Short, Reader Submitted Chizuk Thought of the Day for Elul:
An Erev Rosh Hashonah Vort
So this is it - the last day of the year. You did what you did, you accomplished what you accomplished, and you caused what you caused.
Now all that's left is for you to be judged for it tomorrow. You lived through the blessings and the not-such-obvious-blessings that came during this past year - they were all the results of your actions from before.
This coming year can be better - Hashem makes it all depend on you. Take today very seriously. And let some of that seriousness carry over into every day of next year.
A Rosh Hashonah Vort
Deliberately think of Hashem today as many times as you can.
Talk to Him and tell Him, out loud, that He is your King. Tell Him that He needs to help you become His more loyal and more devoted subject.
Thank Him for all that He has already done for you and for all that He has yet to do for you.
Gratefully revel in your servant and child status with Him; and while you do, try to really realize both what it means to be Hashem's servant and what it means to be His child, and to what those two states entitle you and obligate you. ("Because so we find with the children of Kings that they cut their hair every Erev Shabbos." (Nazir 5a)
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Today's Halachos (The last of this year...and the first of next year) are dedicated by a daily reader, M.B., L'Refua Shelaima for Asher Ben Taji, Sara Bat Taji, Eliezer ben Yehudit and Ezra ben Yehudit...for complete and speedy recovery.
SPECIAL TRIPLE EDITION L'KAVOD SHABBOS KODESH/ROSH HASHANA
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh, Erev Rosh Hashana 5770
1)If a couple lives in a large city (e.g New York, Chicago, Jerusalem or similar), and although the husband is in the city, the wife knows that he is at the other end of the city (e.g. in his office or at work and it would take him a while to return home) it is debatable if the Heter of Ba'alah B'Ir still helps.
Many Poskim maintain that if he went to work and he cannot return home during work hours (as he is a salaried employee etc.) then the prohibition of Yichud is in effect even if the husband is "in the city".
However, if he is self employed or in a job where he may come home at will at any time, even if he seldom does that, the heter of Ba'alah B'Ir still applies. (See Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 65:7 and 21) 2) Other Poskim are stringent, and consider it Yichud even if the husband is free to come home at any time, but seldom does during those hours.
Moreover, if the wife spoke to the husband on the phone and knows he is at work (i.e. she saw the caller ID and knows exactly where he is calling from), or somewhere else where it would take him a while to get home, the prohibitions of Yichud apply even though he is "in the city" .(See Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 3 Siman 180 and Vol. 5 Siman 203 where Rav Wosner shlita is stringent with this)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh, First Day of Rosh Hashana 5770
1) A Jewish female may not be alone with a non Jewish male, even if her husband is "in the city" (See Chazon Ish Yoreh Deah Siman 66:2 that if other Jewish males are nearby, it may be ok.)
However, a Jewish male may be alone with a non Jewish woman, if her husband is present in the room. (See Hagahos Radal to Kidushin 81a Dibur Hamaschil Ba'ala B'Ir) 2) The leniency of Ba'alah B'Ir does not work if the woman is Libo Gas Ba. Thus, a man may not be alone with a woman that he grew up with, is related to, or otherwise is comfortable with or has a relationship with, even if her husband is "in the city"(unlike with an open door, where it may help even by Libo Gas ba, as there the open door removes it from being Yichud, whereas here it remains Yichud) (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:8 based on story of Rav Bibi in Gemara Kidushin 81a) According to most Poskim, the heter of Ba'alah B'Ir works even for a man whose profession is around women. (See Shu"t Sha'ar Yosef from the Chida end of Siman 3 and Radal on Tosefos Kidushin 82a Dibur Hamaschil Lo)
Halchos for Sunday, Second day of Rosh Hashana 5770
1) Most Poskim agree that a woman may be alone [in the city] with two [G-d fearing] Jewish men, as each of the men is assumed to be embarrassed to do anything inappropriate in the presence of the other man. (Rama Even HaEzer Siman 22:5, Shu"t Noda B'Yehuda Mahadura Kama Even HaEzer Siman 69, Biur HaGra Even Haezer 22:11, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 152:3 and others. If it is outside of the city, it is only permitted if her husband is also present.)
Most Jewish men who keep Torah and Mitzvos and aren't known as Prutzim (people who don't take Mitzvah observance, especially in the realm of Tznius, seriously.) are assumed to be G-d fearing. (See Shu"t Rashba Vol. 1 Siman 587, Biur HaGra ibid. See also Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 65:17 where Rav Moshe Zatzal rules that even someone who is a kosher Jew that never sinned with a woman, but is not confident that he can control himself from sinning with a woman were the opportunity to arise, is also considered "Parutz" for matters of Yichud.)
However, if both the men are Prutzim, a woman may not be alone with them no matter how many men are present. (See Rama Even HaEzer Siman 22:10 where he says "10 men". The Poskim however say that the Rama didn't mean only up to 10, rather he meant with any amount of men. See also Talmud Yerushalmi Kidushin Perek 4 Halacha 11 where the Gemara says "even 100 men" present still remains Yichud)
2) If only one of the 2 men is a "Parutz", or if one is a G-d fearing Jew and the other is a non Jew (who is always considered a "Parutz"), the Poskim debate if Yichud in this case is permitted. It is best to be stringent, unless in cases of dire necessity.( See Shu"t Shav Yaakov Siman 19, Sefer Hamakneh Kidushin 80b Dibur Hamaschil V'rabanan and Dibur Hamaschil Od Yesh Lomar and Shu"t Maharil Diskin Pesakim Siman 2) A Jewish woman may not be alone with 2 non Jewish men.
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 Today website.
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.
When Rosh Hashana falls out on Shabbos (as it does this year), are you allowed to ask your personal bakoshes (requests)?
And what about crying during the Tefilah?
Answer:
Yes, although a person usually should not ask for personal requests on Shabbos, when Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur fall on Shabbos it is permitted as if it isn't done he/she will not have another opportunity to do so. (Opinion of the Chazon Ish quoted in Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. 2 Page 181. Also Psak of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal. See also Sefer Ishei Yisroel chapter 2:33 footnote 100.)
Crying is also permitted, and indeed recommended, as according to sources one who doesnt cry on Rosh Hashana (or at least feel like crying inside) is a sign that his/her Neshama is lacking. (See Elya Rabbah Siman 594:6. The Arizal used to cry on Rosh Hashana. See Shu"t Yechaveh Da'as Vol. 2 Siman 69. The Vilna Gaon( Ma'aseh Rav # 207) on the other hand says not to purposely cry during the Rosh Hashana prayers, rather to daven with happiness and confidence. All agree that if one is naturally overcome with feelings of crying, it is ok. It is only forcing oneself to cry where the Vilna Gaon doesnt allow it.)
*****
Extra Q&A L'Kavod Rosh Hashana
Reader's Question:
Should one make a Ha-etz brocha on a special (shivas Haminim) fruit before the apple on the first night of Rosh Hashana?
Answer:
On the night of Rosh Hashana when it is customary to an apple dipped in honey, and also many other fruits, some from the Shivas HaMinim, each with its own symbolic meaning, according to many Poskim it is best to make the Bracha on the Shivas HaMinim and not on the apple. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 583:25. This was also the opinion of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal.)
Others argue and maintain that the Bracha can be made on the apple in this case. (See Piskei Teshuva Siman 583:2 that this was the Minhag of the Ari, Minhag Chabad and others)
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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