Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parashas Mishpatim; Parashas Shekalim; Mevorchim Chodesh Adar; Rosh Chodesh will be on Thursday and Friday
24 Shvat 5772
February 17, 2012
Although we recently began Hilchos Rosh Chodesh, I have received numerous requests from readers to cover some relevant Halachos of Chodesh Adar and the fast approaching Yom Tov of Purim.
Therefore, we will take a short break from Hilchos Rosh Chodesh and begin discussing Halachos of Adar and Purim. We will B'Ezras Hashem return to Hilchos Rosh Chodesh in the near future.
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh
1) The Talmud (Taanis 29a-b) tells us "Mishenichnas Adar Marbin B'Simcha- when the month of Adar arrives we increase our joy" as it says in Megilas Esther (9:22) "V'HaChodesh Asher NehePach M'Yagon L'Simcha...The month (Adar) that was turned from sadness to happiness"
2) If one has a court case with a non-Jew, it is a good idea to schedule it for the month of Adar.(Talmud Taanis 29a. see also Mogen Avraham Siman 686:5 and Mishna Berura Siman 686:8)
There exists a custom (brought in the Rama Even HaEzer Siman 64:3, based on deep kabalistic ideas connecting a Jewish marriage to the cycle of the moon) not to get married in the entire second half of a month, during the times when the moon is waning, or according to some sources from the 22nd day of the month and on. (Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal was makpid on this. See Halichos Shlomo, Chodesh Adar page 327 footnote 31 at length)
However, the Poskim rule that this does not apply to the month of Adar, as the entire month, even the latter part, is referred to in the Posuk as a time of Simcha. (See Sdei Chemed Vol. 7, Choson V'Kallah 21)
In a leap year when there are two months of Adar, this applies to the second Adar, although "Mishenichnas Adar Marbim B'Simcha" applies to both months. (Halichos Shlomo, Chodesh Adar, page 328 footnote 35. See also footnote 36 that there is a well-established custom in Klal Yisroel to hang signs proclaiming "Mishenichnas Adar Marbim B'Simcha" in homes and in Shuls.)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) Our holy sages, the Chazal instituted the reading of 4 special "parshiyos" in (or near) the month of Adar, as a commemoration of 4 special Mitzvos (which we will elaborate on a bit in the next few days)
The first of the "4 Parshiyos" is Parshas Shekalim (which, this year, we will B'Ezras Hashem be reading this Shabbos Parashas Mishpatim; this reading can be found in the beginning of Parashas Ki Sisa Perek 30 Pesukim 11 thru 16).
This reading is to commemorate the Mitzvah of "Machtzis Hashekel", the half Shekel coin which every Jew was obligated to give each year to the special fund from which the daily Korbanos Tomid (sacrificial lambs that were offered in the Bais HaMikdash each morning and evening) were purchased.
Although we do not have a Bais HaMikdash today (an unfortunate fact which will change very shortly, with Hashem's help, with the arrival of Mashiach), we "perform" this Mitzvah by reading about it in the Torah.
2) There are some opinions that this reading is a biblical obligation (Elya Rabba Siman 685 in the name of the Rashba to Brachos 13a who maintains that all 4 Parshiyos are biblical obligations).
However, most Poskim maintain that this Parsha is a rabbinic obligation.
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:
This issue came up over Shabbos - in what type of cup must kiddush be made. I have heard that there are issues with making kiddush from a plastic or paper or styrofoam cup because it is not bakovedik(respectable) for the kiddush. However, someone claimed that it must only be made in a cup made from metal, specifically silver or silver plated. Someone else argued that it could indeed be made from a crystal or glass cup. Finally, what about gold or copper?
Also, would you have a makor so I could look into this further myself and/or show the people what it says 'inside'?
Answer:
The material for a cup used for kiddush, or other Kos Shel Bracha, can be of any material, e.g. gold, silver, copper, glass etc. It is ideal to use a nice, respectable cup.
Regarding disposable cups, the Poskim debate if it considered a utensil and thus acceptable, or since it is meant to dispose of it isn't acceptable.
HaRav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal in Igros Moshe Vol. 3 Siman 39 rules stringently, and does not allow it, unless in cases of great necessity where no other cup is available "perhaps" it's ok to be lenient. This is also the ruling of Dayan Yitzchok Weiss Zatal in Shu"t Minchas Yitzchok Vol. 10 Siman 23. He goes so far as to necessitate designating this disposable cup as the one you will always use in the future when no regular Kos is available.
Other Poskim, including the Tzitz Eliezer Vol.12 Siman 23 as well as HaRav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal (quoted in Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchaso Perek 47 footnote 51) are more lenient and consider a disposable cup an acceptable utensil.
In Shu"t Az Nidberu Vol.6 Siman 48 he rules that although it's acceptable, it is lacking in "Hidur Mitzvah" to use such a cup. (See also addendum to that Siman on page 154 in the same volume)
If using the hard plastic cups available nowadays, which are much more durable than the regular disposable cups and indeed are used by many at respectable meals, many Poskim feel that these are indeed acceptable.
Some people, when using a disposable cup, put one cup into another one and make kiddush using this double cup. It isn't clear exactly how or why this would solve the problem.
For Halacha L'Maaseh a Rav must be consulted.
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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
Become More Optimistic: 6 Smart Tricks
1. Stop using negative phrases ... such as "I can't," "It's impossible," or "This won't work." Such statements program your mind to look for negative results.
2. When asked "How are you?" ... respond with "Terrific!" or "Fabulous!" or "I've never felt better!" rather than a depressing "OK" or "Getting by."
3. Stop complaining ... about things over which you have no control-such as the economy, your company, or your customers.
4. Stop griping ... about your personal problems and illnesses. What good does it do, other than to depress you and everyone else?
5. Substitute neutral words ... for emotionally loaded ones. For example, rather than saying "I'm enraged!" say "I'm a bit annoyed"-or, better yet, "I've got a real challenge."
6. Expunge profanity and obscenity ... from your vocabulary. Such words are always signs of a lazy mind that can't think of something really witty to say
Submitted by daily reader, A.C.; taken from larger article written byGeoffrey James at www.Inc.com
Important Numbers
