1) It is permitted to do Melacha (chores) on Rosh Chodesh.(Shulchan Aruch Siman 417:1)
Some women have the custom to refrain from doing Melacha on Rosh Chodesh, and this is a commendable minhag.(ibid.)
In some communities, women refrain from doing only certain Melachos on Rosh Chodesh and it is an acceptable minhag to follow. (Rama Siman417:1.)
The minhag in Yerushalayim is for women to refrain from doing laundry, sewing and knitting on Rosh Chodesh. (See Sefer Rosh Chodesh page 261 where he brings a machlokes if laundry nowadays with washing machines must be avoided as well. See also Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 10 Siman 50.)
One of the reasons cited for this is that as a reward for the women in the Midbar not acquiescing to remove their jewelry to be used in the formation of the Egel HaZahav (the golden calf), they were given each Rosh Chodesh as an exclusive Yom Tov for them. (Tur quoted in Mishna Berura Siman 417:3)
2) According to many Poskim, there is no reason for men to refrain from any Melacha on Rosh Chodesh, as its status as a Yom Tov is applicable to women only, and any man that refrains from Melacha is not fulfilling any minhag whatsoever. (Ruling of the Mishna Berura Siman 417:2, quoting the Pri Chadash, Chida in Birchei Yosef and the Sha'arei Teshuva in the name of Rabeinu Chananel. However, see Siddur Ya'avetz Sha'ar HaChodesh Pesach 7:1 where he quotes Rav Ovadia M'Bartenura that men as well should refrain from Melacha on Rosh Chodesh, though he writes that the stringency of this applies to women more strongly. Everyone should follow their own community's custom.)
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.
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Reader's Question:
When a parent dies is there a Halacha that you can't wear the persons shoes? Is this for anyone or only their children? Also what about other clothing?
Answer:
Halachically, all clothing of a deceased person may be worn. Only regarding shoes, if they were worn by the deceased while he was ill is there a custom to not wear them, based on kabalistic reasons. (See Gesher HaChaim Vol. 1 Perek 8:2)
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זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
Question:
What is meant by Derech Eretz Kadmah Latorah, that Derech Eretz is before the Torah? It's a Midrash Rabah in Vayikra, and it states, Derech Eretz, that means the way to live properly, comes before the Torah. What does that mean?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
We're not going to wait until you learn how to live properly before you keep the Torah; it'll take too long. What it means is, in history it came first, because Bereishis came before Shmos. The Torah was given in Shmos but in Bereishis we learned Derech Eretz. You know what Derech Eretz is? Derech Eretz is, Sarah Shoma'as, Sarah was listening, that's Derech Eretz. When Avrohom was talking, Sarah didn't stick her head out and say, "I know all about it, you said that to the guests that came yesterday." Sarah was listening, that's Derech Eretz.
When Avrohom saw wayfarers traveling in a hot day, he ran out in a terrible heat and he begged them to taste of his hospitality; that's Derech Eretz. Derech Eretz is, when a stranger came with camels, an able-bodied man came with camels and he said to Rivka, "Give me a drink!" and she said, "What do you think I am? Go yourself to the well!" No, she said, "Yes, my lord, She'sai Adoni, my master drink," that's Derech Eretz. And when she added, "Also your camels, let me give water also to your camels," that's Derech Eretz, that's in the Torah.
When Yosef Ha'tzadik was a prisoner and he was down in the dumps, because he was in prison for nothing, and he saw two of his fellow prisoners were glum. He didn't say, "What's it my business, I have my own worries." No! He said, "Ma'duah Pa'necha Ro'im Ha'yom, why do you look bad today?" He interested himself in their welfare. That's Derech Eretz. All these things and thousands like them are written in Bereishis to teach: this is the way to prepare for Torah, good character.
When Yaakov Avinu said that he almost gave his life to take care of Lavan's flocks. By day and by night, in the heat and in the cold he didn't forsake his charge. He was a loyal watchman. That's Derech Eretz. When Yaakov went back to look for Pa'chim Ke'tanim, little things that were left over on the other side of the river, because he was a treasurer for Hakadosh Baruch Hu, he didn't waste. Don't waste, you can't waste things, they all belong to Hashem, nothing is ours. That's Derech Eretz. When Noach got drunk and he was lying on his bed naked, and his two older sons decided to cover him up, they took the blanket and they walked backwards not to see their father. That's Derech Eretz.
The whole Bereishis is Derech Eretz, and it's put there before the giving of the Torah to tell us, that's how to prepare for the Torah. That's what's meant by Derech Eretz Kadmah Latorah.
Important Numbers
