Short, reader submitted Chizuk Thought of the Day for Elul:
Most people are aware that they need to do tshuvah on their bad actions. But many people are less aware that they need to purify their thoughts as well. The Gemora in fact tells us that thoughts of a sin are worse than the sin itself (Yoma 29a).
Getting rid of harmful thoughts is usually a very difficult task to accomplish. A person has thoughts constantly, even while asleep. And a bad thought can creep into one's mind without the person even being aware of it. Seforim hakedoshim tell us that you should not let a harmful thought stay in your mind for even the shortest amount of time, since it has the ability to quickly metamei (make impure) your neshamah (soul), and all the more so, chas v'shalom, if you dwell on the thought - and oy avoy if you even the slightest bit enjoy it! To this end, we have found, foolish as it may sound, that you can quickly and easily "blow the thought away" by merely blowing air out of your mouth as soon as you realize that you're thinking a harmful thought. That's all it takes. As soon as you realize that you're thinking a harmful thought, blow air out of your mouth, and in no time you'll find that the harmful thought will be blown right away. No kidding.
(The above was written by a daily reader, who is behind the website called The Geulah Company)
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1) Another way in which a man and a woman in the same home together can avoid the problems of Yichud, without having to keep the door open, is by having a Shomer, a guardian, present in the house with them, which will ensure that nothing inappropriate will transpire between them Chas V'Shalom.
There are various different acceptable Shomrim, and we will try and discuss all of them and some of their practical applications.
Children, both boys and girls, are acceptable Shomrim. (We will discuss age in tomorrow's B'Ezras Hashem) (Even though from the Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:10 it seems that only a female child works, the majority of Poskim maintain that male children work as well. See Rama Yoreh Deah Siman 192:4, Shach ibid S"K 14 as well as the Bais Shmuel ibid. S"K 9 and Taz S"K 9. See also Chochmas Adam Klal 127:5 and 9. This was also the Psak of the Chofetz Chaim in Nidchei Yisroel 24:9 and the Chazon Ish, quoted in Dvar Halacha Siman 4:2)
2) There is no difference if it is the man's child. The woman's child or if the child is not related at all, they are all adequate Shomrim. (See Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 6 Siman 40; Perek 16:5)
In the event that 2 Shomrim are necessary (as we will discuss in the near future) it doesn't matter if the 2 children are both males, both females, or one male and one female. ( Psak of Rav Yaakov Ephraim Forchheimer Shlita)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Todaywebsite.
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.
I have many tehilim names that I daven for every day.For most of the names that I have, I do not know what the status is, like if the person is still sick chas veshalom etc.
Is there a problem with saying tehilim for these names anyway, even if they have had a refuah shleima, or are no longer with us?
Answer:
There is no problem per se with saying Tehilim for these names.
However, the Seforim do say that it is best to only say names that you personally know, or know about, and not to say the names of lists that you have no idea about.
All the Cholim that you don't know should be included in the "B'SochShaar Cholei Yisroel" you say after the names that you do know.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
