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NEW TOPIC: HALACHOS OF RIGHT HANDED/LEFTHANDED PEOPLE
INTRODUCTION:
Most people in the world are "right handed", commonly referred to as "righties".
A small percentage of people, however, are "left handed", commonly referred to as "lefties". (According to Wikipedia, seven to ten percent of the adult population is left-handed).
There are people who are ambidextrous, meaning they can use both hands equally well.
What does this have to do with Halacha?
Plenty.
There are many Mitzvos which must be done with the hands, and the question arises which hand to use? Is it always the right hand? Is it always the strong hand? Does it even make a difference?
We will now embark on a study of this topic and hopefully come away with some clarity in this often misunderstood subject.
Maran HaGaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita published a small Sefer titled "Ish Iter- The left handed person" which briefly covers these Halachos. I am using that Sefer as my starting point and guide for these Halachos and hope to B'Ezras Hashem expand upon what is written there in more detail. Anything I write without any additional source is taken directly from Rav Chaim's Sefer.
As an introduction, before we begin to cover the actual Halachos, we will enumerate the 8 categories into which Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita divides all the Halachos of Mitzvos needing a certain hand or direction.
Hopefully by understanding the logic behind these 8 categories we will be better able to grasp why each Halacha we will learn has been determined to be that way by the Poskim.
1- Certain Mitzvos require a person's stronger hand. These Mitzvos are determined by each individual's strength and not based on the majority of people.
2- Certain Mitzvos must be done "to the right" of Hashem. These Mitzvos are of course done with the left hand by all people regardless of their particular stronger hand.
3- Certain Mitzvos are done to a certain side due to the position of a person's heart, windpipe, ear etc. Here too, there will be no difference between righties and lefties.
4- Certain Mitzvos require the more "Chashuv, respected" hand. As we shall see, these Mitzvos are subject to a debate amongst the Poskim if "Chashuv" is determined by each individual or if it is determined by the majority of the world.
5- Certain Mitzvos require the right hand because the Torah specifically writes "Use the Right hand". Seemingly, these Mitzvos must be fulfilled via the right hand for all people. We shall see if there are differing opinions to this.
6- Certain Mitzvos are done not necessarily with a certain hand per se , rather "to the right side" based on the concept of " Kol Pinos Sh'Ata Poneh YihYu Derech Yemin, Whatever you do, do it to the right side". We shall see if lefties perhaps do these things to the left.
7- Certain Mitzvos are fulfilled only while standing opposite another person. We shall see if the Mitzvah is done with the hand that is opposite the right side of the other person or not.
8- Certain things need to at times be held in a certain hand to allow the other hand to remain free for another task. We shall see how this affects left and right handed people.
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:
Is there a source for knocking before entering one's house?
Answer:
Yes, this is stated in a Mishna in Maseches Derech Eretz Rabbah Perek 5 and brought in Talmud Pesachim 112a and in Nidah 16b that Hashem despises those who [habitually, according to the commentary of the Ya'avetz] enter any home (even their own) suddenly, without knocking.
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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:
R' Yochanan said in the name of R' Shimon Bar Yochai, "From the beginning of creation no one thanked Hashem until Leah, when she had her 4th child and she called him Yehudah which means thanks, said Hapam Odeh Es Hashem." (Talmud Brachos 7b)
The Torah says after she had Yehuda that she stopped giving birth (at least for a while), I heard an explanation that giving thanks is as if you're saying to Hashem thank you very much, I can take it from here I don't need anything more.
So Hashem stops giving more.
Rather one should give thanks but then say I still need you. That's the reason we say Sim Sholom after Modim, that after we give thanks we continue asking Hashem for peace, life, kindness etc.
From the Shoneh Halachos Talmud Tidbits email. To subscribe send an email to halachos@gmail.com
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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. (Talmud Niddah 73a)
Please visit my website www.HalachaForToday.com for archives, Kosher links, Questions and Answers,and other features. Halachos are for study purposes only, and should not be relied upon for final Psak. See Halacha L'Maaseh Disclaimer Here. I welcome all questions on any topic, anytime! Help spread the word of Hashem!
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