When visiting the sick one may not sit on a chair if they are lying on the floor, in deference to the Shechina which is above the sick person's head.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 193:2-3
- Danny,
Monday, 18 Tevet 5773
Sister site to my Halocho a Day group on Facebook - הלכה יומית. [Each entry discusses some aspect of Jewish law.]
When visiting the sick one may not sit on a chair if they are lying on the floor, in deference to the Shechina which is above the sick person's head.
It's a Mitzva to visit sick people irrelevant of the social standing of the visitor or the patient.
Close friends and family may visit immediately, but others should wait until the 4th day, so as not to aggravate his Mazal and give his the "sick" status.
However, if a person becomes very ill very suddenly then everybody may visit immediately.
One may visit numerous times a day - as long as it doesn't bother the patient.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 193:1
- Danny,
Sunday, 17 Tevet 5773
It's a Mitzva to review the weekly Torah Reading by reading it twice in the original and once with the (Aramaic) Onkelus translation.
One who doesn't understand (or appreciate) Onkelus may read Rashi instead or even an English translation.
One may start on Sunday already and one should finish before the Torah is read on Shabbat morning.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:11
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny
The Torah gave permission to doctors to heal. Therefore someone who is not feeling well may not rely on a miracle, but must go see a doctor and follow his instructions.
One who ignores medical advice is not only endangering their life but is also considered to be arrogant; one should use the top expert in the field.
That said, a person needs to realize that the actual cure comes from The One Above and should pray that their doctor be a successful messenger to heal them.
The same way it’s a Mitzva to preserve one's health , so too it’s a Mitzva to look after one's possessions; not to lose, break or waste them.
One who breaks vessels, tears clothes, wastes edible food, wastes money or throws away objects that other people could use has done the Aveira of לֹא-תַשְׁחִית as it says in דְּבָרִים כ:יט:
It’s a Torah prohibition to cause pain to animals – and it's a Mitzvah to prevent such pain and to cure animals (even if they don’t belong to a Jew).
However, if an animal is causing harm to humans, or can be used to help cure humans then one may kill it (as humanely as possible) for we see that the Torah allows one to eat meat.
It’s a Mitzvah to help horses that are pulling a wagon and are struggling due to the incline or the rough terrain – even if they don’t belong to Jew. One should prevent the rider from whipping them unnecessarily to try get them to pull more than they can.
One may not tie the legs of animals in such a way that they are in discomfort.
One may not force a bird to roost on eggs from a different type of bird.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 191:1,2,3
- Danny
Tuesday, 12 Tevet 5773
The Torah says in דברים פרק כב:ח:
The prophet יְחֶזְקֵאל was told to record the 10th day of the 10th month (Tevet, counting from Nissan) as the day the the siege started:
From the Pasuk זָכוֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת - "Remember the day of Shabbat" ( שמות כ:ז) we learn that it's a Mitzva to keep Shabbat in mind all week; all special food should be reserved for Shabbat.
On Sunday will be the fast of the 10th of Tevet - עשרה בטבת.
On every fast-day there is Kri'at HaTorah (Torah Reading) at both Shacharit and Mincha. We call up 3 people and read וַיְחַל from Parshat כִּי תִשָּׂא.
At Mincha, the 3rd Aliya also reads the Haftarah (דִּרְשׁוּ from Yeshayahu 55:6). Only somebody who is fasting should be called up to the Torah on a fast day.
During the Mincha Amida, individuals add the "עֲנֵנוּ" prayer into the 16th Bracha; שְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ. If one forgot, one does not need to make amends.
The Chazzan adds עֲנֵנוּ during both Shacharit and Mincha, as a separate Bracha before רְפָאֵנוּ.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 23:15, 19:14, 20:8
- Danny
Wednesday, 6 Tevet 5773
On Sunday will be the fast of 10 B'Tevet.
No eating and drinking is allowed from dawn (4:54 in Jerusalem) to nightfall (16:57 in Jerusalem).
One may eat before dawn if one had the intention of doing so before going to sleep the night before.
If one always drinks when one gets up, then one can drink before dawn even of one didn't think about it when going to bed.
Pregnant and nursing mothers as well as people who aren't feeling well do not need to fast if fasting will cause them discomfort. Anybody who isn't healthy shouldn't fast. When in doubt, consult your LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi).
Children are not allowed to fast.
Those who may eat, as well as children, should not indulge in food. If possible they should limit themselves to bread and water.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:8, 8
- Danny
Tuesday, 5 Tevet 5773
This coming Sunday - 10 Tevet - עשרה בטבת - we fast to commemorate the beginning of the siege against Jerusalem.
Almost 2,500 years ago the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege against Jerusalem which culminated in the destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash, a year and a half later.
This is the King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in whose court Daniel (who survived the lion's den) served.
Oil that was put in the Chanuka Menora and was not burnt, as well as wicks that were used and candles that didn't burn fully should be burnt after Chanuka.
Since they were set aside for the Mitzva of Chanuka they cannot be used for any other purpose.
If one had the explicit intention to use the leftovers, then they need not be burnt.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:20
Today is the last day of Chanuka; don't forget עַל הַנִּסִּים !
On Friday afternoon one lights the Chanuka Menora before lighting Shabbat candles. One can light as early as 75 Halachic minutes before sunset. (15:34 in Jerusalem, this year.)
If possible, one should daven an early Mincha so as to light the Menora after Mincha.
One must start lighting the Menora early enough to be able to light Shabbat candles at the regular time.
On Friday one needs longer candles or more oil to ensure the Menora will be lit until 30 minutes after dark.
If lighting near a doorway, one needs to ensure that opening the door will not extinguish the Menora. If needed one should put a non-flammable partition between the Menora and the door.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:17
Reminder: Thursday night and Friday is Rosh Chodesh; don't forget to add both יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא and עַל הַנִּסִּים to the Birkat HaMazon and the Amida.
On Shabbat we will take out 2 Sifrei Torah:
- In the first Sefer Torah we call up [at least] 7 people for the weekly portion - מִקֵּץ .
- Maftir is read from the 2nd Sefer Torah and is for Chanuka - בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי from Parshat נָשֹׂא .
The Haftara this week is the Chanuka one (רָנִּי וְשִׂמְחִי בַּת צִיּוֹן from Zecharia 2:14).
Review: On Motzai Shabbat - the last night of Chanuka this year - one first makes Havdalah and then lights the Chanuka Menora.
In Shul - on Motzai Shabbat - the Menora is lit after the full-Kaddish - before וְיִתֶּן לְךָ (after ensuring that it's already Motzai Shabbat if one started prayers early).
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:18
Some have the custom of lighting the Menora before making Havdala, since one already heard Havdala in shul. (Source: רמ"א 581:2)
Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom
- Danny,
Thursday, 5th day of Chanuka, Erev Rosh Chodesh Tevet 5773
Friday - 6th day of Chanuka - is Rosh Chodesh Tevet.
On Thursday night and Friday we add in both יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא and עַל הַנִּסִּים to the Birkat HaMazon and the Amida.
Rosh Chodesh Tevet is the only time the full-Hallel is said on Rosh Chodesh. After Hallel, the full Kadish תִּתְקַבַּל is recited.
Between Shacharit and Mussaf we will take out 2 Sifrei Torah. First we call up 3 people to the Torah for Rosh Chodesh. In the second Sefer Torah a fourth person is called up for Chanuka, then Half-Kadish is recited.
We then daven Mussaf for Rosh Chodesh, with עַל הַנִּסִּים .
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:24
- Danny
Wednesday, 4th day of Chanuka, 28 Kislev 5773
The Torah Reading for Sunday - the last day of Chanuka - has 39 verses.
It starts from בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי in Parshat נָשֹׂא and continues all the way past the end of the Parsha and ends with the first paragraph of Parshat בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ which talks about the daily lighting the 7-branched Menora in the Mishkan and the Bet HaMikdash.
The last paragraph of Parshat נָשֹׂא starts with the words זֹאת חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ- as a result the last day of Chanuka is often referred to as Zot Chanuka.
Don't forget עַל הַנִּסִּים !
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:23
- Danny
Tuesday, 3rd day Chanuka, 27th Kislev 5773
Please daven for a רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם לאֶפְרַיִם בֶּן מִרְיָם בְּתוֹךְ שְׁאָר חוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
The entire Hallel is said on all 8 days of Chanuka. Chanuka is the only time that the entire Hallel is said on Rosh Chodesh. (Usually on Rosh Chodesh we leave out 2 half-paragraphs; לֹא לָנוּ and אָהַבְתִּי כִּי יִשְׁמַע.)
One does not fast on Chanuka, except for a Ta'anit Chalom (fasting after a worrisome dream).
No Tachanun is said on Chanuka, starting from Mincha the day before. א' אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם is not said before Kriat HaTorah on Chanuka.
לַמְנַצֵּחַ is not said after אַשְׁרֵי during Chanuka.
Don't forget עַל הַנִּסִּים !
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 25:2, 139:2
- Danny
Monday, 2nd day of Chanuka, 26th Kislev 5773
During all 8 days (and nights) of Chanuka one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים to the Birkat Hamazon during the 2nd Bracha - נוֹדֶה לְךָ. If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה then you don't have to make amends.
However, if possible you should say the following during the HaRachaman's after the 4th Bracha:
This week, Shabbat is also Erev Chanuka. Suggestion: Prepare your Menora before Shabbat!
Shabbat morning:
This Shabbat we read the regular Parsha - וַיֵּשֶׁב - and its regular Haftara (כֹּה אָמַר from Amos Ch. 2.)
This week is Shabbat Mevorchim. Rosh Chodesh Tevet will be on Friday, the 6th day of Chanuka.
This week and next week we will omit אָב הָרַחֲמִים before Mussaf.
Mincha:
This week and next week we will omit צִדְקָתְךָ at Mincha.
Motzai Shabbat:
Motzai Shabbat:
Add אַתָּה חוֹנַנְתָּנוּ in the 4th Bracha of the Amida.
Add עַל הַנִּסִּים in the Amida during מוֹדִים and in Birkat haMazon during נוֹדֶה לְךָ.
In Shul the Menora is lit after the full-Kaddish - before וְיִתֶּן לְךָ (after ensuring that it's already Motzai Shabbat if prayers started early).
At home, on Motzai Shabbat, one first makes Havdalah and then lights the Chanukah Menorah.
On the first night we say 3 Brachot before lighting:
Yesterday we learnt that we add a prayer for rain in the 9th Bracha of the Amida - בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ - starting from 7th Cheshvan in Israel, and from the 5th December outside of Israel.
If you're unsure if you added וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה or not:
- For the first 30 days you have to assume you left it out. (Yesterday's Halocho gave the rules for amending that).
After 30 days you can assume that you said it.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:8
Tip: If you practice saying it 90 times (starting from אֶת הַשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת) then you can assume you said it correctly.:
Since Mussaf on Shmini Atzeret we have been praising Hashem for the wonderful gift of rain, by adding מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם "He makes the wind blow and He causes the rain to fall" into אַתָּה גִּבּוֹר - the second Bracha of the Amida.
In Israel only, starting from 7th Cheshvan we started adding a prayer for rain - וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה - in the 9th Bracha of the weekday Amida - בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ. (Sefardim started saying בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ instead of בַּרְכֵנוּ as the 9th Bracha.)
Starting tonight - Tuesday night - we start praying for rain on weekdays, in the 9th Bracha of the Amida - בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ - all over the world.
If you forgot to add וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה - "and bless us with dew and rain", then:
Each night of Chanuka we add an extra light, starting at 1 and ending at 8.
Besides for the nightly number, the custom is to add an extra candle each night - known as the Shamash.
This is ensure that one doesn't accidentally use the light from the actual Chanuka lights, which is forbidden.
After the Chanuka Menora has been burning for half an hour after nightfall, one may derive benefit from the lights of the Chanuka Menora.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:14
- Danny
In order to publicize the miracle of Chanuka, the Menora is lit - with the correct Brachot - in the synagogue, between Mincha and Ma'ariv.
The person who lit the Menora in shul has to light again at home, with the correct Brachot.
A mourner should not light the Menora in shul on the first night of Chanuka, since it's inappropriate for him to say שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ in public. At home a mourner does say שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ on the first night.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:15