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!
REMINDER (TO READERS IN CHUTZ L'ARETZ):
WE STARTED SAYING "V'SEIN TAL UMATAR" TODAY INSTEAD OF "V'SEIN BRACHA" IN SHEMONA ESREI (IN ERETZ YISROEL THEY STARTED A WHILE AGO ALREADY)
If you are just joining us today, please see ARCHIVES so you can review the previous Halachos on this topic.
1) Uon seeing a person whose outward appearance is extremely strange, unusual or atypical [and it is this way from birth] the following Bracha is recited: Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Meshaneh HaBriyos- Blessed are You Hashem, our G-d, Master of the world, who creates the creatures Different" (Shulchan Aruch Siman 225:8 and 9) This Bracha is never recited again upon seeing the same or different person with similar abnormal features.(Psak of the Mishna Berura Siman 225:29. See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 225:13 for a different opinion on this and see Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 12 Siman 22) A few of the many examples of this would include people with odd skin complexions (such as albinos or red skinned), midgets and dwarfs, extreme hunchbacks, people born without all their limbs, etc.
Of course, if any of these have become commonplace sights in society, no longer may this Bracha be recited. (See Mishna Berura Siman 225:24 and Kaf HaChaim 225:50) 2) If the strange appearance is not from birth and only developed later on in life (either naturally or from an occurrence), if the person is Jewish and you feel bad for them and are pained at his having to look that way, the proper Bracha to recite is "Baruch Dayan HaEmes" (as we assume this was brought about by a heavenly chastisement. See Mishna Berura Siman 225:26)
If , however, you aren't pained at the sight of the abnormality that developed after birth, or upon seeing a non Jew with any of the above abnormalities [that developed after birth], no Bracha is recited. (Mishna Berura 225:28)
****
For Archives of Hilchos Chanukah, Please Click Here
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.
Does a person have to stay with the lit Chanukah candles for the full half hour?
For example, to rush and make an appointment one will have to leave the neiros alone?
Answer:
Yes. Ideally one should stay for half an hour in the room with the candles, or at least stay home wih them. It is best not to light them and immediately run out to an appointment etc. (Besides the danger involved in leaving candles burning in an empty home).
If there are other people who stay in the home and one person is running out, though not ideal, it is better.
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
