Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Listen here to audio Shavuos Checklist   The days preceding Shavuos: Valuing time: The Rebbe notes of the Rebbe Rayatz that the period of time during the days preceding Shavuos were utterly precious to him and were hence used wisely. Shabbos Mivarchim Sivan: Av Harachamim is recited on Shabbos Mivarchim […]

Due to Covid-19, many individuals and communities have missed previous Shabbos Torah readings and are now able to make it to Shul for the first time on Shabbos. Different Rabbis are saying different things. Practically, may the Parshiyos be made up? There are different approaches regarding this matter: No makeup: […]

Cutting nails on Thursday:[1] It is a Mitzvah to cut one’s [hand[2]] nails every[3] Erev Shabbos.[4] If one is unable to wait until Friday, then one may cut his nails on previous days of the week.[5] However, some[6]  are particular to not cut the nails on Thursday.[7] [Practically, the widespread […]

Listen here to Audio Shiur Should one recite the blessing of Shehechiyanu upon putting on Tefillin for the first time?[1] Some Poskim[2] rule the blessing of Shehechiyanu is to be recited upon performing a Mitzvah for its first time, and hence a Bar Mitzvah boy is to say the blessing […]

Listen here to audio Shiur Is the Chabad custom to light a Yizkor candle? Many are accustomed to light a Yizkor candle [i.e. Ner Neshama] for the days that Yizkor is recited.[1] However, it is not necessarily the Chabad custom to light a candle for Yizkor.[2] Indeed, the Rebbe and […]

Counting Jews:[1] The prohibition: It is forbidden to count Jews [in numbers such as 1, 2, 3 etc].[2] [This applies whether one is counting an individual group of Jews or is counting the Jewish people as a whole, such as for census taking.[3] Rebbe Elazar says that anyone who counts […]

Making a celebratory meal and party: The old tradition of celebrating a Bar Mitzvah but not a Bas Mitzvah: The Zohar[1] states that the day of a boys Bar Mitzvah is similar to a wedding in terms of joy, and one must similarly rejoice on this day, just as one […]

Listen here to audio Shiur May one dab gel or cream on the skin on Shabbos?[1] May one dab cream on a baby’s red bottom on Shabbos? May one dab Vaseline on dried lips on Shabbos? Introduction: Placing a cream or gel on one’s skin on Shabbos touches upon two […]

Severance pay-Pitzuyim:[1] A. The letter of the law:[2] There is no Torah requirement to give severance pay to a worker.[3] This applies even if the worker was fired. Nevertheless, according to Halacha, the conditions of payment for labor and employees follow the customs of the area, unless explicitly stated otherwise.[4] […]

Listen here to Audio Eating eggs on Lag Baomer:[1] Some are accustomed  to eat hard boiled eggs on Lag BaOmer.[2] This custom was followed by the Chabad Rabbeim and Chabad Chassidim of many generations.[3] Some Poskim[4], however, write to specifically not eat eggs on this day in order not to […]

May a man Daven or learn within sight of his daughter, sister or mother who is not fully dressed? Adult relatives:[1] The prohibition against a man learning or Davening in view of uncovered areas of a woman’s body, applies even to female relatives. Thus, it is forbidden for a man […]

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Pesach Sheiyni 1. Background of Pesach Sheiyni:[1] In the times of the Temple, a person who did not bring the Pesach offering in the 14th of Nissan, either due to being impure or due to being a distance from Jerusalem, […]

Listen here to Audio Shiur May one Daven in front of a picture?[1] From the letter of the law, there is no prohibition to Daven opposite a picture or painting.[2] Nevertheless, it is improper to Daven in front of a picture, in order so one does not come to stare […]

Listen here to audio shiur part 1 Listen here to audio Shiur Part 2 Learning and reading Tanach at night [Chumash/Navi/Tehillim]: A. The avoidance: Many Poskim[1] rule based on Kabala that one is not to read verses of Mikra [Written Torah] at night.[2] This includes verses from Torah, Nevi’im, Kesuvim, […]

Listen here to audio May one wash for bread in a different area than the meal?[1] Example: We do not have a sink in our living room. Can we wash for bread in the kitchen? What if the kitchen or nearest sink is in two totally separate areas of the […]

May one remove the cover from a pot food that is on the fire on Shabbos and then place it back on? Removing: One may always remove the cover of a pot of food on Shabbos even if the pot is sitting over a fire, or Blech, or electric plate. […]

Listen here to audio May one fly an American or Israeli flag? Being patriotic for one’s country: The Mishneh[1] states that “Mispalelim Leshilom Malchus,” that one must pray for the peace of his country. Indeed, in living with this statement, Jews throughout the generations served as noble patriots of their […]

May girls/women sing in private if their voices can be heard to the outside? At an event, such as a Farbrengen, is it permitted for women to sing even though their voices can be heard to the outside? As stated above, it is forbidden for men to listen to a […]

Listen here to audio Men immersing with clothing in a Mikveh, pool, sea, ocean: *The below only applies to a male immersion, for female immersion, see here! **The immersion in a Mikveh/pool/ocean during Covid-19 may only be done in accordance to, and with permission of, directives of the medical establishment […]

Listen here to Shiur May one answer Amen etc if he is in range of hearing a Minyan that does not follow proper protocol for Covid-19, or is taking place contrary to the instructions of the local medical or/and Rabbinical directives? It is forbidden for a Chazan to lead a […]

May the blessing be said over a fruit tree growing in a movable pot [i.e. tree pot]? Yes, a growing tree which is planted with earth inside of a pot may have the blessing said over it if it has produced blossoming fruit. Accordingly, in areas that fruit trees are […]

Listen here to Shiur How to perform Kerias Hatorah by Covid-19 porch Minyanim: Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Minyanim have sprouted on the porches of buildings that contain a Minyan worth of tenants, each individual sitting on his own porch, and the question is asked in regards to how Kerias […]

Listen here to Shiur May one wear slippers for Davening?[1] One is required to Daven in a dress code that is fitting to be worn before a king, aristocrat, and people of stature.[2] From this it is understood that whether it is permitted to Daven wearing slippers is dependent on […]

Fixing items during Chol Hamoed:[1] The general rule: In general, it is forbidden to fix items in a professional way during Chol Hamoed.[2] This applies even if it is needed for the sake of the Moed.[3] However, it is permitted to perform amateur fixing jobs on Chol Hamoed if it […]

Besamim for Havdalah on Motzei Chol Hamoed Pesach:[1] Havdalah on Motzei Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach follows the same laws as Havdalah throughout the year, and hence the Mitzvah of Besamim applies on Motzei Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach just as it applies throughout the year. Nevertheless, due to the Chametz restrictions, […]

Five directives of Rabbi Groner Z”L relating to Pesach It feels almost unreal that we have just lost one of the great personalities of this generation. A Chassid with all his fiber and being, who served as the conduit for Jews around the world to receive their responses from the […]

PDF printable checklist Erev Pesach Seder preparation list The leader of the Seder is to review the Hagadah and story of the exodus with the Mefarshim and contemplate the best ways of giving over the information to the participants, each on his level. It is strongly advised for the Seder […]

Listen here to audio May one drink tea or coffee, water, and other beverages after Kiddush/Kadesh and during Maggid?[1] Wine and Alcoholic beverages:[2] If one desires to drink a number of cups [of wine and alcoholic beverages], whether immediately after Kiddush or in middle of the Haggadah, prior to beginning […]

Listen here to today’s audio Does tea require a Hechsher for Pesach? Tea is considered one of the oldest and favored drinks in many societies and many people enjoy drinking a hot cup of tea on Pesach. This especially applies this year, due to the coronavirus outbreak, in which many […]

Full Coronavirus Pesach Guide for 2020 A project of www.Shulchanaruchharav.com      *This guide will focus only on Pesach laws that may be affected by the coronavirus and quarantine requirements. For the full digest on the laws of Pesach, and for further details on the laws explained in this guide, including […]

Listen to audio here May one be lenient this year to Kasher his Keilim that need Haggalah through heating them up in an oven, or over a fire? Some Poskim[1] rule that heating the inside of a vessel to Yad Soledes through it sitting over a fire or inside of […]

Audio Part 2 Circumventing the need to Tovel-Giving the vessel to a gentile and then borrowing it back: Vessels that are borrowed or rented from a gentile do not require immersion.[1] Accordingly, in a case that one is unable to immerse a vessel in a Mikveh, such as on Shabbos […]

Corona times Mechiras Chametz & General Q&A on the Mechira Listen here to audio May one appoint a Rav over the phone, or through fax, email or website registration form?[1] Yes.[2] However, initially, it is best for one to personally sign on the Shtar Harsha and then send it in.[3] […]

Listen here to Audio Shiur Corona Minyanim-The laws applicable to street Minyanim: May one make a public outdoor Minyan despite the corona fears? As already explained in a previous Daily Halacha, the view of Halacha on how to act during a time of an epidemic is that one is to […]

Must one check books/Sefarim for crumbs of Chametz? Background:  One must search for even an insignificant crumb of Chametz, and destroy it.[1] This applies even if one has already nullified his Chametz, or plans to nullify it before Pesach.[2] If, however, the Chametz is slightly dirty to the point that […]

Listen here to Shiur The Halachic obligation to self-quarantine during a plague [and miss Minyan, Mikveh, etc]: During our current time of crisis due to the Coronavirus outbreak, many are being asked by the medical community to quarantine/isolate themselves from society and not leave their homes, so they do not […]

 Coronavirus Shabbos Directives Going to Shul: All medical and Rabbinical directives for one’s locality are to be guarded regarding going to Shul or arranging a private Minyan. This means that if the local Rabbinate or medical authorities request that shuls be closed and there be no congregation for Minyanim, then […]

Listen here to audio May one wash his hands with liquid soap on Shabbos? The Issues: Using liquid soaps on Shabbos touch upon the following three issues. The prohibition of Molid Davar Chadash [i.e. melting or dissolving].[1] The Mimacheik/Mimareiach [i.e. smoothening] prohibition.[2] The Molid Reiach prohibition [i.e. making a new […]

Listen to Audio Personal prayers-Praying in distress: A. The Mitzvah:[1] [According to all Poskim[2]] it is a Biblical command to Daven to Hashem in a time of need, when one is in a state of distress and requires Divine assistance. [Furthermore, this is the main intent of prayer, to pray […]

Coronavirus Pandemic Halachic Directives-Part 1   Talmud Torah of children:[1] Although a child is exempt from all the Mitzvos, and even the father is not Biblically obligated to educate him in Mitzvos, but rather only Rabbinically, nevertheless, teaching Torah is a Biblical positive command. The father is commanded to teach […]

The alternatives for men if a Mikveh is not available Nine Kavim-shower:[1] If one is not able to immerse in any body of water [even a swimming pool and the like] then he is to pour nine Kavim [12.5 Liters[2]] of water over his body. One may use up to […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me on Amazon.com Parshas Parah and what to do if placed in quarantine: General laws:[1] A Biblical or Rabbinical obligation?[2] There are opinions[3] who say that there is a Biblical obligation to hear Parshas Parah.[4] [Many Poskim[5] however argue and rule there is […]

Must one pay for damages incurred during a Purim meal?  During the Purim festivities, a guest who was extremely overjoyed stood on our table to begin dancing on it and after a few seconds the entire table collapsed, and is now broken. Is that individual obligated to pay for […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me on Amazon.com Lebesumei-Getting drunk on Purim:[1] Men are obligated[2] to get drunk [on wine[3]] on Purim to the point they cannot differ between “blessed is Mordechai and cursed is Haman”.[4] [This is included within the Mitzvah of Seudas Purim.[5]] Other Poskim[6], however, […]