I am to my Beloved [Hashem] and my beloved [Hashem] is to me.(Shir Hashirim 6:3)
דרשו ד' בהמצאו קראהו בהיותו קרוב Seek out Hashem when he is nearby, call out to him when he is near.(YeShaya 55:6)
Short Chizuk Thought of the Day for Elul:
The Shela HaKadosh brings down from tzadikim of previous generations that the Pasuk "Aryeh Shoag Mi Lo Yirah"; when the lion roars who is not afraid, is a Siman for the Yomim Noraim and the Days of Judgement. The word Aryeh has the letters Aleph, Reish, Yud, Hey which represents Elul (Aleph), Rosh HaShana (Reish), Yom Kippur (Yud), and Hoshana Rabba (Hey) the day when our fate is handed out to the Malachim to carry out. The lion's roar of these days is a sign for us to be afraid and do Teshuva.
Teshuva he says is an acronym for the various ways we show our remorse. Tuf - Taanis, fasting; Shin - Sak, wearing a sack cloth; Vuv -VaEfer, ashes; Bais - Bechia, crying; Hey - Hesped, mourning over our aveiros.
The letters of Elul we all know stand for "Ani LeDodi V'Dodi Li"; I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me. The last letters of each of the 4 words is Yud with the numerical equivalent of 40. This represents the 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur that are a special time for Teshuva.
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1) It is forbidden for a man to be alone with a single female, even if she isn't a Niddah. This prohibition was instituted by Dovid HaMelech and his court, due a story that transpired with Amnon and Tamar, as described in the Pesukim of Shmuel II Perek 13. (See TalmudSanhedrin 21a-b and Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:2)
Today's days, since single girls do not immerse in a Mikvah, every female above the age of 12 has the status of a Niddah, thus it is biblically prohibited for a man to be alone with her. (See Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 1Siman 26 and Even HaEzer Vol. 1 Siman 61, Shu"t Riva"sh Siman 425, Aruch HaShulchan Even HaEzer Siman 22:1) 2) It is prohibited for a Jewish male to be alone with a non Jewish female, single or married, and according to some Poskim there are instances when this can be a Biblical transgression. (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:2. See also Minchas Chinuch Mitzva 188:5, Be'er Heitev Even HaEzer Siman 16:2 and Pischei Teshuva Even HaEzer Siman 16:1)
Similarly, it is forbidden for a Jewish woman or girl to be alone with a non Jewish male, (even if the non Jew's wife is present). (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:3 and Yoreh Deah 153:4)
If the Jewish woman is married, this is a biblical prohibition. (See Ram"a Even HaEzer Siman 115:4 and Biur HaGr"a there Sif Katan 19. See also Shu"t Chavos Yair Siman 73)
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 pages 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.
Is there any significance to saying "Zecher Tzaddik L'vracha (Zatzal)" or "Alav/Aleha HaShalom" [when referring to a Tzadik who has passed away]?
Does it to anything [for] the Neshama? Are we obligated to say that?
Answer:
Yes, whenever a Tzadik's name is mentioned the words "Zecher Tzadik L'Vracha" or similar, should be added, to bless his/her soul, and whenever a Rasha's name is mentioned the words "Shem R'shaim Yirkav or Yemach shemo" should be mentioned.
This is based on a Posuk in Mishlei Perek 10:7. See Rashi there. See also Gemara Yoma 38b.
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
