Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Havdala on Motzei Yom Tov:[1] *In those years that Motzei Yom Tov is also Motzei Shabbos then the order of Havdalah follows the same order as Motzei Shabbos. On Motzei Yom Tov, whether it is Motzei Yom Tov to a weekday or Motzei Yom Tov to Chol Hamoed, one is […]

Question: [Sunday, 7th Tishreiy, 5782] May I cook or barbecue in a Sukkah? I have a barbecue that is drilled into my Sukkah patio, may I leave it in the Sukkah and if so, may I use it to barbecue in the Sukkah?   Answer: No. You may not cook […]

The order of building-Setting up the walls before the Sechach?[1] One is not to place the Sechach over the [frame of the] Sukkah prior to building the [Halachically valid] walls.[2] Bedieved, if first placed the Sechach: If one transgressed and first placed the Sechach over the frame and only then […]

1. Question: [Sunday, 7th Tishreiy, 5782] I work in home renovations and have a Jewish employee who asked me if he can continue his work and get paid also on Chol Hamoed. I generally never work on Chol Hamoed, as is the law, but this employee is telling me that he really needs […]

1. Question: [Thursday, 4th Tishreiy, 5782] By Mincha time I remembered that by Shacharis I forgot to recite Hamelech Hakadosh. What should I do? Answer: After Mincha you should Daven an extra Shemoneh Esrei as a Tashlumin for Shacharis.     Sources: See Admur 108:17; M”A 108:16; Elya Raba 116:16; […]

1. Question: [Thursday, 4th Tishreiy, 5782] Why are the Parshiyos of Netzavim/Vayeilech sometimes read together and sometimes read separately, such as this year? Answer: The Parsha of Nitzavim is always read the Shabbos prior to Rosh Hashanah. Thus, when Rosh Hashanah falls on Monday-Tuesday, since there are two Shabbosos between […]

Question: [3rd Tishrei, 5783] How long must each Shever be and what is the law if blower blew a very short first Shever, similar in sounding to a Terua? Practically in our Shul the Baal Tokeia blew almost all the Shevarim blows in the following way: Tu, Tuuu, Tuuu, Tu, […]

Question: [Thursday, 26th Elul, 5782] I did a Peruzbal last year before Rosh Hashanah 5782 as is the Chabad ruling and custom. Should I do so once again this year before Rosh Hashanah 5783? Answer: Yes. Even those who already performed a Peruzbal before Rosh Hashanah of 5782, which was […]

Question: [Tuesday, 24th Elul, 5782] May an Avel who is within his 12th month of mourning [i.e. past 11 months, but before end of 12th month] lead the prayer of Selichos?   Answer: He should not do so unless there is no one else available. Explanation: While it is debated […]

Taking breaths during Shofar blowing: A. Within a single sound:[1] [The minimum required measurement of the Tekiah blow must be done in one breath.[2]] The [minimum required] amount of the Yevavos [i.e. Terumatin] of the Teruos in the sound of Terua, as well as the three Shevarim[3] in the sound […]

Washing hands in a bathroom, or with water that came from a bathroom: A. Washing hands after using the bathroom and after other impurities:[1] One who uses the bathroom [or does other actions which requires him to wash hands afterwards in order to get rid of the evil spirit that […]

Question: [Thursday, 19th Elul, 5782] One of the rooms in our home has a very interesting doorway, in which its lintel does not hover over the doorposts but rather is to the side of the doorposts with the doorposts reaching all the way to the ceiling. Meaning, that the lintel […]

Question: [Tuesday, 17th Elul, 5782] I am looking to purchase a new shofar for my Shul to use this Rosh Hashanah and would like to know if I can purchase the Yemenite Kudu shofar which is most beautiful in both appearance and sound and I would really like to use […]

Question: [Monday, 16th Elul 5781] Our neighbor owns a goat which often enters into our yard and for the past few months has begun eating from our garden. We have spent much time and money investing in our garden which boasts beautiful plants, flowers, and vegetation. The goat is causing […]

Is there any issue with having a Gold Kiddush cup? Halachically-No, and on the contrary, it is the most beautiful for the Mitzvah. Kabbalistically and traditionally-Yes, as gold is Gevuros, and a cup is the Gematria of Elokim which is Gevuros, and hence it is best for the cup to […]

Handing a gentile, or non-religious Jew, an item on Shabbos which they will carry through an area without an Eiruv:[1] A. Non-religious Jew:[2] It is forbidden for one to provide an item to a Jew if one knows that the Jew will carry it in an area without an Eiruv.[3] […]

Question: [Monday, 9th Elul 5781] When taking a flight, when is the prayer of Tefilas Haderech to be recited? Should it be said on the airplane or on the way to the airport? If it should be said on the airplane, then should it be said after takeoff or before […]

Q&A on which roofs require a fence If a non-commonly used roof is now decided to be commonly used, does it now become obligated in a fence?[1] Yes.   Indoor Balcony [i.e. Hallway of upper floor]:[2] The balcony of an upper floor which oversees the lower floor is Biblically obligated […]

Which roofs are obligated in having a fence?[1] Beis Dirah-A roof of a home which is commonly used:[2] A guardrail is only obligated to be established to a roof of a home which is used for living purposes [i.e. Beis Dirah][3], and which its roof space is commonly used [for […]

Question: [Sunday, 8th Elul 5782] In the Hayom Yom for the 4th of Elul we read that when receiving an Aliyah to the Torah and reciting the blessings, the person saying the blessing is to look towards his right. Why is this done, and why do I see many other […]

Making a fence around one’s roof:[1]  כִּי תִבְנֶה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ וְעָשִֹיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ וְלֹא תָשִֹים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ כִּי יִפֹּל הַנֹּפֵל מִמֶּנּו” “When you build a new home and make a fence for your roof, and you shall not spill blood in your home when the faller falls from it” [Devarim […]

Mezonos bread on Shabbos-Using Mezonos bread for Lechem Mishneh and to fulfill one’s Shabbos Seuda:[1] * Important note: The law below applies equally to all Mezonos baked products, whether what is known as Mezonos bread, or cookies, cake, and the like which can potentiolly become Hamotzi if one sets a […]

Is one required to wash his hands after touching insects and non-Kosher animals? Background: Certain actions that are performed cause a spirit of impurity to reside onto the hands and hence requires one to [immediately[1]] wash his hands afterwards with water in order to get rid of the impurity.[2] Amongst […]

Question: [Tuesday, 3rd Elul, 5782] I wanted to verify if the following occurrence in which I was saved from a potentially deadly car accident requires me to recite Hagomel? It was minutes after candle lighting on Erev Shabbos when I was driving with my kids in the backseat on a […]

The custom of pulling at the ear after sneezing-Myth, superstition, or authentic Jewish custom:[1] Some individuals, and God-fearing Jews, have the custom of pulling the [left[2]] lobe of their ear after sneezing.[3] Some pull at the full length of both ears, and not just at the earlobe.[4] Others pull at […]

The obligation to answer Amen to a Mi Shebeirach and to a blessing of a Jew:[1] Whenever one hears someone blessing a Jew [or praying for a certain matter[2]], it is a Mitzvah[3] for the listeners to answer Amen to his blessing [or prayer[4]]. [This applies to all people who […]

Question: [Sunday, 1st Elul, 5782] I was walking on Shabbos day with a friend of mine and his shabbos hat flew off his head. It was very hot and sunny outside. This entered us into the discussion regarding whether or not it is permitted for him to rewear the hat, […]

Shabbos Rosh Chodesh[1] 1. Shabbos Mevarchim Hachodesh:[2] When Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos the blessing of Mevarchim Hachodesh takes place the previous Shabbos. The Nussach:[3] When Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos-Sunday the Nussach recited by the dates of the new month is “Hashabbos Kodesh Ulimacharaso Beyom Harishon”. One however does […]

Sweat-Its toxicity and danger of consumption:[1] One must beware from [eating] human sweat, as all human sweat is poisonous with exception to the sweat of the face.[2] This is hinted to in the verse[3] “With the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread.”[4] As well, eating sweat is included […]

Cutting the toenails: A. Mitzvah of cutting Lekavod Shabbos: Although it is a Mitzvah to cut one’s hand nails every Erev Shabbos[1], nevertheless, some Poskim[2] conclude that there is no Mitzvah or obligation to cut the toenails on before Shabbos in honor of Shabbos. Nevertheless, if the toenails appear long, […]

Announcing the Molad prior to Birchas Hachodesh: A. The law:[1] It is proper for one to know the Molad[2] prior to reciting the blessing over the new month, [and so is the Chabad custom, as writes Admur in the Siddur]. [One is to know the exact time of the Molad, […]

Question: [Thursday, 21st Menachem Av 5782] Is there any minimum drinking age according to Jewish law? In most of the world the minimum drinking age is age 18, while in the United States its age 21. I was just wondering if there is any Halachic or Torah-based consideration to these […]

Question: [Wednesday, 20th Menachem Av 5782] I heard something very novel and interesting in a speech by a rabbi the other day that if metal even touches the altar, then the altar becomes invalid. Thus, if one of the priests accidentally touches the altar with a metal knife or with […]

When to begin Davening for a sick person-How sick must they be?[1] When someone has become ill, one is not to spread the word to the public until several days pass. The reason for this is because when one spreads the word that an individual is sick, and people view […]

Sleeping alone-The restriction against sleeping alone in a room or home:[1] A. The prohibition: The Talmud[2] states that it is forbidden to sleep alone in a home and whoever sleeps alone in a home is grasped by Lilith, and so is recorded in the Poskim[3], that it is forbidden to […]

What is one to do if he switched Talleisim with another person? A. Background: The general law by a switched item:[1] One who [accidently] took the wrong item may not use the item [that he accidently took] and doing so is considered stealing. The same applies if one’s item was […]

Question: [Thursday, 14th Menachem Av 5782] My two-year-old daughter is in the midst of potty training and keeps on taking off her underwear and will not wear a diaper, which means that she randomly walks around the house undressed. What are we supposed to do regarding Davening and learning in […]

Walking four Amos prior to washing hands in the morning:[1] The ruling according to the Talmud:[2] According to the Talmud and Codifiers it is permitted for one to walk prior to washing hands in the morning upon awaking. The only restriction according to the Talmud is not to touch food […]

Zecher Lachurban-Commemorating the Destruction-Summary version Painting and decorating one’s walls: When the Temple was destroyed, the Sages of that generation instituted that it is forbidden for one to ever build a home which is painted and decorated like the building of a king. Thus, it is forbidden to paint the […]

Question: [Monday, 10th Menachem Av 5781] When Tisha b’Av falls on Motzei Shabbos when is the Paroches and covering of the Bima and Amud, to be removed? Answer: If there is a break between the end of Shabbos and Maariv, then it should be removed before Maariv, as done every year. […]

Question: [Tuesday, 5th Menachem Av 5782] I forgot to cut my nails last week before Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av which fell on Friday and did not do so on Friday because it was Rosh Chodesh, and I am not particular to cut my nails on every Erev Shabbos. My question […]