Today's Halachos dedicated by daily reader, A.W., L'zechus Refuah Sheleima of Chaya Meira Mindel bas Chava Golda C (Meira (Bresler) Riemer), B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel.
Meira was diagnosed a year and a half ago with a rare form of cancer called synovial sarcoma. Unfortunately, none of the treatments have yet worked, but the family believes that all of these treatments are just one form of Hishtadlus. Hashem is in control and can send a Refuah. We can never stop believing and remembering that.
A few months ago the family started a daily dvar Torah email with daily lessons from the Chofetz Chaim's Sefer Ahavas Chesed to learn as a Zechus for Meira. Already over 1,300 people are signed up and learning! And they are now trying to take it a step further and reach an even greater number! If you are interested in joining, please email ahavaschesedformeira@gmail.com and let them know you want to join!
1) Although for some people it may usually be better (in order to better concentrate) to daven Shemona Esrei with closed eyes, in Aseres Yemei Teshuva it is advisable to daven from a siddur, as this way it is less likely to forget the additions that must be added to the Shemona Esrei (Zachreinu L'Chaim, Mi Komocha, Hamelech HaKadosh, Hamelech Hamishpat, U'Ksov and B'Sefer Chaim).
2) If Zachreinu L'Chaim, Mi Komocha, Hamelech Hamishpat, U'Ksov and/or B'Sefer Chaim were mistakenly skipped, and the next Bracha was already started, there is no need to repeat the Shemona Esrei.
However, if "Hamelech HaKadosh" was forgotten and you signed off the Bracha of Ata Kadosh with "HaKeil HaKadosh" as it is said the rest of the year, one must indeed repeat the Shemona Esrei, unless it was immediately corrected within the time it takes to utter three words (Toch Kedei Dibbur) and the next Bracha was not yet started. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 582:1 and 2)
The main point of these Yomim Noraim is to realize that Hashem is our King and to accept His Kingdom (and all the Mitzvos that come along with it) upon ourselves, thus forgetting "Hamelech HaKadosh" is forgetting the essence and "missing the point" of these significant days, and therefore must be repeated. (See Mishna Berura Siman 582:2)
Reader's Question:
We are having an air conditioner problem in our shul. The solution is to brick up a very old door, which has not been used as a door for 20+ years and put an a/c unit there. Is it permissible to brick up this door?
Answer:
According to Rav Yehuda HaChasid in His famous Tzava'ah (will) Siman 20, one should not totally close up a door or a window.
If it is left open a little bit or a small hole made in it, it isn't an issue.
See also Sefer Chasidim Siman 1146 and 461 that doing this will block the passageway of the Sheidim and cause them to find a different route which may result in harm befalling the inhabitants of the home.
There is an opinion in the Poskim that this does not apply to a Bais Medrash or Bais HaKneses, so if you cannot leave a small opening it is possible that you are OK anyhow.
A Rav should be consulted for Halacha L'Ma'aseh.
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
What can a person do to increase the concentration and Kavanah at Davening?
Answer by Harav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
There's a general system, and a matter of Yom Kippur especially. In general, Tofasta Merubah Lo Tofasta, you can't do everything at one time, so you concentrate on the small area. So everyday you pick just one little part, let's say one Brocho, and make up your mind, on this Brocho I'm going to put in all my thoughts, I don't care how long it takes. Let's say you want to say Selach Lanu, so you say Selach Lanu and think about it. Forgive me Hashem and you try to remember wrong things you did. Selach Lanu Avinu, think Avinu means our father, Hashem loves us like a father, and we love him like a father; think into it. One Brocho - concentrate on it, put efforts in it, even if it takes two minutes or three minutes, don't care. And after you're finished, you know at least with one Brocho you've succeeded in thinking about it.
The next day, or the next Tefillah, Minchah, you can study the same thing over again even more profoundly or go onto another Brocho. So by concentrating on a small amount at a time you're going to start succeeding in concentration with Kavana.
On Yom Kippur there's a different attitude. Yom Kippur, in addition to trying to concentrate on what you're saying, also is the function of thinking that Hashem is listening to you and He wants to wash you. You remember when you were a little boy two years old, you remember, sometimes you remember, and you had full pants once, you had full pants, you were so ashamed. A little boy, two years old you had full pants. You climbed the steps, you said, "Mommy, I have full pants," you're so ashamed. So your mommy took you and took off your pants and washed you. That's how you have to feel when Hashem is cleaning you today. Hashem my Father, clean me I'm dirty, it's worse then making in your pants. Hashem, cleanse me, you're asking Hashem, Kaper Lanu, Selach Lanu, Mechal Lanu, wash me Hashem, cleanse my Neshama. That's a Machshavah of Yom Kippur. Hashem clean me, please Hashem clean me. That's an additional thought to all other thoughts.
Important Numbers
