הודו לד' כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו
Today's Halachos are dedicated by Chaya Nechama bas Sarah with gratitude to Hashem!
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF HADLOKAS NEIROS SHEL SHABBOS; SHABBOS CANDLES
1) If one will be eating the Shabbos eve Seudah away from home and be returning to their home later that night, and will be leaving to their destination on Friday afternoon, they may already light the candles in their own home any time after Plag Hamincha (between 45 and 75 minutes before sunset, depending on time of year. For exact time of Plag Hamincha on a particular day please click here and enter your zip code), as after this time anybody can already light the Shabbos candles and accept upon themselves the sanctity of Shabbos (unless they stipulated otherwise, which we will B'Ezras Hashem discuss further, tomorrow.)(See Shulchan Aruch Siman 263:4.)
2) However, if they need to leave home before Plag Hamincha in order to get to their destination on time, they cannot light Shabbos candles at home before they leave. (ibid.)
Rather, they should leave on the electric lights/lamps that they will need when they return home, but only light the Shabbos candles in the house where they will be eating.
Regarding the Bracha on the candles they are lighting in the host's home, it is best if they listen to the Bracha of the hostess as she lights her candles, and be exempted by her. (Based on Shulchan Aruch Siman 263:8, as in this case it is possible that the obligation has been satisfied by leaving the lights/lamps on in their own home, and thus no Bracha may be required in the host's home for these additional candles.)
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's the source for having a white tablecloth on shabbos and is it halacha?
Answer:
The halacha says to have a tablecloth on the table you eat and possibly on all the tables in your home, but the Poskim do not mention anything about this tablecloth needing to be white. (See Rama Siman 262:1, Biur Halacha ibid and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 72:7)
True, many people have this minhag, but it is not required halachically; any respectable tablecloth suffices.
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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.
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זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
Back in Parashas Vayigash, Pharaoh meets Yaakov and asks him "how many are the days of your life?" Yaakov tells him "...130 years..."
Now, maybe this questions doesn't puzzle you but just picture this: As far as Pharaoh was concerned Yosef was the wisest man in the world. If you were to meet the wisest man in the world's father what would you ask him? How old he is? Really?!
And lets not forget, Pharaoh let Yosef into his high court, his inner sanctum. Don't you think the Egyptian CIA would have done a full background check on Yosef that included his father age?
Ok, so if Pharaoh knew how old Yaakov was why did he ask?
Have you ever met someone 130 years old? Neither had Pharaoh but he had met 90, 100, maybe 105. Now picture meeting someone 105, what would make you ask them how old they are?
Pharaoh asked Yaakov how old he was because Yaakov didn't look the part. When he saw Yaakov enter with such life, such vitality, he couldn't help himself but ask the question.
Pharaoh can see that Yaakov is old, yet he bears none of the marks of a life of mere existence. Instead, Yaakov exudes the appearance of a life that was fully lived. So Pharaoh asks: "How many days have you actually experienced living," as opposed to merely existing.
"When one counts by years, one does not reckon any more the days. It is only with a few select people that each day is full of importance and is considered by them as having a special meaning. A really true human being does not live years but days."(Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch)
When Yaakov meets Yosef again he exclaims: "I have seen your face and you are still alive"
"Still alive?" Did Yaakov really think the brothers would lie to him?!
Yaakov learns from the brothers that Yosef is alive and the viceroy of Egypt. But it's only when he looks into Yosef's eyes and sees that the wealth and power has not gotten to his head Yaakov knows that Yosef is truly alive and not merely existing.
So here's the question: If Yaakov could see that Yosef was alive just like Pharaoh could see that Yaakov was alive why couldn't Pharoah see that Yosef was alive?
When one is young, especially young and rich, it is easier to fool yourself and others that you are really living as opposed to existing. It takes a discerning eye to see someone else's life-style is really not going anywhere. Most people don't want to look because to do so would also require a little introspection.
But that's the young. Everyone can see what kind of life you led when you get old.
To experience a meaningful life, it must be filled with meaningful days. A great vacation now and again just won't cut it. Smiling for the camera and laughing at the right jokes doesn't make for a life. Don't wait till it's obvious; do something meaningful today.
Submitted by daily reader, E.S.; Written by Tova Baars,based on an article by Rabbi Stephen Baars
Important Numbers
