Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

The law if one did not say Havdalah on Motzei Shabbos, and its order when making it up a later day:[1] A. Making it up until Tuesday:[2] The main Mitzvah of Havdalah is for it to be recited at night [on Motzei Shabbos].[3] However, if one did not do so, […]

Question: [Wednesday, 21st Marcheshvan, 5782] My sibling is being reburied today from his current resting spot to a grave in Eretz Yisrael. My question is do I, and any of my siblings, and the children of the deceased have to keep any mourning laws as a result? Answer: The act […]

Gentile graves and cemeteries-Tumas Meis, Kohanim, Yisraeilim: A. Laws of Tumas Meis-A Kohen coming in contact with Gentile graves, cemeteries, and corpses:[1] Touching the corpse of a gentile:[2] It is forbidden for a Kohen to come into contact with the corpse of a gentile. Tumas Ohel-Entering a cemetery and stepping […]

Question: [Tuesday, 20th Marcheshvan 5782] I have just entered my third month in mourning for the loss of my father, and after Davening an individual came over to me and told me I should get a haircut as my hair looks really long and unkempt. May I get a haircut, […]

How to remove the Tzitzis from a Tallis:[1] In those cases in which it is permitted to remove Kosher Tzitzis from the Tallis, one is to untie the Tzitzis rather than cut them or tear them, and cause them to become invalid.[2] [If, however, the strings are not Kosher then […]

Question: [Monday 19th MarCheshvan 5782] I ate an egg from a Fleishig Chulent? Must I wait six hours before eating dairy? The egg was cooked in its shell.   Answer: Yes. You become Fleishig and must wait six hours prior to eating dairy even in the event that you only […]

Removing Tzitzis from a Tallis Gadol or Tallis Katan?[1] One may desire to remove the Tzitzis from his Tallis due to several reasons, such as to tie on a new pair of Tzitzis, or to use the Tztzis on a different garment. Now, several restrictions were emplaced against the removal […]

Question: [Sunday, 18th Marcheshvan, 5782] I am married and work in renovations and have a special work Tallis Katan that I change into each day after davening prior to going to work, I then switch it back when I come home which in the summer is usually before sunset but […]

Parshas Vayeira Mesirus Nefesh-The secret behind Jewish self-sacrifice for G-d and its contrast to the self-sacrifice of adherents of other religions and idealisms (Likkutei Sichos Vol. 20 3rd Sicha) In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Vayeira, we learn of G-d’s instruction to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar, […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer    Buy now on Amazon.com Parshas Vayeira Pesukim: 147 [Siman:אמנון ] Haftorah: Melachim 2 4:1-37[1] Number of Mitzvos: There are no Positive or Negative commands mentioned in Parshas Vayeira. Rishon Avraham receives guests: Avraham sat in the opening of the tent in […]

Question: [Thursday 15th Marcheshvan 5782] I have always used the measurement of 1.666 kilo of flour to perform Hafrashas Challah with a blessing, and would do this for all types of flour that I would use, whether whole-wheat oat or rye. Recently someone told me that by whole-wheat you actually […]

Squeezing fruits into foods on Shabbos:[1] A. Into a solid food [as opposed to a liquid]:[2] All fruits, even grapes and olives, are permitted to be squeezed directly into solid foods for seasoning purposes.[3] Squeezing into an empty vessel for the sake of seasoning food:[4] It is Rabbinically[5] forbidden to […]

Question: [Wednesday, 14th Marcheshvan, 5782] I forgot to say or hear Havdalah on Saturday night and just remembered to do so now on Tuesday night? May I still say it? Answer: No. It may only be said up until the start of Tuesday evening, until sunset of Tuesday, and not […]

Shemita stores-Understanding the status of produce sold in stores in Israel during the Shemita year & the various Hashgacha’s: Vegetables and grains which grow during the shemita year are forbidden to be eaten due to the rabbinical Sefichin decree as explained in Halacha 3. Likewise, even fruits and other products […]

Question: [Tuesday, 13th Marcheshvan 5782] How much space must there be between graves in a cemetery and what is one to do if there is not enough space in the cemetery to have the proper distance between the graves?   Answer: Ideally there is to be a minimum of six […]

Walking like a Jew-To walk in a humble manner:[1] A. Koma Zekufa-One’s Posture while walking: One should get up[2] and walk in a manner that his head[3] is [slightly[4]] bent downwards, and not with a straight posture, [and outstretched neck[5]]. It is forbidden to walk with a straight posture for […]

Question: [Monday 12th MarCheshvan 5782] I used a dairy spoon to mix Sechug-Charif [a jalapeno dip] may I eat this dip together with meat or during a meat meal?   Answer: If the spoon was clean, then the dip remains Pareve, although some are stringent in such a case to […]

Washing hands after cutting one’s nails:[1] One who cuts his nails is to wash his hands one[2] time [immediately] afterwards.[3] [This applies whether one cut his hand or toenails[4], and applies whether one cut his nails with a nail cutter or with his teeth.[5]  It applies even if he only […]

Question: [Sunday, 11th Marcheshvan, 5782] I live in Israel and need to make a pit in my yard/garden for the sake of plumbing. May I do so during Shemita? Answer: Yes. All digging for non-agricultural purposes is permitted during Shemita. Sources: See Rambam Shemita Veyovel 1:4; 2:14; Maaseh Rokeiach; Derech […]

The law of Chatzitza by male immersions: Baal Keri: Men are not required to remove a Chatzitza from the body prior to immersion for the purpose of purification from Baal Keri, and so is the custom.[1] [Nevertheless some Poskim[2] are stringent.] However, this only applies if it is found on […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer    Buy now on Amazon.com Parshas Lech Lecha Pesukim: 126 [Siman: נמל”ו] Haftorah: Yeshayahu 40:27-41:16   Number of Mitzvos: There is a total of One Mitzvah in Parshas Lech Licha. There is One positive command and Zero negative commands. The following are […]

Izbitz, Carlabach, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the paradox of Divine providence regarding sins. Explained and analyzed. In this lesson, the question of Hashgacha Pratis versus Bechira Chafshis is discussed. Does a person have free choice to choose good or evil? Can Hasgacha Pratis also apply when we make mistakes […]

Repeating Havdalah for the sake of women-May a husband repeat Havdalah for the sake of his wife?[1] A. Background-Are women obligated in Havdalah:[2] It is disputed amongst Poskim as to whether women are obligated in the Mitzvah of Havdalah. First opinion: Some Poskim[3] rule Havdalah is a Biblical obligation of […]

Question: [Wednesday, 7th Marcheshvan, 5782] Is there any issue with mending clothing while I am wearing them? For example, could someone sew my cuffs while I am wearing the garment? Also, I have heard people say you cannot remove a tag from a garment that you are wearing. Is this […]

When do Lemons become Kedushas Shevi’is?[1] Lemons have the same Halachic status as an Esrog regarding Shemita. [Thus, if they are picked after Rosh Hashanah of the Shemita year, they are to be treated with Kedushas Shevi’is due to Safek, but are to also have Terumos and Maasros removed from […]

Question: [Tuesday, 6th Marcheshvan 5782] I check my Tzitzis every morning in the mikvah to make sure that they are kosher, as is required, and sometimes I find the top knot to be loose and tighten it. I have two questions relating to this: May one tighten it in the […]

Washing hands after leaving the bathroom:[1] One who leaves a bathroom must wash his hands [immediately[2]] afterwards.[3] [This applies even if he entered the bathroom and did not relieve himself.[4] This applies even by today’s bathrooms.[5] However, those who are lenient not to wash their hands after entering bathrooms that […]

Question: [Monday 6th MarCheshvan 5782] In my work we have a shared fridge for all the employees. Am I allowed to leave my food there or is there any issue with leaving it there being that Gentiles have access to it?   Answer: You may leave it in the fridge […]

Washing hands after lying down on one’s bed:[1] One who arises from his bed is required to wash his hands [immediately] afterwards. [Some Poskim[2] rule that this applies apply even if one did not sleep at all, but simply got up from relaxing on his bed. This applies even if […]

Question: [Sunday, 4th Marcheshvan, 5782] We have a side door of our home of which the door came out of its hinges on Friday night. What am I supposed to do? Can I replace it back onto its hinges, or at the very least, may I reinsert the door into […]

Netilas Yadayim after selected actions   Introduction: Certain actions that are performed cause a spirit of impurity to reside onto the hands similar to the evil spirit that resides upon sleeping at night. Nevertheless, this is not the same form of impurity and hence does not follow the same laws […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer    Buy now on Amazon.com Parshas Noach Pesukim: 153 [Siman: בצלאל] Haftorah: Yeshayahu 54:1-10[1]   Number of Mitzvos: There are no Positive or Negative commands mentioned in Parshas Noach.   Rishon Who is Noach? Noach was a Tzadik, a pure man in […]

Parshas Noach How to react when seeing or hearing negativity in another (Likkutei Sichos Vol. 10 2nd Sicha) In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Noach, the story of the flood and its aftermath is related. God instructed Noah to bring into the ark both kosher and non-kosher animals in order to […]

Question: [Thursday 1st Marcheshvan 5782] When my children go to the beach they love to collect seashells as many children do. Are they allowed to play with them on Shabbos or are they considered Muktzah?   Answer: Seashells which have been collected before Shabbos and are kept for personal use […]

Kiddush clubs and the Simchas Torah communal Kiddush-The laws & restrictions in eating before Musaf:[1] It is permitted to eat[2] after the prayer of Shacharis, prior to the prayer of Musaf, all the foods that are permitted to be eaten prior to Mincha once its time has arrived.[3] Thus, one […]

Question: [Wednesday, 30th Tishrei, 5781] We have recently sold our home to another Jewish couple but have yet to move out and would like to know if we can take our Mezuzos with us. Our Mezuzos are very expensive, and while I did not think about this aspect of the […]

Question: [Tuesday, 29th Tishrei 5781] Must the peels and pits of a Kedushas Shevi’is product be placed in a special Shemita bag and waited until it rots? For example, lemons are already now treated with Kedushas Shevi’is being that perhaps we follow the time that they are picked from a tree. […]

When in the morning may one begin to put on Tefillin:[1] It is forbidden to put on Tefillin [at night and] even after Alos Hashachar, until the time that majority of people awaken from their sleep.[2] This is defined as the time of morning in which it is light enough […]

Question: [Monday 28th Tishrei 5781] We are moving homes and downsizing and thus need to get rid of a lot of extra stuff. Over the years we collected hundreds of cassette tapes of Torah classes which we no longer use due to the advancement of society to digital technology. I […]

Which direction should one face upon sleeping?[1] From North to South:[2] Just as it is forbidden for one to face East or West when having a bowel movement, similarly it is forbidden to sleep facing East or West with one’s wife together in bed, when one has intention to have […]

Drying eyeglasses, China, and cutlery on a shirt on Shabbos Question: [Thursday, 27th Tishrei 5781] If I wet my eyeglasses to clean then, and I don’t have a towel readily available to dry them, may I wipe it dry using my shirt on Shabbos? I have the same question regarding […]

Doing Pesicha when one’s wife is pregnant:[1] It is a Segula for easy birth for the husband to endeavor to perform Pesicha and remove the Sefer Torah when his wife enters her ninth[2] month of pregnancy [until she gives birth[3]].[4] [This Segula includes closing the doors of the Aron after […]

Question: [Wednesday 23rd Tishrei 5781] I would like to build my own private men’s Mikveh at home to be used by me each morning before Davening, but people have told me that one is not allowed to have a private Mikveh. Can you please clarify this matter for me, as […]

After Sukkos: A. Isru Chag: The name Isru Chag derives from the verse “Isru Chag Baavosim Ad Karnei Hamizbeiach.” This means to say that this day is to be attached [i.e. Isru] to the Holiday itself, and by doing so the verse considers him to have built an Altar and […]

Question: [Sunday 21st Tishreiy 5781] I am flying to New York for Simchas Torah. What should I do regarding eating and drinking on the plane?   Answer: You may choose to eat and drink freely while on the plane. Nevertheless, it is praiseworthy and an act of piety to be […]