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1) It is proper [for people other than close family and friends] to refrain from visiting a sick person for the first three days of the sickness. (Talmud Yerushalmi Peah Perek 3 Halacha 3)
The reason for this is that for the first few days we don't want to label him/her as a "sick person" and we wait for them to perhaps get out of their situation on their own. (See Meiri to Nedarim 40a)
Visiting someone during this initial period may actually do more harm than good as it will weaken their Mazel and worsen their state and cause them to indeed become a real Choleh/Cholanis. (See Taz Yoreh Deah Siman 335:1)
Once people start visiting [even during the first 3 days], or once 3 days have passed, he/she has a Chazaka (established status) of a Choleh/Cholanis and should be visited.
2) The above does not apply to one who is stricken with an illness to the point that there is a fear that he/she will pass away within the first 3 days, as such a person is considered a Choleh/Cholanis immediately. (See Rambam Hilchos Avel Perek 14:5)
Additionally, the above does not apply to close family and friends who regularly are in the home anyway, as their being there is not out of the ordinary and their being around gives the sick person comfort. (See Talmud Yerushalmi Gitin Perek 6 Halacha 5 and commentary of Pnei Moshe)
question
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.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
Regarding the reading of Shnayim Mikra V'Echad Targum, Can one be yotzei with an English translation instead of the Targum?
When this halacha was instituted, the majority of yidden understood and spoke Targum. After all, Gemara is written in Targum, or aramaic. In today's times, Targum is not a language spoken and is not well understood except for a few unique individuals.
You cannot argue that the Torah was given in Targum Onkelos and therefore we say the targum, for then I would say that the midrash states that the Torah was given over in "shivim leshonos".
Clearly, English must have been one of those seventy!
Secondly, what is so holy about the Targum language
Answer:
For halachos of Shnayim Mikra V'Echad Targum, see archives, halachos for July 1 2008 here .
The Gemara Megila 3a, learns out from the Posuk in Nechemia 8:8 that Targum is an intrinsic part of the Torah and not simply an interpretation as the other languages are. Targum was given to the Jews at the same time the Torah was and thus is indeed holy. the Gemara tells us that it was subsequently forgotten and reinstituted by Onkelos the convert.
True, the Torah was interpreted into all 70 languages, but there is no holiness to those languages.
The spoken language of the jewish people at the time the Torah was given was Lashon haKodesh and not Aramaic which was only used much later in Babylon, yet they were still given the Torah with Targum.
According to one opinion in the Shulchan Aruch (Siman 285:2) if one does the pesukim with Rashi in lieu of Targum it is adequate. However, he adds that a G-d fearing Jew should do both, as the Rahsi is not in lieu of Targum which was always an intrinsic part of the Torah.
The Mishna Berura (ibid. S"K 4-6) also explains that if done in other languages in lieu of Targum you have not satisfied your obligation, besides for the fact that Targum was given with the Torah on Sinai, other languages do not explain the entire Torah as the Targum does as there are things in the Targum that are "explanations" of the words and not just "interpretation" of each word.
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rAV sHACH SPEAKING
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short Machshava, a Chizuk thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
If you have a short machshava that you think would be appropriate to post here, please email to me at halachaForToday@Yahoo.com for consideration.
קוה אל ד', חזק ויאמץ לבך, וקוה אל ד'
Chizuk For Today:
Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler Zatazal, in his Sefer Michtav Mei'Eiliyahu Vol. 4 page 5 writes: The souls of all people are tied and joined one to another, and their lives are dependent on one another in their spiritual root.
We must always remember that our actions- or inactions- have consequences on the lives of people around us.
We must not be selfish and live only for our own benefit and pleasure. We must train ourselves to think selflessly, act selflessly and teach our children to be selfless.
If we do for others, Hashem will do for us!
Submitted by J.J,; quote from Rav Dessler Zatzal taken from www.geulahcompany.com
Important Numbers
