Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Pekudei; Parshas Shekalim;ShabbosChazak;Machar Chodesh; Mevorchim Chodesh Adar II (Rosh Chodesh on Sunday and Monday)
28 Adar I, 5771
March 4 , 2011
1) The obligation to give Machtzis HaShekel is for all males over the age of 20, and according to some opinions for all males over the age of 13.
However, the prevalent custom is for every father to give a separate "Half" coin (or 3 coins) for each of his male children, and if his wife is pregnant, to give for the unborn child as well. (See Mishna Berura 694:5)
2) Women are exempt from giving Machtzis HaShekel (Mishna Maseches Shekalim Perek 1:3)
However, some Poskim bring the custom to indeed give Machtzis HaShekel for the women [as well as the female children] in the household. (Leket Yosher and Levush Siman 686)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) "Machtzis HaShekel" may not be given from Ma'aser money, as Ma'aser may not be used for obligations. (Shu"t Bais Dino Shel Shlomo Yoreh Deah Siman 1. See also Sefer Tzedaka U'mishpat Perek 6 footnote 37. See also Mogen Avraham Siman 694:1 in the name of the Shel"a HaKadosh)
However, the "Machtzis Hashekel" that is given on behalf of boys below the age of 13, females or on behalf of anyone who isn't halachically obligated and is only giving based on the custom, may be given from Ma'aser money. (See Elya Rabbah and Yosef Ometz Siman 686)
2) The money raised for "Machtzis Hashekel" (which today's days is only a commemoration of the real Machtzis Hashekel in the times of the Bais Hamikdash, which was used for purchasing Korbanos) should ideally be distributed to poor people, preferably for use for their Purim Seudah. (See Siddur Ya'avetz quoting the Levush Siman 686.)
If no poor people are present, the money can be held until a later date when a poor person can be located [or M'Ikar Hadin it can be given to any charitable cause.] (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 694:4)
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:
Is a person allowed to hold off on some of the morning brachos (i.e. She'asah Li kol Tzarchi / shelo asani goy etc.) and save them for later in the day to invigorate him, i.e. If he is depressed and needs a chizuk, he recites one of those brachos.
I heard a story of a chasidishe rebbe who was depressed and burst out one of the brachos (possibly before tefillah mind you) but thought that is a great idea!
Answer:
Although it is best if said in the morning before davening, all the Birchos Hashachar (with the exception of "Al Netilas Yadayim" and according to some Poskim the Bracha of "Elokai Neshama") must be said after davening if they weren't recited before davening. (See Rama Siman 51:1 and Mishna Berura S"K 9)
If they may be said at any time during the day as opposed to immediately after davening,from the language of the Poskim it seems that they should be said as soon as possible.
There are other Tefilos etc. which can be said anytime throughout the day if you need Chizuk and need to connect to Hashem.
For Halacha L'Ma'aseh a Rav should be consulted.
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:
Question:
In general, there's a principle, Godol Hameaseh Yoser Mi Haoseh, if you cause others to do things, to do good deeds, it's even greater than the one who did the good deeds. So how does that jive with the statement that Godol Haoneh Amen Yoser Min Hamevoraich. The one who answers Amen, that's a result of the man who made the Bracha, the man who made the Bracha is causing him to say Amen, so how could the answer of Amen be greater than the one who made the Bracha, who caused him to say Amen?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
Now I'll say as follows: First of all, Godol Hameaseh, if a person causes somebody to do a Mitzvah, this person is the originator; the one who does the Mitzvah is the follower. It's very good to be a follower of a good teacher. But to be an originator of a good thought is even a greater merit, and that's why the first one who tells somebody, 'do this,' he's the originator. If you follow him, you have a great merit but you're secondary to the merit of the pioneer who told you to do it.
Now, in the case of answering Amen, a different element enters here. If you're ever in the synagogue in the morning and some people demonstratively make Brachos in the morning, and you're saying your own Brachos, it's a big nuisance to you. It disturbs you. He's saying the whole list of Brachos and you're wasting time; you have to wait and answer Amen to him. So you're saying, "Who told you to say your Brachos so loud? Why don't you say it quietly, I have to say my own Brachos. Just because you want to say a Bracha I have to answer Amen?" If you're nice enough, despite the nuisance, the bother, you listen and you answer Amen too, that's a different story, now you are yielding to somebody's desires. He wants to say Brachos and you're nice enough to let him have his way, and you say Amen, so that's a different story.
That's why Gadol, it's greater if you answer because, I didn't want him to make the Brachos, he's making the Brachos. I've got my own business to do, and he is intruding on my time by saying the Brachos. So I have to stop what I'm doing and answer Amen. That's why there it's greater, because you're holding back your impatience at him. Holding back your impatience and cooperating with him because he wants to do something good, that's even greater.
Important Numbers
