Halocho #743 - Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses; Moshe Rabeinu

According to most opinions on 7 Adar (Friday) will be the Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses - Moshe Rabeinu.

Many Jewish Burial Societies [Chevra Kadisha] have their annual meeting that day, including fasting and special prayers.

Halachot related to Moshe Rabeinu:

When babies start talking one should teach them the verse "תּוֹרָה צִוָּה-לָנוּ, משֶׁה. מוֹרָשָׁה, קְהִלַּת יַעֲקב" and Shma Yisrael...", after ensuring that they are clean while being taught.

Moshe Rabeinu went up to Har-Sinai to get the 2nd set of tablets on a Thursday and came down on a Monday, which is why these 2 days are auspicious for praying - and we therefore add the long "Vehu Rachum" prayer before Tachanun on these 2 days.

There's a limit as to how long one may mourn a deceased - but even for a great Torah scholar one may not mourn longer than 30 days, as nobody can be greater than our teacher Moshe for whom it is stated "and they mourned Moshe for 30 days".

Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 58:2, KSA 165:10, 22:9, 215:1

- Danny
Wednesday, 5 Adar-I 5771