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SPECIAL DOUBLE PORTION L'KAVOD SHABBOS KODESH
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh
1) One who sees 600,000 Jews in one gathering recites the Bracha "ברוך אתה ד' אלקנו מלך העולם חכם הרזים - Blessed are You Hashem, Our G-d, Master of the world, Knower of Secrets" (Shulchan Aruch Siman 224:5) The meaning of this Bracha is as follows: No two people are the same, their faces are different, their thoughts are different, yet Hashem is all knowing and knows the deepest thoughts of each and every one of us! Thus, when we see 600,000 Jews, we basically see the entire jewish nation (as the number used to refer to the Jewish nation as a whole is always 600,000, as that was the amount of Jews [men, between the ages of 20 and 60] who left Egypt and received the Torah) and thus an opportune time to praise Hashem for being all knowing and all seeing. (See Mishna Berura Siman 224:8) 2) Some Poskim maintain that only in Eretz Yisroel is this Bracha recited, and upon seeing 600,000 Jews anywhere besides for in Eretz Yisroel, the Bracha is recited without Shem U'malchus. (See Kaf HaChaim 224:15) Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) Upon seeing 2 or more Jewish Graves, once every 30 days, the following Bracha is recited:
ברוך אתה ד' אלקנו מלך העולם אשר יצר אתכם בדין וזן וכלכל אתכם בדין והחיה אתכם בדין ויודע מספר כולכם בדין ועתיד להחזיר ולהחיותכם בדין ברוך אתה ד' מחיה המתים
Blessed are you Hashem, our G-d, Master of the World, who created you with Justice, sustained you with Justice, gave you life with Justice, He has an accurate account of each and every one of you[r actions] with Justice, He will eventually return you and make you live again with Justice, Blessed are You Hashem, who makes the dead live again.(Shulchan Aruch Siman 224:12 and Mishna Berura S"K 16) 2 ) L'Chatchilah, this Bracha should be recited when within four Amos of the graves, however B'dieved if it was said from afar it's acceptable and indeed Kohanim, who may not go within 4 Amos of a grave, say it from afar. (See Aruch HaShulchan 224:8 and Shu"t Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 5 Siman 37:10. See also Shu"t Teshuvos V'Hanhagos Vol. 3 Siman 80 and Vol. 4 Siman 56 for more details about this)
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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.
On Shabbos Chanuka, I will be in a hotel for a Simcha from Friday afternoon until Motzai Shabbos. What is the Halacha for lighting Chanuka candles Friday evening?
Answer:
One who is not home, and is spending the night in a hotel must light in the hotel.
According to many Poskim the ideal place is in the room in the hotel that you will be sleeping in and not in the dining room, as this room is "reserved" for you. (Psak of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Shlita. Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita in Shu"t Teshuvos V'Hanhagos Vol. 3 Siman 215:14 paskens like this as well, besides if there is no window in the room, then he maintains it's better to light at the window in the dining room)
Some Poskim (Rav Nissim Karelitz Shlita and others) maintain that it is best to light in the dining room, especially if there are others there for the same reason as you (family simcha, Yarchei Kallah etc.) as that makes it as if the entire "family" is together, and thus the proper place to light.
Obviously, if the hotel doesnt allow lighting fires in the rooms, it is best to rely on those Poskim that say to light in the dining room.
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
