Today's Halachos are dedicated by a daily reader, Y.N., in honor of the Yahrtzeit ,today, of one of the Gedolei HaPoskim , HaRav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal, whose brilliant light of D'var Hashem Zu Halacha continues to illuminate the four corners of the Torah world. May he be a Meilitz Yosher for all "Halacha For Today" readers as well as for all of Klal Yisroel. Amen.
1) The fourth ,and final, of the "Four Parshiyos" is "Parshas HaChodesh" (which can be found in Parshas Bo, Shmos 12:1-20) is read on the Shabbos immediately before Rosh Chodesh Nisan (This year, Parshas Tazria) , as it contains within it the Mitzvah of Korban Pesach. (See Rashi to Megilah 29a and Aruch Hashulchan Siman 685).
Another reason is that it contains within it the sanctification of Chodesh Nisan as it says "HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem Rosh Chadashim, This month (Nisan) should be for you the first of the cycle of months"
2) There is a custom is some communities that only a married man is called up for the Maftir of all of the "Four Parshiyos".
Some explain the reason for this so as to ensure that a minor is not called up for this Aliyah, which according to many opinions is prohibited for these obligatory readings [especially Parshas Zachor and Parshas Parah]. (See Sefer Lekach Hakemach HaChadash Siman 137:135 and Mishna Berura Siman 282:23)
For Halacha L'ma'aseh every community should follow their own accepted custom.
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 was just wondering if you could explain waiting 6 hours between fleishig and milchig. Is this a minhag or actual halacha? And what is the difference of opinions regarding waiting 1 hour or any other waiting period. And is it necessary to wait between milchig and fleishig or is washing your mouth out sufficient?
Also, why do we wait 6 hours? Does it have anything to do with how long it takes to digest the meat?
Answer:
The requirement to wait six hours is a halacha in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 89:1. The Rama writes that the custom in Germany was to wait only one hour, but concludes that those who are scrupulous in Mitzvah observance should wait six hours.
The almost universally accepted custom is to indeed follow the stringent ruling and wait six hours.
Those of Dutch or German descent who indeed have the custom to wait 1 or 3 hours respectively, may follow their familial custom, but one who does not have this lenient custom should not rely on it. See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 89:7 and Shach to Shulchan Aruch ibid.
Some Poskim maintained that once in the sixth hour, it would already be permitted to eat dairy, thus some people wait either 5 hours and 1 minute, or five hours and 31 minutes (a majority of the sixth hour). Again, if one has this custom he may follow it, otherwise stick to six full hours.
If one always waited six hours, he/she may not change to a shorter waiting time before discussing with a Rav and performing Hataras Nedarim.
After drinking milk, the mouth should be rinsed and then meat may be eaten immediately.
After eating cheese or cheese products, a parve solid food should be eaten and the mouth rinsed out and half an hour waited, and the hands washed before eating meat.
Some people have the custom to wait half an hour before eating meat, even after milk.
After eating hard cheeses (Cheeses were aged for six months and thus have fatty residue. Consult your Rav or Kashrus agency to determine which cheeses fall into this category, as there are many varying opinions regarding today's cheeses), a full six hours must be waited before eating meat.
If the hard cheese was melted into another food, such as lasagne, according to many Poskim you no longer must wait six hours before eating meat. Some Poskim maintain that even after melting it still requires a six hour wait
The "six hours" was the amount of time between the day meal and the evening meal, in the time of Chazal. (See Talmud shabbos 10a and Biur HaGra Yoreh Deah Siman 89:2)
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:
Kever of HaRav Chaim Vital Zatzal in Tzfas
"Middos (character traits) are so fundamental that the Torah intentionally did not give a commandment to work on middos, the same way that a foundation is automatic in building a house. Middos are so basic, that without a strong foundation in good middos, there is no Torah, and one cannot have 613 commandments without them."
Rav Chaim Vital Zatzal quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
