Today's halachos are dedicated L'Refuah Shelaima of Nechama Ilana Bas Marim, who will be undergoing heart surgery today. Please keep her in mind while you daven and learn the halachos.
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1) While davening Shemona Esrei, one's hands should be in the same position they would be in were the person speaking to a human king, dignitary or president. (During Shemona Esrei we are standing "L'fnei HaMelech- in the presence of the King [of Kings]!")
A person's hands may not be in their pockets, crossed over their chest, or any other disrespectful position during Shemona Esrei (and ideally not at any other part of davening either)
Thecorrect position is dependent on each place and time.
In the old days the right hand was placed on top of the left hand when in the presence of a king.
Today it is acceptable for the hands to be placed gently at one's side, although some people still have the custom to place the right hand on top of the left hand and hold it near the heart, as there are kabalistic reasons for standing in this position. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 95:3 and Mishna Berura S"K 6. See also Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 95:4. This is a proper custom which many Yirei Shomayim, G-d fearing Jews, follow.)
2) For Kabalistic reasons, the left hand should never be placed over the right hand as the power of the right (Rachamim) should always overpower the left (which is symbolic of the Yetzer Hara). (See Darchei Moshe Siman 95:3)
Thus, left handed people who place their hands near their heart while davening Shemona Esrei, should also make sure to have their right hand on top of their left hand.
All of the above applies to women as well as to men.
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 it allowed to wear sunglasses on Shabbos, if the sun is too bright and it is painful to go without sunglasses?
Answer:
Ordinary sunglasses used to shade the eyes from the sunlight may not be worn outside on Shabbos, as we worry that when a shady area is reached, they will be removed and ultimately carried on Shabbos.
If they are worn outdoors for health reasons, there may be room for leniency and a Rav should be consulted for Halacha L'Ma'aseh.
If they are prescription glasses which are also tinted to serve as sunglasses, they may be worn.
If they are not prescription, but are worn even indoors for health reasons, they may be worn outdoors as well.
(See Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa Perek 18:18 and footnote 71)
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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:
"On a hot June day in 1944, my mother dragged her starving and emaciated body towards one of the many electrified fences in Auschwitz. A lifetime ago it seemed she and her family had stood face to face with Mengele. His cursed finger had pointed my mother's family to the left and to death. She had been sent to the right, to slave labor and, by the grace of G-d, to life. Now, on this hot and soul numbing June day, she found herself near one of the fences dividing two parts of the Auschwitz camp, longing to be with her family, yet still clinging to life.
"A girl standing on the other side of the fence noticed her and called out in Czech. Turning her head, my mother saw a young girl of about 16 who stood shivering in fear and quaking from emotion. 'Please, tell me, do you speak Czech or German?' the girl asked.
'I speak Czech,' my mother answered.
'And are you Jewish?' the girl asked.
'Yes, of course I am,' my mother replied.
'Do you, perhaps, also know how to pray?' the girl continued.
'Certainly, but why are you asking all these questions?' asked my mother.
"Visibly relieved, the girl explained: 'I heard that we are being taken to the gas chambers tonight. I'm Jewish but I was never taught how to pray. I am terrified. If this camp is empty tomorrow morning, you will know that I'm no longer alive. If that happens, please pray for my soul. My name is Anishka.'
"Her heart breaking for this child just three years younger than herself, my mother reassured her and promised that should Anishka's camp be empty, she would pray for her.
"The next day, the camp on the other side of the fence was eerily silent. Not one person remained. My mother tearfully fulfilled young Anishka's last request. Though Anishka had no idea how to pray, she knew that a Jewish soul is eternally linked to the concept of prayer, and perhaps she went somewhat "easier" to her death knowing that her Jewish soul would indeed be prayed for."
You read these words and the heart quakes with a sudden rush of spiritual warmth. Hashem has given this world a nation called Bnei Yisrael, and despite all the horrors, we seek to pray to Him. It is astounding, we Jews pray even when all hope seems lost. It is one of the greatest mysteries of our people, yet in fact it is no mystery at all.
Every Jew is born with a pintele that beats with the need to connect with Hashem. Our enemies have sought to destroy this flame, they have belittled us, tortured us, disparaged everything we hold sacred, yet, the pintele remains alive. It is Hashem's gift to us, the kernel that makes us who we are, and nothing can destroy it.
This is so real. There are no lost Jews who are gone forever. They are part of the nation that Hashem took out of Egypt. They have the pintele, and they can and will raise their heads to Hashem one day.
Theholy Rebbe of Gur, the Pnei Menachem,used to always say: Alle Yidden zenen heilig, "All Jews are holy!!"
Plaque at the site of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp where so many Yidden suffered. Hashem Yinkom Damam.
Submitted by C.S.; Taken from a larger essay written by Rabby Y. Reuven Rubin ( Rabbi@Theinformalproject.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)
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