Wednesday
21 Iyar 5771;36th Day of the Omer
May 25, 2011
1) A woman who is extracting milk (in a permissible situation as we discussed yesterday) may use a manual breast pump for this purpose.
However, the utensil that the milk is being pumped into should preferably have soap, or another non edible and non Muktzeh substance in it, to ensure that the milk being pumped will be unfit for feeding the child (as some Poskim require that not only must it be discarded, it may never be useable in the first place even if the intention is to discard in a few moments.)
Alternatively, though not always practical, the milk that is pumped can go directly into a sink and down the drain.
2) An electric breast pump may not be used in the normal manner, and preferably should be avoided altogether.
In cases of extreme necessity when a manual pump is not sufficient, as determined by a Rav, an electric pump may be used in an indirect way (Grama) as follows:
The pump can be set on a timer to go on and off at regular intervals.
The part of the pump that attaches to the woman must be put in place when the pump is off.
Thus, when the pump turns on the milk will be extracted automatically without any action on the woman's part; she may not even hold onto the cup while it is pumping, though it may be tied on with a string before the pump turns on. (See Chazon Ish Siman 38:4)
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:
What is the reason for the issur (prohibition) of gambling and is playing with slot machines included in the Issur of gambling?
Answer:
The issur of gambling, known in halacha as Mesachek B'Kuvia, is mainly due to the fact that most gambling, especially if done on a regular basis, will lead to stealing to feed his habit.
The Mishna (Sanhedrin 24b) says that one who gambles is disqualified from being a witness in a Bais Din, as thieves are disqualified from being witnesses. See Rashi that they are considered Reshaim, evil.
The Gemara, in the first explanation, explains that even if the gains are gotten lawfully, it is still stealing as the loser hands over the money grudgingly. (Asmachta Lo Kanya)
Some Rishonim say that the stringency of this prohibition is only for a "full time gambler" and not for one who does so occasionally, but many Rishonim, including the Rambam, maintain that any gambling at all is prohibited.
The Rivash (Shu"t HaRivash Siman 395 toward the end) calls gambling "a disgusting, empty, abomination to do...."
See Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 34:16 that this includes any gambling, races or other methods of "chance" where people are conned out out of their money.
Slot machines, which don't involve two people may be different according to the letter of the law, but they are still not within the spirit of the activities becoming of a child of Hashem, especially as the places they are usually situated are places that have serious issues of Tzniyus,Pritzus, Prikas Ol, Chukos Hagoyim and a whole slew of other problems for a frum Jew.
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 HALACHAFORTODAY@YAHOO.COM
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk Corner
The Happiness Bank
The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and
proud lady, who is fully dressed
each morning by eight o'clock, with her
hair fashionably coifed and makeup
perfectly applied, even though she is
legally blind, moved to a nursing
home today.
Her husband of 70 years recently passed
away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in
the lobby of the nursing home,
she smiled sweetly when told her room was
ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the
elevator, I provided a visual
description of her tiny room, including the
eyelet sheets that had been
hung on her window.
"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm
of an eight-year-old having
just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room .
just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it,"
she replied.
"Happiness is something you decide on ahead
of time. Whether I like my
room or not doesn't depend on how the
furniture is arranged... it's
how I arrange my mind.
I already decided to love it. It's a
decision I make every morning when I
wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the
day in bed recounting the
difficulty I have with the parts of my body
that no longer work, or get
out of bed and be thankful for the ones
that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes
open I'll focus on the
new day
and all the happy memories I've stored away
just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account: you
withdraw from what yo u've put
in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a
lot of happiness in the bank
account of memories.
Important Numbers
