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SPECIAL DOUBLE PORTION L'KAVOD SHABBOS KODESH
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh
1)When reciting a Bracha on a food/drink [or when reciting a Bracha before smelling Besamim] it is proper to hold the item in your hand, as doing so will lead to better Kavanah.
However, if the Bracha was recited without the item being in your hand, B'dieved it is an acceptable Bracha, as long as the item is in front of you. (Mishna Berura Siman 206:17)
2) Right handed people should hold the item in their right hand and left handed people should hold it in their left hands, as holding the item in the stronger hand is a sign of Chashivus, importance. (Mishna Berura 206:18 quoting Rav Akiva Eiger and the Mogen Avraham Siman 183)
The above does not apply to bread, as bread needs to be held with both hands (i.e. all ten fingers) when reciting Hamotzi. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 167:4 for the reasons)
The item should be held directly in the hands and not while wearing gloves.
Similarly, if the food is in a snack bag or the like, some of it should be removed and held in the hand not via the bag during the recital of the Bracha. (See Mishna Berura 167:23)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) If the food being eaten is normally eaten with a utensil (e.g. soup with a spoon or spaghetti in sauce with a fork) it can be held in the utensil while the Bracha is recited.
However, food that is not normally eaten with a utensil should not be held with a utensil while the Bracha is being said, as that is not respectful to the Bracha. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 206:32. See also Shu"t Be'er Moshe Vol. 8 Siman 28 regarding holding the food with a napkin in order to keep the hands clean.)
2) For Kabalistic reasons, it is best never to hold food with a metal knife.
According to some opinions, food should not be held with any knife, even plastic, as knives are a symbol of the opposite of life. (Mishna Berura Siman 206:18. See also Shulchan Aruch HaRav 206:8 and Kaf HaChaim 206:31 who says even a metal fork should not be used, however it is not the prevalent custom to be makpid on a fork)
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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:
I just davened mincha and for most of the brachos, the chazzan didn't leave even a tiny pause between finishing one bracha and starting then next one.
I heard that one needs to say Amen before the chazzan starts the next bracha and if he says it afterward, it is an Amen Yesoma.
First I want to clarify if this is indeed correct. if it is, would this also affect the chazzan's brachas being L'vatala?
Answer:
This is a huge problem indeed.
The halacha is that the Shatz may not proceed with the next bracha until at least the majority of the Tzibur (and in certain cases, where the bracha is an obligation such as shofar, Kidush etc. the entire Tzibur) has answered Amen. Many Poskim rule that Chazaras Hashatz today has a status like a Bracha that needs to be heard, and thus the entire Tzibur must be done answering Amen.
Answering Amen after the Shatz is already a few words into the next Bracha is an Amen Yesoma and should not be answered, as its better to not answer Amen than to Chas V'Shalom answer an Amen Yesoma that has punishments attached to it.
The Rav/Gabai of each shul should indeed make sure that people davening for the Amud are aware that they must slow down and not start the next Bracha until all (or at least most) of the Tzibur responded Amen to the last Bracha. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 124:8 and 9 and Mishna Berura S"K 31-38. See also Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil Miyad Shekala.)
This applies to Kaddish as well.
Regarding Bracha L'Vatalah, if the first Bracha of Chazaras Hashatz didn't have 9 people answer Amen to it properly, indeed it is a Bracha L'Vatalah. The rest of the Brachos, may also be Brachos L'Vatalos, or at least close to it. (See shulchan Aruch Siman 124:4 and Shu"t Minchas Shlomo end of Siman 10)
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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 began the month of Elul by blowing the Shofar.
The Tur cites the Pirkei D'Rebbi Eliezer that states that when Moshe ascended the mountain to receive the second Luchos, a Shofar was sounded in the Jewish camp announcing Moshe's ascent.
This Shofar blast signaled to the Jewish People that they should not stray after idolatry as they had the last time Moshe ascended the mountain. Furthermore, Hashem ascends with that Shofar, as it is said (Tehillim 47:6) Alah Elokim bisruah Hashem bikol Shofar, G-d has ascend with the blast; Hashem, with the sound of the shofar.
It is for these reasons, writes the Tur, that we sound the Shofar every year on Rosh Chodesh Elul and throughout the month of Elul, as the Shofar teaches us to repent. It is said (Amos 3:6) Im Yitaka Shofar Ba'ir V'am Lo yecheradu, is the shofar ever sounded in a city and people do not tremble? Additionally, we sound the Shofar to confuse the Satan.
The Tur cites numerous reasons for blowing the Shofar during the month of Elul. The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 3:4) writes that blowing the Shofar on Rosh HaShanah is a Biblical decree. Nonetheless, there is a hint that is contained in the Shofar, and that is that those who are asleep should wake up, search their ways, and repent.
It is noteworthy that Rabbi Shimon Schwab writes that when HaShem fashioned for Adam a wife, HaShem first put Adam to sleep. Yet, we do not find that Adam ever woke up. This, says Rav Schwab, is a lesson for us that mankind has never woken up from that slumber. Nonetheless, the Jewish People awoke at the giving of the Torah at Sinai.
In a similar vein we can suggest that Adam HaRishon
as created on the first Rosh HaShanah in history. The Kabbalists talk about our requirement to rectify Adam's sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad. Thus, every Rosh HaShanah we blow the Shofar to remind us that although Adam fell asleep, we can rectify his sin by awakening from the deep slumber of ignorance and foolishness and repent from our sins.
Written and Submitted by Rabbi Binyomin Adler; taken from www.doreishtov.blogspot.com
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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)
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