CURRENT TOPIC: 

HALACHOS OF HADLOKAS NEIROS SHEL SHABBOS; SHABBOS CANDLES

 

1) If it is possible, from a safety standpoint, one of the Yeshiva Bochurim should also light candles [with a Bracha] in their dorm room or apartment where they will be sleeping, even if they won't be eating the Shabbos Seudah there. (See Mishna Berura Siman 263:29)

They should all ideally listen to the Bracha being recited and have in mind to be exempted with it. (Mishna Berura Siman 263:30. See also Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 1 Siman 52)

2) Even though only one of them is lighting, the other roommates should "chip in" to this lighting by giving the one lighting a coin or two, so that it should satisfy their obligation as well.

Alternatively, as with the Bochur lighting in the Yeshiva dining room, he can have someone lift the candles up a Tefach before lighting them and thus be "zoche" them as a gift for all those being exempted by this lighting. (See Mishna Berura Siman 263:34)

Here too, as with all candle lighting, if other electric lights/lamps will be left on in the room, they too should be turned on with the Mitzvah in mind and the Bracha over the candles should exempt the other lights as well.

Ideally, the candles should still be lit when the Bochurim return from the Seudah to their apartment, so they can benefit from the light.

QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER

Reader's Question:

 

Some people in the shul in which I daven do something which I consider very annoying, and I was wondering if you could tell me if what they are doing is proper or not. 
 

 

If something special is to be inserted in Shmoneh Esrei (Such as Al HaNisim or Ya'aleh V"Yavo ), they say the first few words out loud when they reach that point in their silent Shmoneh Esrei.

 

I suppose they're trying to make sure everyone remembers to say it.

 

It disturbs me because first of all it disturbs what little kavanah I usually muster, as I am distracted from the current bracha I am saying to be reminded of something else. Also, it seems that shey should be directing their prayers to Hashem, not signaling others in the middle of their tefillah. I wish they would stop doing it. It really bothers me. 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Answer:

 

 

  

 

This is another one of those sticky situations, which are hard to control. 

 

 

Many Poskim do indeed say that if these "shout outs" are being done in order to remind the Tzibbur to say Yaaleh V'Yavo or "V'Sein Tal Umatar" or Al HaNisim etc. then it is OK (See Shu"t Eretz Tzvi Siman 24)

 

The Chazon Ish was of the opinion that doing so is not proper Derech Eretz, and even though the "shouter" has good intentions it should not be done (Dinim V'Hanhagos L'Chazon Ish Perek 4:33; also brought in Orchos Rabeinu from the Steipler Vol. 3 Page 207.)

 

Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal also was against this "Minhag"  of every person in Shul doing this, as it is a Bizayon (disgrace) to the King [Hashem].

 

However, he quotes the Magen Avraham ( Siman 114:2)that says that for one person (the Shamash or Gabai) to do so when he reaches that place in Tefilah it's OK, but not the whole shul (Halichos Shlomo  Chapter 8, Ha'arah 20)

 

CHIZUK CORNER

 

Question:

  

Aren't we hurting the feelings of non-Jews by refusing to eat with them?

 

Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:

 

 

Suppose you are a king, and outside there's a hobo, and he has a stick on his shoulder and hanging from his stick there's a pot. In the pot there's something cooking. And he yells up into the palace of the king, "Come downstairs and let's enjoy this meal together". So the king has to hurt the hobo's feelings, he can't help it. Because that's his function in the world, to exercise the prerogatives and maintain the dignity of the king. So Hakadosh Baruch Hu said,that's one thing you can't help. So you have to be kind to the non-Jews in other ways.

     Hakadosh Baruch Hu said, Kol Yisroel Bnei Melachim Heim, you are princes, and therefore I am giving you a special diet, a princely diet, and you can not yield your prerogatives even for the purpose of being kindly. You want to be kindhearted, be kindhearted in other ways. So when you get off the bus and the black man in front of you opens the bus door and keeps it open for you, holds the door open for you, show your kindness by saying thank you. Instead of taking him to the lunchroom on the corner and eating with him, say thank you.

     Be nice to everybody and don't worry. If you are kind and polite to everybody, they'll understand and they'll respect you for being loyal to your religion and you'll see you'll get more kavod than you would get by selling your religion just for the sake of flattering them. The fact is, Jews who maintain the Torah, always get recognition from goyim. That's how Hakadosh Baruch Hu planned it. People respect a person with principles.

     Do you know when they don't like you? When you're mean, when you're nasty, you take advantage of them, you ignore them, or do other things. But when you are polite and then you have to maintain your principles, you'll always win out and you'll get respect.

 

 

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