Monday
22 Kislev 5771
November 29 2010; 3 Days until Chanukah
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1) For the duration of Chanukah, the Bracha of "Al HaNisim", thanking Hashem for the many miracles He performed for the Jews in their battles against the Greeks etc., is added to Shemona Esrei .
It is inserted in the Bracha of Modim (as it is a Bracha of thanks, as is Modim).
Similarly, whenever we say Birchas Hamazon on Chanukah, we add the "Al HaNisim" immediately following the Bracha of "Nodeh Lecha", which is also a Bracha of thanks to Hashem.
Many people have the custom to say "V'Al HaNisim- "and" on these miracles we thank you Hashem..." rather than simply "Al HaNisim- On these miracles..." as it's a continuation of the Bracha of thanks (in both Shemona Esrei and Birchas Hamazon) and not a new topic. (Mishna Berura 682:1. See also Yesod V'Shoresh HaAvodah Sha'ar 12 Perek 1 for a lengthier elaboration on the proper thoughts to have in mind while saying "V'Al HaNisim")
2) Even those who normally daven Shemona Esrei and say Birchas Hamazon by heart, should try and use a siddur [at least] on [the first day] Chanukah, as not doing so will probably result in forgetting to recite the "Al HaNisim" (See Mishna Berura Siman 100:1)
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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:
I have a question about not making a bracha l'vatala. What happens if I start a bracha and cannot finish it for some reason?
What if I have said "Baruch"...
or "Baruch Atah..."
or Baruch Atah HaShem..."
or if I have gone further with up to three more words... what should I do?
And what if i have just made a bracha on a piece of fruit, the only fruit around, and as I am about to bite into it, I see bugs on it that I hadn't noticed before?
Answer:
If you just said "Baruch" or "Baruch Ata": Just stop.
If you said Baruch Atah HaShem" finish with the words "Lamdeini Chukecha" (as that is a Posuk in Tehillim 119:12 ,"Baruch Ata Hashem Lamdeini Chukecha")
If you started to say "Elokei"( and didn't finish the entire word" Elokeinu") finish with "Elokei Yisroel Avinu M'Olam V'Ad Olam", also a Posuk (Divrei HaYomim 29:10). (See Tzlach Brachos 39a and Chayei Adam Klal 5:1 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 6:4) .
If you finished the word "Elokeinu" or more, say "Baruch Sheim Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Va'aed".
This is also said any time the name of Hashem is said in vain.
Regarding the bugs, if you can't take a little bite of a part of the fruit that has no bugs, do not eat it and say "Baruch Sheim..."
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 inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME. THANK YOU AND TIZKEH L'MITZVOS!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk For Today:
In last week's Parsha, Yosef was confronted with a nisayon from the wife of Potiphar. On a basic level, this was an incredible temptation for any person to withstand. There is an interesting machlokes that Rashi brings down. The pasuk says (39; 11) 'And it was on that day, that he entered the house to do his work (referring to Yosef). Rashi says that there are two opinions as to what the word 'work' refers to. One opinion translates it literally, that he showed up for work like he did every day. The other one says it means that he arrived to concede and perform an aveirah with her. But, an image of his father appeared before him and he didn't commit the act (Sota 36b).
According to the opinion that he showed up to commit an immoral act-how can we possibly explain that? How can Yosef even contemplate such a heinous transgression?
To answer this, we find a Rashi (39; 1) that notes the following; 'why is the topic of Yehuda's descent next to the fact that Yosef went down to Mitzrayim? To have the two stories, the wife of Potiphar and the story of Tamar, side by side; to tell us that just as Tamar acted for the sake of Hashem so too the wife of Potiphar acted for the sake of Hashem. She saw through her astrological prediction that she would have descendants from Yosef but what she didn't know was, that it would it be from her daughter and not her.'
There seems now to be a link between Yosef and the family of Potiphar. Perhaps this was the reason
behind Yosef motives with the wife of Potiphar.
If this is so, why was no act done? Why didn't Yosef go ahead with the plan, if he was thinking this was for the sake of Hashem? What prevented him from doing so?
Rav Gedaliah Schorr, ZT"L quotes Rav Baruch m'Mezhbitz who explains the following with a powerful lesson for life.
If you look in the pasuk (39; 10) it says 'And so it was-just as she coaxed Yosef day after day...' every single day she would try to lure Yosef to do an aveirah and every single day Yosef turned her down. Yosef understood from the fact that she was persistent and determined to entice him, that it was the yetzer hara.
The yetzer tov presents an opportunity to a person only once, but the yetzer hara doesn't relent.
Originally, he thought it was a positive opportunity; for the sake of Hashem. But once he saw how she wouldn't give up, Yosef understood that it was the influence of the yetzer hara.
We find a similar idea by Avraham Avinu. En route to the Akeida the Satan tried making it harder and harder for him by throwing many obstacles his way. Finally, just as Avraham was about to slaughter Yitzchok, he sees a ram whose horns were caught in the bushes. He then stops, untangles the ram and offers it as a korban. Why didn't he think that this too was an act of the yetzer hara? Why was
he so quick to grab this ram?
The answer is because the pasuk (Bereishis 22; 13) clearly says 'ne'echaz basvach', it was wedged in a tree. Had Avraham had easier access to it, then he would've assumed it was the Satan. Since he had to work to untangle it that made him understand that it wasn't the yetzer hara! The Satan makes everything available and accessible. He saw how hard he had to work for it; he realized this was an opportunity and he grabbed it.
The Vilna Goan writes, in Rus, that if a person can't make a decision and he has two options; one is more difficult to carry out and one is easier to carry out. The one that's more difficult is the right one as that is the yetzer tov speaking; making us work for it.
If it's easy then it's the yetzer hara talking to a person convincing you to make the wrong choice.
The yetzer hara knocks all day....the yetzer tov presents itself once. When an opportunity knocks at your door, you answer it.
Important Numbers
