Cooking is forbidden on Shabbat.
Food that is impossible to eat without first being rinsed, may not be rinsed on Shabbat even in cold water.
Salty fish may be rinsed in cold water, since it was (somewhat) edible even before being rinsed.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:6
Shabbat Shalom,
- Danny Thursday, 2 Adar 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Avraham Moshe ben Miriam Tova; a 4 years old with cancer which has spread to his brain and spine
12 years ago - 5757 - was a leap year on the Jewish calendar; the month of Adar was doubled. This year is not a leap year. Girls born 12 years ago in both Adar-I and Adar-II become Bat Mitzva on the same date this year in Adar. For example, a girl born 12 years ago on the 28th Adar-I will become Bat Mitzva in 4 weeks time, four weeks after her friend who was born 3 days later than her - on 1 Adar-II - who became Bat Mitzva today. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:2 Chodesh Tov! - Danny Wednesday, 1 Adar 5769 Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Today - Tuesday - and tomorrow are Rosh Chodesh Adar.
One increases joy when Adar begins because Adar and (next month) Nissan historically have been full of miracles, including the redemption from Egypt and (nearly a millennium later) the miracle of Purim.
Adar is considered an auspicious month for the Jews.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:1
Chodesh Tov
- Danny
Tuesday, Rosh Chodesh Adar 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Today is the eve of Rosh Chodesh Adar Tachanun is not said at Mincha on Erev Rosh Chodesh. Some people have the custom of adding the Yom Kippour Katan prayers during Mincha. Some even fast on Erev Rosh Chodesh to atone for the sins of the past month. Don't forget to add Ya'aleh Veyavo during Ma'ariv and Birkat Hamazon tonight. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 97:1 Chodesh Tov! - Danny Monday, 29 Shvat 5769 Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
One of the Mitzvot of Purim is Mishlo’ach Manot; sending at least two food items to one fellow Jew. These 2 food items need to be ready to eat. For example fruit, wine, cake or cooked meat. It’s commendable to send Mishlo’ach Manot to a lot of people, but it’s even better to spend more on Matonos L’evyonim to the poor and needy. Both men and women need to send Mishlo’ach Manot. Men should send to men, women should send to women. A mourner (in the 12 months for parents or 30 days for siblings, spouse or child) also needs to send Mishlo’ach Manot. One does not send Mishlo’ach Manot to a mourner unless there are no other Jews around. One may give Matonos L’evyonim to a needy mourner. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 142:1, 2, 4, 7 - Danny Sunday, 28 Shvat 5769 Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
This week is Shabbat Shekalim and 2 Torah Scrolls are taken out.
After the regular Torah Reading - Parshat Mishpatim - we read the beginning of Parshat Ki-Thisa in the second Sefer Torah.
This is in memory of the half-shekel that everybody donated yearly to finance the daily sacrifices in the Bet Hamikdash, may we merit to see it rebuilt, speedily in our days.
Shabbat is also Shabbat Mevarchim of the upcoming month of Adar. Rosh Chodesh Adar will be on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:1
- Danny Thursday, 25 Shvat 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
One of the 613 Mitzvot in the Torah is to obey the Torah Sages. The Sages instituted Purim and its Mitzvot.
One of the Mitzvot of Purim is Matanot L'evyonim - to send gifts to at least two needy people. This gift is usually money.
Even somebody who lives off charity needs to fulfill this Mitzva.
One needn't hand the gifts directly to the needy; one can send them via messenger (or charity organization).
Purim is the only day of the year one does not check credentials; anybody who asks for charity on Purim is given something.
Both men and women have an obligation to give Matanot L'evyonim. Men may send Matanot L'evyonim to women and vice versa.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 142:3-4
- Danny Wednesday, 24 Shvat 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה - who turns bat Mitzva today
One of the Mitzvoth of Purim is hearing Megilat Esther being read at night and again in the morning. One needs to hear every single word to fulfill this Mitzva. The Megila should be heard in a shul if possible; the bigger the crowd the bigger the publicity for the miracle. Everybody needs to hear the Megila including men, women and children old enough to attend without disturbing. The reading needs to be done from a Kosher Megila; one that is handwritten by a Sofer on parchment. The entire Megila - some 20 columns in a standard edition - is unrolled and folded like a letter before it is read. Three Brachot are recited before the Megila is read (both in the evening and the morning) and a single one after the reading. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:7, 9, 10, 11 - Danny Tuesday, 23 Shvat 5769 Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה - who is celebrating her Bat Mitzva tomorrow night
One may not eat or drink in a shul. People who learn all day in the shul may eat there so as not to waste time. If no other location is readily available one may have a Seudat Mitzva (e.g. Brit, Siyum) in a shul; but levity and drunkenness are forbidden. One may not nap in a shul unless one learns there all day and leaving for a nap would waste time. One should distance oneself from the Aaron Hakodesh when napping. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 13:4 - Danny Monday, 22 Shvat 5769 Please daven for a complete recovery for baby Yahel Chen bat Dalya Shulamit - יהל חן בת דליה שולמית
The Ten Commandments were in yesterday's Torah reading. Included in honoring ones mother and father is the Mitzva to honor ones grandparents. However, honoring ones parents take precedence over ones grandparents. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:20 - Danny Sunday, 21 Shvat 5769
During Shabbat one may not wrap-up hot food completely - in blankets, towels or pillows - in order to keep it warm, even if the wrapper does not add heat, but merely conserves the heat. One may wrap-up hot food before Shabbat - but only in a wrapper that conserves the heat; not in a wrapper that adds heat. Under certain conditions one may keep food warm in an oven or on the stove. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:5, (72:18-20) Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 18 Shvat 5769
The Ten Commandments are in this week's Torah reading.
Included in honoring ones mother and father is the Mitzva to honor ones father's wife and ones mother's husband even if they not ones parents.
It's is appropriate to honor step-parents even after ones parents are no longer alive.
However, honoring ones parents take precedence over honoring ones step-parents.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:19
- Danny Wednesday, 17 Shvat 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Rachel-Leah bat Chaya-Sarah - רחל לאה בת חיה שרה
The Ten Commandments are in this week's Torah reading. Included in honoring ones mother and father is the Mitzva to honor ones father on law and ones mother in law. However, ones parents take precedence over ones in-laws. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:20 - Danny Tuesday, 16 Shvat 5769
Our Sages have designated the 15th of Shvat - Tu B'Shvat- as the boundary between one year and another, since most of the rains of the previous year have already fallen. Any new growth of fruit after this day, is the result of the blessing of the new year. It is also customary to pray for a beautiful Kosher Etrog on Tu B'Shvat Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol I, page 346-349 - Danny Monday, Tu B'Shvat 5769
Tu B'Shvat starts tonight (Sunday night).
Tu B'Shvat - the 15th of the month of Shvat - is the New Year as far as tithing fruits is concerned.
Fruit from trees that blossomed before Tu B'Shvat belong to the previous year's Trumot & Ma'aser quota.
The custom is to eat more fruit than usual on Tu B'Shvat.
One does not say Tachanun on Tu B'Shvat, nor at Mincha the day before.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 139:26. Rosh Hashana Mishna 1:1.
- Danny Sunday, 14 Shvat 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
House pets or any other animals that depend on you for their food, may be fed on Shabbat.
Animals that do not rely on you for their food may not be fed, and you may not even throw them leftovers, with the exception of stray dogs.
One may not feed pigeons as they are capable of fending for themselves.
The custom to put out grain for the birds on Shabbat Shira (this week) is incorrect as birds do not rely on humans for their food. (One may put out grain for them before Shabbat.)
Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 87:18
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny Thursday, 11 Shvat 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Monday will be Tu B'Shvat and customarily lots of fruit will be served.
Which fruit should you choose as the one to hold and make the Bracha on?
- If one has a favorite fruit and it's being offered, it should be used to make the Bracha on. - If one has no preference then one of the "7 species" has preference. - If there are none of the 7 species, then one should pick a whole fruit, as opposed to a cut one. - A Boreh Pri Ha'Etz has precedence over Boreh Pri Ha'Adama (e.g. strawberries and bananas)
The 7 species are (in order of Bracha-precedence): Bread from wheat, cakes from wheat, Wine, Olives, Barley (baked or cooked), Dates, Grapes (in solid form), Figs, Pomegranates
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 55:1 - 3
- Danny Wednesday,10 Shvat 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
One may not wander into a shul for no reason. One may not even enter a shul in order to protect oneself from the weather. If one needs to enter a shul to talk to somebody or give them a message, one should enter and first read a few verses or say a short prayer or listen to something being studied or simply sit for a while (since sitting in a shul is a Mitzvah). Only then may one approach ones friend to talk to him. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 13:3 - Danny Tuesday, 9 Shvat 5769
Members of a (small) Jewish community may force each other to come to shul (synagogue) daily so as to ensure there is always a Minyan - a quorum of 10 over-Bar-Mitzvah males - for thrice-daily prayers.
If needed, they may impose fines on those who don't come.
Making a Minyan takes precedence over Torah learning; there's a time to learn and a time to pray.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:15
- Danny Monday, 8 Shvat 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
The Jewish inhabitants of a city should coerce each other to build a Bet Kneset (synagogue) or Bet Medrash (Torah study hall) so that they have a place to pray and learn. Included is the obligation to buy the appropriate books; Sidurim, Chumashim and appropriate texts for Torah learning. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:15 - Danny Sunday, 7 Shvat 5769
