1) When lighting the Menorah in Shul before Maariv, some have the custom to only recite the Brachos if a minyan of ten men are present at the time of the lighting, while others maintain that a minyan is not required.
Thus, if it is easy to wait for a minyan it is good to do so, but those who do not wait definitely have on whom to rely. (See Biur Halacha Siman 671 Dibur Hamaschil V'Yesh Nohagin)
If a Shul has a few minyanim for Maariv, the Menorah should remain lit from before the first minyan until after the last minyan; it does not need to be physically lit anew before each minyan, as long as it's burning it's acceptable. (Ruling of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita quoted in Sefer Yemei Halel V'Hoda'ah page 299 footnote 53)
However, if the Menorah burned out, or if the last minyan is much later than the first minyan, it should indeed be lit again before the last minyan with the brachos. (ibid.)
2) In many congregations the minhag is to also light the Menorah in Shul each morning before Shacharis as well, as an additional way of publicizing the miracle of Chanukah.
Of course, this lighting is done without reciting any Brachos beforehand. (See Pri Megadim; Aishel Avrohom Siman 670:2 and Shu"t Binyan Shlomo Siman 53 additional reasoning behind this lighting.)
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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:
Is it true that you can't learn words of Torah when you need the bathroom? And is there a makor (source) for this?
Answer:
Yes. If one needs the bathroom, and would not be able to hold it in for more than 72 minutes, he/she should not begin studying Torah.
If one is already in middle of learning, he/she can finish that session and then go, assuming the urge isnt so great that he/she wouldnt be able to hold it in for 72 minutes, in which case it would be prohibited to even continue learning at that point.
Regarding Davening, if one has an urge to use the bathroom, even if he/she can hold it in for 72 minutes, it is still prohibited to pray and they must use the restroom first.
If one does daven when needing the bathroom, and would be unable to hold it in for 72 minutes, it is an abomination and he/she is required to repeat the davening.
If one is in already in middle of Shemona Esrei and suddenly need sto use the restroom, if the urge is slight, the Shemona Esrei may be completed.
If the urge is strong, he should go to the restroom and then complete (and sometimes, if he was away for a long time, repeat) the Shemona Esrei when he returns.
See Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Berura Siman 92: 1 and 2
CHIZUK CORNER
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זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
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Don't engage in self-pity...
...keep Growing"
Mir Mashgiach, Rav Yeruchem Levovitz Zatzal in Sefer Da'as Torah
Submitted by daily reader,S.C.; Taken from the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation Chizuk email
Important Numbers
