AS MEMBERS OF THE 'HALACHA FOR TODAY' FAMILY WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ONE ANOTHER .
KNOW OF A JOB OPENING THAT MAY BE SUITABLE FOR ONE OF YOUR FELLOW READERS STRUGGLING TO MAKE PARNASSAH? EMAIL IT TO HALACHAFORTODAY@GMAIL.COM !
LOOKING FOR A JOB? EMAIL HALACHAFORTODAY@GMAIL.COM AND I WILL TRY TO "MATCH" JOBS OFFERED TO THOSE SEEKING JOBS!
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! TOGETHER WE CAN ENSURE A GMAR CHASIMA TOVA FOR OUR ENTIRE 'FAMILY'
Halacha For Today:
Erev Shabbos Kodesh; Erev Yom Kippur
9 Tishrei 5772
October 7, 2011
LECHEM MIHNEH: DOUBLE PORTION L'KAVOD SHABBOS KODESH AND YOM KIPPUR
Halachos for Erev Yom Kippur
1) If one forgot "Hamelech HaKadosh" in Shemona Esrei, and only realized this after completing the entire Shemona Esrei and Vidui, although the Shemona Esrei must be repeated, there is no need to repeat the Vidui again when repeating the Shemona Esrei. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 582:1)
However, if one wants to repeat the Vidui, he/she may do so. (ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal.)
The ideal way to perform Vidui is to itemize each and every sin that one can remember doing.
One should try and stretch out their Vidui for as long as possible, and try and do it in a heartfelt way. (See Shulchan Aruch siman 607:2.The Vidui of the Chayei Adam Klal 143 as well as the Vidui written by Rabbein Nissim enumerate vast lists of possible sins, which may be helpful in "jarring our memory" and remind us of the sins we may have done in the previous year. These lists are found in certain Machzorim and Sidurim as well, and can also be bought independently in Jewish book stores)
If one transgressed a certain sin (or a variation of it) many times, it isn't necessary to itemize each one, rather he/she can say "Sin X which I have transgressed countless times" or a similar verbalization.
2) It is a Biblical Mitzvah to increase the amount we eat and drink on Erev Yom Kippur.
The Talmud (Rosh Hashana 9a-b) teaches that one who eats on Erev Yom Kippur is considered as if he fasted on both Erev Yom Kippur and on Yom Kippur.
It is the minhag to have a Yom Tov Seuda on Erev Yom Kippur, as it is considered a Yom Tov because we are confident that Hashem will forgive all our sins. (See Tur Siman 604)
Women and children who have reached the age of Chinuch are also obligated in this Mitzvah of eating more on Erev Yom Kippur, according to many Poskim. (See Shu"t Ksav Sofer Siman 112 and MaHaril Hilchos Erev Yom Kippurim)
Halachos for Yom Kippur
1) The following things are prohibited from sunset of Yom Kippur eve until nightfall after Yom Kippur :
1) Melacha (any "work" that is prohibited on Shabbos)
2) Eating
3) Drinking
4) Bathing /washing
5) Smearing lotion, soap etc.
6) Wearing leather shoes
7) Marital relations
There is a dispute amongst the Rishonim if all the aforementioned are prohibited Min HaTorah (biblically) or just eating and drinking and Melacha, while the rest are only prohibited MiDirabanan (prohibited by the sages).
Most Poskim rule that it is best to be stringent and consider them all as Min HaTorah. (See Mishna Berura Siman 611:3)
However, "Kares- the heavenly death penalty" is only meted out for eating, drinking and Melacha, according to all opinions. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 611:1)
2) Upon rising on Yom Kippur morning, Negel Vasser must be washed. However, one must be careful to only wash until the end of the joints of the hand (knuckles) and not the entire hand. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 613:2)
As you wash, have in mind that you are doing so to remove the "impure spirit" from your body, and not doing it for the pleasure of "washing" which is prohibited on Yom Kippur.(Rama ibid.)
The face may not be washed on Yom Kippur morning. (See Mishna Berura ibid. S"K 3)
It is best to be stringent and not even place a little water on the eyes, unless there is some crust near the eyes, then it may be removed with a drop of water that was placed on your finger. When doing so, care must be taken to only place the water on the immediate spot of the crust, and not on any other part of the face. (Rama Siman 613:4 and Mishna Berura S"K 9)
After using the restroom, the hands should be washed, but only until the knuckles. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 613:3)
The Kohanim may wash their entire hands before going up to "duchen- bless the congregation" as that washing isn't one of pleasure. (ibid.)
Although most contemporary Poskim allow the use of aerosol spray deodorant on Tisha B'Av if necessary to prevent sweating, this is not the case on Yom Kippur, and it is prohibited to use any kind of deodorant on Yom Kippur, even if only to prevent and/or eliminate odors. (Kitzur Hilchos Yom Tov page 110 quoted in Piskei Teshuvos Siman 614:1 footnote 3)
גמר
חתימה
טובה
TO ALL OF KLAL YISROEL!!
Reader's Question:
Do children make kiddush on Yom Kippur [before they eat] when it comes out on Shabbos?
Answer:
A child, or an adult that is ill, that eats on Yom Kippur (regardless if it's shabbos or not), according to the Mishna Berura (Siman 618:28) does not recite Kiddush first. (Rav Akiva Eiger Zatzal argues and maintains that Kiddush is necessary. The prevelant ruling that is followed is not to recite Kiddush)
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
In Judaism, we eat according to how much we pray. On a regular weekday, we pray moderately and eat moderately. On Shabbos, we pray more and eat more. On the Holidays, when we recite special prayers, we dine more elaborately.
The exception to this rule seems to be Yom Kippur; we pray all day, but we don't eat at all!
The Jews in the wilderness ate Manna. The Manna was no ordinary foodstuff, it was a sacred food, similar to the spiritual sustenance angels subsist on. In fact, when there was a weakening in the spiritual stature of the Jewish People, they complained that the Manna did not satisfy their bodily lusts.
On Yom Kippur, we eat a whole day, much more than on any day of the year. However, our food is similar to the Manna, only, it is even more spiritual than the Manna was. On Yom Kippur, we eat the same food angels do.
During the fast of Yom Kippur, let each hunger pang remind you of the delightful, spiritual repast your soul is enjoying.
From a lecture by Harav Moshe Wolfson Shlita , Mashgiach Ruchani of Mesivta Torah Vodaath and Rav of Bais Medrash Emunas Yisroel in Brooklyn. NY; click here for more of his lectures.
Question:
Yisurim is Mechaper, everybody knows that suffering is a form of atonement. Is the mere experience of pain the atonement ? Or does one have to think about some bad deed which he had done, to which he is being punished, in order that he should get the benefit of the Yisurim? In other words, are the Yisurim intrinsically a Kaporo or only a stimulus for a man to do Teshuva and therefore get a Kaporoh?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatal:
The answer is both. We have to know, that pain has an important function, like Rashi says in one place, illness is for the purpose of humbling mankind. Its a very important principle Rashi is enunciating. Illness makes a man a Dal. "Ashrai Maskil El Dal", happy is the one who pays attention to the sick. Dal means not poor man...the sick one, he is low. "Aromimcha Hashem Ki Dilisoni ", he lifted me up from lowness, Dal means low and Dalah means to lift up from lowness. You cannot be proud when you are Chalila ill. Its a great benefit . So even though you haven't changed your ways, the mere humiliation of illness, it makes you low, is already an achievement.A very big achievement for a person to lose his arrogance even for a little while. Sick people are not arrogant.
However, if its utilized more fully, a man utilizes that as a hint to correct his ways, and that's a message that Hashem is not satisfied , and he improves, certainly he has utilized the Yisurim in a better form. There is even a better form. "Semaichim B'yisurim", those who are happy when Yisurim come. We say thank you Hashem, that's not easy to say, at least we should try to say it, maybe someday we will feel it.
So now we have 3 Madraigos in Yisurim.
One Madraiga is, a man is suffering like a dumb ox - he doesn't think at all, but he is suffering. A sick ox is not interested in adventures and goring people, he has his own troubles to think about. That's a big thing.
The Second Madraiga is, if he is "Mefashfaish Bemaasov ...Iym Roeh Adam Sh'yisurim Baem Alav", if a man sees suffering come upon him, "Mefashfaish Bemaasov" , he looks into his deeds he investigates his deeds and becomes better.
And the Third Madraiga is, Semaychim B'yisurim..Thank Hashem for the Yisurim..AAH..if you can do that , you have reached the summit of success with Yisurim.
from the weekly "A moment with Rabbi Miller" email.
Doesn't anyone else care that we are losing Shabbos this week?
Well I do.
Don't you all realize what is happening? Can't you see what they're doing to us? There won't be any cholent this Shabbos. No nap, no zmiros. no Shabbos party, nothing!
Uh oh. People are giving me that look. I must be doing it again.
Okay, I get it.
Were supposed to be busy doing teshuva now and not thinking about nosh. You're shocked, how could I be so shallow?
I guess other people don't even notice stuff like this. I'm so embarrassed. But then I was always this way.
Let me guess when you were young you never checked to see how many pages were left in your Yom Kippur machzor till the end of davening. I remember as a kid leafing through and thinking "Oh my gosh FOUR HUNDRED pages left, we're not getting out this year till after Succos!"
Well I'm sorry. I like Shabbos. It's not fair. Give that back!
Ummm something strange just happened. I went to the source and found that the Pasuk (Parshas Emor 23:32) calls Yom Kippur"Shabbos Shabbason" the ultimate Shabbos experience. "Shabbos Shabboson it should be for you, and you should afflict yourselves."
Now I'm really confused isn't Shabbos all about getting that recharge? The complete getaway for soul, mind and body? What ever happened to good ol' disconnecting to connect? How does afflicting ourselves fit the bill as the ultimate Shabbos experience?
The answer lies in a few short words written by Harav Pincus (Shabbos Malkusa introduction). What is the essence of the day we call Shabbos? If you had to encapsulate all the multifaceted glory and power of this holy day in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
Ein od Milvado.
Shabbos is the day of Hashem. The day that Hashem reveals himself and enables us to truly find him.
Suddenly in HIS presence the entire world grinds to an immediate and total standstill. Like the beam of a flashlight in the blinding light of the sun the world itself is Shovais.
And now for the best part. On Shabbos there is a mitzva of Oneg, not because physical pleasure is intrinsically good for our spiritual growth (it isn't), but because Shabbos isn't about us at all, it's about Hashem and He desires that we eat, so we eat.
However on Yom Kippur the revelation of Hashem in our world is so great and powerful that our entire universe fades into complete oblivion, even more so than it does on Shabbos. Hashem is coming close to his nation to forgive and love us once more without barriers or distance. Our flimsy world disintegrates and breaks down before this awesome light. Even WE are transformed into angels (and say Baruch Shem out loud) and suddenly food and Oneg Shabbos become superfluous.
So perhaps we will not be missing out on Shabbos this week at all. On the contrary, we have the opportunity to experience the
ultimate Shabbos. Shabbos Shabboson.
May we all taste the true pleasure of Vekarasa LSHABBOS Oneg and be zoche to be sealed into the book of eternal life and sing zmiros forever in that great day that is forever Shabbos AMEN.
Written by daily reader, Rabbi Efraim Stauber for the Afikei Newsletter
Important Numbers
