Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Donate Question: [Monday 18th Adar 2, 5782] Is there any truth to the statement that one’s conscience can mystically determine right from wrong and direct a person who is facing a fork in the road, as to whether he should choose one way or the other? I have heard stated […]

Donate Introduction & Historical Background on Likkutei Sichos The uniqueness of Likkutei Sichos-The Rebbe’s organized edited work: Likkutei Sichos is the most authoritative and significant published work of the Rebbe’s talks and teachings which were said throughout the years of the Rebbe’s leadership. The Rebbe publicly spoke on thousands of […]

Question: [Sunday, 17th Adar 2, 5782] If there is no Levi in Shul, who should wash the hands of the Kohanim prior to them performing Nesias Kapayim? Answer: If there is no Levi available to wash the hands of the Kohanim, then Admur and the Poskim rule that a Bechor […]

How many verses are to be read during the Haftorah:[1] Shabbos:[2] On Shabbos, the person who reads the Maftir from the Navi is to read no less than 21 verses.[3] Nonetheless, if the entire subject of the chosen Parsha in Navi contains less than 21 verses, such as the Parsha […]

1. The Date of Purim All cities known today celebrate Purim on the 14th with exception to Jerusalem which celebrates on the 15th. Cities of doubt: Due to doubt, the following cities celebrate Purim also on the 15th: Akko; Gaza; Bagdad; Beiriy; Beis Shean; Damascus; Gush Chalav; Haifa; Hebron; Eiyn […]

Donate Question: [Tuesday, 12th Adar 2, 5782] I usually always do laundry on Thursday on behalf of Shabbos. Am I allowed to do so this Thursday even though it will be Purim?   Answer: In my opinion, this may not be done. All laundry should be done before Purim, or […]

Donate Question: [Sunday, 10th Adar 2, 5782] I had purchased a very large and expensive megillah from an individual and showed it to a friend of mine who is a Sofer, and he was very impressed by the writing and its beautiful script. However, he said that he thinks that […]

Donate   Parshas Vayikra Knowing ones hidden evil   Compiled from the following sources: Likkutei Sichos Vol. 3 p. 201 Parshas Vayikra is the first of a long set of Parshiyos which discuss the bringing of the sacrifices to the altar. There are various types of sacrifices that can be […]

Question: [Thursday, 7th Adar 2, 5782] I am suffering from stomach pains and the only thing that seems to relieve the pain is a hot water heating bag. My question is regarding if I may use this on Shabbos, and if yes, may I fill it up with hot water […]

Donate Summary of laws-Megillah reading-Part 4: Refraining from talking during the reading: Once the blessing has been recited, it is forbidden to speak from that point and on until the reading is completed, and the final blessing is recited. This applies for both the reader and the listener. One who […]

Question: [Tuesday, 5th Adar 2, 5782] One of our older children unfortunately passed away r”l? Should/May I be saying Kaddish for him, for my child?   Answer: If the child did not leave any male offspring, then this matter depends on the status of your parents [i.e. if alive, or […]

Question: [Monday 4th Adar 2, 5782] I live in Eretz Yisrael and have a potted plant on my windowsill which is growing a type of wild flower that is very damaging to the plant. May I remove it?   Answer: Yes, you may. It is best to kill the weed […]

Question: [Sunday, 3rd Adar 2, 5782] May I greet my friend with the word Shalom inside of the changing area of the Mikveh? Does it make a difference if there are people there who are undressed or not? I did so this morning and someone told me that its forbidden. […]

Question: [Thursday, 30th Adar 1, 5782] If I taste or eat salt, am I to say a blessing?   Answer: Yes, if you plan to swallow it and you receive some measure of benefit from eating or tasting it, then the blessing of Shehakol is recited. If, however you receive […]

The dilemma of the date of the 30th of Adar 1 and how one can commemorate a birthday/Yartzite: A. What is one to do if he was born on the 30th of Adar I and in the current year there is only one Adar of 29 days?[1] If one was […]

Question: [Wednesday, 29th Adar 1, 5782] Yesterday, when I was walking into shul I found a folded $100 bill on the floor by the entrance area of the Shul. I of course wanted to return it to whoever lost it and did some investigation and returned it to a member […]

Giving a Hesped-Chabad custom and custom of other communities not to eulogize:[1] The Chabad custom is not to give any eulogies[2] and so is the custom of other communities.[3] One is to prevent eulogies from taking place for a deceased who belonged to a community who follows the above custom.[4] […]

Question: [Tuesday, 28th Adar 1, 5782] I recently had a charity campaign done on my behalf for a specific personal cause. I wanted to know if I am obligated to separate Maaser from the charity money that I received?   Answer: If the charity campaign was for a specific cause, […]

Eulogy/Hesped-Should it be done, How and why:[1] A. The general law: It is a great Mitzvah to properly eulogize the deceased.[2] Whoever cries upon the death of a Kosher Jew, Hashem counts the tears and places the tears in his supernal treasure chest. Whoever is lax in eulogizing a Kosher […]

Question: [Monday 21st Tamuz, 5780] May a man trim his eyebrows, or does doing so transgress Lo Yilbash? Basically, my eyebrows are really wide and go out of their intended “perimeter” and I would like to know if I can trim or shave them in that area.   Answer: It […]

Which child is obligated in Pidyon Haben-Part 2: A. The son of a Levi-Leviyah/Kohen-Kohenes:[1] Kohanim and Levites are exempt from Pidyon Haben.[2] Even a Kohenes or Leviyah who is married to a Yisrael, her son is not obligated in Pidyon Haben.[3] [This applies even today when we no longer have […]

Question: [Sunday, 26th Adar 1, 5782] I sent my Rashi pair of Tefillin to be checked by a sofer for the first time after my Bar Mitzvah and the Sofer said that they are invalid, being that he found two letters which were touching each other [the tip of one […]

The order when two Torah scrolls are removed:[1] It is forbidden to roll a Sefer Torah in front of the congregation due to respect for the congregation.[2] Accordingly, whenever two different sections of the Torah need to be read, such as by every Yom Tov[3], Shabbos Rosh Chodesh[4], Shabbos Chanukah[5], […]

May one play chess on Shabbos? Letter of the law:[1] It is permitted to play a game using [pre-designated[2]] bones[3] so long as one is not doing so for gambling purposes. [Some[4] explain that this bone game refers to chess. Others[5] explain this to refer to “five stones” or “Kugalach”. […]

May one answer Baruch Uvaruch Shemo in middle of Davening?[1] One who is in an area of Davening in which it is forbidden to make an interval, which is from Baruch Sheamar in Pesukei Dezimra until after Shemoneh Esrei, then he may not answer Baruch Hu Uvrach Shemo to a […]

Question: [Tuesday, 21st Adar 1, 5782] I have heard many times that a person is not held liable for his sins and does not receive punishment until the age of 20? This would basically mean that all teenagers are not held liable for their actions. Is this true and how […]

Which child is obligated in Pidyon Haben? Part 1 A. Firstborn son versus firstborn daughter: Only a firstborn son is obligated in being redeemed and not a firstborn daughter.[1] Likewise, only if the son was the firstborn child is he obligated in being redeemed. Thus, if a daughter was born […]

Drinking during Davening:[1] Once one has begun Baruch Sheamar, it is forbidden to drink until after Shemoneh Esrei [and Tachanun[2]].[3] This prohibition applies even between the paragraphs [i.e. Bein Haperakim]. However, prior to Baruch Sheamar, and after Shemoneh Esrei [and Tachanun], it is permitted to recite a blessing over a […]

Question: [Sunday, 19th Adar 1, 5782] Is it permitted for the father of the child to be the Sandek for his own child rather than honor another individual? Is it praiseworthy for him to do so?   Answer: Yes. It is both permitted, and praiseworthy and even customary, for a […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer    Buy now on Amazon.com Parshas Ki Sisa Pesukim: 139 [Siman: חננאל] Haftorah: Melachim 1 18:20[1]-39 Number of Mitzvos: There are Nine Mitzvos in Parshas Ki Sisa. Four positive commands and five negative command.   A. Positive commands: 1. Mitzvah 105/Positive 44: […]

Parshas Ki Sisa An analysis on the sin of the Golden Calf and how it was not true idolatry (Likkutei Sichos Vol.11 Sicha 1) In Parshas Ki Sisa, the infamous sin of the golden calf is relayed. This story of the golden calf aggravates many critical and wondrous questions at […]

Question: [Thursday, 16th Adar 1, 5782] Is it permitted for me to warm a pan of fish with congealed gravy, on top of a pot that is on the Blech on Shabbos morning? The fish is fully cooked, but the gravy is congealed and will melt with the heat, but […]

Making a mark on the Challah before Hamotzi on Shabbos:[1] Background: The Mitzvah of having a whole loaf by Hamotzi: It is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar [even during the week] for the blessing of Hamotzi to be recited over a whole loaf of bread, and not to first cut it […]

Saying Aleinu Leshabeiach together with the congregation:[1] When the congregation recites Aleinu Leshabeiach, one is to say it together with them.[2] This applies even if one has already Davened, and just happened to walk into Shul at the time the congregation is reciting Aleinu.[3] It likewise applies if he was […]

Question: [Wednesday, 15th Adar 1, 5782] I would like to purchase wheat straw plates for during the year and Passover? Is there any Kashrus issue with using such plates on Pesach?   Answer: There is no issue with using it, neither during the year, nor on Pesach, and hence you […]

Question: [Tuesday, 14th Adar 1, 5782] On Shabbos, someone told me that the size of the Choshen was actually really small, as small as the palm of one’s hand, and that the pictures which depict it as being very large are all inaccurate. Is this true?   Answer: This is […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me on Amazon.com Where is Mordechai and Esther buried? Mordechai is buried in the city of Shushan.[1] The tomb of Mordechai can be found in the city of Hamadan, Iran. Esther is buried in a Northern Galilean town called Baram.[2] She was buried […]

Hearing at least 10 Kaddeishim daily: A. The law and custom:[1] The obligatory seven daily Kadeishim upon the Minyan:[2] The Sages instituted to recite at least seven Kadeishim per day, corresponding to the verse[3], “Sheva Bayom Hilalticha/seven in a day I will praise you.” These seven Kadeishim are an actual […]

Question: [Sunday, 5th Adar 1, 5782] After kiddush is said in Shul by Shabbos day, most people, myself included, do not usually drink from the kiddush wine and simply begin eating afterwards. I understand that drinking from the kiddush wine is not an obligation so that is not my question. […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer    Buy now on Amazon.com Parshas Tetzaveh Pesukim: 101 [Siman: מיכאל] Haftorah: Yechezkal 43:10-27 Number of Mitzvos: There are Seven Mitzvos in Parshas Tetzaveh. Four positive commands and three negative command.   A. Positive commands: 1. Mitzvah 98/Positive 40: To have candles […]

Parshas Tetzaveh When running away from sin there is no place for political correctness (Likkutei Sichos Vol. 16 Sicha 2) In Parshas Tetzaveh, we learn of the garments of the priests. A regular priest had four priestly garments which he would wear during his temple service while the high priest […]

Question: [Thursday, 9th Adar 1, 5782] I work as a therapist, and I would like to know if I may schedule counseling sessions for Friday afternoon. I am asking because I understood that ideally you are not supposed to work on Friday afternoon. Is this type of work also included […]

Calling up someone for Maftir if he does not know how to read the Haftorah:[1] The dispute in Poskim: Some Poskim[2] rule that it is permitted to call up for Maftir an individual who does not know to read the Haftorah, and then have another individual read the Haftorah [with […]

Question: [Wednesday, 8th Adar 1, 5782] We have a year’s long dispute in our apartment building with the building management regarding if those who live by the entrance or who only use the stairs need to contribute towards payment for the elevator maintenance and monthly electricity bill. He of course […]

Question: [Tuesday, 7th Adar 1, 5782] There is a known saying that while in the mother’s womb, the baby is taught the entire Torah, and prior to birth he is flicked under the nose by his angelic teacher which causes him to forget all the Torah and causes him to […]

Moshe’s birthday and Yartzite: Moshe Rabbeinu was born and passed away on Zayin Adar.[1] One is to increase in joy on this day.[2] Some are accustomed to fast.[3] This is not the Chabad custom.[4] However one should increase in charity on this day in exchange for the fast.[5] Some do not […]

Question: [Monday 6th Adar 1, 5782] We are on Shlichus and do not have any kosher bakery available near us and are not able to bake bread all the time for all of our guests and ourselves throughout the week. I would like to know if we can purchase frozen […]

Nefilas Apayim in an area without a Sefer Torah-Part 2[1] The custom is not to perform Nefilas Apayim unless there is a Sefer Torah present in the area, with exception to some Sephardic communities and Jerusalem Jewry who are accustomed to perform Nefilas Apayim even if a Sefer Torah is […]

Question: [Sunday, 5th Adar 1, 5782] I am a little confused regarding the subject of Zeman Tefila for women. On the one hand, I do not see it emphasized that women need to be careful in this and I see many of my friends who Daven Shacharis even after Chatzos. […]

Nefilas Apayim in an area without a Sefer Torah:[1] A. The general law:[2] Some[3] [i.e. Ashkenazim[4], and some Sephardim[5]] are accustomed to only perform Nefilas Apayim [i.e. the resting of one’s face towards one’s arm] in an area that contains a Torah scroll.[6] [If the area contains a Torah scroll, […]