Wednesday
August 25 2010
15 Elul 5770; 15 Days to Rosh Hashana 5771
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1)On each of the seven days of Sukkos (besides for Shabbos) we take and shake a Lulav and an Esrog. (Vayikra 23:40)
The Lulav(branch of a palm tree) has three Hadasim (myrtle) and two Aravos (willow) tied onto it, and is held upright in the right hand and the Esrog (citron) is held in the left hand. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 651:2)
According to the Mechaber (Rav Yosef Cairo, author of the Shulchan Aruch) a left handed person follows the same procedure and holds the Lulav in the right hand and the Esrog in the left hand, as since the Lulav has in it three Mitzvos (i.e. 3 of the 4 species) and the Esrog is only one Mitzvah, the item with more Mitzvos is held in the more highly regarded hand. Most Sephardic Jews follow this ruling. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 651:3 and Mishna Berura S"K 18)
However, the Rama (ibid.) rules that left handed people should switch the order and hold the Lulav in their strong hand (left) and the Esrog in their weaker hand (right). Most Ashkenazic Jews follow this ruling.
2)An ambidextrous person should take the Lulav in his right hand and the Esrog in the left hand. (ibid.)
If the Lulav was held in the wrong hand, the obligation has been satisfied (Rama ibid.)
However, if it was taken in the wrong hands it is best to be stringent and take the Lulav and Esrog again in the correct hands without reciting a new Bracha. (Mishna Berura S"K 19)
Many left handed people are stringent after taking the Lulav in their left and the Esrog in their right (or vice versa) to repeat the process the other way around (without a new Bracha) to satisfy the rulings of both the Shulchan Aruch and the Rama. (See Kaf HaChaim 651:38. See also Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. 2 page 288 that the Steipler Zatzal, who was a lefty and an Ashkenazi, followed the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch regarding this Halacha and not the Rama)
For archives of Halachos of Chodesh Elul and the Yamim Noraim CLICK HERE
question
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:
Often, I learn in a minyan factory [where there are constantly minyanim in progress].
Do I have to stop learning to answer [each] Kedusha, Modim, Aleinu , Kadish or Amen?
Answer:
The Poskim discuss this and it seems that the consensus is that you do not need to interrupt your learning to respond to every Amen, Barchu, Kaddish etc. if doing so will lead to Bitul Torah.
Kedusha, however, where it will be blatantly noticeable that you are not joining the Tzibbur, you should stand up and respond. (See Shu"T Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Vol. 2 Siman 75 for more details)
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rAV sHACH SPEAKING
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:
א ני ל דודי ו דודי ל י
I am to my Beloved [Hashem] and my beloved [Hashem] is to me.
The word Elul is comprised of two words, Lo and Lo.
One is written with an aleph, and means no, and the other is written with a vav, and means to him.
It is said (Tehillim 100:3) diu ki HaShem hu Elokim hu asanu vilo anachnu amo vitzon mariso, know that HaShem, He is G-d; He made us and we are His, His people and the sheep of His pasture.
The Sfas Emes quotes the Chidushei HaRim who said that the word vilo is written with an aleph and read with a vav. Thus, we are saying that by negating ourselves (vilo with an aleph), we are His (vilo with a vav). This, says the Sfas Emes, is the meaning of Elul, when we negate ourselves to become His.
The Shem MiShmuel writes that the word Elul itself is derived from the word Elil (Iyov 13:4) which means no value. Thus, our approach in the month of Elul should be that we are insignificant before the Master of the world, and then we can merit to be vindicated on Rosh HaShanah, the Day of Judgment.
Submitted by R’ Binyomin Adler; taken from his blog www.doreishtov.wordpress.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)
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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