1) The 13th day of the month of Adar is known as Taanis Esther, the fast of Esther.
This fast day is in commemoration of the Jews' gathering on that day [in Teshuva and prayer] in preparation for defending themselves against the imminent threat of their annihilation at the hands of their neighbors at the behest of Haman and Achashveirush.
The fast was established as a reminder that Hashem always sees our individual [as well as our collective]suffering, and will always come to our rescue if we return to Him with all our heart, as the Jews did at the time of the story of Purim. (See Mishna Berura Siman 686:2)
2) This fast is not as stringent as other fast days, and in cases of necessity (such as pregnant or nursing women, or people with certain other hardships or non life-threatening sicknesses) one need not fast.
However, one who can fast should not simply dismiss this fast and be different than the rest of Klal Yisroel. (Rama Siman 686:1)
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:
If I am eating/drinking something whose bracha is shehakol and then I want to eat a piece of gum afterwards, should I eat, say borei nefashos and then make another shehakol on the gum, or should i just eat the gum and never say a bracha acharona? or can i say borei nefashos and eat the gum without a bracha? What is the correct thing to do in this situation?
Answer:
This is a tricky situation.
Best to say a Bracha Achrona and leave the room and say a bracha on the gum in the next room, as once you leave the room the Bracha Rishona wouldn't have worked anyhow.
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:
"When Moshe Rabbeinu saw the burning bush, Hashem told him to remove his shoes. When one wears shoes, he can step on small stones and pebbles, hardly detecting anything. However, when one walks barefoot, he feels every tiny rock and thorn and it hurts. Thus, Moshe, the future leader of the Jewish people was told to take off his shoes, for a leader of his generation had to feel the pain of his people and understand their travails in order to properly lead them.".
Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntzitz Zatzal, the Kli Yakar quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
