Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Question: [Monday, 13th Teves 5781] We were cooking pasta in a meat pot that had been used for cooking meat in the past 24 hours and accidentally placed on it a dairy cover that has not been used for dairy for many months. What is the law of my pasta […]

Attending a meal and joyous event during the year of Aveilus, past Shloshim [1] *From our Sefer “The laws of Mourning” Volume 2 Chapter 23. See there for the full details of this subject! The laws of attending a meal during the year of Aveilus is similar to the laws […]

Question: [Motzei Shabbos, 12th Teves 5781] Should one make a blessing of Haietz when eating olives during a meal with bread? Is it similar to all fruits that we say a Haeitz during the meal or is it different being that it is not sweet? Answer: One who eats olives […]

Removing one’s shoes with one’s hands:[1] One who removes [or even touches[2]] his shoes with his hands[3] is required to wash his hands one time [immediately] afterwards. This applies even if the shoes are clean.[4] [This applies even if one only touched his shoes with his pinky.[5] If the shoes […]

Question: [Motzei Shabbos, 12th Teves 5781] Does the prohibition against making use of a tree also apply against a pot plant? Answer: Yes, it follows the same exact law as a growth from the ground, and thus if the plant contains a hard stem which if bended will break, and […]

Question: [Thursday, 9th Teves 5781] With all due respect what you are saying about not learning Torah on the night of December 25th is not true. The Rabanim poskined to not learn Torah for one reason. They were afraid of pogroms being carried out against Jews learning Torah together, during […]

Question: [Tuesday 7th Teves, 5781] There is a strange smell of spoiled food in our Beis Midrash and we have tried to discover its source unsuccessfully. My question is whether it is permitted for us to continue learning and Davening in the area? The smell is very pungent.   Answer: […]

Question: [Monday, 6th Teves 5781] Dear Rabbi,   What is your opinion on all the various doomsday speakers that the Jewish world has merited to have? There are so many Frum speakers today available on the Internet that you can listen to, and some of the speakers tend to include […]

Question: [Thursday, 2nd Teves 5781] Dear Rabbi, I was wondering what the perspective of Judaism is regarding if there is a spiritual connection between the members of a family aside of course for the biological connection of them being relatives. Meaning, is there a subconscious and telepathic connection between family […]

The Dreidel in Halacha and Agadah:[1]  A. Background of the custom: It is customary to play Dreidel during Chanukah.[2] As tradition has it, this game was historically played in the times of the Greeks when it was prohibited for Jews to study Torah. They would study Torah in secret and […]

Question: [Tuesday, 29th Kisleiv 5781] My father lives in an assisted living complex and has tremendous difficulty moving around, including movement of his arms. I have tried to be with him for each night of Hanukkah to light the candles with him although tonight I will not be able to […]

Question: [Tuesday, 29th Kisleiv 5781] Our family is going to relatives overnight and returning the next evening. We will be arriving past midnight back home and was wondering where we should light the candles, by our relatives before we travel or at home after we arrive? Answer: This matter is […]

This article is an excerpt from To purchase this Sefer, click here When to light the Chanukah candles:[1] The end of sunset:[2] The candles are to initially[3] be lit at the end of sunset.[4] It is not to be lit prior to sunset, nor after the conclusion of sunset.[5] Some Poskim[6] […]

Must one stand upon lighting the Chanukah candles? One is required to stand when saying blessings which involve commands, such as when saying the blessing over Tzitzis, and Tefillin.[1] Accordingly, one is required to stand upon saying the blessings over the Menorah lighting. However, technically, this only applies to the […]

Question: [Monday, 28th Kisleiv 5781] On Shabbos in our outdoor Minyan area we found droppings of what I believe was a cat on the floor. There were also bird droppings all over the place and my question is whether it is permitted for one to Daven in such an area? […]

Question: [Thursday, 24th Kisleiv 5781] Our house entrance is made in the way that after you open the door and walk in, there are a few steps going down into the home, into the living room area where the couch is and where we would like to light the Hanukkah […]

Question: [Thursday, 24th Kisleiv 5781] Is it permitted on Shabbos to play Dreidel? Also, may I play using beans that we designated for this purpose or are they considered Muktzah? Answer: This is a complex question, as the playing of Dreidel on Shabbos can involve a “gambling” prohibition, and when […]