10 Iyar 5772;25th Day of the Omer; 25 Days Until Kabolas HaTorah
May 2, 2012
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF CHODESH IYAR
1) One who cannot be in Meron himself to give out the Chai Rotel drinks can appoint someone in their stead to give it for them, or donate Tzedakah to an organization that will do it in their merit.
Although the original minhag was to give out wine or grape juice, nowadays other drinks, including water and carbonated beverages are given out; the main thing is that it's a Chesed to give drinks to thirsty visitors in the merit of Rashb"i.
2) Large bonfires are lit in Meron [and in communities across the
world] to commemorate the bright light of the hidden Torah (i.e. the Zohar) that Rashb"i revealed and brought down to this world.
Another reason cited for this is to commemorate the ring of fire that encircled Rashb"i and his son Rebbi Elazar as they learned Torah in the cave. (See Ta'amei Haminhagim Page 252 for additional reasons and sources)
The custom is to sing [lively as well as special songs composed in honor of Rashb"i] and dance around the fire.
Additionally, it is customary to light candles near the Tzion [as well as anywhere else there is a fire] in memory of Rashb"i's Yahrtzeit. Lag B'Omer was also the day Rashb"i and his son emerged from their cave. (See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 493:7
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
Question:
I [am a woman and]I work for a woman who is not religious. She sometimes asks me to buy her lunch. Must I say no? There are no kosher places to eat close to where I work.
A second related question: She sometimes asks me to go to lunch with her. When we do this, we take the car and drive for about 20 minutes to eat in a kosher establishment. I prefer to work through lunch and leave work early. Must I agree to go to lunch with her since on those occasions she eats a kosher meal?
Answer:
Being that if you would refuse to buy your boss lunch it would jeapordize your job security (I assume), and she would get the lunch regardless through a different means, you probably may buy her the lunch. However, if you are using your own money (or possibly even her money) to purchase Basar B'Chalav that may pose a problem and a Rav should be consulted about the proper course of action.
There is no need for you to accompany her just for the purpose of having her eat Kosher. However, if you feel that by doing so, it will contribute to her eventually becoming frum, it would be good to keep going with her as the reward for facilitating someone's becoming frum is boundless
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal , the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi Finkel Zatzal and the Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Ohr, the great Posek HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Zatzal.
May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they 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.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
Rabbi Feigenbaum
Every child has a gift, some just open their packages earlier than others.
Important Numbers
