The day after Yom Tov is called Isru Chag.
One may not fast on Isru Chag and no Tachanun is said on Isru Chag.
Some do not say Tachanun for the entire week after Shavu'ot since the Korbanot you had to bring when coming to the Bet Hamikdash on Yom Tov could be brought for the entire week after Shavu'ot.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 103:14
- Danny Sunday, 8 Sivan 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Today - Thursday - is Erev Shavuot.
In honor of Yom Tov one should bathe in warm water and cut ones hair and nails on Erev Yom Tov.
In order not to spoil ones appetite for the Yom Tov meal, one should not eat a meal during the second half of the afternoon, on Erev Yom Tov.
This also applies to the first day of Yom Tov; so as not to spoil ones appetite for the evening meal of the 2nd day of Yom Tov - and the Friday-night Shabbat meal this year - one should not eat a meal during the second half of the afternoon on Friday.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:2
Do someone a favor: Call them and remind them to do ERUV TAVSHILIN!
Chag Same'ach and Shabbat Shalom
- Danny Thursday, 5 Sivan 5769, 49th day of the Omer - Erev Shavuoth
Please daven for a complete recovery for Michal bat Rachel - מיכל בת רחל who is undergoing a cardiac procedure (laser ablation) today
This year - 5759 - Shavu'ot will be on Friday.
Outside of Israel Shavu'ot will also be on Shabbat.
It's customary to read Megilat Ruth on Shavu'ot, between Hallel and the Torah Reading.
In Israel Megilat Ruth will be read on Friday and in the Diaspora most places will read Megilat Ruth on Shabbat.
One has to remember to leave a flame burning (like a Yahrzeit candle or gas range) from before Yom Tov (Thursday afternoon) so that one can light Shabbat candles on Friday afternoon.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 75, Orach Chaim 490:9
On Shavu'ot we celebrate the giving of the Torah. Help spread Torah learning by inviting your Jewish friends to our Halocho a Day group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2387884087
- Danny Wednesday, 4 Sivan 5769, 48th day of the Omer, 2nd day of Shloshet Yemei Hagbala
Please daven for a complete recovery for Michal bat Rachel - מיכל בת רחל who is undergoing a cardiac procedure (laser ablation) on Thursday
One may not prepare from Yom Tov to Shabbat unless one does Eruv Tavshilin before Yom Tov. Since the first day of Shavu'oth is on Friday, everybody needs to do Eruv Tavshilin on Thursday.
Today - in they year 2449 - a few days before Matan Torah, Hashem informed us that we're a chosen nation:
וִהְיִיתֶם לִי סְגֻלָּה מִכָּל-הָעַמִּים, כִּי-לִי כָּל-הָאָרֶץ (Shmos 19:5)
As a result, today is often referred to as the Pedigree-Day; Yom-Hameyuchas.
No Tachanun is said during the first part of Sivan; until Isru-Chag Shavu'ot (or a week later - depending on local custom).
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 198:14
- Danny Monday, 2 Sivan 5769, 46th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Today is Rosh Chodesh Sivan; the 3rd month on the Jewish calendar.
It's a Mitzva to eat a bigger meal on Rosh Chodesh.
There is no obligation to eat bread on Rosh Chodesh.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:2
Chodesh Tov!
- Danny Sunday, Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5769, 45th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
This Shabbat is "Shabbat Mevarchim". Rosh Chodesh Sivan is on Sunday.
There's an ancient custom to bless the upcoming month on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh, before Mussaf.
This is not to be confused with Sanctifying the Month that was done by Av Bet Din when the new moon appeared.
Nevertheless, the custom is to stand when the Chazzan announces which day(s) will be Rosh Chodesh, since the sanctification of the month was done while standing.
Source: Mishna Brura 417:1 (1)
This week's Haftarah is "Machar Chodesh" - "And Jonathan says to him (David): tomorrow is Rosh Chodesh" from Shmuel-1 20:18
Previous Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov
- Danny Thursday, 27 Iyar 5769, 42nd day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
In the Torah, Shavu'ot does not have a fixed date, but happens on the day after finishing counting 7 full weeks - 49 days - of the Omer.
Since we currently have a fixed Jewish calendar, with Nissan always 30 days long and Iyar always 29 days long, so Shavu'ot is always on 6 Sivan.
Outside Israel it's 2 days long - 6 and 7 Sivan.
Source: Vaykira 23:15 - 19
On Shavu'ot we celebrate the giving of the Torah. Help spread Torah learning by inviting your Jewish friends to our Halocho a Day group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?members&gid=2387884087
- Danny Wednesday, 26 Iyar 5769, 41st day of the Omer
The day before Rosh Chodesh is called Yom Kippour Kattan.
If Rosh Chodesh is on Shabbat or Sunday then Yom Kippour Kattan is on Thursday, so as not to fast on Friday.
In certain communities, Mincha (the afternoon prayers) on Yom Kippour Kattan includes prayers asking for repentance, so as to begin the new month with a "clean slate".
Some have the custom to fast on Yom Kippour Kattan.
Tomorrow - Thursday - is Yom Kippour Kattan. Rosh Chodesh Sivan will be on Sunday.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 97:1, 128:1
- Danny Tuesday, 25 Iyar 5769, 40th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Nachman ben Ita who is having a tumour removed from his kidney.
The Minhag is to eat food made from milk products on the first day of Shavu'ot, for various reasons. One should also eat foods with honey since the Torah is compared to honey. One should also eat meat, since - like every Yom Tov - there's a Mitzva to eat to meat on a Chag. One needs to plan the meals carefully since one may not eat milk after meat, and one may not eat both together at the same meal. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:7 On Shavu'ot we celebrate the giving of the Torah. Help spread Torah learning by inviting your Jewish friends to our Halocho a Day group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?members&gid=238788408 - Danny Monday, 24 Iyar 5769, 39th day of the Omer
As we learnt, one may light fire from an existing flame on Yom Tov.
One may not chop wood on Yom Tov, not with an ax and not by hand.
On Yom Tov one may not collect firewood that is scattered.
On Yom Tov one should not use bellows, however the custom is to use non-commercial bellows by turning them upside-down.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:4
- Danny Sunday, 23 Iyar 5769, 38th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Nesanel Arye ben Tziporah Ester- a little baby with a tumor on his liver!
Fruit that was picked on Shabbat may not be eaten on that Shabbat - even if a non-Jew picked it for himself.
Even fruit that is lying under a tree is forbidden, since it may have fallen off on Shabbat.
Such fruit is Muktza and may not even be moved, until after Shabbat.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:9
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny Thursday, 20 Iyar 5769, 35th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
One is allowed to cook on Yom Tov for Yom Tov; though not from the first day for the second day.
One is not allowed to make cheese or butter on Yom Tov.
Those spices that can be ground before Yom Tov without loosing any of their taste should be ground before Yom Tov.
Spices that are better when fresh can be ground on Yom Tov; but not in the usual fashion. For example one can grind onto the table top.
One may only grind what is needed for that day. This applies to grinding Matza as well.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98: 2, 3
- Danny Wednesday, 19 Iyar 5769, 34th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
We mourn for 33 days between Pessach and Shavu'ot in memory of the 33 days during which Rabbi Akiva's students perished. There are various customs as to which 33 days are kept as mourning-days. Everybody agrees that on the day of Lag B'Omer - the 33rd day of the Omer - there is no mourning, as a reminder that they stopped dying on the 33rd day. Those who have the custom to mourn from Rosh Chodesh Iyar, resume the mourning customs after Lag B'Omer. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:6, 7 Note: Many Sefradim only stop the mourning on the 34th day of the Omer. - Danny Tuesday, 18 Iyar 5769, 33rd day of the Omer
One does not say Tachanun on Lag B'Omer, nor at Mincha the day before (this afternoon).
The mourning-customs of the Omer apply to the night of Lag B'Omer as well.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 120:6
Traditionally Lag B'Omer is celebrated as the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
- Danny Monday, 17 Iyar 5769, 32nd day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
One of the differences between Yom Tov and Shabbat is carrying.
On Shabbat one may not carry outside, unless there is an Eruv.
On Yom Tov one may carry even without an Eruv.
One can carry anything - even if it's not related to food - as long as it has some purpose.
One should not carry large items that make it look the Yom Tov is a weekday; unless one needs to do so in order to feed a large crowd of people.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:34
- Danny Sunday, 16 Iyar 5769, 31st day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Tomorrow - Friday 14th Iyar - is Pessach Sheni - the 2nd Pessach.
In the time of the Bet Hamikdash, if a person couldn't bring the Korban Pessach on Erev Pessach, he has a 2nd chance a month later.
In the afternoon of 14th Iyar he would bring the Korban Pessach and roast it. After nightfall he would eat it with Matza and Marror. The leftovers were burnt the next morning.
Unfortunately this year we again missed both chances to bring the Korban Pessach.
Source: Bamidbar 9:9-12
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny Thursday, 13 Iyar 5769, 28th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Extinguishing fire is forbidden on Shabbat and Yom Tov.
Even though one may light fire from an existing flame on Yom Tov, one may not extinguish fire on Yom Tov.
One may not even lower a flame on Yom Tov (nor on Shabbat).
On Yom Tov (and on Shabbat) one may not put a candle in a windy place so that it will blow out.
(Yom Kippour has the same status as Shabbat; one may not light nor extinguish fire on either.)
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98: 25
- Danny Wednesday, 12 Iyar 5769, 27th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
One of the differences between Yom Tov and Shabbat is the laws of lighting fire.
On Shabbat one may not light fires, nor extinguish them nor make them larger or smaller. One needs to light the fire before Shabbat and then leave it alone.
On Yom Tov one may light a fire from an existing flame, if there's a need. One may also make the fire larger.
One may light a flame or make an existing flame larger for:
One may not use matches nor a magnifying glass to light a fire on Yom Tov; one has to light the fire from an existing flame.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:29, 30, 31
- Danny Tuesday, 11 Iyar 5769, 26th day of the Omer
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
With some exceptions, the laws of work on Shabbat and Yom Tov are identical. These exceptions are:
As we learned in Halocho 316, on Shabbat a special Mi-Sheberach was recited for those fasting tomorrow (Monday), Thursday and next Monday - בה"ב. Even if one intended to fast when answering Amen and then on the designated day there was a Se'udat Mitzva (e.g. Brit Mila or Siyum or Pidyon HaBen) one should join the meal and not fast. Despite being a "private" (not communal) fast day, a person need not "declare his intention to fast" during the Mincha-Amida of the preceding day, if he answered Amen to the Mi-Sheberach. If one "declared his intention to fast" during the Mincha-Amida of the preceding day, then one needs to fast. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 127:3, 14 - Danny Sunday, 9 Iyar 5769, 24th day of the Omer
