leaving a loaf of bread on the table by Birchas Hamazon: Not to bring a loaf of bread to the table for Birchas Hamazon:[1] [Although it is proper to have bread remain on the table while saying Birchas Hamazon, nevertheless even] if there is no bread remaining on […]

Question: [Sunday, 26th Marcheshvan, 5783] What is the source and reason for dipping one’s bread into salt three times after one says Hamotzi, prior to eating from it after the blessing, and does this apply only on Shabbos or even during the week?   Answer: According to Kabbalah, as recorded […]

Leaving bread on the table until after Birchas Hamazon & cleaning the crumbs before Bentching:[1] Not to finish all the bread during the meal:[2] Whoever does not leave some bread on his table [throughout the meal[3]] will never see a sign of blessing [and doing so can cause poverty[4]].[5] [Accordingly […]

1. Question: [Thursday, 23rd MarCheshvan 5783] I would like to know if my and my 2nd wife’s son who is our firstborn is eligible to receive a double portion as the Torah dictates if he was born after I had a daughter from a previous marriage? Answer: He is not […]

Picking fruits from under a tree on Shabbos:[1] All fruits which have fallen off a tree on Shabbos are forbidden to be eaten until after Shabbos[2] and are therefore Muktzah.[3] Furthermore, even if there is doubt as to if the fruits fell on Shabbos or beforehand it is forbidden.[4] [Accordingly, […]

Question: [Wednesday, 22nd MarCheshvan 5783] I’m writing a kosher Jewish will, and would like to know if my firstborn son is eligible to receive a double portion as the Torah dictates if he was born through C-section and not natural birth? Answer: A firstborn son who was born through C-section […]

Using a pot that has not been used for 30 days:[1] One should not eat food that was cooked in a pot that had not been used for cooking for 30 days.[2] However, the world is not careful in this matter.[3] [Practically, the danger is only applicable if one did […]

Yayin Nesech-The status of wine that a gentile or non-Frum Jew looked at?[1] A. Halacha-Letter of the law:[2] From the letter of the law, wine can only become potentially forbidden due to contact with a Gentile [i.e. Yayin Nesech or Stam Yayin] if the Gentile comes into physical contact with […]

Question: [Monday, 20th MarCheshvan, 5783] Someone invited me to his home to celebrate his Bris. At first I laughed at him and thought he was joking as he had a Bris decades ago, but he said that he was serious and that he has a family custom to celebrate each […]

Halachic rulings and customs of the Rebbe Rashab: The Rebbe Rashab was greatly G-d-fearing, and had many stringencies and Hiddurim which he kept in Jewish law, many of which have become classic Chabad custom and practice. The following is a partial list: A. Learning Halacha:[1] The Rebbe Rashab writes that […]

Question: [Sunday, 19th Marcheshvan, 5783] Which blessing should be recited over bread croutons Mezonos or Hamotzi? Is there any difference whether I will be eating it in a salad or soup?   Answer: All store bought bread croutons are Mezonos due to one of several reasons [1) either due to […]

 Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo:[1] A. The Mitzvah:[2] Any time one hears [G-d’s name mentioned in] any blessing the custom is to recite Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo.[3] This is a [mere] custom and was not instituted by the Sages.[4] [The saying of Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo has sublime mystical meaning.[5]] […]

Question: [Thursday, 9th Marcheshvan, 5783] My two year old child loves playing with the fan on Shabbos, turning it off and back on. There is no stopping her and she simply won’t listen to our protests. Is there any issue with us benefiting from the fan if she turned it […]

May one leave a website store open over Shabbos? Some Poskim[1] rule one is not to allow his website business to remain open on Shabbos.[2] Others[3] rule it is permitted to leave one’s website open over Shabbos even if it performs sales of merchandise on Shabbos.[4] Nevertheless, if it is […]

Question: [Wednesday, 15th MarCheshvan 5783] What bracha should be recited over the vegetarian meat substance known as Seitan, Sheakol or Mezonos? [Seitan is a mildly flavored, high-protein meat substitute made of wheat gluten.] Answer: Shehakol. Explanation: Gluten is the protein of the wheat and does not provide sustenance as does […]

The greatness and obligation of answering Amen:[1] It is an obligation to answer Amen towards the blessing said by a Jew.[2] This applies even if the person who hears the blessing is not obligated in this blessing at all. The meaning:[3] The word Amen is an acronym for the words […]

Question: [Tuesday, 7th MarCheshvan, 5783] We often go out for pizza on Motzei Shabbos, as is the custom of many good Jews. Recently, while shmuzing with the pizza store owner about how Frum Jews are obsessed with pizza eating on Motzei Shabbos, he told us that this is a real […]

Mayim Emtzaim-Washing the hands between eating fish and meat/chicken:[1] *This Halacha does not delve into the obligation of rinsing the mouth between eating fish and meat, which will be discussed in a further Halacha. A. Background of prohibition to eat fish with meat:[2] One must beware from eating meat and […]

Question: [Monday, 13th MarCheshvan, 5783] If we are having an only lady’s meal on Shabbos, can we make as Zimun with 3/10 women? Answer: While from the letter of the law women may make a Zimun without Eloikeinu if they are ten or three women who ate together, practically, the […]

Age 40 in Halacha and Divrei Chazal: The age of 40 contains unique significance in both Halachic literature and Chazal, as we will list below. Ben Arbaim Lebina-Age of Binah-Understanding: At the age of 40 one reaches the age of understanding.[1] This means that he is now able to understand […]

Question: [Sunday, 12th Marcheshvan, 5783] Years ago when we were newly married, my husband and I got into a major fight and out of sheer anger my husband wrote to me a Get in his personal handwriting on a piece of paper and gave it to me. It was not […]

Reading the Haftorah to oneself versus hearing it from the reader:[1] It is an obligation upon everyone to listen and pay attention to the Haftorah, just as they must listen to the reading of the Parsha by Kerias Hatorah.[2] Accordingly, two people may not read the Haftorah together, out loud, […]

Question: [Thursday, 9th Marcheshvan, 5783] My parents are going away, and are leaving me and my male cousin who lives by us to stay in the home. I know there is an issue of Yichud and would like to know if there is any way to make this work. We […]

Husband preparing the candles and pre-burning the wicks before Shabbos:[1] Preparing the candles:[2] Although the wife receives precedence in the Mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles, nevertheless, it is proper for the husband to prepare the wicks and candles. [This is likewise the Chabad custom.[3] Thus, the husband is to set […]

Question: [Tuesday, 8th MarCheshvan 5783] The first Yartzite of my mother is next month. My question is whether it is permitted for me to Daven for the Amud in the 13th month, being that she passed away in a leap year. I already finished the 12 months of mourning, and […]

Breakfast:[1] A. Its importance: It is proper for one to accustom himself to eating Pas Shacharis [i.e. breakfast, a small morning meal with bread].[2] This is in addition to his main meal [i.e. lunch, or early lunch] which is eaten later on.[3] One who does not eat breakfast, and only […]

Question: [Tuesday, 7th MarCheshvan, 5783] I ate meat but am not sure exactly at what time I finished eating. It was either 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon. What am I supposed to do about waiting six hours. Must I be stringent to wait until 10:00, or can I eat […]

Question: [Sunday, 6th MarCheshvan, 5783] I know that it is forbidden to take three steps back at the end of Shemoneh Esrei if someone in back of me is still in middle of Shemoneh Esrei and within your 4 Amos. However, I heard that this only applies if the person […]