Today's Halachos are dedicated by daily reader, S.H., in loving memory of her father,
Yehuda Leib Ben Avraham A"H
whose Yahrtzeit is today, 9 Teves. May his Neshama continue to climb higher and higher in Gan Eden.
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF HADLOKAS NEIROS SHEL SHABBOS; SHABBOS CANDLES
1) Although the obligation to light Shabbos candles in every Jewish home is for both men and women, traditionally it has become a Mitzvah for the women to light and thus exempt their husbands and other members of the household.
One reason cited for this Mitzvah being the woman's Mitzvah is a practical one: the woman is in charge of the household needs and is more often found at home thus this household Mitzvah was given to her. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 263:3)
Another reason given, based on the teachings of kabbalah, for this Mitzvah "belonging" to women is as follows:
The first woman, Chava, Eve, extinguished the candle of the world, i.e. she caused Adam to sin, and thereby darkened his soul (which is likened to a candle as the Posuk (Mishlei 20:27) states "Ner Hashem Nishmas Adam- the candle of Hashem is the soul of man") and caused death to descend on mankind.
Therefore, as a rectification for the first sin, woman-kind has been given the task of once again illuminating the world, via the kindling of the Shabbos lights. (See Mishna Berura Siman 263:12)
2) Since the man of the house is also obligated in the performance of this Mitzvah, he should prepare the candles for the woman by inserting the candles/oil into the candelabra or similar preparations, to at least have some part in the Mitzvah.(Mishna Berura Siman 263:12)
Many men also have the Minhag of preparing the candles by lighting them and then extinguishing them, thus making them kindle easier when the woman later lights them for Shabbos.
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:
Are there any hakpodos (halachic concerns) about buying something in a pawn shop?
Answer:
If you have reason to believe that the item being purchased is stolen ( the price is too good to be true, the shop in question doesnt have such a good reputation, or if the item being sold shouldn't be in such a shop, e.g. Tefilin, Mezuzos and other holy items) it should not be bought, as doing so may be considered assisting a thief, which is prohibited. (See Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 356:1)
If you already purchased the item, according to many opinions you may keep it as the sale is valid based on the fact that even if it was stolen goods the owner probably gave up on ever getting it back (a halachic concept referred to as "Yiush"). Additionally, we consider the fact that the item is no longer in the actual thief's posession (a halachic concept referred to as "Shinui Reshus") (See Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 353:3)
For Halacha L'ma'aseh, of course, a Rav must be consulted.
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.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
Question:
We find in the Chovos Halvavos that if somebody speaks Loshon Horah against his fellowman, the fellowman gets all of his Mitzvos and you get all of his Avairos, and he asks why should it be like that?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
First of all let's understand what he told us. When a person slanders somebody else it's because he rejoices in somebody else's faults. He desires to see people discomforted, he wants to see other people have blemishes, he is unhappy to see good things in them. So Hakadosh Baruch Hu said, you're going to overlook his good qualities and you're just looking for his Avairos, so therefore I am going to reward you and his real Avairos you'll get. You're looking for them! You'll get them; his Mitzvos you didn't want, so you won't get his Mitzvos.
Now, if he is a man who didn't want to speak against you, if he liked to see good qualities in you, he liked to see your Mitzvos, he wanted to see your good Midos, so therefore your Mitzvos will go to him. But suppose he spoke against you and you spoke against him, so neither gets the other mans Mitzvos, each one gets the other mans Avairos.
So therefore if you like to see good things in people, you see a man goes to Shul every morning, oh! you praise him for it. A man keeps quiet, doesn't talk, you praise him for it. A man Davens with Kavana, you praise him for it. He gives Tzdoko, you praise him. He speaks well with his wife, he behaves well, you praise him. So all these good things you like, that's what you're going to get, these good things. Even though you didn't do it, he did them. But if people rejoice in the other mans faults, they revel in the other mans blemishes, Hashem says I will give you all his blemishes
Important Numbers
