Halachos for Wednesday, Hoshana Rabbah, October 19 2011
1) Many people have the custom to make the blessings on the Lulav and Esrog each day of Sukkos in a Sukkah, before going to Shachris.
Others have the custom, if the Shul has a Sukkah, to recite the blessings on the Lulav and Esrog in that Sukkah.
Many people, however, have the custom to recite the blessings in Shul immediately before reciting Halel. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 644:1 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 644:3. See also Siddur Ya'avetz, Orchos Rabeinu from the Steipler Vol. 2 page 292 and Halichos Shlomo Perek 11 footnote 73 for further details and reasoning for these customs)
2) It is important to be careful with the Lulav,Esrog, Hadasim and Aravos and not to treat them disrespectfully.
They shouldn't be placed in a place where they may be stepped on, near a garbage etc. (See Birkei Yosef Siman 15:4. see also Shulchan Aruch Siman 664:8 for a more in depth discussion about this)
Halachos for Thursday, Shmini Atzeres (Simchas Torah in Eretz Yisroel), October 20 2011
1) After davening on Hoshana Rabba, after using the Lulav and Esrog for the last time, many have the custom to place the Lulav (with the Hadasim and Aravos still bound to it) on top of the door, on top of the Aron Kodesh, or in another safe place and save it for Erev Pesach when it can be burned together with the Chametz.
The purpose of doing this is to use something that was used for a Mitzvah (the Lulav) in conjunction with yet another Mitzvah (burning the Chametz) (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 664:60. Based on a Talmud Yerushalmi Eiruvin Perek 6:7, quoted in Tur Siman 297:4. See also Orchos Rabbeinu from the Steipler Zatzal Vol. 2 Page 316)
2) Some have the custom to make a jelly/jam out of the Esrogim that were used for a Mitzvah. This jelly/jam is given to pregnant women to eat while they are in labor, as eating this Mitzvah jelly/jam is a Segulah for an easy birth and for the child to be healthy.
Many people also have the custom to taste this Esrog jelly/jam on the eve of Tu B'Shvat. (See Kaf HaChaim ibid. and Orchos Rabbeinu ibid.)
[It is proper to pray on the eve of Tu B'Shvat that one merit having a nice Esrog on the next Sukkos. See Bnei Yissoscher Chodesh Sh'vat Ma'amar 2. See also Sefer Lashon Chachamim Vol. 1 Siman 38]
It is a Segulah for pregnant women to bite off the Pitum of the Esrog on Hoshana Rabbah, and to give Tzedakah and daven for an easy labor. (See Likutei Maharich Sukkos page 106a. See also Elef Hamagen Siman 660:6 and Sefer Moed L'Kol Chai Siman 24:25 where a special Tefilah text is printed for the woman to say)
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh, Simchas Torah (in Chutz L'Aretz), October 21 2011
1) When dancing with the Torah on Simchas Torah, it is a mitzvah to rejoice as best as one can; this Simcha should be L'Shem Shomayim, in honor of Hashem and His holy Torah, and not simply an unstructured "party" or "good time" and surely one must be careful to avoid any levity or lightheadedness (S'Chok V'kalus Rosh) (See Tur and Rama Siman 669. See also Ben Ish Chai Parshas V'Zos HaBracha, year one, Siman 18 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 669:23. See also Mishna Berura Siman 669:11 and Rambam Hilchos Lulav Perek 8:15)
2) M'Ikar HaDin (according to the letter of the law) one must stand the entire time that the Sifrei Torah are out for the hakafos, in respect of the Torah. (Rav Bentzion Abba Shaul Zatzal was extremely stringent with this and didn't sit down the entire Hakafos and ruled this way for all who were with him that were healthy and able bodied)
However, if it is difficult for one to stand, the Poskim are lenient and allow sitting down, besides for the first time around the Bimah of each hakafa when everyone must stand. (See Halichos Shlomo Perek 12:9 for the reasoning behind this leniency)
Some have the custom to only sit while holding a Sefer Torah in their hands. (This was the minhag of the Steipler Zatzal and YB"LCT Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Shlita)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh, Shabbos Bereishis, October 22 2011
1) Shmini Atzeres/Simchas Torah is an extremely opportune time, an Eis Ratzon, for one's Tefillos to be accepted by HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Therefore it is proper to daven with extreme Kavanah. (See Sefer Moed L'Kol Chai Siman 25:1. This is based on a Zohar HaKadosh Parshas Noach and Parshas Tzav where it basically says that all that one asks for (in earnest) will be given to them! See also Sefer Seder HaYom Seder Simchas Torah Dibur Hamaschil U'Bsefer HaZohar)
2)It is customary to bid on and try to purchase the Aliyos known as "Choson Torah" (The aliyah where the Torah is "finished") and "Choson Bereishis" (The Aliyah where the Torah is once again begun) for large amounts of money, which goes to support Talmidei Chachamim or the needs of the Shul where people daven and learn.
If possible, it is best to try and have these Aliyos go to Talmidei Chachamim or at least to respected people in the Tzibbur. (See Mishna Berura Siman 669:1)
The custom is for those who received the two aforementioned aliyos to make a Kiddush (on an upcoming Shabbos over the next few weeks) to celebrate their receiving these exalted Aliyos, as they are a celebration of the completion [and re-starting] of Torah. (Tur Siman 669. See also Beis Yosef there and Kaf HaChaim 669:24 and Rama Yoreh Deah Siman 246:26)
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:
If someone wears glasses with "Transitions" lenses (i.e. lenses that tint into sunglasses when exposed to sunlight), is it a transgression of Shabbos to wear those glasses, if bringing them into the sunlight will cause the lenses to change colour to become darker?
Answer:
According to virtually all contemporary Poskim, it is permitted to wear these "Photo Gray" glasses on Shabbos even if the lenses will change colors, as this isn't considered "coloring" on Shabbos as no color is being added, rather the color that is already there is appearing and disappearing. (See Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 3 Siman 45, Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 14 Siman 31, Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchoso Perek 18 footnote 70 , Shu"t Be'er Moshe Vol. 6 Siman 46 and Piskei Teshuvos Siman 320 footnote 38).
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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זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
The last day of Sukkos is Hoshana Rabba. The purpose and objective of Hoshana Rabba, is to receive a 'Kiss' from Hashem Yisborach! In fact, on this day which is the culmination of the beautiful journey of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Aseres Y'mei Teshuva and Sukkos itself, we reach an exalted level where we are one with Hashem.
In the Yehi Ratzon which we recite upon completing the Hoshanos, we mention and acknowledge this special (and reciprocal) 'mouth kiss' between us and Hashem Yisborach. The definition of a 'mouth kiss', is that it is entirely reciprocal. There is no way to avoid complete reciprocation under these conditions. If one party turns away from the other - even slightly, it cannot be considered a true mouth kiss, since the faces are not completely lined up with one another.
Therefore, a true 'N'shikas Picha' by definition, is where you give a kiss and receive a kiss at the very same time. (The Torah tells us that Moshe Rabbeinu merited a 'Misas N'shika' from Hakadosh Baruch Hu at the end of his life. This is the most exalted and beautiful way for a human being to depart from this Earth, by receiving a 'kiss' from Hashem.)
The significance of this Kiss to Hashem on Hoshana Rabba, is to 'breathe' our Neshama into Hashem (so to speak) as an illustration and display of our desire to sacrifice ourselves to his will.
Since this kiss is reciprocal in nature (as we explained), we receive a new/cleansed Neshama from our Hakadosh Baruch Hu in return, since indeed when we give a kiss, we receive one in return!
Important Numbers
