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1) After using the restroom, a right handed person should not use his right hand to clean himself. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 3:10)
One reason for this is that the right hand is used to tie the Tefilin onto the left hand, and thus should not be used for such an unclean task. Also, the right hand is used for eating, writing and pointing to Torah and other holy tasks. (See Talmud Brachos 62a, Aruch HaShulchan Siman 3:7 and Mishna Berura Siman 3:17)
Even when using the left hand, the middle finger should not be used as the strap of the Tefilin is wrapped around that finger. (Mishna Berura ibid. quoting the Shla HaKadosh)
A left handed person, who uses his left hand to tie the Tefilin onto his right hand, should use his right hand to clean himself and not use the middle finger. (Regarding an ambidextrous person, see Biur Halacha Siman 3 Dibur Hamaschil Yemin)
2) According to some Poskim, today's days when we have toilet paper, it isn't necessary to follow the above guidelines, and they maintain that it is better to use the stronger hand rather than risk soiling the hands by using the weaker hand. (See Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 7 Siman 2:2. However, the Kaf HaChaim Siman 3:22 maintains that this is in effect today as well. Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita also rules that it applies today as well.)
According to some Poskim, the above applies to women as well, even though they do not wear Tefilin, as there are other Kabalistic reasons for this as well. (See Ben Ish Chai Parshas VaYeitzei Siman 14 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 3:23. Other Poskim, including the Chida and the Har Tzvi, are lenient and rule that women need not be concerned with this and may use any hand)
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 wrote earlier that one who skips parts of pesukei D'Zimrah must say those things he skipped, after davening].
The Aruch Hashulchan rules that you should not repeat what you skipped during Pesukei Dezimra (saw it in the Aruch Hashulchan & heard [Rav...name of Prominent, accepted Posek shlita] tell someone this L'halacha).
Answer:
True, the Aruch HaShulchan Paskens like this, as does the Bach (Siman 52) and some other Poskim.
However, the following Poskim do indeed write that one needs to repeat everything they skipped if possible, and many contemporary Poskim pasken like this as well:
Chayei Adam Klal 19 Siman 5
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 14:7
Shulchan Aruch Harav Siman 52:1
Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita (Orchos Yosher page 95. Worth reading the entire paragraph)
Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen in his Sefer "Laws of Daily Living" (Page 304)
Although from the Mishna Berura it isn't clear how he paskens, the Chofetz Chaim does write clearly in his sefer Machane Yisroel (which he wrote for Jewish soldiers in the Russian army) Chapter 1:8 that it is worthwhile to say all the parts that you skipped. (Rav Chaim Kanievsky and others say that for those soldiers he was lenient and only wrote "it is worthwhile" while for regular yidden it is indeed a chiyuv to say all that was skipped.
Furthermore, I personally spoke to [aforementioned prominent accepted Posek shlita] regarding what you had told me you had heard from him.
He told me that he had never paskened not to make up the parts of pesukei D'Zimrah that was skipped. He said (as I told you) that it is a Machlokes haposkim with no clear Hach'ra'ah of how to pasken L'maaseh.
When I pressed him further for a psak halacha how I should be noheg L'Maaseh, he told me that if the skipped parts will be said with kavanah (which he clarified to mean equal to the kavanah that is usually present when you say it at the right time) it should be made up. But if it will be said very fast just "Abee" to make it up, it should not be davened like that.
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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.
קוה אל ד', חזק ויאמץ לבך, וקוה אל ד'
Chizuk For Today:
We say in Ashrei, "Poseach Es Yadecha Umasbia L'chal Chai Razton,
Hashem opens his hand and gives us all what we need/want"
Question: Do we really always get what we want?
What about when things don't work out?
Answer: That's why the next Posuk says: "Tzadik Hashem B'chol D'rochov, Hashem is righteous in all His ways"
We admit ourselves that Hashem knows what He is doing. And its all for our best whether we realize it or not!
That explains the juxtaposition of these 2 Pesukim.
I thought of this Pshat last year when I got [ name of a disease]. BH it went away fairly quickly...after only 3 weeks!
[Ed. Note: Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita in his sefer Shima Tefilasi says nearly the identical Pshat. Baruch Shekivanta L'Divrei Kodsho!]
Written and Submitted by Z.S.
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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
- 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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