1) One should constantly have "Teshuva" on his/her mind throughout the day on Erev Rosh Hashanah.
Many
have the Minhag to go to a grave of a Tzadik and walk around the grave
and daven there that in the merit of the Tzadik Hashem should have mercy
on us and forgive our sins and grant us a good year.(See
Rama Siman 581:4 and Mishna Berura S"K 27. See also Chayei Adam Klal
138:5 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 128:13 for more things to do- and
not to do - and say at the graveside.)
2)
If a no Tzadik's grave is accessible, the Poskim recommend going to any
Jewish cemetery to daven. (Some even say that if no Jewish cemetery is
available, one should go to the outside of a non-Jewish cemetery, as
just going to any cemetery reminds us that we will not live forever, and
that we better start doing Teshuva before it's too late. However, it is
best not to daven at the grave of a Rasha, an evil person.)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1)
One who is impure (due to nocturnal emissions) should preferably not
visit a cemetery, especially on Erev Rosh Hashanah, as it can be harmful
to him. The Gaon of Vilna and others were extremely stringent about
this. It is also better to visit the cemetery before eating, thus many
have the Minhag to go immediately after Shacharis. (See Mateh Ephraim Siman 581:50 and Elef Hamagen Os 109 and Chayei Adam Klal 138:6)
2) It is a good custom to give Tzedakah to poor people prior to praying at the grave of the Tzadik.
In fact it is proper to give Tzedakah prior to praying anytime, as the Pasuk (Tehilim 17:15) states "Ani B'Tzedek Echezeh Panecha- with [the Zechus of]Tzedaka will I approach Hashem [to pray]. (Rama and Mishna Berura ibid. See also Talmud Bava Basra 10b)
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:
I remember once seeing in a shul
posted on the inside of the Aron kodesh a halacha that the one doing
P'seicha (opening the ark) should remove the Torah right away when
opening the Aron (not to wait for everyone to say Brich Shmey).
I dont remember the source. Am I
remembering this properly? Also what is the reason that in some shuls
that sing at the end of Brich Shmey the don't remove the Torah until the
song is finished?Iis this the correct thing to do or is it a Bizayon to
the Torah?
Answer:
There is much discussion in the Poskim as to when the proper time
to say Brich Shemay is, either before taking out the Sefer Torah, or
immediately afterwards while the Aron Hakodesh is open, or even to say
it only after the Aron HaKodesh is closed.
Many Nusach Sefard minyanim say it before removing the Torah, while
many Nusach Ashkenaz minyanim and most Yeshivos say it as they remove
the sefer Torah from the Aron.
The source of the
dispute, is based on how to interpret the words of the Zohar (Parshas
VaYakhel), which is the source of this tefilah in the first place.
Rav
Moshe Feinstein Zatzal (Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 4 Siman 70:9)
seems to hold that although both methods are acceptable, it is best to
try and say it as the Torah is removed, and definitely not to purposely
tell people to leave it in the Aron as it is being said.
Rav
Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal (Halichos Shlomo Hilchos Krias HaTorah
Chapter 12:9) maintains that any way it is done is proper, as there is
no one method which is more right than another.
See also Shu"t Az Nidberu Vol. 8 Siman 48 for more about this.
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.
When people lose their temper, they should
know they are losing their temper against Hashem, too. A person who
cannot get along with his wife, his neighbors, or his employer, cannot
get along with himself, and he cannot get along with Hashem either.
Important Numbers
