11 Iyar 5772;26th Day of the Omer; 24 Days Until Kabolas HaTorah
May 3, 2012
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF ROSH CHODESH
Before Purim we started learning the "Halachos of Rosh Chodesh" and then we abruptly stopped as many readers requested that we instead cover Halachos of Purim and then Pesach and then Sefirah etc.
We will now resume learning the Halachos of Rosh Chodesh. Since we had a long break, we will start from the beginning again and review the few Halachos we already learned and then proceed until the end B'Ezras Hashem.
The Halachos of Rosh Chodesh (first day of a Jewish month), are an area of Halacha that many people are not that familiar with. Hopefully after we cover this area, we will all have a better understanding of this special day, the first Mitzvah given to Klal Yisroel as a nation (See Shmos 12:2. See also the very first Rashi in the Torah)
1) On the Shabbos preceding Rosh Chodesh, it is customary to recite "Birchas HaChodesh", which consists of a special "Yehi Ratzon" asking Hashem for a good month filled with blessing, Parnassah, fear of Hashem etc., as well as the Tefilah of "Mi SheAsah Nisim", asking Hashem to bring the redemption speedily. (This Tefilah was recited daily by Rav after davening, See Talmud Brachos 16b. It isn't clear what the origin of saying this Yehi Ratzon tefilah in conjunction with Birchas Rosh Chodesh is, and why it is acceptable to ask for Parnassah and other personal requests on Shabbos. See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 417:9. The early Siddurim do not have it, though it is printed in the Siddur of the Shla, the Gra and Rav Yaakov Emdin. The Mi SheAsah Nisim Tefilah is indeed found in the siddur of Rav Amrom Gaon as well as in the Machzor Vitri and Abudreham and other early Rishonim. See Sha'ar HaTziyun Siman 417:1)
2) The reason we beseech Hashem for the redemption in conjunction with the blessing of the new month, is that the Mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh was given to us as we were redeemed from the exile of Mitzrayim (Egypt), thus each time we announce a new month we appropriately remember our redemption from Mitzrayim and daven that we merit the final redemption soon. (See Levush Siman 421:1
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:
What if a male says a Bracha or Davens and then realizes that they didn't have a Yarmulke on?
Answer:
According to Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal, you must repeat the Bracha or the Tefilah, as davening with an uncovered head is an abomination. (Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 4 Siman 40:14) According to Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal, there is no need to repeat the Tefilah. (Halichos Shlomo on Tefilah Chapter 2:16). For Halacha L'Ma'aseh please consult a Rav
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
In Parshas Metzora, we learn that the purification process of the Metzora involves the shechita of one bird, and the sending away of its counterpart alive. The birds, of course, symbolize inappropriate chattering which was the source of the tzora'as affliction.
HaRav Yerucham Levovitz, Zt'l, asks, however--if the bird symbolizes chattering, why was one bird sent away alive--why were both birds not shechted, in order to symbolize the Metzora's total cessation of needless speech as part of his Teshuva process?
HaRav Yerucham answers that, indeed, much speech needs to be corrected. Sharp, biting and sarcastic remarks, words of hurt and derision, Loshon Hora in all its forms, must all come to a complete halt.
However, this does not mean that one should stop talking completely. Friendly words, words of encouragement, good advice, compliments and even properly worded constructive criticism, all have an important, and, indeed, essential place in an individual's life. We note that before the live bird is sent away, it is dipped in the shechted bird's blood, as if to remind it to always remember to avoid the wrong messages, the inappropriate comments and the wrong expressions. Then, and only then can the positive words take charge.
They are set free upon the open field--to use life to its absolute utmost!
Submitted by a daily reader; taken from www.Hakhel.info
Important Numbers
