Wednesday
August 18 2010
8 Elul 5770; 22 Days to Rosh Hashana 5771
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1)Each Motzaei Shabbos during Havdalah, we light a candle [of at least 2 wicks] and recite the Bracha of "Baruch Ata Hashem....Borei Me'Orei Ha'Eish". (Shulchan Aruch Siman 298:1 and 2)
The reason for this is to commemorate the fact that Hashem created fire [i.e. gave Adam HaRishon the knowledge to rub two stones together to produce fire] on Motzaei Shabbos. (See Mishna Berura Siman 298:1 quoting the Talmud Pesachim 54)
It is customary to gaze at the palm of the hand and at the nails near the light of the Havdalah candle.
The fingers should be bent inwards into the palm and cover the thumb, so that the four remaining nails and the palm can be gazed at simultaneously. (Rama Siman 298:3 and Mishna Berura S"K 10)
There are three reasons for looking at the fingernails and the palm:
a) The light needs to be bright enough to enable one to discern between 2 coins, thus if one can differentiate between nail and skin, it shows that the flame is adequate.
b) The nails are a symbol of Bracha, blessing, as they continuously grow and thus we want to start the wee with an omen of blessing.
c) The palm of the hand has in it creases which contain within them symbols of Bracha. (See Mishna Berura Siman 298:9)
2) The cup of wine should be held in the left hand when the Bracha is recited and the nails and palm of the right hand should be gazed at and then the cup switched back to the right hand for the remainder of Havdalah. (Rama ibid. and Kaf HaChaim 298:21. See also Mishna Berura Siman 296:31)
May people have the custom after gazing at the nails of the right hand to then repeat the procedure and gaze at the nails and palm of the left hand.
This Minhag doesn't really have a basis in Halacha, and in fact according to kabalistic sources it is an ominous sign to gaze at the left hand as doing so may cause spiritual harm. (See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 298:68, Sefer Minhag Yisroel Torah Siman 298:1 and Likutei MaHarich, Havdalah. There are some sources who do justify this Minhag, and each individual should follow their custom or consult a Rav.)
Left handed people follow the same procedure and gaze at the nails and palm of the right hand. (If their custom is to gaze at both hands, the right hand still goes first) (See Darchei Moshe Siman 298)
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Correction to yesterday's halacha: The proper order for cutting the nails is as follows, not as it was written yesterday.
Start with the left hand as follows: ring finger, pointer, pinky, middle finger then the thumb.
Then move on to the right hand and cut the nail of pointer, ring finger, thumb,middle finger and then the pinky. (See Rama Siman 261:1 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman ibid. Some Poskim, including the Aruch HaShulchan, rule to start with the right hand but the prevalent Minhag is to begin with the left.)
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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:
How is davening (praying) the way to repentance?
Answer:
Teshuva is often interpreted as "repentance". Although, that's true in a sense, the actual definition of Teshuva is "Return", returning to Hashem.
When we sin we get distanced from Hashem, and that is the saddest thing that can happen to a human being, as closeness to Hashem, our Father, is the best thing for our souls.
When we do Teshuva, besides for regretting our sins and resolving to not repeat them, we must also heal the rift that we caused to happen between us and our Father in heaven.
When we daven, we are in essence talking to Hashem, and thus when done with sincerity we are becoming close to our Father again.
The closer we get, the better off we are.
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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:
Written by a soldier from the civil war*
I asked G-d for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of G-d.
I asked for things that I might enjoy life,
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for,
But everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered,
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
Found in the book "Vistas Of Challenge" published by ArtScroll ; Submitted by a reader
Do YOU have something meaningful to submit for this section? Please email to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Important Numbers
