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1) When visiting a sick person, the visitor should not sit in a manner that will place them higher than the sick person. (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 335:3)
However, if the visitor is sitting on a chair that reaches the same level of the sick person's bed it is acceptable, and there is no need for the visitor to be lower. (See Rama ibid. Some Meforshim learn that the Rambam Hilchos Avel Perek 14:6 indeed requires the visitor to sit lower than the sick person as is the opinion of the Ritva to Nedarim 40a, or possibly even means to require the visitor to sit on the floor. See S'fas Emes to Shabbos 12b)
2) The visitor should not sit behind the head of the sick person as the Shechina (the divine presence of Hashem) hovers above the head of a Choleh (Talmud Nedarim 40a derives this from the Posuk (Tehilim 41) "Hashem Yisa'adeinu Al Eres D'vai". See Meiri to Nedarim ibid. for a different approach)
Kabalistic sources teach that one should also not sit at the feet of a sick person, as the Malach HaMaves (angel of death) hovers there.
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:
You mentioned in prior halachos that it is better not to bring children to shul if they will disturb the Tzibur and the like, but at the same time it is appropriate to bring children to shul for chinuch.
What if someone's child constantly comes to shul every shabbos and doesn't daven or anything but just collects candy and doesn't stop talking and asks questions, all at the expense of the surrounding people's kavana being disturbed-can someone approach that person and request he no longer bring his child to shul?
does it make a difference if it's between Gavra L'gavra, psukei dzimra, or the amida? Does the age of the child matter? what would be the best hanhaga on this situation?
Answer:
There is no question that the child that is disturbing the Tzibbur does not belong in Shul, and the father is not even being Mekayem the Mitzvah of Chinuch by teaching a child that it's ok to talk, run, and otherwise disturb in shul.
I don't think the age matters. Any child (or adult for that matter) that cannot keep quiet in shul and causes others to lose kavanah and be unable to daven, should not be in shul.
That being said, the Rav or Gabbai should be consulted as to the best way to approach this father and make him aware of his child's disturbances. It is not something to get into a Machlokes over, and should be done diplomaticallyand tactfully.
Unfortunately, many shuls have this issue of talking and other disturbances during davening (by children and adults) and it is something that really must be dealt with, as it is blatantly against Halacha and for some reason many are not careful in these matters.
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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, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short 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:
Look at the world around you for a moment. The air is filled with microbes. The city streets harbor legions of felons. On the highways, drivers who are tired, distracted, or just don't drive very well speed along at 70 miles an hour. It's a miracle that a person makes it through a day.
Looking at the world from a Jewish perspective, it is indeed a miracle -- a miracle wrought by our daily prayers.
The "answer" we are looking for when we pray is all around us, in the disasters that don't happen, the diseases that don't strike, the enemies that don't attack.
HaShem answers us in ways we cannot readily perceive.
When any aspect of life runs smoothly without drama and trauma, we are seeing the answer to our prayers.
Submitted by Carol; Taken from "Praying with Fire", Day 78
Important Numbers
