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1) If an ill person's condition worsens considerably to the point that [medically] it seems that he/she will not recover, it is proper and customary to add on a name, as when one's name changes his/her essence changes as well and thus the heavenly decree that was passed against them can change as well. (Rama Yoreh Deah Siman 335:10)
This is learned out from Avram Avinu and Sarai Imeinu whose destiny it was to die without children, yet after having their names changed to Avraham and Sarah (See Bereishis 17:5 and 15)were indeed able to have a child. (See Talmud Rosh Hashana 16b and Midrash Rabbah to Koheles Perek 5:4. See MaHarsha to Rosh Hashana 16b Dibur Hamaschil Arba Devarim for a detailed discussion about the real effects of a name change. See also Rambam Hilchos Teshuva Perek 2:4)
2) The new name is added in addition to the established name and does not replace the old name. (See Aruch HaShulchan Yoreh Deah Siman 335:12)
(Regarding how to choose a "good" new name to add, see Sefer Chasidim Siman 244 where he discusses using a Goral, a sort of Torah lottery to choose a proper name.
See also The Chida in Birchei Yosef to Yoreh Deah Siman 179:8 where he discusses "seeking advice" from the Torah itself by opening up to a random page and following the advice that the Posuk that is seen first dispenses.
Many people use this method for choosing names [as well as many other areas in life where divine guidance is sought], unless the name that it falls open to is that of an evil person.
See Ta'amei HaMinhagim Siman 217, Kuntres Achron for more details about this procedure. See also Gesher HaChaim Vol. 1 Perek 1:3. Of course, it is of paramount importance when doing this to receive the blessing and follow the guidance of a wise Tzadik, as many things can be affected by a name change which require a lot of forethought and care)
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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:
If two people ate bread and one drank soda (not water) must and can he be mitztarif with the two for a zimun?
Answer:
L'Chatchilah the third person should eat bread or Mezonos, but if all he had was a drink or other non Mezonos food he can still be part of the Mezuman. (See Mishna Berura Siman 197:22)
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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, 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.
קוה אל ד', חזק ויאמץ לבך, וקוה אל ד'
Chizuk For Today:
Although there were exceptions, the basic script for each plague inflicted upon Egypt was: Hashem commands Moshe to bring about the plague, Egypt suffers, and when the situation becomes unbearable, Pharaoh begs Moshe to remove the plague while promising that he will allow Bnei Yisroel (the Jewish people) to leave Egypt. Moshe then davens (prays) to Hashem that the plague be removed, and it stops. Immediately thereafter, Pharaoh reneges on his half of the deal, and Bnei Yisroel are not allowed to leave. Then Moshe is told to bring about the next plague.
However, before Pharaoh changes his mind following the plague of tzfardea (frogs), the Torah adds that it was only after Pharaoh saw "Ki Hayta Harvacha" (8:11) (there was relief) that he decided to harden his heart and not allow Bnei Yisroel to leave.
What does it mean that there was relief from the frogs-the plague had already ended? And why only by tzfardea does the Torah mention that there was relief before Pharaoh changed his mind?
The Kli Yakar (1550-1619, Rav Shlomo Ephraim Lunshitz, Prague) explains that each time a plague was removed, Pharaoh's fear immediately disappeared as well. Pharaoh had only agreed to let the Jews leave because he was scared, and as soon as the cause of that fear disappeared, so too did Pharaoh's good will.
However, even after all of the frogs were killed, they did not simply disappear. There were millions and millions of dead, rotting frogs (8:10) throughout the country. And as long as Pharaoh was around them, he could not forget the suffering that would await him if he would renege on his agreement. But Pharaoh saw relief: Egypt was a big country, and even if the smell of the frogs affected this area, he could simply move to a different area where he would remain unaffected. Only after he saw that he could avoid the stench of the frogs could Pharaoh ignore the reality of the situation and convince himself that nothing need be done differently with the Jews. Once Pharaoh saw he had wiggle room, he immediately changed his mind.
Rav Chatzkel Levenstein (1885-1974, famed Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva in pre-WWII Europe, and later in the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak) was riding in a cab in Israel, when the cabbie said, "Rabbi-I must tell you a story." "Please," responded Rav Levenstein.
"After my friends and I finished up our army service, we traveled around the world. We were in the middle of a jungle somewhere, camping out for the night. We were sleeping soundly, when all of the sudden we heard someone screaming. We all woke up and saw one of our buddies with a Boa Constrictor wrapped around his body, literally squeezing the life out of him. Immediately, we tried pulling the thing off, but we could not get it to budge. We kept trying to rip the snake off of him, but to no avail, and by now he was on the floor turning blue. We just did not know what else to do. Despite being not religious, we were traditional, so seeing what was about to happen, one of the guys says, "Yigal-you're about to die. At least say Shma before you go!"
So Yigal, with the little breath he has left in him, manages to mutter, "Shma Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem...Echad," and as soon as he gets to the word Echad, the snake releases him and slithers off.
The cab driver then continues, "Rabbi-because of that incident, Yigal is today Chareidi (extremely observant). He covers his head, and his wife covers her hair, and they are shomer Shabbat and Kashrut and everything! The young boys go to cheder (Yeshiva for younger boys) all because of that one incident!
Very impressed by the story, Rav Levenstein says, "Wow, that's amazing. But...what about you?" To which the non-religious cabbie responds, "Rabbi-what do you mean? It didn't happen to me!"
The cab driver and his buddies feared for the life of their friend. Scary situations humble a person and allow for sincere introspection. But not long thereafter everything returns back to normal, and just as Pharaoh did, we begin to rationalize and rethink things: "Yeah well, I should change but it would just be too difficult. I had better rethink that decision." Hashem blesses us with times of inspiration, times when we see things ever so clearly, and it is up to us to utilize such moments to facilitate at least one small change before life goes on and we lose our motivation.
Submitted by B.F; Taken from www.yihillcrest.org
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תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות
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