Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Q&A relating to Yom Kippur Question: [Sunday 6th Tishrei 5781] I am not normally accustomed to light a Yizkor candle before holidays, and I believe that this was also the custom of the Rebbe. What about Yom Kippur, should Yizkor candle be lit or not according to our custom?   […]

Question: [Thursday, 3rd Tishrei, 5782] Normally, we always take the three steps back up after Shemoneh Esrei when the Chazan reaches Kedusha? When should we take the three steps back up on Rosh Hashanah Shacharis and Musaf where Kedusha is not recited until almost an hour later?   Answer: Although […]

Must a woman fast on a regular fast day [Tzom Gedalia, Asara Beteves, 17th Tamuz] if she is within two years of giving birth? General law by a nursing women:[1] Pregnant and nursing women are exempt from fasting a regular fast day.[2] This applies even if they do not experience […]

Erev Rosh Hashanah   The theme of the day: The night before Erev Rosh Hashanah was considered the Wacht Nacht of the High Holidays. “I do not remember that people went to sleep at a normal hour. Each person began his preparations for Erev R”H which introduces the days of […]

Question: [Monday, 29th Elul 5781] When should we eat the Rimon? On the first night or second night, and may we eat it before Rosh Hashanah? Answer: The Rimon is to be eaten on the first night of Rosh Hashanah. It may also be eaten before Rosh Hashanah, as there […]

Q&A relating to Rosh Hashanah Question: [Sunday 28th Elul 5781] Should I repeat Shemoneh Esrei on Rosh Hashanah if I accidentally skipped Vichein Ten Pachdecha, but recited Hamelech Hakadosh?   Answer: No, you are to simply continue as usual. Explanation: The saying of Vichein Ten Pachdecha is only a custom, […]

A. When is it recited? Tashlich is recited after Mincha[1], on the first day of Rosh Hashanah[2], prior to sunset[3].   Q&A on when to recite May one recite Tashlich before Mincha in a time of need?[4] Although the custom is to say Tashlich after Mincha, if one assesses that […]

Question: [Thursday, 25th Elul, 5781] Our Chabad house is hosting a large number of guests for the meals of both nights of Rosh Hashanah. I know in general it is forbidden for us to do any preparation on the first day of Yom Tov on behalf of the second day. […]

A. Tashlich-Where to say it: It is customary[1] to go on Rosh Hashanah to a river[2] [or well or spring[3]] to recite Tashlich.[4] Tashlich is to be recited near a river that contains live fish.[5] [See Q&A regarding if a river is not available.] It is best to be recited […]

Question: [Wednesday, 17th Elul, 5781] If one is praying without a Minyan is he to blow Shofar after Shacharis? Practically, for example, if I am Davening at home should I blow Shofar after Davening, and should I blow Shofar for my wife and children during Elul? I have heard conflicting […]

The meaning of Tashlich:[1] The Poskim searched and offered various explanations behind the seemingly odd custom of Tashlich. Amongst the Poskim we the following reasons and explanations offered:  To resemble Akeidas Yitzchak. The Coronation of Hashem as King To throw the Kelipos into the supernal waters. The seeing of fish […]

 Tashlich-Part 1:[1] It is customary to go on Rosh Hashanah to a river to recite Tashlich. The following are the details and background of this custom.   A. Background-Its Start and Initiation: This custom of Tashlich is first cited in the Sefer Maharil [14the century] in the section of […]

Question: [Tuesday, 23rd Elul 5781] I am allergic to several foods and have difficulty stomaching many vegetables and fruits, including some of the Simanim that are eaten on Rosh Hashanah, such as pomegranate, leaks, and carrots. Is there a point of me buying them anyways and having them on the […]

Question: [Monday, 22nd Elul 5781] We live in an area in which there is no body of water for us to say Tashlich. What should we do? Is it better to delay saying it until after Rosh Hashanah when we can drive to the beach during the weekday, or should […]

May one build a Sukkah in a public property [i.e. street, sidewalk, public lawn etc]?[1] Initially, one may not build a Sukkah on public property, such as on a city street or sidewalk and the like of places that people pass by. This applies even if the entire city is […]

Question: [Sunday 21st Elul 5781] I work an early morning shift and don’t have the time to say Selichos then, barely having time to Daven Shacharis. My question is whether I can still say it in the afternoon, after work, or if it must be said in the morning.   […]

Question: [Thursday, 18th Elul, 5781] On occasion it happens on Shabbos that we accidentally leave one of the lights on in the bedroom. May we ask our live-in maid who is not Jewish to shut it off at night before we go to sleep, as it is quite difficult to […]

Melaveh Malka: The Mitzvah:[1] After Shabbos it is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar[2] to have a meal out of respect for Shabbos, to escort it with honor while it is leaving.[3] [This meal is called “Melaveh Malka”.]   The reasons and Segulos associated with Melaveh Malka Drawing the holiness of Shabbos […]

Question: [Wednesday, 17th Elul, 5781] We live in Eretz Yisrael and need to uproot a tree that has roots interfering with the underground piping. I wanted to know if we must get this done before Shemita, or may do so also during Shemita.   Answer: It is permitted to uproot […]

When should the Peruzbal be performed?[1] Initially the Peruzbal is to be performed at the end of the sixth year, prior to Rosh Hashanah of the seventh year.[2] [It is a Mitzvah to publicize this matter as it is not well known to the public.[3] It is proper to arrange […]

Question: [Monday, 16th Elul 5781] Should Tachanun be recited in a shul if a Hachansas Sefer Torah is taking place in another Shul within the same city?   Answer: It depends on whether your Shul’s congregation will be participating in the rejoicing. If yes, then it is your communities joy […]

1. Mistakes-Blew the wrong sound: Blew a Teruah instead of a Shevarim or vice versa: In all cases that one was supposed to blow a Teruah or Shevarim and instead he blew a Shevarim or Teruah [i.e. one blew a Shevarim inתר”ת  instead of a Teruah, or a Teruah in […]

Mivtzah Shofar Laws & Guidelines for blowing Shofar on Mivtzaim The following Chapter is a compilation of the relevant laws that have been written throughout our sefer and website article which are especially applicable to Mivtzaim. For the full details on the subjects discussed below, please refer to our Sefer […]

Question: [Monday, 15th Elul 5781] We are staying in a B&B rental and I absentmindedly placed a hot pot of food directly down on a non-kosher counter. The counter was cleaned before we arrived and has not been used for some time before our arrival. What is the status of […]

Question: [Sunday 14th Elul 5781] I entered a number of bottles of juice in the freezer before Shabbos and when I took it out of the freezer it was partially frozen. I would like to know if it’s permitted for me to shake the bottle on Shabbos in order to […]

The Mitzvah of building a Sukkah:[1] It is a command in the Torah to dwell in a Sukkah throughout the seven days of the Sukkos Holiday. As a result of this command, we are required to build a Sukkah prior to Sukkos in order to fulfill the command when the […]

Question: [Thursday, 11th Elul, 5781] Is there any problem for me to place my Challahs on the Blech on Shabbos for them to become toasty?   Answer: It depends on how you plan on doing so. If the Challah is dry and you place it on top of a pot […]

The laws of Borer-Removing a solid from within a liquid:[1] Small solids:[2] Small solids retain all the Borer restrictions with regards to removing them from liquid or vice versa. Thus, separating small pieces of onion, chicken, vegetables from soup contains the Borer restrictions. Likewise, removing a fly or hair from […]

Question: [Wednesday, 10th Elul, 5781] After Shemoneh Esrei when Davening with a Minyan, you’re suppsoed wait until the Chazan reaches Kedusha. My question is regaridng Maariv, in which there is no Chazaras Hashtaz, when is one to take the three steps back up?   Answer: There is no clear ruling […]

Question: [Monday, 8th Elul 5781] My father is old and suffers from various medical issues due to a stroke he recently had. We are in the process of bringing him back to his home, and since he lives alone [as my mom passed away a few years back] I would […]

Changes in the prayers applicable to Aseres Yimei Teshuva [Halacha 2-3]: Saying Shir Hamaalos in Shacharis: It is customary to recite the psalm of Shir Hamaalos Mimamakim between Yishtabach and Barchu throughout the ten days of repentance. The purpose of reciting this psalm during Aseres Yimei Teshuvah is to sweeten […]

Question: [Monday, 7th Elul 5781] I once heard that when you go shopping you shouldn’t put the salt bag or box in the same bag as meat and milk and I would like to know if this is correct? Answer: While there is basis in the Poskim for such a […]

The Prayers of Rosh Hashanah & Aseres Yimei Teshuvah-Part 1 Introduction to the prayers of Rosh Hashanah The form of prayer required on Rosh Hashanah One should pray with profound bitterness, having recognition that one is approaching the King with “torn garments”, and thus begging G-d to have mercy and […]

Question: [Thursday, 4th Elul, 5781] I am in the process of recovering from covid, and my doctor instructed me to inflate balloons several times a day for the sake of exercising my lungs. I will inflate them and then deflate them and then reinflate them for this purpose. Is there […]

Sharpening knives on Erev Shabbos:[1] One is to beware to sharpen the [kitchen and eating] knives every Erev Shabbos, as preparing oneself for eating is included within the honor of Shabbos.[2] In addition, [at times] one needs to sharpen the knives for the sake of Shalom Bayis [marital harmony], such […]

The reason behind the Mitzvah of Shemita:[1] Within the Talmud, and Rishonim, we find several reasons recorded regarding the purpose of the Mitzvah of Shemita. To emphasize that everything belongs to Hashem:[2] The Mitzvah of Shemita publicizes to the Jewish people that everything belongs to Hashem and in the end […]

Question: [Wednesday, 27th Menachem Av, 5781] I live in Eretz Yisrael and would like to plant a non-fruit bearing tree in my garden before the Shemita year, and would like to know until which date I may do so.   Answer: In the Halachic borders of Eretz Yisrael, a non-fruit […]

Putting on Tefillin past sunset-Until when during the day may one put on Tefillin? *This Halacha discusses specifically the law of one who wants to initially begin putting on the Tefillin after sunset. However, regarding one who already put on Tefillin before sunset and desires to continue wearing them after […]

Question: [Monday, 2nd Elul 5781] I need to take out a loan from a bank for about $50,000 although I cannot do so [for a normal interest fee] due to my credit line and asked a relative of mine who has greater credit if he would be willing to take […]

When is the Torah scroll to be returned to the ark on Rosh Chodesh? Sephardic custom:[1] The Sefer Torah is returned to the Ark only after Uva Letziyon, prior to the half Kaddish recited before Musaf.[2] Ashkenazi custom:[3] The Sefer Torah is returned to the Ark immediately after the Torah […]

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 […]