1) All Jews are obligated in the Mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles.
This applies to men, women and children above the age of Chinuch (approximately 5 or 6 years of age), as all Jews were saved in the miraculous victory of the Maccabees over the mighty Greek army. (Additionally, as we discussed in the previous Halachos, women are specifically obligated in the Mitzvos of Chanukah, due to their being saved from the harsh decrees levied against them, via the heroic act of Yehudis, a woman)
2) The prevalent Minhag is for the male head of household to exempt all the female members of the house (adults and children alike), through the lighting of his menorah.
The females being exempted should make sure to be present and listen to the recital of the Brachos [and answer Amen] while the menorah is kindled. (Mishna Berurah Siman 675:9)
Of course, if no man is available to exempt her, a women should light [and make the blessings over] her own menorah. A woman can also exempt other people with her lighting, when no man is available to do this. (See Smag Hilchos Chanukah and Taz Siman 675:3)
Boys who have reached the age of Chinuch should preferably light their own menorahs [with all the Halachic details involved] and not rely on the head of the household's lighting. (Ram'a Siman 675:3. See also Mishna Berura and Biur Halacha ibid. Dibur Hamaschil U'Ldidan, regarding if there is a Mitzvah of Chinuch for "Hidur Mitzvah" or just for the "letter of the law" and thus children would only have to light one candle per night.)
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:
What is the Halacha regarding using dishes that have not been used for at least 15 -20 years. They are fine bone china, but I know they did not come from a kosher home?
Answer:
Usually china cannot be koshered.
If they are expensive, and havent been used in over a year ( as is your case) some Poskim alow them to be koshered and used.
Consult a Rav for halacha L'Ma'aseh.
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal and the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi Finkel Zatzal. May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they both be Melitzei Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.
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 צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
"V'Nakeh Lo Yinakeh", and acquit Hashem does not acquit (Ki Sisa 34:7). This pasuk is the source of the Midas HaDin and all the troubles that seem to befall us in life. The Gaon HaKadosh MiKozhnitz tells us that if you take the words V'Nakeh and Yinakeh, and remove the letters Kuf and Nun from each of these words, the remaining letters are the Shem HaShem.
This is the meaning of the mishna in Pirkei Avos (4:27), "Al Tistakel B'KanKan Eleh B'Ma SheYesh Bo", don't look at the jug, only what is in it. Kan and Kan are the exterior of our Tzaros. We tend to focus on our pain rather than the underlying issue. The Mishna tells us when we are in a situation of Nakeh Lo Yinakeh, we should not focus on the facade which is the Kuf Nun Kuf Nun, but rather the remaining letters of Hashem. We must realize that within this ordeal, Hashem is close to us and holding our hand. Everything is directed by Hashem for a good reason and we should use it to get close to Him.
Rav Yehuda Asad says that this is what we say on Chanukah in Maoz Tzur, "UMiNosar Kankanim Naaseh Nes LaShoshanim". From the Shem Hashem that stood behind the wars and the tzaros of Antiochus, which were merely empty jugs testing our resolve, Naaseh Nes LaShoshanim, a great miracle occurred for those who passed the test and came out smelling like roses.
Submitted by daily reader, M.K.; Taken from www.Revach.net
Important Numbers
