To dedicate the learning of a day (or more) of Halacha For Today, or to make a much appreciated donation to help us spread Halacha For Today to many more Jews around the world, please CLICK BUTTON BELOW. No PayPal account is necessary to make a donation, regular credit card donations can be processed via PayPal as well. Thank you and Tizkeh L'Mitzvos!
1) One who receives clothing, utensils or a home as a gift should also recite the SheHechiyanu. (See Mishna Berura 223:21 where he rules not like the Shulchan Aruch who says that for gifts the Bracha would be "HaTov V'HaMeitiv". See also Kaf HaChaim 223:33 where he rules to say both, SheHechiyanu, and also say HaTov V'Hameitiv without Shem U'Malchus) If a husband/groom buys his wife/bride a gift, he should recite SheHechiyanu when purchasing it as he derives pleasure from being able to give this gift. The wife/bride should recite "HaTov V'Hameitiv" when she receives the gift. (See Shu"t Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 84)
2) There are those who have the custom not to recite SheHechiyanu on new utensils, and maintain that only on clothing is SheHechiyanu recited. (See Ben Ish Chai Parshas Re'Ay Siman 65 and Kaf HaChaim 223:20. Some Poskim say to recite it without Shem u'Malchus. See also Shu"t Be'er Moshe vol. 5 Siman 65. See also Ketzos HaShulchan Siman 64:4 where he quotes the Shulchan Aruch HaRav that no Bracha is recited on a new home either)
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.
What is the source for a woman who is expecting [a child] not to look at animals? Does this apply to fish as well? .
Answer:
This is something which many people mistakenly attribute to the fact that animals in the zoo are impure (Tamei) and as such will cause the fetus to become impure.
In fact, that is not the reason at all, as pregnant women may go to funerals and cemeteries, which are more impure than zoos (See Shu"t Minchas Yitzchok Vol. 10 Siman 42)
The real source for this is found in the 18th century Kabalistic work "Sefer Habris" (Vol. 1 Ma'amar 17, page 242- 243) where he describes how a pregnant woman can see a strange or scary things and become scared, and can end up having her baby with skin deformities resembling the scary/strange thing .
He brings some interesting anecdotes where such things actually happened (and a whole regimen of spitting 13 times over the first 10 days after the baby is born etc. is required in order to cure the deformities)
Thus, it developed the custom that women stayed away from zoos where they were sure to encounter strange/scary creatures.
Today's days when we are much more familiar with strange and exotic animals, and we often see photos of all sorts of creatures, there is less to worry about, and indeed this is why the prevalent custom is for pregnant women to indeed go to zoos.
Thus, there is no inherent problem with her seeing an animal, and definitely no problem looking at fish. (The above is based in large part on a shiur by HaRav Shmuel Felder Shlita, Dayan in Bais Medrash Govoha, Lakewood NJ)
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
