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, reader submitted Chizuk Thought of the Day for Elul:
The whole month of Elul is a time of eis ratzone - a time of favor and grace from Hashem. It is one of the times of the year that is set aside for doing tshuvah.
But really doing tshuvah (instead of just talking about it or thinking about it) is very hard to do, since you have to be able to honestly face up to your faults and the things you've done wrong (and we people have a tendency to want to deny or not think about them). Therefore, on each day of this month, take some time and discuss with Hashem, out loud in words (most important), all your failings - all your faults and all your slip-ups - and all those areas and to what extent the yetzer hora still has a hold on you.
And then, each day, after realizing how much you and Hashem, in partnership, have already accomplished in fixing up these matters, ask Him to keep helping you so that together with Him you will do even more, and bring greater glory to His name.
To see archives of Halachos of Chodesh Elul/Yamim Noraim/Hilchos Teshuva (written last year) Please Click Here
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1) It is permitted for a father to be alone with his daughter. (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:1) Likewise, it is permitted for a grandfather to be alone with his granddaughter (both his son's daughter and his daughter's daughter) (See Bach to Even HaEzer Siman 22 and Pischei Teshuva there S"K 2 what he quotes from the Zechor L'Avraham. See also Shu"t Noda B'Yehuda Mahadura Tinyana Even HaEzer Siman 18 Dibur HaMaschil V'Hinei, where he seems to prohibit a grandfather from being alone with his son's daughter based on a story that transpired. See also Shu"t Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 1 Siman 60) A mother and a son may be alone.
Likewise, it is permitted for a grandmother (both paternal and maternal grandmothers) to be alone with her grandson.
The above is true for great grandchildren/great grandparents as well. (See Mishne L'Melech Hilchos Sotah Perek 1:3 Dibur Hamaschil Kina) 2) It is permitted for a man to be alone with his wife when she is a Niddah, provided they have already consummated their marriage. (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:1 and Yoreh Deah Siman 195:1. See also Tosefos to Sotah 7a Dibur Hamaschil Niddah and Sanhedrin 37a Dibur HaMaschil HaTorah. See also Ram"a Yoreh Deah Siman 192:4 and the commentaries there)
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.
Why do you have to drink something hot to be yotzei for melave malka [as you wrote in a previous Q&A] ?
Answer:
You are Yotzei without it.
However, the Gemara in Shabbos 119b says that eating or drinking something hot (especially hot bread) at Melava Malka is a Refuah (cure) for the body.
And many seforim say that it's a(spiritual) Refuah for the Neshama as well.
See the MaHarsha to the above Gemara who explains that by eating something that was warmed up after Shabbos we honor the Shabbos by showing that we were unable to cook on Shabbos!.
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
