Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

Supporting Jewish businesses-The obligation to do business with a fellow Jew [i.e. buying, selling, investments, hiring]:[[1] The general law:[2] The verse[3] states “Vechi Timkaru Mimkar Leamisecha, Oa Kanah Miyad Amisecha Al Tono Ish Es Achiv/When you sell or purchase from your brother do not cheat him.” From this verse it […]

Which grains of bread need to be Pas Yisrael? Must gluten free bread be Pas Yisrael?[1] Only breads [or baked Mezonos products] that are made of the five grains [oat, spelt, wheat, barley, and rye] are forbidden due to Pas Akum.[2] However, bread made of legumes or rice [or potatoes] […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer     Buy now on Amazon.com Untangling the Tzitzis strings:[1] Prior to saying the blessing over the Tzitzis one is required to separate the strings of the Tzitzis from each other.[2] [This applies for both the Tallis Gadol and the Tallis Katan.[3] This […]

Must one cover the wine bottle during Kiddush and may the wine still be used if it was left open? One may not recite Kiddush over wine that has been left open/revealed.[1] Nevertheless, if the wine remained open/revealed for only a short amount of time, one does not need to […]

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy Here Must one have separate sinks for meat and dairy dishes?[1] It is proper to have two separate sinks, one for meat and one for dairy, and so is the widespread custom of Jewry today. Doing so escapes the Halachic questions […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy here Entering with Tzitzis and other holy garments into a bathroom:[1] It is permitted to enter with Tzitzis into a bathroom being that this does not appear so much as belittlement of the Mitzvah.[2] Nevertheless, this only applies to the Tallis […]

Must one have a Minyan for Kerias Hatorah and how many people must be paying attention?[1] One may not read from the Torah [with its blessings] if there are less than ten adult men above the age of Mitzvos who are present. [Accordingly, one is required to have a Minyan […]

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 […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer  Buy here The prohibition and danger involved in destroying a fruit bearing tree-The permitted cases:[1] [The following are the permitted cases in which the prohibition of Bal Tashchis and Sakana does not apply to destroying a fruit tree, although some rule that […]

Being Misader Kiddushin for a couple who is not religious and/or will not keep Taharas Hamishpacha:[1] Officiating a Jewish Kosher wedding for a couple fulfills the great positive command of Keddushin and Nessuin, and assists the couple in fulfilling the Mitzvah of Peru Urevu. Nonetheless, being Misader Kiddushin for a […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy here People restrictions-Kohanim/Pregnant/Nidda/children/Seven years absence/Baal Keri: A. Kohen:[1] See Chapter 9 Halacha 1 for the full details of this matter! The general prohibition of impurity: It is forbidden for a male[2] Kohen[3] to come into contact with a grave, or the […]

What is the law if one said the blessing of Ha’adama on a Mezonos or Hamotzi food?[1] Some Poskim[2] rule that one who recited the blessing of Ha’adama on a Mezonos or Hamotzi food does not fulfill his obligation, and he is therefore required to repeat the blessing of Mezonos/Hamotzi […]

Moving, hanging and removing wall pictures on Shabbos:[1 Introduction: The need for moving a wall picture on Shabbos can come up in various scenarios, most commonly in the event that it became tilted out of place. Whether moving a wall picture is permitted on Shabbos grapples with the question of […]

The prohibition and danger involved in destroying a fruit bearing tree:[1] The prohibition and danger: It is Biblically forbidden to unjustifiably destroy a [healthy] fruit bearing tree due to the prohibition of Bal Tashchis, as explained above.[2] Furthermore, in addition to the prohibition of Bal Tashchis associated with destroying a […]

Is breast milk considered dairy or Pareve?[1] A woman’s milk is considered Kosher once it is pumped out[2], and it may then [even Lechatchilah[3]]  be consumed by any person [if it is breast milk of a Jew[4]].[5] A woman’s milk is not considered real milk and thus does not contain […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer     Buy now on Amazon.com Is there a Mitzvah to look at the Tzitzis? Most Rishonim and Poskim rule that there is no positive command to look at the Tzitzis.[1] Some Rishonim[2] rule that aside for the positive command to wear a […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer     Buy now on Amazon.com The Mitzvah of Tzitzis:[1] The Torah[2] commands every male Jew to tie fringes onto the corners of four cornered garments that he wears. It is forbidden to wear any garment that is obligated in Tzitzis and does […]

May one perform Bikur Cholim on Shabbos:[1] It is permitted to visit the sick on Shabbos.[2] Nevertheless [one is not to arrange to visit the sick specifically on Shabbos and is rather to arrange to visit him during the week as] it was with difficulty that the Sages allowed visiting […]

Keeping stringencies/Chumros at the home of a host:[1] Introduction: When one is a guest in someone else’s home for a meal, it is common to be faced with a dilemma in which partaking in certain foods being offered may compromise one’s religious observance or stringencies, and the question is raised […]

Using the bathroom in middle of Davening:[1] Introduction: It is forbidden to begin praying if one has an urge to urinate or defecate and one is thus required to relieve himself prior to Davening. If one did not do so, then in certain cases his Davening is invalid, and he […]

Covering the knife during Bentching:[1] It is customary to cover the knife during the recital of Birchas Hamazon.[2] It is not necessary to remove the knives from the table, so long as the knife is covered.[3] [One may however choose to remove the knife rather than cover it.[4]] Shabbos and […]

Taking a shower on Yom Tov?[1] Hot water: Water heated on Yom Tov:[2] It is forbidden to bathe [or shower[3]] one’s entire body with water that was heated on Yom Tov.[4] This applies even out of a bathhouse. This applies even if the water was heated [in a permitted method, […]

Using a peeler on Yom Tov Introduction: The use of a peeler on Shabbos is subject to the Borer prohibition[1], and is thus prohibited to be used on Shabbos to remove inedible peels[2], and with some Poskim[3] prohibiting it entirely even to remove edible peels.[4] [See Topics in Practical Halacha […]

Does one recite the morning blessing of Elokaiy Neshama if he did not sleep at night? Background:[1] It is disputed amongst the Poskim[2] whether the fifteen morning blessings starting from Hanosein Lasechvi Vina, are to be said even if one did not sleep at night, and did not receive the […]

Setting up the table for Shabbos, from before Shabbos:[1] One[2] is to set up the Shabbos table [including its chairs[3]] on Erev Shabbos in preparation for the Friday night meal.[4] [The silverware and china are to be clean and polished for the meal.[5] There is no need however to set […]

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy Here or on Amazon.com The law Bedieved if one left a gentile alone in one’s kitchen-Is one’s kitchen still Kosher:[1] Within 24 hours: If one transgressed, and left a gentile alone with his vessels, then he may not use his vessels [with hot foods] […]

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy Here or on Amazon.com Leaving a gentile alone in one’s home and how it effects the Kashrus of one’s kitchen:[1] A. Lechatchila: It is initially forbidden to allow a gentile to remain alone with one’s eating utensils/vessels due to worry that […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy here or on Amazon.com Not to delay one’s bathroom needs:[1] At what point is one obligated to relieve his urge to urinate or defecate?[2] The above prohibition of Bal Tishaktzu only applies when the person feels a certain amount of pressure […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy here or on Amazon.com Not to delay one’s bathroom needs:[1] The prohibition:[2] One who withholds his bowels or bladder transgresses the [Rabbinical[3]] command of “Al Tishaktzu Es Nafshoseichem[4]”. Does the prohibition apply to withholding urine? However, there are opinions[5] who rule […]

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here May the same microwave be used for meat and milk?[1] Some Rabbanim[2] say that one may use the same microwave for both meat and dairy, one after the other, so long as it is cleaned in-between. The majority of Poskim[3], however, […]

Refusing an Aliya after being called up: One who is offered to read the Torah and refuses to read it, his days are shortened.[1] One is thus not to refuse an Aliyah once he has been called up.[2] [Some Poskim[3] however rule this only applied in previous times when the […]

Holding the food in one’s right hand upon saying the blessing:[1] The ruling is that one is not to say the blessing over a food until the food is in one’s hands.[2] The following article will discuss which hand the food is to be held in, the right or left, […]

The obligation to eat immediately after Kiddush-How much time does one have?[1] Introduction: In order for Kiddush to be valid [whether of night or day of Shabbos and Yom Tov] one is required to eat a “meal” afterwards [which consists of at least a Kezayis of Mezonos/Hamotzi or Revius of […]

This Article is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy here or on Amazon.com Mekach Taus-The Torah’s Return policy on spoiled food products: The Torah law: [The following law applies in all jurisdictions which do not contain consumer laws legislated on this issue:] One who purchased a food product and discovered […]

Must pet food be Kosher? General law: In general, the laws of Kashrus do not apply to animals, including pets that one owns and hence all non-Kosher foods that are permitted in benefit may be purchased and fed to one’s pets. There is no “business” prohibition involved in purchasing and […]

Killing and/or trapping stinging insects such as mosquitoes, bees, wasps, hornets and the like, on Shabbos: *Skip to B and summary for the quick answer! A. Background:[1] Under normal conditions, it is forbidden to kill or trap any living creature on Shabbos.[2] In certain circumstances doing so contains a Biblical […]

Parents, Grandparents hugging and kissing adult children and grandchildren of the opposite gender:[1] Kissing and hugging is permitted between parents and children even if they are of the opposite gender [and even if the children are now adults[2]]. Thus, a mother may hug and kiss her son [of any age] […]

Parents, Grandparents hugging and kissing adult children and grandchildren of the opposite gender:[1] Kissing and hugging is permitted between parents and children even if they are of the opposite gender [and even if the children are now adults[2]]. Thus, a mother may hug and kiss her son [of any age] […]

Is the Mitzvah of Kedoshim Tihyu considered one of the 613 Mitzvos? Some Rishonim[1] list this Mitzvah as one of the 613. However the vast majority of Rishonim omit it.[2]   Must one sanctify himself with the permitted? Talmudic ruling: Rava states in the Talmud[3] that one is to sanctify […]

This article is an excerpt from our Rosh Chodesh Sefer Buy here or on Amazon.com Hefsek-Making an interval to talk, answer Amen, Kedusha, and the like:[1] Talking: It is forbidden to make an interval and talk during Hallel just as we rule regarding any other part of Davening. This applies whether […]

Hugging and kissing relatives:[1] It is forbidden to hug or kiss any of one’s relatives, including one’s adult sister or aunt[2] [and uncle, niece, nephew, cousins[3]] and the like, with exception to a father/mother and daughter/son, as will be explained. This prohibition applies even though there is naturally no physical […]

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Making Gebrochts for Achron Shel Pesach/Shabbos after Pesach May one cook Gebrochts on Friday Shevi’i Shel Pesach for the sake of eating it on Shabbos? Some Poskim[1] rule it is permitted to do so, and so is the custom of […]

May children or adults draw pictures and make paintings on Chol Hamoed? Background: It is forbidden to write [or draw pictures or designs[1]] on Chol Hamoed.[2] Some Poskim[3] rule that it is only forbidden to write in a professional script, known as Maaseh Uman, which is the scribal lettering used […]

May one go fishing on Chol Hamoed?[1] Commercial fishing and fishing for food purposes: It is permitted to go fishing during Chol Hamoed if one’s intent in doing so is to eat the fish during the Moed.[2] There is no limit as to how many fish one may catch, and […]

14. Erev Pesach: Taanis Bechoros-Fast of First Born: When: The fast of the first born sons takes place on Erev Pesach. Who? If one is a firstborn male for either the mother or the father he has to fast. This applies likewise to Levim and Kohanim. If one’s mother had […]

Sof Zman Achilas Chametz-When does it become prohibited to eat Chametz? The Biblical Sof Zman:[1] It is Biblically forbidden to eat Chametz[2] starting from midday [the start of the 7th hour of the day] of the 14th and onwards, throughout the seven days of Pesach, and one who does so […]

What is one to do if he accidentally said a blessing of Al Netilas Yadayim by Urchatz? Background: The reason for washing without a blessing prior to eating the Karpas dipped in salt water [i.e. Urchatz], is due to the general obligation to wash without a blessing prior to eating […]

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Owning and benefiting from Kitniyos?[1] Background regarding eating: The letter of the law:[2] Only the five grains which are 1) wheat, 2) barley; 3) rye, 4) spelt, 5) oats, can become leavened and become Chametz. All other grains/flours, such as […]