22 Elul 5772; 8 Days Until Rosh Hashanah; First Day of Selichos [for Ashkenazim]
September 9, 2012
Current Topic:
Review of Halachos of Elul & Yamim Nora'im
1) Some people have the Minhag to fast on Erev Rosh Hashana.
The primary reason for this fast is to bring a person to Teshuva. (as is the the primary reason for every fast day. See Peleh Yoetz; Ta'anis)
Erev Rosh Hashana is the last day of the year, and Chazal tell us that one who does Teshuva on any one day throughout the year is considered as if he/she has done Teshuva for the entire year, therefore the Minhag is to rise early and fast on Erev Rosh Hashana and increase the amount of Selichos and Vidui etc., as this is the last chance to have a day of Teshuva in this year! (Chayei Adam Klal 138:5)
2) It isn't necessary to accept this fast upon yourself on the previous day at Mincha (as is usually the case when one wants to fast on a day that isn't a mandatory fast day) but one who is stringent and does in fact accept it upon him/herself is praiseworthy (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 562:2 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 562:63 quoting the Bach and Elya Rabbah)
QUESTION&ANSWER CORNER
Reader
Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we
covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
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:
When
a girl gets a new piece of nice jewelry and needs to recite a
she'he'che'yanu on it, should she first say the brocha then put the
piece of jewelry on or should she put the piece of jewelry on and then
recite the brocha?
Answer:
According to the Poskim that rule that you recite she'hechiyanu on
Jewelry (as is the psak of Rav Nisim Karelitz shlita and others), she
should recite the Bracha immediately before putting it on. If she
didn't, it can still be said afterwards, as long as she is still wearing
it for the first time.
Some Poskim maintain that no She'hechiyanu is recited on jewelry at
all , as it isn't considered clothing(Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Ben Ish
Chai, Kaf Hachaim, Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal and others)
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.
Important Numbers
