עשרת ימי תשובה תש"ע Chizuk Thought of the Day for Aseres Yemei Teshuva:
Yesterday we learned the first 10 of the 20 Ikarim (using the list brought in Sefer Chareidim, based on the Rabbeinu Yonah).Today we will see the final 10 Ikarim necessary for Teshuva Shelaima:
#11) Search your soul and make an accounting of your actions, so you will recall all your forgotten iniquities, so you will be able to say Vidui for them, humble yourself because of them and resolve never to repeat them.
#12) Investigate the magnitude of each of your sins. Determine which punishment you deserve for each of them [Malkos- 40 lashings, Kareis- heavenly death penalty or Misas Bais Din- capital punishment meted out by a rabbinic court of law. (Though Malkos and Misas bais Din aren't in effect today, as we are in Galus, variations of them are meted out through the heavenly court for those who deserve them) ] and do the appropriate Teshuva for each of them.
#13) Consider even the seemingly insignificant sins as grave sins in your own eyes; don't dwell on the smallness of the sin, rather dwell on the greatness of the king [Hashem] who commanded you to do His will.
#14) Explicitly enumerate each and every one of your sins (Vidui) as well as the sins of your forefathers.
#15) Pray to Hashem and beg Him to have mercy on you and forgive you and erase your sins and purify you from their harmful effects.
#16) Repair your wrongs. Return the stolen items if you stole, or beseech your friend for forgiveness if you spoke Lashon Hara (evil gossip) about them or embarrassed them or other similar sins against your fellow man, as there can be no atonement from Hashem until you secure forgiveness from your friend.
#17) Seek and do acts of kindness (e.g. Tzedaka and Gemilas Chasodim) and give support to people who advance truth such as Talmidei Chachamim and Torah scholars, and stay away and shun falsehood.
#18) The [details of your] sin should remain in your mind always until the day you die (as to remember not to repeat them)
#19) Let go of the Sin. If the opportunity arises again to do the identical sin, conquer your Yetzer Hara and run away from the [place of] sin, as you would run away from a sword that was pursuing you, because of your fear of Hashem. And even if the same opportunity of sin does not present itself again, have in mind during Krias Shma, when saying the words "B'Chol NafShecha" that you are willing and ready to give up your life in order not to transgress the 3 cardinal sins (murder, idolatry and sexual immorality), and it will be considered as if the opportunity arose, and you withstood the test and didn't transgress.
#20) Facilitate the repentance of others. Causing others to sin is one of the worst things to do, and on the other hand, causing others to do good deeds and/or repent is one of the most worthy things a Jew can do, and is also very vital to his/her own Teshuva.
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1)When traveling with a woman in a remote area where there aren't many people in the streets or on the roads, even during the day, three men are required to be present in order for there not to be a Yichud problem. ( See Gemara Kidushin 80a and Rashi there that explains that if only two men are present, one of them may need to leave the group to use the restroom, and thus leave the woman and the remaining man alone, and thus it would be Yichud as no other people are around. See Rama Even HaEzer Siman 22:5)
Even though a woman may be alone with 2 men, it doesn't work in the reverse and a man may not be alone with 2 women. (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:5)
2) If three women are present, there is a debate in the Rishonim if that is an acceptable deterrent for the man. (Rashi Kidushin 82a Dibur Hamaschil Lo Yisyached allows it. See also Shu"t Divrei Malkiel Vol. 4 Siman 102 Dibur HaMaschil V'Hinay B'Ish. See also Shu"t Rashba Vol. 1 Siman 587. The Ram"a 22:5 brings this opinion as a "Yesh Matirim". Tosefos ibid. and Rambam Hilchos Isurei Biah Perek 22:8 prohibit it, and this is how the Shulchan Aruch 22:5 rules.)
According to most Poskim, it is best to be stringent and even when three women are present; one man should not be alone with them. In cases of great necessity, a Rav should be consulted. (See Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 65:14)
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.
Can a man daven Shemonei Esrei or any other prayers with a newborn or young infant in his arm?
What if due to circumstances, he would otherwise not be able to daven unless he held his babies?
Answer:
It is prohibited to daven Shemona Esrei while holding an infant or a child (as the fear of dropping th child will make it impossible to concentrate). Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita maintains that this applies to Pesukei D'Zimra and Kerias Shema as well, and not only Shemona Esrei.
If due to caring for the baby he can't daven, he is considered an Oines (not at fault) and will need to daven 2 Shemona Esrei's at the next Tefilah to make up for the missed Tefilah.
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
