1)
The Seudah of Melave Malka, though very important, is not the level of
obligation as the three meals on Shabbos itself, as the three meals on
Shabbos are obligatory based on a biblical verse (Asmachta D'Kra),
whereas the Melave Malka is a Mitzvah not derived from a verse, rather
something instituted by the Chachamim. (Mishna Berura Siman 300:2)
The
practical application of the aforementioned distinction is for
instances where on one cannot eat both Melave Malka and the three (or
one of the three) Seudos of Shabbos; it is then better to skip Melave
Malka rather than skip any of the Shabbos Seudos. (ibid.)
Additionally,
if one has a limited quantity of food, or of a certain special food, he
should rather use the food, or that special food for Seudos of Shabbos
rather than for Melave Malka. (See Sha'ar HaTziyun Siman 300 Os 9)
2) It is proper for women to also partake of the Melave Malka meal.
(See Pri Megadim Aishel Avraham Siman 300:1. See Mogen Avraham Siman
299:15 quoting the Abudreham, that there was a minhag that women did not
do any [real] chores on Motzaei Shabbos.)
The
Seforim write in the name of the Rebbe Rav Elimelech of Lizensk Zatzal,
that eating Melave Malka, for women, is a good Segulah for an easy
labor.
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh: HALACHOS FOR SHABBOS SHIRA
1) This Shabbos, Parshas Beshalach is known as "Shabbos Shira".
It
is customary to put out pieces of bread for the birds to eat. One of
the many reasons given for this custom is that in the desert the Mann
fell for six days, with a double portion falling on Erev Shabbos to
sustain the Jews through Shabbos.
The
two evil troublemakers in the desert, Dasan and Aviram, tried to
disprove Moshe Rabeinu's proclamation that no Mann will fall on Shabbos,
and they took their Mann early Shabbos morning and scattered it all
over the camp so the jews will wake up and see that in fact Mann did
fall on Shabbos.
Hashem
sent the birds to eat up every last crumb of the "planted Mann"and when
the Jews awoke, it was as Moshe had promised, and no Mann was to be
found.
Thus
as a reward for this, the birds are fed each year on Parashas
Beshalach, the Torah portion that discusses the details of the Mann.
2) the Mogen Avraham (Orach Chaim Siman 324:7)
decries this minhag, as the Halacha is that one may not feed animals
that do not belong to him/her on Shabbos, and thus one may not put out
food for the birds during Shabbos Shira (or any other Shabbos). (This is also how the Mishna Berura Siman 324:31 and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 324:8 rule.)
Other Poskim justify the minhag to feed the birds on this particular Shabbos as we are doing this as a Mitzvah of Hakoras HaTov (See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 324:3 and Da'as Torah 324:11)
[
Incidentally, the Mogen Avraham Siman 171:1, based on Rashi to Ta'anis
20b rules that one may never feed food that is worthy of human
consumption to animals or birds, as doing sois being ungrateful to
Hashem for the food He has given us]
The
best thing to do, if one wants to uphold this custom yet avoid feeding
the birds on Shabbos, is to place the bread for the birds right before
Shabbos begins. (And if one wants to adhere to the ruling of the Mogen
Avraham in Siman 171, the bread that is placed for the birds should be
stale and not good fresh bread that is still worthy of human
consumption)
Another
option brought in the Poskim is to have a minor (boy under 13, girl
under 12) put out the bread, as it isn't a real Issur (Aino Shevus Gamur). (See Aishel Avraham (Butchatch) Siman 167: 6 Dibur Hamaschil Sham)
QUESTION&ANSWER CORNER
Reader
Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we
covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
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:
Ever since I can remember, when we count people we don't count 1, 2,3 but rather "not 1, not 2, not 3".
I
was just talking to a friend about this, and we realized we don't know
why we do it. I was curious if there was any mekor for it and reason, or
even if it's a real inyan in Yiddishkeit not to count people by just
numbers.
Answer:
Yes, it is a real inyan not to count
people in the regular fashion, as Bracha rests on "hidden" things and
counting opens the door for Ayin Hara. (See Talmud Yoma 22b where it
states that it is forbidden to count Jews in the regular manner).
Thus, in the Midbar, they used Machtzis
Hashekel to count the Yidden, and throughout our history, we used
various indirect means to count people. When checking if there is a
minyan present, we say "Hoshea es Amecha etc." a Pasuk with 10 words,
rather than counting directly.
I guess saying "not 1, not 2..." can be an acceptable method,but don't point as you "count".
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.
When
a child runs into the middle of a busy street right into oncoming
traffic and his father pulls him back and holds onto him does that mean
the child's freedom is being revoked?
Of course not!
So, too, following the Torah is not servitude.
It is our Father in Heaven holding us and teaching us how to live!
Rav Simcha Wasserman Zatzal quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
