Today's Halachos are dedicated by daily readers Y. & B. R. L'Zechus Refuah Sheleima for Rochel bas Pessel, Nosson Nota Dov ben Kazia Baila & Breindel bas Yita Gela. May they all experience a speedy recovery B'Soch Sh'ar Cholei Yisroel.
1) When washing Mayim Achronim, the fingers must be washed at least until the second knuckle [and the first knuckle for the thumb], as generally the hands do not get dirtied past there from eating.
However, if one's hands indeed did get dirty higher than the second knuckle, the dirtied areas must be washed before being allowed to say Birchas HaMazon. (See Mishna Berura 181:10, where he writes that he unfortunately sees people who simply dab a little water on their fingertips and by doing so they do not satisfy the obligation of Mayim Achronim, and it is a bad practice to do this.)
Some opinions require washing until the joints of the fingers. L'Chatchilah, if water is available it is best to do this. (Biur Halacha 181:4)
2) The Gaon of Vilna required washing the entire hand. (See Shu"t Teshuvos V'Hanhagos Vol. 1 Siman 174).
However, some Poskim maintain that for kabalistic reasons it is best not to wash for Mayim Achronim with more water than necessary (unlike Netilas Yadayim where it is a Mitzvah to wash with an abundance of water) (See Ben Ish Chai Parshas Sh'lach Siman 8 , 9 and 12 and Kaf HaChaim 181:6.)
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QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
I read an article and have heard on other occasions that the chofetz chaim says that one who answers "[Amen] Yehei Shmai Rabba aloud and with kavana can annul many bad decrees.
My question is, does this apply to women too or do Tznius considerations override this, calling for women not to answer out loud (whereby they may be heard by the men in shul)?
Answer:
Those arent the Chofetz Chaim's words...they are the words of the Gemara! (Shabbos 119b) The Gemara says one who answers Amen Yehei Shmay Rabbah with all his strength annuls bad decrees and gets Mechilah for his sins.
According to the second opinion in Tosefos "all his strength" means saying it loudly. According to Rasi and the first opinion in Tosefos it means saying it with as much Kavanah as possible (which is more important than simply screaming the words)
If a woman answers it loudly where men will be able to hear her, indeed it isn't proper. However, she can, and should, still say it with as much Kavanah as she can!
And she should also say it as loud as she can say it without any men hearing her.
Readers feedback to previous Q&A:
"In response to the question of salt at night. look at the Piskei Teshuvous Siman 167 footnote 44.
The Chasam Sofer was not matbil on Friday night in salt due to the fact that the "Eimurim & Chaluvim" were not brought on Friday night.But on a regular weeknight they were and there was salt in the Haktora."
another reader gave the source as
"page samech tes (69) in the Piskei Chasam Sofer (R' Tzvi Elimelech Ulman edition)."
A number of other readers also emailed me with this information that the Chasam Sofer's minhag was indeed not to use salt on Friday night, and I thank all of them for their feedback. It is much appreciated.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
