1) On all eight days of Chanukah, the complete Halel is recited following Shacharis.
The Bracha of "Baruch Ata Hashem...Likro Es HaHalel" is recited before the recitation of the Halel.
There is no Tefilas Mussaf on Chanukah (besides for the days that fall on Rosh Chodesh and Shabbos), as there was no special Mussaf offering on Chanukah in the Bais HaMikdash.
2) If one is in middle of Halel, and hears a Bracha or Kedusha, he/she has the status as if they were in the middle of Birchos Krias Shema.
Thus, in middle of a chapter, one may only interrupt for the first "Amen" ,"Amen YeHei Shemei Rabbah" and "Amen" of "D'Amiran B'Alma V'Imru Amen" of Kadish; the verses "Kadosh" and "Baruch" in Kedusha; and the "Amen" of " HaKel HaKadosh" and the "Amen" of " ShoMea Tefilah" in Chazaras HaShatz.
If one is between 2 chapters, he/she may answer "Amen" to all Brachos. (We discussed these Halachos more at length in Hilchos Tefilah;Halachos of Krias Shema. See Archives here)
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:
You mentioned that Al Hanisim is to be recited in the Birchas Hamazon[on Chanukah], why not in the Al HaMichya {Mein Shalosh} that is recited after cake, wine and such?
We insert for all other special days Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh, Yom Tov, but not Chanukah or Purim. Why?
Answer:
Because we don't mention Hod'aah at all in Al HaMichya, thus there is no place for us to insert Al Hanisim, which is an addendum of Hoda'ah and not simply a Hazkarah of the Yom. (See Shu"t MaHaram Siman 30. His words are quoted in Hagahos Maimoni Hilchos Brachos Perek 3 Os 30. See also Bais Yosef Siman 208 Dibur Hamaschil "V'Tzarich L'Hazkir")
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
The Halacha is that if you put enough oil in the Menorah to last the required time period, you have fulfilled your obligation even if it blows out right away. You are not even required to relight it.
The Bnei Yisaschar is amazed by this Halacha. The whole Yom Tov of Chanukah revolves around the mitzva of Hadlakas Ner Chanukah, so how is it that the Halacha is so lenient about the candles blowing out? One would think that the flame must actually last for a specified period of time since the mitzva is all about Pirsumei Nisa, publicizing the Nes!
He answers that the light of the menorah represents the wisdom of Torah. Torah is very special in that when you work on it, it is never in vain. Even if after toiling in an area of torah for a long time you realize that your understanding is completely wrong, you still have the Sechar of Torah. Torah is about a "labor of love" and not results. The goal is the journey, not the finish line.
This says the Bnei Yisaschar is the secret to the burnt out flame. Torah shines a light onto the world. We say of a great tzaddik that his light shines from one end of the world to the other. What happens to us lesser people whose torah doesn't produce much light?
Chanukah teaches us that even if your Torah is completely useless and it produces no light you still have the mitzva.
If you put your heart into your learning no matter how wrong your conclusions are you have the entire Mitzva of Talmud Torah. So too rules the Shulchan Aruch even if the light of your menorah doesn't shine as long as you poured your oil, your soul, your heart into it, Hashem considers it as dear as the light of the Menorah that gives off a beautiful glow.
Submitted by daily reader, Simcha; Taken from www.revach.net
Important Numbers
