Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Question: [Monday, 1st Elul 5781] During Hallel on Rosh Chodesh I absentmindedly forgot to skip the paragraphs of Lo Lanu and Ahavti, and remembered only after I finished saying the paragraph of Ahavti. What am I supposed to do now? Answer: In such a case you should skip the paragraph […]

Question: [Sunday 30th Menachem Av 5781] During the blessing of Shema Koleinu, I am accustomed to Daven for my personal needs and I would like to know if I’m allowed to also use this time during the blessing to give thanks to Hashem, such as if for example something I […]

Question: [Thursday, 27th Menachem Av, 5781] We were invited as guests for the Friday night meal to a family that is a bit distanced from our house and we plan on walking there right after candle lighting time and will probably get home very late. My question is regarding where […]

May an electric water urn be used for Shabbos?[1] The water is heated based on a thermostat: Some Poskim[2] rule a thermostat based electric water urn may not be used on Shabbos as the amount of water that is in the pot effects when the heat will turn on and […]

Question: [Wednesday, 27th Menachem Av, 5781] In a public Chassidic gathering a certain individual who evidently had too much to drink and did not like something I said began shouting at me, cursing me, and belittling me with many accusations, and when I tried to calmly defend myself, he went […]

What may the borrower use the money towards?[1] It is forbidden for the debtor to take the borrowed money and use it for a purpose that is not business related, in a way that the money becomes lost from the lender causing the lender to not have from where to […]

Question: [Monday, 25th Menachem Av 5781] I recently inherited a sizable sum of money from a deceased relative. Do I have to separate Maaser from the inheritance money? He was an Orthodox Jew and I believe and assume that he already separated Maaser from the funds that he inherited to […]

Greetings and Shalom Aleichem in a cemetery:[1] One may not greet others in a cemetery while [a burial is taking place and] the deceased is in the cemetery.[2] This applies even in a large city.[3] If there is no corpse in the cemetery, it is permitted to greet others if […]

What is one to do if he missed hearing a word in Kerias Hatorah? *This Halacha deals specifically with the case that the Baal Korei read all the words of the reading but simply an individual member of the congregation did not hear a word or words from the reading […]

Question: [Monday, 24th Menachem Av 5781] If one woke up in middle of the night and is planning to instantly return back to sleep, such as for the sake of using the bathroom, or checking on a sleeping kid, or to take a crying baby, must he wash hands prior […]

May one say the word Shalom in a bathroom or Mikveh?[1] Saying Shalom Aleichem:[2] It is forbidden to greet a friend with the word “Shalom” [i.e. Shalom Aleichem], in the inner room of a bathhouse where everyone is undressed [i.e. where the showers and hot Mikveh is situated] being that […]

Question: [Sunday 23rd Menachem Av 5781] The Chazan by our minyan for Shabbos Mincha accidentally began saying Ata Chonein Leadam Daas by Chazaras Hashatz and was immediately stopped by the congregation. A big debate in shul ensued regarding what he is to do, with some saying that he should continue […]

Chitas learning-Part 3-How, When, and making up missed cycles D. How: Must be learned in any set order?[1] There is no set order of learning Chitas, and one does not be particular to first learn Chumash, and then Tehillim, and then Tanya. In thought:[2] In the event that one is […]

Question: [Thursday, 20th Menachem Av, 5781] In our family we follow the ruling that it is forbidden to open bottle caps on Shabbos. This Shabbos we ran out of wine and needed to open a new bottle which was not opened from before Shabbos and did not know what to […]

Women studying Chitas Question: [Wednesday, 19th Menachem Av, 5781] Are women obligated in the Takana of the daily study of Chitas, and does it proceed the study of the daily Rambam, and is it more important than daily prayer for women?   Answer: Women are to endeavor to study the […]

Chitas-Part 2:[1] B. It’s greatness and blessings: The life of one soul:[2] The purpose of the daily study of Chitas is much more than just a regular session of Torah study which is part of one’s mitzvah of learning Torah, but rather touches upon the very life of one’s soul. […]

Question: [Monday, 17th Menachem Av 5781] Our summer vacation home is in an area that is adjacent to a barn and quite often the smell of the barn carries over to the location of our home. Is it permitted for me to learn or Daven or say a blessing when […]

Chitas:[1] The Background & History: The word Chitas stands for Chumash, Tehillim, Tanya.[2] Its daily learning was established by the Rebbe Rayatz.[3] The daily learning allotments were first published in the Sefer Hayom Yom, in the year 5703, as requested by the Rebbe Rayatz to the Rebbe.[4] Its Segula was […]

Question: [Sunday 29th Sivan 5780] What should be done if one began Kaddish without a Minyan? What if the person refuses to stop, should you still answer?   Answer: The person must stop reciting the Kaddish if there was no Minyan to begin with, when he initially began saying it. […]

Question: [Thursday, 13th Menachem Av, 5781] I have a Jewish maid who works for me several days a week helping with housework. I would like her to start coming also on Shabbos to help me out in the home [of course only doing those things that are permitted to be […]

Question: [Wednesday, 12th Menachem Av, 5781] For some time now, there has been a lot of commotion regarding the wearing of lace front Sheitels, which is a Sheitel that contains a very thin lining into which the hair is sewn. The issue with the Sheitel is that it makes it […]

Question: [Monday, 11th Menachem Av, 5781] We are making challah with my daughters’ class in school, and would like to know regarding the blessing of Hafrashas Challah, if it can be said or not and if yes, then can all the girls say it? We are not baking it in […]

Question: [Thursday, 6th Menachem Av, 5781] I have seen many people accustomed to reciting the blessing of Hamotzi on Shabbos on their own after receiving their piece of bread and they do not fulfill their obligation with the person who said Hamotzi aloud. Is this a proper custom to be […]

Mincha: Paroches: The Paroches is returned to the Aron prior to Mincha. Charity: Prior to Mincha one is to give Igara Ditaanisa to charity. Tallis and Tefillin: By Mincha, one wears Tallis and Tefillin with a blessing. [One recites all three Parshiyos of Shema while wearing the Tefillin. Those who […]

Question: [Wednesday, 5th Menachem Av, 5781] I’m looking to rent out a condo that I own in ???? and was in correspondence with a certain potential tenant who was seriously looking into closing the deal, and while we were pretty much ready to sign the lease agreement we have yet […]

The prayers of Tisha B’av-Part 1 Maariv: Removing the Paroches: [Prior to Maariv] one is to remove the Paroches from the Aron. [In some communities, the Paroches is not removed, but rather moved to the side, hence revealing the doors of the Aron. The Chabad custom is to also remove […]

Question: [Tuesday, 4th Menachem Av, 5781] I was preparing Challah and after I separated a piece of Challah from the dough and said the blessing for Hafrashas Challah, I put it down on the counter and somehow absentmindedly mixed it back into the batch of dough. What am I supposed […]

The laws of Tisha B’av-Summary-Part 2 Learning Torah on Tisha B’av: It is forbidden to learn Torah on Tisha B’av, with exception to the parts of Torah relating to the mourning period or tragic occurrences for the Jewish people. This prohibition includes Chumash, Navi, Kesuvim, Mishneh, Talmud, Halacha, Agadah [i.e. […]

Question: [Monday, 3rd Menachem Av 5781] I got a stain on my skirt, and I would like to know if I am allowed to clean it during the nine days. I would like to wear the skirt a few more days although I do have other ones available. Answer: One […]

The laws of Tisha B’av-Summary-Part 1 The five tragedies that occurred on Tisha B’av: On Tisha B’av of year 2449 the Meraglim returned and it was decreed that the Jewish people in the desert would not enter Eretz Yisrael. On Tisha B’av of year 3338 [שלח-422 BCE] the first Temple […]

Question: [Sunday 2nd Menachem Av 5781] May I cut my nails during the nine days? What about on erev Shabbos?   Answer: This year that Tisha B’Av falls on Sunday [as opposed to falling on Shabbos and then being deferred to Sunday] it is permitted to cut nails during the […]

Question: [Thursday, 28th Tammuz 5781] Am I allowed to dye my hair during the three weeks?   Answer: Yes. However, some avoid doing so from the start of the 9 days.   Explanation: There is no recorded restriction against dyeing hair throughout the three weeks, nonetheless some avoid doing so […]

Question: [Tuesday, 27th Tammuz, 5781] My son and daughter were walking on gravel that is off the sidewalk in the city and found a $100 bill on the gravel near some rocks. My son is the one who saw it first, but my daughter is the one who actually picked […]

What is a Peruzbal?[1] The Peruzbal is a process instituted by the Sages [for times when Shemitah is only Rabbinical[2]] which allows a loan to stay in effect even after the Shemitah year, and thus allows one to demand the debt to be paid back.[3] [The word Peruzbal means institution […]

Question: [Tuesday, 26th Tammuz, 5781] Is one required a Sheva Brachos meal every single day of Sheva Brachos?   Answer: No, there is no requirement to make a Sheva Brachos meal every single day of Sheva Brachos, although this is the widespread custom of Jewry today. Practically, one should try […]

A summary of the practical laws of Kileiy Zeraim/Hybrid planting of plants-PART 1 Yoreh Deah Chapter 296/רצו סימן *The following laws apply to hybrid planting of grains, vegetables and plants, which are all under the category of Kileiy Zeraim, as opposed to the hybrid planting and grafting of trees, which […]

Question: [Monday, 25th Tammuz 5781] I’ve seen some people avoiding writing the word Shalom in full and rather write שלם or  שלו’. Must one be particular in doing so, and does it apply only in Hebrew or also in English, and does it apply to the name of a person? […]

Keeping a happy mood around an ill person-Not letting him know of the passing of a relative:[1] If one is sick [or old], and there is worry that letting him know of the passing of a relative [or other individual], and breaking his heart, can lead to worsening of his […]

Question: [Shabbos 16th Tammuz 5781] Am I allowed to put my glasses on and turn off my alarm clock prior to washing hands in the morning. I actually had a roommate in school who was very particular about this and would let his alarm go off for minutes until he […]

The custom of wearing a hat and jacket: A. Custom, source, and reason: The custom of wearing a hat over the Yarmulke: It is customary amongst pious Jews to walk with two head coverings, and they thus wear a hat over their Yarmulke.[1] This custom is followed by Chassidim.[2] The […]

Question: [Thursday, 21st Tammuz 5781] Is it permitted for me to recite tehillim on Friday night if I generally am careful not to recite tehillim at night?   Answer: The Poskim explicitly rule that it is permitted to recite tehillim on Friday night even prior to midnight. You may rely […]

The Shabbos Budget-How much money should one spend in order to enhance Shabbos and what should be part of the Shabbos menu? The foods eaten to fulfill the mitzvah of Oneg Shabbos vary in accordance to each country’s definition of a luxurious food. Thus, those foods and beverages which are […]

Question: [Tuesday, 20th Tammuz, 5781] We have two children one named Dovber and the other name Batsheva. I would like to know how their names are to be written and if it is a single name [דובער בתשבע], or two names such as Dov Ber and Bat Sheva [דוב בער […]