Today's Halachos dedicated by a daily reader, J.A., L'Zecher Nishmas HaRav Yechezkael (Chatzkel) Levenstein Zatzal, Mashgiach of Mir and Ponovez, whose Yahrtzeit is today 18 Adar. May the Mashgiach, who lived each day of his life with total Emunah in Hashem, be a Meilitz Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.
1) There is an age old minhag (as the Rama refers to it but it's actually a halacha; See Sha'ar Hatziyun 429:7), dating back to at least the times of the Talmud (referenced in Talmud Yerushalmi Bava Basra Perek 1 halacha 4), for all dwellers of a city to give money to the poor of their town to ensure that they are able to purchase their needs for Pesach.
This Tzedakah, which is traditionally raised starting 30 days before Pesach, is referred to as "Maos Chitim" (Literally, money for wheat) as they used to provide them with wheat for use in their Matzos.
In later times the minhag was to give them flour (and referred to as Kimcha D'Pischa, literally flour for Pesach), and today's days the minhag is to give money to enable them to buy Matzos and any other Pesach needs for themselves and their families.
2) Anyone who withholds from participating in this Mitzvah is transgressing a big sin, as the poor people rely on this money (words of the Mishna Berura Siman 429:6. See Sha'ar Hatziyun Os 10 why this Tzedakah is most important specifically before Pesach)
There is no set amount to give for Maos Chitim. The objective is to ensure that every poor person in every city has all their Yom Tov needs taken care of, thus each town should take stock of their people's needs and have every member of the town give their fair share. (See Mishna Berura Siman 429:4)
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:
Wouldn't mezonos rolls be considered Maaris Ayin since someone may see you eat one without washing and assume it's regular bread?
Answer:
Well, first of all, "Mezonos Rolls" that are eaten as a meal require Netilas Yadayim and HaMotzi and Birchas Hamazon anyway, according to virtually all Poskim.
That being said, if you are eating it as a snack or other method where it is definitely Mezonos, how would the people seeing you know if you have washed or not? It is just as possible that you did indeed wash in another room and come here to eat your "Hamotzi roll"
If they heard you say the Bracha Mezonos, then there is no Maris Ayin either.
And if the above for some reason does not work, you can always tell them that it is a Mezonos roll, which is a common item.
All in all, I don't think any Maris Ayin would apply to this situation.
That being said, a Jew should always strive to act in a way that people who see him/her say how fortunate it is to be a Torah Jew! (See Talmud Yoma 86a)
Of course, a Rav should be consulted for Halacha L'Ma'aseh.
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 Corner
אין עוד מלבדו
" Don't tell HaShem how big your problems are. Tell your problems how BIG HaShem is."
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