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Thank you and Tizkeh L'Mitzvos!
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1) It is a Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar (the ideal, proper way to perform the Mitzvah) when reciting Birchas HaMazon after a meal to recite it over a cup of wine (Kos Shel Bracha) (See Mishna Berura Siman 182:1 that doing so is respectful and a proper expression of praise to Hashem, as it says in the Posuk (Tehillim 116) Kos Yeshuos Esa U'V'eshaim Hashem Ekra, A cup of salvation I will lift and the name of Hashem I will call).
Although according to some Poskim this applies even to an individual person who ate alone, the prevalent custom is to use a cup of wine only when three or more men participated in the meal; some people only use a cup of wine when a minyan of men participated. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 182: 1 and Mishna Berura S"K 4. See also Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah Vol. 3 Siman 52:3)
Whenever a Kos Shel Bracha is used, the following procedure for lifting it should be followed:
The cup should initially be lifted by the one reciting the Bracha with both hands, to show our love for the Mitzvah. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 183:4 and Mishna Berura 183:12. Some people have the custom that someone else hands them the cup, probably from the terminology of the Shulchan Aruch who uses the word "Mekablo" which can also be translated as "receiving". Even when receiving from someone else, it should be taken with both hands.)
When the Bracha begins to be recited, the left hand should be removed and the cup held only with the right hand, as holding it with two hands makes it seem like the Mitzvah is a burden. (ibid.)
If the left hand is needed to support the right hand, it is acceptable, as long as both hands aren't on the cup. (Rama ibid.)
2) According to the Shulchan Aruch (quoting the opinion of a "Yesh Omrim" which is the opinion of the Shibolei HaLeket Siman 156 and Meiri to Shabbos 103 Dibur Hamaschil Mimah SheKasavnu), a left handed person removes his right hand and continues to hold the cup with his left hand for the duration of the Bracha. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 183:5)
However, according to some Poskim, a left handed person also continues to hold the cup in his right hand.
Likewise, kabalistic sources concur with those that rule that there is no difference between right handed and left handed people in regard to this Halacha.(See Kaf HaChaim Siman 183:29 that the Bais Yosef himself in Siman 651 rules this way contradicting what he writes in Shulchan Aruch. He also quotes the Zohar to this effect. See also Ben Ish Chai Parshas Shelach Siman 19)
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The days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until after Hoshana Rabba are days of Hashem's Rachamim (mercy), Selicha (forgiveness) and Ratzon (goodwill). They are an extremely opportune time for Jews to find it within themselves to repent and atone for the sins that were transgressed in the past year and to accept upon themselves to live better lives, according to Halacha- the will of Hashem, in the year ahead.
Hashem is always waiting for his children to repent, but in Elul He is even closer to us and Teshuva is a lot easier.
It is never too late to jump on the bandwagon and start our journey of return to our Father in heaven, and hopefully, together, bring about the final redemption with Mashiach Tzidkeinu.
For archives of Halachos of Chodesh Elul and the Yamim Noraim CLICK HERE
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 one wears a removeable toupee can he make a brocha on the [Tefilin] shel rosh.
If not and it would be embarrising to take it off in shul should he just make a bracha on the shel yad & when he gets home make a bracha on the shel rosh?
Does he have to put on the shel yad again when he gets home.
Can you please describe the best way of doing things if one cannot make a bracha when it is on?
Answer:
No, Tefilin may not be donned on a toupe as it is a Chatzitza, a separation, and certainly no Bracha recited as doing so will be a Bracha L'Vatalah as the tefilin was not placed on the head.
If the actual tefilin is on the head and only the straps would be on the toupee, there may be room for leniency in certain instances, and a Rav should be consulted.
If he is embarrassed, the Tefilin should be donned [on the head] and their proper Brachos recited, in private.(See Mishna Berura Siman 27:16 and Shu"t Mishne Halachos Vol. 6 Siman 8)
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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 are in the month of Elul.
We are in very important time in the hebrew calendar, a time of closeness and connection to Hashem. Think about how lucky you are to have an opportunity to come back to your Loving Father!
He gives you so many chances to come close to Him and show Him that you really want to do the right thing-by thinking about what you have done and how you want to become better.
There's an amazing Mashal I want to share with you.
A fox passed a vineyard full of delicious grapes and wanted to eat some of them. However, there was a fence enclosing the vineyard that blocked him from going in. He did notice that there was a small hole in the fence and if he would fast for three days, he would be able to squeeze in and eat the grapes. So that is what he did.
After three days, the fox was skinny enough to make his way through the hole. He feasted and enjoyed all the grapes in the vineyard and when he was ready to leave he realized that he would not be able to get out because he ate too much and gained too much weight! So once again, he fasted for three days and only then was he able to get out of the vineyard.
The fox then realized that he did not gain anything from the vineyard because he left the same way he had gone in.
We have to ask ourselves the same question:Will we leave the world the same way we went in or will we have things that have true value to take along with us.
Elul is a time to ask ourselves these questions - what are we taking with us into the new year? What mitzvos and good deeds do we have to show for ourselves?
Each one of us is put into this world and there are so many temptations and things that look exciting - but we have to remember that we are in this world for a purpose, not just for the materialism and we need to focus on the things that last.
This past shabbos, I heard a continuation of this mashal.
There was a smart fox who watched what the first fox had done and said to himself, "I will not be a fool like this one." And here is what he did. After fasting three days so he could get through the hole in the fence, he ate and enjoyed the grapes. In the meantime, he threw a whole bunch of grapes over the fence so that when he gets out of the vineyard, he will have more grapes to eat. So even though he had to fast to get out, he thought ahead and saved for the future.
The woman who I heard this mashal from gave an interesting twist on the nimshal.
Elul is here. It's a hard month but it is a very rich month. There is so much to gain from what comes after it-the yomim nora'im, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Succos. Some people are like the first fox and they leave the yomim tovim the same way they came in. The day after yom tov you wouldn't even know that they experienced such awesome days. However, if you want to be like the smart fox, you need to throw the grapes over the fence, you need to prepare properly and think ahead so that you will come out of these days enriched and a better person.
Elul is a very big month. There is so much to gain and so much to achieve. Now that we are entering such a crucial time in our calendar, it is up to us to use our time well and take advantage of the closeness we have with Hashem.
Let's think ahead so that we use each day to the fullest so that when we come out of Elul, we can say that we didn't just eat the grapes but we saved some for later - so that we can take the inspiration we get from Elul and the yomim tovim that come after it and come out a truly changed and better person!
Written and Submitted by Devorah; taken from her blog: www.inspirationalinformation.blogspot.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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