No Tachanun is said on Chanukah, starting from Mincha the day before. Kel Erech Apa'im - א-ל ארך אפים - is not said before Kriat HaTorah on Chanukah. Lamenatze'ach- למנצח - is not said after Ashrei during Chanukah. One does not fast on Chanukah, except for a Ta'anit Chalom (fasting after a worrisome dream.) The full Hallel is said on all 8 days of Chanuka. This is the only time the full Hallel is said on Rosh Chodesh. (Usually on Rosh Chodesh we leave out 2 half-paragraphs.) Al HaNisim is added in the Amida (during Modim; the 2nd to last Bracha) and Birkat Hamazon (during the second Bracha). Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 25:2, 139:2 Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 21 Kislev 5769
All work is permitted on Chanukah, however women have a custom not to do any work during the first half-hour after lighting. The reason being that the women were oppressed by the enemy even more than the men, with the law of jus primae noctis. Another reason being that the miracle was done by a woman; a daughter of Yochanan the High Priest cut off their king's head after making him drowsy with wine and cheese. This is also the reason some have the custom to eat dairy on Chanukah. Erratum: The earliest time for lighting is Plag HaMincha which is 75 Halachic minutes before nightfall. (And not 90 minutes as mentioned last week.) Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:2 - Danny Wednesday, 20 Kislev 5769
Today - 19 Kislev - 236 years ago, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe was freed from prison. You can read about him at http://www.answers.com/topic/shneur-zalman-of-liadi. When a person is released from prison he needs to say the HaGomel blessing:
For lighting Shabbat candles one may only use a combination of fuel and wicks that together produce a steady non-flickering light. For Chanukah one may use any fuel and wick combination that will burn for the required time. Preferably one should use something that provides a steady light, like our candles. Best is to use olive oil, since the Chanukah miracle happened with olive oil. Wicks should be made of cotton wool. There is no need to use new wicks every night. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:4 - Danny Monday, 18 Kislev 5769
If one uses clay lamps for the Menorah then one has to replace them every night. When using glass holders one must make sure they are clean; not oily or smoky from the previous night. Best is to use a nice metal Menorah. If one can afford it, one should buy a silver Menorah to beautify the Mitzva. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:5 - Danny Sunday 17, Kislev 5769
Today - 14 Kislev - 3,575 years ago the first of the 12 tribes was born. Reuven was born in the year 2,194 and lived for 144 (or 145) years. It's customary to serve fruit and drinks on the Friday night before a baby's Brit Mila. This is called a Shalom Zachor and is considered a Se'udat Mitzva. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:8 Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 14 Kislev 5769 Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos
The wicks on a Menorah must all be at the same level; you cannot have some higher and some lower. The Shamash should be higher. It's purpose is to provide light so that you don't use the Chanukah lights which are for "display and not for use". The wicks should be far enough away from each other that they don't join and become a torch. If using candles they mustn't be close enough to melt each other. The wicks do not have to be in a straight line; a Menorah can be shaped as a semi-circular or even a full circle. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:9 - Danny Wednesday, 13 Kislev 5769
On weekdays the Chanukah lights should be lit at nightfall and should be able to burn for at least 30 minutes. Chanukah lights can already be lit from Plag HaMincha (75 Halachic minutes before nightfall). At Chanukah time in the Northern Hemisphere this may be as short as 50 minutes before nightfall. (Try http://tinyurl.com/luach to get your local time.) Even when lighting earlier, the Menorah has to burn until 30 minutes after nightfall. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:10 There are 2 opinions regarding nightfall: Some say it refers to dusk, other say it refers to 3 stars appearing (like Motzai Shabbat). Everybody should follow their family custom. - Danny Tuesday, 12 Kislev 5769
If a person is wearing his finest and chairing a large meeting, and his father or mother come and tear his clothes and hit him over the head and spit in his face, he may NOT embarrass them nor cause them pain nor display any anger towards them.
Rather one should remain silent and fear ones Father in Heaven who commanded us to respect and honor ones parents.
However one may demand payment for the damage, and even take them to Bet Din if needed.
One may move away from ones parents - and ask other people to look after them - if one isn't capable of dealing with their emotional state.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:2, 16
- Danny Monday, 11 Kislev 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
182 years ago on 10 Kislev the 2nd Lubavitcher Rebbe was released. You can read about him at http://www.answers.com/topic/dovber-schneuri.
Anytime a miracle happens to you, you should give charity and have in mind that it is instead of bringing a Thanksgiving sacrifice.
One should also fix or establish something for the public good.
On the yearly anniversary of the miracle one should seclude oneself and spend the day thanking Hashem for the miracle.
One should also publicize the miracle.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61:3
- Danny Sunday, 10 Kislev 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Starting tonight - Thursday night - we start praying for rain on weekdays, in the 9th Bracha of the Amida - Barech-Aleinu all over the world. In Israel we started 4 weeks ago - on 7th Marcheshvan. As we learned in Halocho #197: If you forgot to add "ותן טל ומטר לברכה"; "and bless us with dew and rain", then: - If you remember before you finish the 9th Bracha then you insert it and continue from there. - If you already said "Baruch Ata Hashem" of the 9th Bracha then you insert it into Shma-Kolienu - the 16th Bracha - before "Ki Ata". - If you forget to say it in Shma-Kolienu then you need to go back to the 9th Bracha - Barech-Aleinu. - If you didn't remember until you finished the Amida (defined as saying "Yihyu Leratzon") then you have to restart the entire Amida. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19: 5, 6 Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 7 Kislev 5769, 4 Dec '08 Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos
Sons and daughters both have the same obligation to fear and respect their parents.
However, if a daughter has a conflict between respecting her parents or her husband, then her husband has priority.
However, if her husband doesn't mind, then her parents have priority.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:13
- Danny Wednesday, 6 Kislev 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
We already learned that if a parent requests one to sin, one must not obey. When else do you not have to obey your parents? If your parents don't approve of your choice of marriage partner, you do not have to obey them (at your own risk). If you want to go learn Torah somewhere, and you are convinced that only there can you fulfill your potential, and your parents do not want you to go there, you do not have to obey them. We learn this from this weeks Parsha; Yaakov's parents instructed him to go to Uncle Lavan, and Yaakov decided to detour to the Bet Hamidrash of Ever for 14 years. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:12 - Danny Tuesday, 5 Kislev 5769
Yesterday we learned that the months of Marcheshvan and Kislev sometimes both have 30 days, sometimes both have 29 days and sometimes follow the regular order with Marcheshvan having 29 days and Kislev 30. The 30th day of the month as well as the first day of the month are Rosh Chodesh. If the month ending has only 29 days then there's only one day of Rosh Chodesh. If a person died on 30 Marcheshvan, do we say he died on the last day of Marcheshvan or on Rosh Chodesh Kislev? - If the year of the first anniversary also has a 30 Marcheshvan then the Yahrzeit will henceforth always be on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev; be it 30 Marcheshvan or 1 Kislev. - If the year of the first anniversary does not have a 30 Marcheshvan then the Yahrzeit will henceforth always be on the last day of Marcheshvan; be it 30 Marcheshvan (1st day Rosh Chodesh) or 29 Marcheshvan (Erev Rosh Chodesh). In this last case, if possible Kaddish should also be said on Rosh Chodesh. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:4 - Danny Monday, 4 Kislev 5769
