Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Yichud with ones mother in-law with children at home   It is permitted for one to be in Yichud with the opposite gender if there are children of a certain age [to be explained] present in the area, thus acting as Shomrim. Below we will discuss the age in which […]

Standing for a Torah scholar:[1] It is a positive command in the Torah to stand up in front of all Sages. The age: The command to stand before a Sage applies even if the Sage is not old but is young [even if he is a child under Bar Mitzvah[2]] […]

May one look into his neighbor’s property?[1] It is forbidden to look into another person’s property to see his actions and dealings, without his permission and knowledge.[2] This law applies even to a backyard and porch and goes without saying that it applies to a house. This applies even the […]

Hitting one’s parents:[1] One who hits his father or mother during their lifetime is liable for the death penalty of strangulation. This applies whether to a son or a daughter. However it only applies if blood was drawn through the hit. If however blood was not drawn through the hit, […]

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 […]

If one says he is Jewish because he converted, is he to be believed?[1] Marrying a Jew: If a person who was known to be a gentile claims that he went through conversion and became Jewish, he is not believed to be allowed to marry a Jew unless he supplies […]

Using check cashing services: Using a check cashing service is for all purposes similar to selling a loan to a third party, and follows all the restrictions relevant to it. The difference between cashing a check by a bank and by a check cashing service is that by a bank, […]

The requirement to have legal proof of the loan:[1] It is forbidden for a lender to give a loan without receiving a form of legal testimony of its occurrence.[2] This applies even if the borrower is a Torah Scholar ]and is thus a trustworthy person].[3] Thus, one must either have […]

May a man send a present to a woman? One is to avoid sending gifts to a widow or any single woman.[1] Likewise, some Poskim[2] rule one is to avoid sending gifts to a married woman due to Sheilas Shalom.[3] However, when doing so without any intent of affection, such […]

Hitting one’s parents:[1] One who hits his father or mother during their lifetime is liable for the death penalty of strangulation. This applies whether to a son or a daughter. However it only applies if blood was drawn through the hit. If however blood was not drawn through the hit, […]