Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Question: [Wednesday, 19th Adar, 5781] Rabbi, I go to a Mikveh in which many people leave their shampoo and conditioner in the shower area openly available. If I forgot to bring my shampoo and conditioner am I allowed to use it without finding out who the owner is and asking […]

Question: [Tuesday, 18th Adar, 5781] May one put tefillin on while sitting or lying down if he is unable to stand, such as if he is sick, or bound to a wheelchair? Answer: Yes, one who is unable to stand is nonetheless required to put on tefillin in a sitting […]

Parents of Chasan and Kallah share the same names: If the parents of the Chasan and Kallah have the same exact name they should not have their children marry each other.[1] This applies for the names of both the mother and the father.[2] [However, some Poskim[3] rule this only applies […]

Question: [Monday, 17th Adar, 5781] Rabbi, my daughter poured hot water from our Pareve electric water urn straight into her milk and in the process a drop of milk splashed onto the side of the urn. If I stand correct, I believe that my Pareve water urn has now become […]

Question: [Sunday, 16th Adar, 5781] I often see people in shul who store their Tallis on top of Sefarim on the bookshelf. This often happens when there is a Kiddush in shul after Davening on Shabbos and people to roll up their Tallis and put it by the bookshelf on […]

Saying Shema prior to sunrise:[1] When Davening in a Vaasikin/Neitz Minyan:[2] The initial time for Davening Shemoneh Esrei is by sunrise. It is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar to read the Shema slightly prior to sunrise, intending to complete the Shema and its last blessing of Goal Yisrael with sunrise. Immediately […]

Machatzis Hashekel-The Half Shekel:[1]   Some[2] opinions rule that before Purim one must give half of his country’s coin currency [to charity, and so is the custom of all Jewry[3]]. It is given as a remembrance for the half shekel that was donated for purchasing sacrifices during the times of […]

Question: [Thursday, 13th Adar, 5781] This year that Purim falls on Friday, is it permitted for me to cut my nails and get a haircut on Friday, in honor of Shabbos, or is it forbidden to do so due to the prohibition of doing Melacha on Purim. Answer: Nails: When […]

Question: [Wednesday, 12th Adar, 5781] Is there any reason for me to be careful to have separate oil bottles for both meat and milk or is it okay for me to use the same oil bottle to pour into meat and milk products? Answer: Indeed, there is a very strong […]

Question: [Tuesday, 11th Adar, 5781] Hi Rabbi, I have the following question: Must the mezuzah actually touch the doorpost? When putting on a mezuzah to the doorpost is there a problem if there is some space between the doorpost and the mezuzah? Meaning, for example, if I tape the mezuzah […]

If one can only hear with a hearing aid is he able to fulfill his obligation through listening to the Megillah reading?[1] Non-electric hearing aid: If he is able to hear with the help of a non-electric hearing aid then he is obligated in the Mitzvah.[2] He may thus hear […]

Question: [Monday, 10th Adar, 5781] The following often occurs to me on Shabbos and I wanted to know what the Halacha is: After Shacharis I usually join the Farbrengen in Shul and usually wash on Challah having in mind to continue my meal at home sometime later. My question is […]

Must one eat meat by one’s Purim meal? Some Poskim[1] rule it is an obligation for one to eat [animal[2]] meat during the Purim meal. Other Poskim[3] however rule it is not an obligation to eat meat. This is further proven by the fact this law has not been cited […]

Question: [Sunday, 9th Adar 5781] I wake up often in middle of the night to use the bathroom and I always wondered what I should do about saying the blessing of Asher Yatzar. Do I have to say it right away after using the bathroom, or can I, or should […]

Eating and drinking prior to Megillah reading of night and day:[1] It is forbidden to eat prior to hearing the Megillah reading [both] at night [and by day[2]].[3] This applies even if it is difficult for one to continue fasting Taanis Esther until the end of the Megillah reading.[4] Some […]

Question: [Thursday, 5th Adar 5781] Rabbi, due to COVID-19 I am in quarantine and possibly sick with the virus. What should I do about Parshas Zachar? Answer: Unfortunately, despite the great value and importance of hearing Parshas Zachar which is biblical, you cannot participate in a minyan in Shul due […]

Borer-Separating big pieces from small pieces in a salad on Shabbos: Example: Mommy asked two of her daughters to cut up vegetables for the salad for the Shabbos meal. Each daughter cut the vegetables in a different size with one set being much larger than the other, and entered them […]

Feeding street animals: One is not obligated to feed his friends pets or street animals from his own food.[1] [This applies even if the animal is endangered and may die.[2] However, in such a case, one would be obligated to place bodily effort to save the animal, if possible, such […]

Question: [Tuesday, 4th Adar 5781] I noticed that a single string of my Tzitzis tore from the area of the knots. The torn string is coming out between the first and second top set of knots and I assume that it originally tore above the double knot and somehow unraveled […]

Question: [Tuesday, 4th Adar 5781] When is the ideal time for me to Daven Musaf on Shabbos or Rosh Chodesh? Sometimes when I am Davening at home, I like to take a break between the prayers and end up Davening Musaf in the afternoon as opposed to the morning. Is […]

Question: [Monday, 3rd Adar 5781] I keep hearing that this year is a Purim Meshulash, a three-day Purim because it falls on Friday? Can you please explain the context of what this means and how my Purim will be three days? Answer: The concept of a three-day Purim, otherwise known […]

Is the Megillah read with its blessings in Jerusalem on Friday the 14th of Purim Meshulash, if a Minyan is not present?[1] A. The general rule: One must always strive to hear the Megillah reading in the presence of a Minyan, which consists of at least ten adult men.[2] If […]

  Purim Checklist: Wear Shabbos clothes Recite Al Hanissim No eating before Megillah at night and by morning Have small festive meal after Megillah at night Omit Tachanun in Kerias Shema Al Hamita Wake up early Have in mind by Shehechiyanu of Megillah the Mitzvos of the day Do not […]

Question: [Sunday, 2nd Adar 5781] Rabbi, this year that Purim falls on Erev Shabbos what is the ideal time for the Purim meal to take place? Must it be breakfast? Can I push it off to lunch, or even late in the day before sunset as is usually done by […]

Question: [Thursday, 10th Shevat 5781] Dear Rabbi, this past Shabbos our city got attacked by a swarm of flying ants and they are literally all over the place. I stared at the ground when walking home from shul and saw hundreds of dead ants which were stepped on by people. […]

  Sending regards to a woman:[1] A man may not ask a woman at all as to her wellbeing.[2] This applies even if one does so indirectly, through a messenger. It is forbidden to send greetings even through the woman’s husband.[3] [Thus, a man may not ask someone to send […]

Question: [Tuesday, 13th Shevat 5781] Dear Rabbi, I just got engaged and would like to know if it is permitted for one to talk about wedding plans prior to doing a Kinyan by the engagement party. One rabbi told us that this is not allowed to be done, and due […]

Question: [Tuesday, 27th Teves 5781] Rabbi, I am staying in a B&B rental home for about two months. I am wondering what I should do regarding putting a Mezuzah on the doors. I know that hotel rooms don’t require a mezuzah, but my question is regarding a short rental as […]

The seven Divine names The following are the Divine names that may never be erased:[1] Yud Kei Vav Kei; Adniy; Keil; Eloka; Elokim; Elokaiy[2]; Shakaiy; Tzeva–os[3]; Eh-yeh[4].] It is forbidden to mention any of the designated names of G-d in a bathroom. This refers to the seven names which may […]

Question: [Sunday, 11th Shevat 5781] Now that we are praying outside in the freezing cold due to coronavirus is it permitted to wear a coat over one’s Tallis during the Shacharis prayer? Is it better to wear the Tallis over one’s coat, or to wear the coat over one’s Tallis? […]

The after blessing-Ate fruits of seven Minim, and Mezonos, and drank wine:[1] One who ate [a Kezayis of] fruits from the seven Minim and ate [a Kezayis of] Mezonos [within Kdei Achilas Peras] and drank [a Revius of] wine is to include all three after blessings in a single blessing […]

Yahrzeit that falls on Shabbos and Yom Tov?[1] When to perform the Yahrzeit customs: When the Yahrzeit falls on Shabbos [or Yom Tov], the question is raised as to when the Yahrzeit customs are to be kept. Some customs are not feasible, or not permitted, to be performed on Shabbos […]

Question: [Thursday, 8th Shevat 5781] Is it permitted to heat up a Kugel on Shabbos and if so may I do so with the tinfoil on top of it or is this considered insulation?   Answer: You may heat up a Kugel on Shabbos on top of another pot so […]

Question: [Wednesday, 7th Shevat 5781] Rabbi, we have rented an apartment and after about four months of living there in the winter in the rain season, we noticed mold growing on a number of walls. The owner does not know of any practical solution to deal with it and we […]

Question: [Tuesday, 27th Teves 5781] Who today is considered a Tinok Shenishba versus a real and true Apikores? Obviously, there are different approaches and attitudes that we must have between these two types of nonobservance Jews, as brought in Torah that one is obligated to hate the Apikores and consider […]

Listening to one’s wife sing: While Davening or learning Torah: The singing[1] voice of a woman is [Rabbinically[2]] an Erva.[3] This applies whether she is single[4] or married, and even towards the voice of one’s own wife[5] [even while she is pure[6]]. Thus, it is [Rabbinically[7]] forbidden[8] for a husband […]

Question: [Monday, 5th Shevat 5781] Does a person who is in middle of Shemoneh Esrei count as one of the nine answers towards Chazaras Hashatz, and does it make any difference if he begins Shemoneh Esrei exactly with the Chazan. In essence, what is one to do if there are […]

Men removing white hairs:[1] It is [Biblically[2]] forbidden for a man to remove even a single white hair from amongst black hairs [so he does not appear old[3]] due to the prohibition of “Lo Yilbash Gever Simlas Isha.”[4] [One who does so is liable for lashes.[5] This applies to the […]

The greatness and severity of the Mitzvah of Tefillin:[1] The reward for the Mitzvah of Tefillin is very great. The following statements are recorded by Admur and Chazal regarding the greatness and importance of this Mitzvah: A. Karkafta-Poshei Yisrael Begufan:[2] One who does not put on Tefillin [for even one […]

Question: [Motzei Shabbos, 26th Teves 5781] What is the law if in the middle of Kerias Hatorah one realizes that he has lost the Minyan? We had exactly 10 for our minyan and evidently somebody got up and left.   Answer: In such a case, you simply continue Kerias Hatorah […]

Question: [Wednesday, 29th Teves 5781] Can one retract from a compromise agreement? If I had a dispute with my friend over a certain monetary matter and we agreed to a certain compromise, may one of us later back out of the compromise? Basically, I rented an item to a friend […]

Question: [Tuesday, 28th Teves 5781] Dear Rabbi, our Chuppah is already scheduled to begin and I cannot seem to find the wedding ring that I bought for the Kiddushin to give my Kallah under the Chuppah. We checked all our pockets as well as the clothing in my apartment and […]

May a renter remove his Mezuzah upon moving out of the home-Part 2-Circumventing the prohibition: It is possible to circumvent the prohibition, and retrieve one’s Mezuzos, in the following ways: The new renter or owner comes to the home and removes the Mezuzos of the previous renter and replaces it […]

May a renter remove his Mezuzah upon moving out of the home-Part 1:[1] Upon moving out of a rental home, the renter may not remove his Mezuzahs from the doors.[2] [This applies even if one plans to place the Mezuzos on the doors of his new home.[3] Furthermore, this applies […]

Question: [Monday, 27th Teves 5781] Dear Rabbi, I am a convert, but my father was Jewish and would like to know whether I should keep the Yartzeit of my father as well as whether I receive precedence to lead the prayer for the Amud over somebody who is within the […]

Davening Maariv with a Minyan during Pelag Hamincha versus Davening in private after nightfall?[1] One who normally Davens Maariv after nightfall who is present by a Minyan that Davens Maariv after Pelag Hamincha, is to Daven with them [if a Minyan will not be available later on[2]], and then repeat […]

Question: [Motzei Shabbos, 26th Teves 5781] According to Chabad custom is it proper to pray out loud? I am not referring to the prayer of Shemoneh Esrei which I understand is forbidden to be said out loud, but rather to the rest of the prayer, such as Pesukei Dezimra, Birchos […]

How to distribute the Kiddush wine to the listeners and how to “fix” it prior to the distribution:[1] A. Introduction: While there is no obligation for the listeners to drink from the Kiddush wine in order to fulfill their obligation of Kiddush[2], nonetheless, it is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar for […]

Question: [Thursday, 23rd Teves 5781] Is it permitted to sweep leaves that have fallen onto my patio on Shabbos and does it make a difference if they fell before Shabbos or on Shabbos?   Answer: It is permitted to sweep leaves from a tiled floor on Shabbos, such as the […]

Question: [Wednesday, 22nd Teves 5781] What is the proper blessing to say over French toast. I’ve heard some people say that it’s Mezonos and I wanted to know if this is true.   Answer: Slices of French toast that are a Kezayis or more in size receive the blessing of […]

Lending money to a person who has no means of paying back:[1] If the lender knows that the borrower does not have the means to pay back the loan, and does not plan to invest the money in a business which will bring profit, but rather wants to use it […]

Question: [Tuesday, 21st Teves 5781] Rabbi, I learn in Yeshiva and receive a monthly stipend from my parents to use as spending money. My question is whether I’m obligated to take off 10% for Maaser from this money or perhaps I’m even not allowed to do so as my parents […]