Today's halachos are dedicated by daily reader, A.P., as a zechus Refuah Shelaima for Tinok ben Devora Perel. Please daven and learn with all your heart that he merits a successful, speedy and a complete Refuah Shelaima.
1) In the days of old, if one did a sin (even a small one) he would fast for a few days in order to purge himself of the sin. (See Sha'arei Teshuva Sha'ar 3:82 that although it is usually prohibited to cause pain or damage to one's body, for Teshuva purposes it is allowed and admirable)
For more severe sins, it was common to fast for much longer periods of time. (See Sefer Chareidim Perek 63 where he quotes the Arizal that one who transgressed a severe Hilchos Tzniyus sin should fast for 48 days in order to receive a Kapara, forgiveness.)
2) However, nowadays as people are in a much weaker physical condition than in the old days, and fasting even for one day is difficult, the Poskim suggest giving Tzedakah in lieu if fasting.
The logic is that by giving away money equivalent to the cost of a meal or two, it's as if you yourself did not eat those meals and thus considered as if you fasted. (See Rama Siman 568:2 and Mishna S"K 24.See Talmud Chulin 84a regarding our bodies becoming weaker in each subsequent generation.)
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:
Are you allowed to open soda cans on shabbos?
Answer:
The opening of soda cans on Shabbos is a subject of much debate amongst the Poskim, and it is best to refrain from doing so, as according to many Poskim it is a violation of quite a few Melachos ( Koreah, Asiyas Pesach, Makeh B'Patish, Asiyas Kli etc.) to do so.
Even if one does open cans, it may be better to immediately pour out the contents into a cup rather than drink directly from the can.
Furthermore, if a hole is made on the bottom of the can rendering it unusable after opening, it may be better as well.
(See Chazon Ish Orach Chaim Siman 51:13 and Shu"t Ohr L'Tzion Siman 26. See also Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 1 Siman 122 and Vol. 4 Siman 78. According to Rav Moshe if the opening will be a nice, neat and convenient spout to drink from there is seemingly no Heter.)
For Halacha L'Ma'aseh a Rav must be consulted.
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
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זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk Zatzal quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
