24 Iyar 5772;39th Day of the Omer; 11 Days Until Kabolas HaTorah
May 16, 2012
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF ROSH CHODESH
1) At Ma'ariv on Rosh Chodesh eve it is customary in many congregations for the gabbai or someone else to proclaim "Rosh Chodesh" or "Ya'aleh V'yavo" immediately after the Kadish before Shemona Esrei, to ensure that everyone remembers to recite Ya'aleh V'yavo. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 236:2 and Mishna Berura S"K 7 where he rules that it isn't a hefsek, an interruption, as it is being done for the purpose of the Tefilah)
2) Some congregations do not make this proclamation, as they rule that doing so is an unnecessary interruption between the Kadish and the Shemona Esrei.
Instead, in these congregations the prevalent custom is for someone to bang loudly on the Bimah right before Shemona Esrei, and that has become an almost universally recognizable sign that something needs to be added into the Shemona Esrei. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 236:16 and 17
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 have a question based on something you wrote, an issue that has never sunk into my head because I never understood its application to modern times.
You state that poskim are lenient with washing hands between fish and meat because of a certain danger no longer applicable today.
Yet, mayim acharonim came about as a result of a danger from melach sedomis. Can you tell me why we must continue with mayim acharonim today. I will admit that I do not give much attention to mayim acharonim, in part, because I do not understand the application of melach sedomis to modern day times. In summary, it seems that we hold on to certain "dangers" from hundreds of years ago, yet we do not hold on to other "dangers" of generations ago. Why the confusion?
Answer:
Yes, seemingly you have a valid question. However, many of the things that were instituted by Chazal have other, deeper reasons besides the sakana reasons that were given. Sometimes it is a spiritual Sakana (such as Ruach Ra) besides the physical sakana.
Therefore, it isn't up to us to decide which things to hold on to and which things to not abide by anymore. The only ones who can determine this are the Poskim. The Shulchan Aruch Siman 181:1 clearly states that "Mayim Achronim Chova" that it is a mandatory obligation. Nobody argues with that, and thus it is something we must all do, even though seemingly the sakana is gone.
It was gone in the times of the Shulchan Aruch as well, yet it was determned to still be in effect until today. The Mishna Berura brings other reasons for doing this besides the melach Sdomis reason.
Only things (like washing between fish and meat) where the Poskim determined it was ONLY necessary due to the sakana, are they able to say that it is no longer necessary
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
Rav Noach Weinberg Zatzal
"If you don't know what you're willing to die for, then you don't know what you're living for."
HaRav Noach Weinberg Zatzal, founder of Aish HaTorah
Submitted by daily reader, R.F; taken from a larger article by Rabbi Shraga Simmons at www.Aish.com
Important Numbers
