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!
CURRENT TOPIC: HILCHOS CHAGEI CHODESH TISHREI
1) It is a Mitzvah for each Jew to personally take part in the building of their Sukkah, rather than have someone else build the entire thing for them. (See Talmud Kidushin 41a; the concept of Mitzvah Bo Yoser M'Beshelucho.)
One who does it himself receives more reward than simply asking or hiring someone else to do it. (Rashi ibid.)
2) This applies to all people, even respectable people, Talmidei Chachamim and dignitaries who usually should not be involved in menial tasks and physical labor. (See Machzik Bracha Siman 625:3. See also Talmud Shabbos 119a that Talmidei Chachamim toiling for a Mitzvah is their biggest honor. See also Mishna Berura Siman 250:4 and Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil Yishtadel. The Steipler Zatzal was known to schlep the S'chach and place them on his Sukkah and refused to allow anyone to help him. This was also the custom of many other Gedolim)
Reader's Question:
When is the proper time to be Ma'avir Sedra Parshas V'Zos Habracha?
Answer:
Being that we are about to begin a new cycle of the Torah very soon, I will take this opportunity to review some of the relevant Halachos of being Ma'avir Sidra, and then get to your specific question.
It is incumbent on every Jewish male to read the portion of the week's Torah reading each week. This is known as "Being Ma'avir Sidrah" (literally, "going over the portion of the week").
The entire Parsha must be read twice and the Targum [Onkelos] must be read once.
The new week begins on Sunday morning, and it must be finished before Krias Hatorah on Shabbos of that week. (The Mishna Berura holds that one can begin already reading the new Parsha after Krias Hatorah of Mincha on the last Shabbos, and there is no need to wait until Sunday)
Some Poskim hold that the best time to be Mekayem this Mitzvah is on Friday afternoon after Chatzos (midday). Others disagree and hold that it is 100% Okay to start on Sunday morning and do a little each day throughout the week.
There are a few methods mentioned by Halachic authorities as to the proper way to be Ma'avir Sidra:
a) To read the entire Sidra of that week, from beginning to end twice and only then to read the entire Targum [Onkelos] from the beginning of the Sidra until the end.
b) To read a full Parsha, or section (meaning from the beginning until you get to a "Pei" or "Samech", and according to the Vilna Gaon if you do it in this way, you stop there, even if it is middle of a Possuk) within the Sidra of the week twice and then to read the Targum on the Pesukim you just read.
c) To read from The beginning until Sheni twice then its Targum, continue from Sheni until Shlishi twice, and then its Targum and so on. (See Derech Sicha from Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita page 2)
d) To read the first Posuk twice and then its Targum, then the second Posuk twice and then its Targum, and so on until you finish the entire Sidra.
All of the above methods have acceptable sources in Halacha. There is a prevalent Minhag (which many Gedolim used to do) to read from the beginning until Sheni on Sunday, from Sheni to Shlishi on Monday, and so on until Friday. On Friday the Minhag is to do two portions (i.e. from Shishi until the end). This Minhag is an easy way to be Ma'avir Sidra without it being a daunting task to do in one sitting.
Besides for Chumash and Targum, one who fears Hashem should learn the commentary of Rashi on the entire Parsha.
If one is not capable of doing this, he should try and read the English (or any other language he is familiar with) translation of the Parsha, so that he will understand what the week's Parsha is about.
Since reading the words of the Targum takes some getting used to, it is worthwhile to have children (from about the age of 7) read a few Pesukim of Chumash and Targum each week, so that when they reach Bar Mitzvah they will have an easy time being Ma'avir Sidrah. Training them in this Mitzvah, like all other Mitzvos, is part of every father's (and mother's) obligation of Chinuch.
The ideal time to be Ma'avir Parshas V'Zos Habracha is on Hashana Rabbah eve or on Shmini Atzeres by day. (See Mishna Berura Siman 285:18. See also Ben Ish Chai, first year, Parashas V'Zos Habracha Siman 15 that L'chatchilah it should be done on Hoshana rabbah and not on Shmini Atzeres.)
According to some Poskim it can be done on Simchas Torah eve as well. (See Mishna Berura Siman 669:4)
If Parshas V'Zos Habracha was done before Hashana Rabbah (even though it was already read in Shul by Mincha on Shabbos Shuva) the obligation was not satisfied, according to many Poskim, and it must be redone in its proper time. (See Shu"t Kaneh B'Shem from Rav Meir Bransdorfer Zatzal Siman 16.)
Parshas Bereishis can only be done after it was read B'Tzibbur on Simchas Torah, thus this year there is just Simchas Torah and Shabbos (preferably to finish before the morning Seudah) to do it in its proper time. (ibid.)
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
There is a perfect analogy to describe the kind of Teshuva we do on Yom Kippur.
Imagine for yourself, a Father who is strolling through the busy 'Shuk' (Marketplace) for Arba Minim in Yerushalayim on Erev Sukkos, on the hunt for that 'perfect' Lulav and Esrog. He takes along his precious little toddler, 'Yankele'. He instructs Yankele to stay close and not to leave go of his hand and stray from him in this commotion. However, in the process and tumult of inspecting various Lulavim etc. Yankele becomes dis-attached from his father and wanders off on his own.
Soon, Yankele's Tatty realizes that his son is no longer with him and he begins to search frantically for his lost son! He hurries to the Police station to inquire whether they have received a lost child. To his relief, they answer in the affirmative and ask him to prove that the boy is truly his own son. All of a sudden, a shrieking child is heard in the background.....
TATTY!!!
Yankele makes a beeline straight for his Tatty and grabs him and hugs him tight...WHERE DID YOU GO, TATTY!!!! Why did you leave me!
In this instant, there are no questions as to this Father/Son relationship, Yankele holds his father tight and vows to never let go again!
This is the definition of Teshuva - Repentance! This moment in time facilitates the most powerful type of connection to Borei Olam; through the power of a true Teshuva!
We are all children of Hashem. We love our Tatty in heaven and he loves us unconditionally in return. Hashem provides for all of our needs. We try to stay close and keep a connection with Hashem. However, we are all human and at times we stray far away by virtue of our sins which act as a barrier to distance ourselves from Hashem Yisborach.
However, there comes a moment in time - when we fall so low, we stumble so severely AND THEN WE SUDDENLY FIND HASHEM (Yom Kippur is such a day)!
In this instant, we cry out to Hashem with the force of all of our mishaps, of our trials, tribulations and failures - and we scream; TATTY, WHERE ARE YOU?? WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME!! I NEED YOU!!!
We proceed to grab Hashems hand with such a fierce love and longing and with a deep and unswerving desire to never let go again!
This situation of love is the distinguishing characteristic between our situation before and after Yom Kippur.
It is this overwhelming feeling of love, generated by our finding Hashem during the awesome days of Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur, which leads us into the days of Sukkos - which are precisely defined as days of love and devotion to Hashem!
In fact, everything we do on Sukkos (from our move into the Sukkah - to our shaking of our Arba Minim) is replete with the overtones and demonstration of love for Hashem Yisborach!
Heard From Harav Shimshon Pincus Zatzal; www.OhrShimshon.com
Important Numbers
