Short, Reader Submitted Chizuk Thought of the Day for Elul:
MaRan HaGaon HoRav R' Elozor Menachem Shach zt"l once explained the posuk "Ein od milvado" - literally, "There is none other than Him" - to mean that however far a man may be from his Creator, he is still very close to Him. Indeed, it is a closeness which cannot be surpassed.
We learn in the Yalkut concerning the sneh, the Burning Bush, that Moshe said, "Let me turn to see ... " Our Sages tell us that when Moshe Rabbeinu "turned to see" he was involved in the act of drawing closer to Hashem. This made him worthy of receiving prophecy.
Hashem's presence fills the entire universe, as the posuk states, "Ein od milvado." It is not important to observe exactly how much Moshe turned in the direction of the Voice. It was the manifestation of his desire to come close to Hashem that made him worthy of prophecy. Once he demonstrated this enthusiasm - Reb Yochanan says he walked three steps, and Raish Lakish says he merely inclined his head - it was sufficient, and Hashem immediately revealed Himself to Moshe.
We learn similarly in Tehillim concerning the sons of Korach. The Yalkut states that the sons of Korach had sunk to the lowest point. They had fallen to the seventh level of Gehennom, and the fire raged all around them. They could no longer speak. They couldn't say shira (praise) because the gates of Gehennom were open and the fires were ablaze around them. Although they could not confess with their mouths, the feelings of teshuvah and repentance stirred in their hearts. They longed to atone for their sins and to be near Hashem, and Hashem accepted them. As the Torah tells us (Bamidbar 26:11), "U'vnei Korach lo meisu - the sons of Korach did not die."
No matter how far a person has strayed from the Borei Olam, he remains exceedingly close. "Ein od milvado" - Hashem encompasses the whole of creation, and therefore we need only to have our hearts yearn to be close to Hashem in order for our teshuvah to be accepted.
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1)A man may be alone with a woman whose husband is "in the city" (referred to in Halacha as Ba'alah B'Ir. we will B'Ezras Hashem discuss more details of what is called "in the city" in the near future), as the fear of her husband coming home is enough of a deterrent to prevent anything inappropriate from happening. (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:8, Shu"t Radvaz Vol. 3 Siman 481, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 152:4 and Chofetz Chaim in Sefer Nidchei Yisroel Perek 24:6. Although a minority of Poskim, including the Bach, disagree with this leniency based on Rashi Kidushin 80a Dibur Hamaschil Ba'alah, most Poskim rule lie the Shulchan Aruch and allow Yichud in such a case)
Likewise, a man may be alone with 2 women if the husband of either one of the women is in the city. (See Chochmas Adam Klal 126 and Binas Adam there Os 17) However, if the woman is not in her own home, and the husband does not know where she is, or even if her husband allowed her to go to a different man's home, and knows where she is, the Poskim debate if the fact that her husband is in the city still helps.
The Chochmas Adam (Klal 26:6) rules that in the above cases the heter of Ba'alah B'Ir no longer applies.
Other Poskim (including the Chofetz Chaim in Sefer Nidchei Yisroel 24:6, Chazon Ish, Chida and others) maintain that the leniency still applies. (If the husband knows where she is, even more Poskim agree that there is no Yichud problems if Ba'alah B'Ir. See Radvaz ibid.) Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal (Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 65:21) rules stringently, unless in cases of dire necessity where he allows it.
2) If the woman goes with the man to a deserted place, where she doesn't suspect that her husband would ever show up and find her, most Poskim agree that the leniency of Ba'alah B'Ir no longer applies. (See Sefer Nesivos L'Shabbos from the Hafla'ah Even HaEzer Siman 22:5 and Sefer Nidrei Zerizin from Rav Shlomo Kluger Zatzal Vol. 2 in the Teshuva at the end of the Sefer page76b)
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.
What exactly are the halchos of women not dancing in front of men? is the halacha on the woman, that she cannot dance in front of a man, or is the halacha on the man, that he cannot watch a woman dance?
I ask because often at weddings, there are men that will be by the mechitza for what ever reason, or will come into the women section to get their wives etc. so is a woman obligated to stop dancing? or is the halachic problem with the man in this case?
Please advise.
Answer:
If the woman is dancing on the women's side of the mechitza, where men do not belong for ANY reason while women are dancing, then it's the man's problem.
If the woman is dancing in a place where men are allowed to be, it is her responsibility to stop.
The same applies to Kol Isha and other Tznius issues.
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 )
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