Today's Halachos dedicated by daily reader, M.W., as a Zechus for Hatzlacha and Parnasah for Shmuel Yosef ben Sara Imeinu and Leah Basha bas Italah. May Hashem send them, and all of Klal Yisroel, what they are seeking.
1) Although nowadays we refrain from fasting too much in association with Teshuva, it is still praiseworthy to fast every now and then, such as once a month on Erev Rosh Chodesh, even if it's only until after Chatzos, midday, or until after reciting the special Yom Kippur Katan Tefilos which are traditionally said in many congregations on Erev Rosh Chodesh after Mincha. (See Chofetz Chaim in Sefer Nidchei Yisroel Perek 35)
Some people have the custom to skip one meal each week, ideally lunch on Erev Shabbos Kodesh. (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 32:10)
2) The point of these fast days is not just to refrain from food; the main point of these fasts or the Tzedakah given in their stead, is to utilize them for Teshuva, as the pain of the fast alone without any Teshuva is all but worthless, and can in fact be worse than not fasting at all. (See Sefer Chareidim Perek 63 and Chayei Adam quoted in Biur Halacha to Siman 571 and Mishna Berura Siman 220:6)
Reader's Question:
Do disposable aluminum pans require Toveling if they will only be used once?
Answer:
According to many Poskim, including Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal, these pans do not require tevilah even if they will be re-used as they are meant to be disposed of after one use.
If, however, a utensil requires tevilah (including if your Rav requires you to tovel these pans) it may not be used even once without tevilah.
This is a common misconception that a utensil may be used once without tevilah. it isnt halachically correct.
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.
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THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
Sometimes, when things get tough, a person can think to themselves, what did I do to deserve this?
But in truth, if you think about it, what do we really deserve?
Anything?
Does Hashem owe you anything at all?
He wakes you up every morning.
He keeps you breathing every second of the day.
He gives you so many little things-little things that you may sometimes fail to notice because they seem so insignificant-until they are taken away.
Like simple health.
Nothing complicated.
Just the fact that you can breathe...what happens when you get a cold? All of a sudden you realize what a gift it is to be able to breath from your nose!
He gives you a social life.
He gives you a job, a school, things to do to keep you busy.
He sends people who care into your life.
He is constantly giving, giving, giving.
Even if you do good things does that make you deserving of anything?
Hashem created you! He doesn't owe you a thing.
The fact that you can do those good things, the ability to walk to do chessed, the strength you have to help others...all this comes from Him.
But...He loves you.
And so...He continues to give to you.
So next time you wonder if you really deserve something difficult that is happening in your life, take a moment to think about all the good things you have that you don't either deserve.
Hashem loves you.
He'll never stop giving.
Say thank you and realize...you are lucky you get so much...so much more than you deserve.
Written by daily reader Devoiry; taken from her blog
Important Numbers
