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 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until after Hoshana Rabba are days of Hashem's Rachamim (mercy), Selicha (forgiveness) and Ratzon (goodwill). They are an extremely opportune time for Jews to find it within themselves to repent and atone for the sins that were transgressed in the past year and to accept it upon themselves to live better lives, according to Halacha- the will of Hashem, in the year ahead. Hashem is always waiting for his children to repent, but in Elul He is even closer to us and Teshuva is a lot easier.
It is never too late to jump on the bandwagon and start our journey of return to our father in heaven, and hopefully, together, bring about the final redemption with Mashiach Tzidkeinu.
To see archives of Halachos of Chodesh Elul/Yamim Noraim/Hilchos Teshuva (written last year) Please Click Here
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Today's Halachos are dedicated by a daily reader, M.M. L'Zechus for a Refuah Shelaima for Chanan Velvel ben Breina, who urgently needs a Refuah. Please have in mind when learning today's Halachos that they be as a zechus for his Refuah Shelaima B'karov!
1) An adult male may be alone with a girl below the age of 3 years, and a woman may be alone with a boy below the age of 9 years.
However, once a girl is above 3 years old and a boy is older than 9 years old, all the Halachos of Yichud apply to them, as if they are adults. (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:11) There is some debate in the Poskim whether a boy under Bar Mitzvah (13) may be alone with a girl who is under Bas Mitzvah (12). Many Poskim are lenient, while others are stringent. A Rav should be consulted for Halacha L'Ma'aseh. (See Yam Shel Shlomo end of tractate Kidushin Siman 22, Bach Siman 22:7, Shu"t Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 65:11 and Sefer Birur Halacha page 71 quoting Rav Noson Gestetner Shlita ,author of Shu"t L'Horos Noson who prohibits it) 2) If a man is [R"L] ill to the point that he is, according to his doctors, incapable of doing the things for which the prohibition of Yichud were instituted, according to many Poskim there is no prohibition for a woman caregiver (or otherwise) to be alone with him. (See Shu"t Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 65:10 and Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol.6 Siman 40:22 See also Shu"t Zayis Ra'anan Even HaEzer Vol. 1 Siman 1 who is stringent with this) However, an older man or a weak man, who does not have the strength to engage in the activities for which Yichud was instituted, and has even separated from his wife due to this, but has not done this based on any medical reason or on the advice of a doctor, is still subject to the biblical prohibitions of Yichud, though he won't be subject to the rabbinical prohibitions. (Igros Moshe ibid.)
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.
A question I am curious about: on Friday night when singing Shalom Aleichem, why do we (not all people but most people) say each line 3 times?
Answer:
The "Shalom Aleichem" was authored based on the Gemara (Shabbos 119b) that says that each person has 2 malachim (angels) escort him home from shul each friday night, one a good angel and one a bad angel.
When they enter the home they check for three things: 1) candles burning 2) the Shabbos table set and 3) the beds are nicely made up.
If the three things are found as they should be, the good angel blesses the home that it should be this way the following week as well, and the bad angel is forced to answer "Amen" to this Bracha. If the three things are not found, the bad malach curses the home, saying that it should be unready for shabbos the following week as well, and the good angel is forced to answer "Amen"
The "3" times we repeat each verse of the shalom Aleichem are symbolic of the "3" things above that each Jewish home should have prepared in honor of the holy shabbos day. (Based on the writings of the Ya'avetz in his siddur)
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
