Today's Halachos dedicated in honor of the wonderful women that run www.WesternWallPrayers.org
"Thank you so much for the incredible work that you do. Your personal care and dedication are an inspiration to us."
1) A female that fell or otherwise needs assistance getting up or needs medical assistance may be helped to her feet or given other medical assistance by a male [as this is not being done for purposes of closeness, love or pleasure].
Obviously, even when assisting her, the physical contact should be kept to the bare minimum deemed necessary and he should be careful not have impure thoughts while touching her. (See Shach Yoreh Deah Siman 195:20)
Likewise, a male patient may be cared for by a female doctor or nurse, provided that it doesn't lead him to have any impure thoughts.
Of course, even when being treated by a female medical provider, he must be careful to not gaze unnecessarily at her.
2) One who is "stringent" and doesn't assist a female in need of medical assistance or in need of getting up after a fall etc. due to not wanting to touch her is deemed by the Talmud (Sotah 21b) as a Chasid Shota, a pious fool, as his stringency is unwarranted.
Even if he knows himself that if he helps her it may lead to impure thoughts, he must assist her if there is nobody else there to assist her. (Shach ibid.)
In the event that the female's life is in danger, even if he knows for certain that by helping her he will have impure thoughts or even derive pleasure from the contact, he must save her life. (See Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 1 Siman 56 and Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 8 Siman 75)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are 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@Gmail.com
Reader's Question:
While recently saying Kiddush Levana I found it interesting that everyone was davening facing towards the moon ( opposite of Mizrach in our Shul ).
Is there any Mekor for this ( facing towards the moon ) or should we be Davening towards Mizrach like all other Tefilos ?
Answer:
Although it isn't brought in Shulchan Aruch to face Mizrach when saying Kiddush Levana, I did hear from a Talmid of Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal that he was indeed makpid to stand facing east while reciting Kiddush Levanah. It is best not to specifically face the moon, especially while reciting the Bracha, lest it appear as if we are praying to the moon Chas V'Shalom.
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
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@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
Take one Jewish child.....
Put him on a chair, look at him.
And realize that he is more important than the mountains,
The Oceans and the continents,
He is more important than the North and South America.
He is more important than the Universe.
It is not only Klal Yisroel as a whole that is important,
Every single Jew is loved by Hashem with an intense and burning love.
Important Numbers
