Erev Shabbos Shabbason; Erev Yom HaKippurim
September 17 2010
9 Tishrei 5771; 1 more Day to Yom Kippur
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SPECIAL DOUBLE PORTION L’KAVOD SHABBOS KODESH AND YOM KIPPUR
Halachos for Erev Yom Kippur
1) The ideal way to perform Vidui is to itemize each and every sin that one can remember doing.
One should try and stretch out their Vidui for as long as possible, and try and do it in a heartfelt way. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 607:2.The Vidui of Rabbeinu Nissim, Chayei Adam and others include vast lists of possible sins, which may be helpful in helping to "jar our memory" and recollect the sins we may have done in the previous year.Click Here for the Vidui of the Chida which enumerates many specific sins. Also, Click Here for "The Source of Sin; A commentary on Al Cheit" by Rabbi Daniel Travis shlita. Print a few copies of each file and take to your shul, L’Toeles HaRabim)
If one transgressed a certain sin (or a variation of it) many times, it isn’t necessary to itemize each one; rather he/she can say "Sin X which I have fallen and transgressed countless times" or a similar verbalization.
2) It is a Biblical Mitzvah to increase the amount we eat and drink on Erev Yom Kippur. Chazal say that whoever eats on Erev Yom Kippur is considered as if he fasted on both Erev Yom Kippur and on Yom Kippur. It is the Minhag to have a Yom Tov Seudah on Erev Yom Kippur, as it is considered a Yom Tov because we are confident that Hashem will accept our Teshuva and forgive us for all our sins. (See Talmud and Rashi to Brachos 8b, Yomah 81b and Rosh Hashana 9b. See also Tur Orach Chaim Siman 604)
Women and children who have reached the age of Chinuch are also obligated in this Mitzvah of eating more on Erev Yom Kippur.
Halachos For Yom Kippur
1) The following things are prohibited from sunset on Yom Kippur eve until nightfall after Yom Kippur :
1) Melacha (any "work" that is prohibited on Shabbos)
2) Eating
3) Drinking
4) Bathing /washing
5) Smearing lotion, soap etc.
6) Wearing leather shoes
7) Marital relations
There is a dispute amongst the Rishonim if all the aforementioned are prohibited Min HaTorah (biblically) or just eating and drinking and Melacha, while the rest are only prohibited MiDirabanan (prohibited by the sages).
Most Poskim (Bach, Magen Avraham, Baal HaTanya, Mateh Ephraim,Mishna Berura and others)rule that it is best to be stringent and consider them all as Min HaTorah. However, the punishment of "Kares- heavenly death penalty" is only given for transgressing and eating, drinking or doing Melacha, according to everybody
2) Upon rising on Yom Kippur morning, Negel Vasser must be washed.
However, one must be careful to only wash until the end of the joints of the hand (knuckles) and not the entire hand. As you wash, have in mind that you are doing so to remove the "impure spirit" from your body, and not doing it for the pleasure of "washing" which is prohibited on Yom Kippur.
The face may not be washed on Yom Kippur morning. It is best to be stringent and not even place a little water on the eyes, unless there is some crust near the eyes, then it may be removed with a drop of water that was placed on your finger. When doing so, care must be taken to only place the water on the immediate spot of the crust, and not on any other part of the face.
One may not wash their hands before Musaf, Mincha or Ne’ilah (as it is usually necessary to wash the hands before any Tefilah) since he/she was in Shul all day, we rely on the fact that the hands were kept clean, and thus no further washing is necessary.
After using the restroom, the hands should be washed, but only until the knuckles.
The Kohanim may wash their entire hands before going up to "duchen- bless the congregation" as that washing isn’t one of pleasure.
Although most contemporary Poskim allow the use of aerosol spray deodorant on Tisha B’Av if necessary to prevent sweating, this is not the case on Yom Kippur, and it is prohibited to use deodorant on Yom Kippur, even if only to prevent and eliminate odors. (Kitzur Hilchos Yom Tov, Piskei Teshuvos based on the Shulchan Aruch Siman 614 and the Biur Halacha there)
(NOTE: Stick Deodorant, which one rubs into the underarm, is prohibited on Yom Kippur. It is also prohibited to use on any Shabbos throughout the year. Liquid Roll on may be used on Shabbos)
GMAR
CHASIMA TOVA TO ALL OF MY READERS AND TO ALL OF KLAL YISROEL!!
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 #1:
When Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur falls out on Shabbos (as it does this year), are you allowed to ask your personal bakashos (requests)?
And what about crying during the Tefilah?
Answer:
Yes, although a person usually should not ask for personal requests on Shabbos, when Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur fall on Shabbos it is permitted as if it isn’t done he/she will not have another opportunity to do so. ( Opinion of the Chazon Ish quoted in Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. 2 Page 181. Also Psak of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal. See also Sefer Ishei Yisroel chapter 2:33 footnote 100.)
Crying is also permitted, and indeed recommended, as according to sources one who doesnt cry on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (or at least feel like crying inside) is a sign that his/her Neshama is lacking. (See Elya Rabbah Siman 594:6. The Arizal used to cry on Rosh Hashana. See Shu"t Yechaveh Da’as Vol. 2 Siman 69. The Vilna Gaon( Ma’aseh Rav # 207) on the other hand says not to purposely cry during the Rosh Hashana prayers, rather to daven with happiness and confidence. All agree that if one is naturally overcome with feelings of crying, it is ok. It is only forcing oneself to cry where the Vilna Gaon doesnt allow it.See Shu"t Teshuvos V’Hanhogos from Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita Vol. 2 Siman 268 for a more lengthy elucidation of the above explanation)
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Reader’s Question #2:
Is there any halach about starting the flame after shabbos/yom kippur from an existing fire?
Answer:
Yes, the candle used at Havdalah on Motzei Yom Kippur must be kindled from a flame that was burning throughout Yom Kippur (Ner SheShavas).
The reason for this is to demonstrate that Yom Kippur is different from all other Yomim Tovim in that this fire which was lit the entire Yom Tov was prohibited from being used and no pleasure was able to be be derived from it.
The Minhag is to light a Yahrtzeit candle on Erev Yom Kippur and to light the Havdalah candle from there. If no Yahrtzeit candle was lit it can be taken from the pilot fire of the oven.
If no fire is available that was lit the entire Yom Kipur, no bracha is recited on a fire that is lit anew on Motzei Yom Kippur.
When Motzei Yom Kippur falls out on Motzaei Shabbos (where we always recite the Bracha on fire, but for a different reason, to commemorate that fire was created on MOtzei Shabbos), according to most Poskim it is still best to not recite the Bracha on a newly kindled fire this particular Motzaei Shabbos..
See Shulchan Aruch Siman 624:4 and Mishna Berura S"K 6-9 and Sha’ar haTziyun Os 9 for more details about this halacha.
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Halacha
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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:
The world in this twenty first century is a most difficult place to live as a religious Jew.
The Yetzer Hara is working overtime to lure as many of us as he can into his alluring net of decadence.
The reason he works so hard is because he knows he is on his last leg.
In a very short time, he will be caught himself in the net of Moshiach and be slaughtered once and for all.
Hashem, in His infinite kindness, has provided us with the tools to combat even the strongest Yetzer Haras that exist.
The Yetzer Hara tries to get us to look at and read improper things; Hashem provided us a Torah scroll to gaze into and a plethora of Torah oriented websites to learn from.
The Yetzer Hara tries to get us to touch improper things; Hashem provided us Mitzvos, such as Tzedakah, to do with our hands.
The Yetzer Hara tries to get us to go to improper places; Hashem provided us Shuls and Yeshivos and other holy places to go and get closer to Him.
The Yetzer Hara tries to get us to listen improper things; Hashem provided us with endless opportunities to listen to Torah classes, Kosher music etc.
The Yetzer Hara tries to get us to think improper things; Hashem provided us with the heart to channel our thoughts properly.
The Yetzer Hara tries to get us to think that Hashem will never forgive us for our past sins; Hashem promises us that He will never turn us away; True Teshuva is always accepted.
We ALL can change.
Sure, it won’t happen overnight; but we must take small but solid baby steps. We must make a U-Turn in our lives and start heading the right direction.
When Moshiach arrives, ALL who face the right direction will merit going with him. Those who are heading the wrong direction, however...
Hashem tells us "You open [your heart in Teshuva, a small opening] like an eye of a needle and I will open for you [the rest of the way] like the opening of a large ballroom" (Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Perek 5 on the Verse Kol Dodi Dofek)
The significance of a "eye of a needle" is that although it is tiny, it is solid! It will not close up again ever. This is better than a larger, but less firm, opening.
Hashem wants from us a tiny, yet solid, opening.
Perhaps learning an extra minute a day?
Or giving an extra $10 to Tzedakah each month?
Or accepting upon ourselves to not speak Lashon Hara for one hour a day?
Or to treat our spouse more respectfully?
To treat our Shuls with more deference?
To Daven with more Kavanah once a week?
Each person needs to choose one tiny thing which they can- and will- stick to no matter what!
Once we do that, Hashem can join us, support us and help us succeed in ways we cannot even imagine.
EVERYONE CAN CHANGE.
EVERYONE.
NO MATTER HOW LOW ONE FELL.
NO MATTER HOW FAR BEHIND ONE IS.
HASHEM IS OUR LOVING FATHER.
A FATHER ALWAYS ACCEPTS A CHILD BACK.
ALWAYS.
What better time than RIGHT NOW!
TODAY!
EREV YOM KIPUR!
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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