Today's halachos are dedicated L'zecher Nishmas HaIsha Yenta Chaya bas R' Nochum whose Yahrtzeit is today, 3 Elul. May she be a Meilitzah Yeshara for her entire mishpacha.
1) When one needs to do Teshuva, it must be done as soon as possible and not pushed off to a later time as the Mitzvah of Teshuva is a constant obligation (as long as one has sins) (See Rambam Hilchos Teshuva Perek 7:2)
2) Besides the inherent importance of doing Teshuva immediately, delaying Teshuva is a sin in its own right, as it's indicative of a lack of concern about the severity of this sin and in most cases leads to a flippant attitude toward this sin - as habit is wont to do- and makes it extremely difficult to ever stop doing that particular sin. (See Sha'arei Teshuva Sha'ar 1:2)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) The longer one delays doing Teshuva, the harder it becomes to actually do Teshuva as the longer one lingers the less heavenly help he will have, and in fact the Yetzer Hara will sometimes be given special permission to place difficult spiritual nisyonos, obstacles, in the person's path. (See Rambam Hilchos Teshuva Perek 6:3 where he writes that sometimes, a person who consistently sins and ignores the call to Teshuva may be punished to the point that Teshuva is all but impossible; a tragic state to allow oneself to fall to. See Shla HaKadosh Maseches Yoma; Hilchos Teshuva.)
2) One who caused another Jew to sin along with them (be it in a breach of Hilchos Tzniyus with a female or a male or in any other sin) must not only do Teshuva for his own sin but must also try to get the other person to do teshuva as well. (See Shu"t Noda B'Yehuda Orach Chaim Siman 35 and Shla Hakadosh, Sha'ar HaOsiyos; "Kedusha")
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
Reader's Question:
Am I allowed to read math books on Shabbos?
Answer:
M'Ikar Hadin, math books, like other Sifrei Chochma,books of secular knowledge, may be read on Shabbos. A Yerei Shomayim, however should try and be stringent if possible. (See Mishna Berura Siman 307:65 and Sefer Ashrei HaIsh from Maran Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlita, Perek 16:14)
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
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 צדיק וקדוש לברכה
Chazal teach us "Sofo Na'utz Betchiloso - The end is attached to the beginning". In a different place, Chazal explain this concept with the words "Sof Ma'aseh B'machashava Techiloh - The final output is dependent upon the initial thought".
When an Architect draws up plans for a building, he already has the final draft completed - with a full schematic drawn up, before the first brick is even cemented! When a person drives up to the Catskills for Shabbos and you ask him where he is going, he doesn't begin to describe for you the exact sequence of each exit on the highway etc... Instead, he simply says that he is "going to the mountains for Shabboss".
In other words, he already has his eye on the prize from the very beginning ....just like the Architect in our previous example!
This same concept applies with respect to our desire for spiritual growth. We need to focus from the very beginning on what it is that we'd like to accomplish at the end. When we say Modeh Ani in the morning, we need to immediately think about how we want our day to evolve.
When we hear the first sounds of the Shofar at the beginning of Elul, we need to reflect on what we'd like to accomplish by the end of Simchas Torah and devise a plan to meet that end goal.
Elul is a time when G-d takes us on a rocketship to meet and live with him in the heavenly spheres - quite literally!
We live in Shamayim on this Earth!
To be sure, every Jew becomes enthused and excited during this precious time. However, if we do not draw up a plan of action and decide on exactly what spiritual items we will be 'purchasing' , then we will ultimately come away from the Yomim Tovim with nothing but fond memories!!
Therefore, by focusing on the "Sof Ma'aseh B'machashava Techiloh", we greatly enhance our opportunity for success!
Heard From Rav Shimshon Pincus Zatzal; www.OhrShimshon.com
Important Numbers
