1) An individual who is davening Musaf on Rosh Chodesh while the Shliach Tzibur is reciting the Chazoras HaShatz of Shacharis, or vice versa, and the Shliach Tzibur reached Kedusha, according to some Poskim the individual should not respond to the Kedusha but rather remain silent and listen to the Kedusha Being said and fulfill his obligation via the Halachic rule of "Shomea K'Oneh, listening is like reciting". (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 109:3)
Other Poskim, however, rule that since both Kedushos belong to a Shemona Esrei, they may be recited regardless of which Tefilah the individual is currently in middle of. (See Rama Siman 109:3. See also Mishna Berura S"K 17 that he should say the entire text of the Kedusha that the Shliach Tzibur is saying.)
2) If one inadvertently signed off in Tefilas Musaf with the words "Mekadesh Yisroel V'Hazmanim", as is recited on Yom Tov, in place of the correct ending of "Mekadesh Yisroel V'Roshei Chodoshim", he has not satisfied his obligation. (Ruling of HaRav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal quoted in Sefer Ishei Yisroel page 458 footnote 143. See also Shu"t Mincha Elazar Vol. 3 Siman 19
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:
A few days ago you mentioned something about eating certain foods on Shabbos which had special meanings. Can you elaborate a bit on that?
Answer:
Yes, Shabbos foods are very important. The Shabbos Seudos are not merely "lunch" and "dinner" and simply serving macaroni & cheese should not suffice; it is important to serve traditional fare as it has been served for generations, as many deep meanings are present in each dish.
Of course, "traditional fare" can and does differ from community to community, and each individual should strive to maintain the traditions of his/her particular lineage.
Here is a list of some Shabbos foods common in the Ashkenazic world, and their meanings:
Fish:
The Talmud (Shabbos 111) states that fish should be eaten , as Oneg Shabbos.
The Poskim say that one must eat fish at all three Seudos of Shabbos. There are many deep and exalted reasons given by the Seforim regarding the importance of eating fish on Shabbos.
Lokshen:
Rav Pinchos of Koretz said that eating Lokshen (egg noodles) on Shabbos signifies peace. (quoted in Sefer Otzar HaShabbos Page 183)
Farfel:
The Baal Shem Tov would eat Farfel on Shabbos to signify that all who keep Shabbos are forgiven for their sins (Talmud Shabbos 118b); in Yiddish the word "Farfalen" means "Oh well", meaning, the sins are forgotten. (Minhagei MaHar"i Weill page 62)
Apples:
Eating apples on Shabbos is a proper custom, as they are a royal food fit for the Shabbos queen. (Kaf HaChaim Siman 250:7).
It is also said in the name of the Magid of Koznitz that whoever eats apples at the Shabbos night seuda , is guaranteed Parnassah in the week ahead.
Kasha (Buckwheat):
Many had the minhag to eat kasha (which also means "question" in Hebrew) as a segula to have all the questions answered. The Bnei Yissoscher said that Shabbos is the Gematria of "Kashia Rafia" meaning all the questions will become soft (i.e. easy to answer).
The Rebbe of Lechevitz also said that eating this dish helps to control a person's anger.
Foot of a chicken (or other animal)
Truth has feet to stand on, while lies have no feet. Shabbos is a day of truth, thus we eat "Feet" to signify this fact. (Taamei HaMinhagim).
The Rebbe R' Elimelech of Lizensk said that eating a foot on Shabbos can fix the bad things caused by sins of "bris" (i.e. sins of sexual impurity)
Challah:
The Ram"a (Siman 242) writes "it is customary to knead the appropriate amount of dough [to beable to recite the Bracha on Hafroshas Challah] in the home and to make from it loaves to use on Shabbos and Yom Tov...doing so is a Kovod for Shabbos and Yom Tov and this minhag should not be changed"
In the Sefer Zechor L'Avraham (the customs of the Toldos Ahron community, page 282) it is written that they have a kabalah from their Rabbeim that whenever the Ram"a uses the language " this minhag should not be changed" it means that even with Mesiras Nefesh, it should be done!
According to many sources, it is ideal to bake Chalos for Shabbos specifically on Erev Shabbos and not on a different day during the week. (See Talmud Yerushalmi Megilah Perek 4:1. See also Ben Ish Chai Parshas Lech Lecha, year 2, Os 10. The Meiri to Bava Kama 82, however seems to say that any day is good for Challah baking)
Thursday night, especially in the winter months, is considered Erev Shabbos for this purpose. (See Toras Chaim to Chayei Adam Klal 1:9)
There is an ancient minhag for women to give Tzedaka before baking Chalos. (Ben Ish Chai Lech Lecha, year 2, Os 6)
It is best to use white flour for Challah baking, in remembrance of the Manna which was white. (Sefer Yafeh L'Lev Vol. 3 in Kuntres Achron, Siman244:3)
Also, since the Manna had a "dipped in honey" taste, it is customary to add sweet ingredients, such as honey or sugar to the Challos. (ibid.)
It is a Mitzvah and Kovod Shabbos toplace the Challos on the Shabbos table immediately after taking them out of the oven. (See Taz Yoreh Deah 178:7. This was also the minhag of the Chasam Sofer. See comment of Chasam Sofer to the Taz.)
The Challos should be on the table before candle lighting, especially for those who light Shabbos candles on the table, as this way the table will not become a Basis (base for Muktze only)
***
CORRECTION:
IN YESTERDAY'S Q&A I WROTE THAT ONE MAY NOT WASH WITH A BRACHA IF PLANNING TO EAT "LESS THAN A KZAYIS OF BREAD".
IT SHOULD HAVE READ "LESS THAN A K'BEITZA OF BREAD", AS ON ONLY A KZAYIS NO WASHING WITH A BRACHA IS PERMITTED EITHER. SEE HALACHOS FOR MARCH 13 2009 HERE FOR MORE DETAILS
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
Question:
Should married people feel responsible to help single people find a shidduch? Or should they rely on professional shadchonim and computer matching services?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
When people go to a physician, they want to talk to a human being. They never go to a machine that you can punch and it will give you advice, because a human life is too valuable; there might be a mix up in the programming. And so, computers are out! You need the human element.
But even shadchonim, you must know. A professional shadchan is very good to help you contact people; but don't believe him! Don't trust him; he's a nogea badovor. He's worth his fee, if he helps you contact the right person. It's like buying a house. People pay five thousand dollars or more for an agent who did nothing. The agent didn't build the house for you, he didn't even repair the basement for you. He just contacted the people and brought them together. He's worth five thousand dollars or more. So the shadchan is worth the five thousand dollars, but you yourself should have the house inspected by an engineer.
When you're going for a shidduch, all the shadchan can do is recommend a person to you, but what he tells you about the qualities of that person, doesn't mean a thing. So if it's a boy marrying a girl, call in your aunts and your sisters and your mother, call in female relatives to size her up; not men relatives. Men relatives are taken in by a curl. Female relatives can't be bluffed and they'll be the engineers who will size her up for you. Of course you have to ask the Bais Yaakov teachers where she was in school two years ago, before she was thinking of a shidduch. She was behaving then naturally, so the teachers will tell you about her. It's important. Many Bais Yaakov teachers tell the honest truth about girls, it's important to know.
Ask neighbors about boys. Don't ask the mashgiach, the mashgiach will say "fine boy", everybody in yeshiva is fine. If the mashgiach is very enthusiastic about him, he goes into a fit, then maybe it's 50% true. Don't trust anybody's word if they're nice people, because nice people are trying to be nice to this fellow. So investigate, you must investigate, because you're surely going to investigate if you're going to buy a house and a shidduch is certainly not less important.
Important Numbers
