Halocho #1374 - What Bracha does one make on Good News?

When finding out joyous tidings or upon hearing good news from a reliable source, one says a Bracha.

If it only affects oneself, then one says שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ; "... who has kept us alive, sustained us and permitted us to reach this occasion."

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לֹקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

 שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

If it affects a group of people, then one says הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב; "..Who is Good, and bestows good." 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לֹקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב

If one cannot say the Bracha right away - due to an unclean location or hands - then one can say it later, as long as one still feel the joy.

Even if the joyful event will probably cause one trouble at a later date, one still says the Bracha.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 59:1,3

- Danny
Monday, 2 Tammuz 5774

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Halocho #1373 - Must one eat on Rosh Chodesh?

Today is the 2nd day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz.

One may not fast on Rosh Chodesh.

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

- Danny Schoemann
Sunday,  2nd day Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5774

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Halocho #1372 - Shabat Rosh Chodesh

Rosh Chodesh Tamuz will be on Shabbat and Sunday.

Remember to add יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא into the Amida and Birkat Hamazon.

One should add an extra dish to the Shabbat meals in honor of Rosh Chodesh.

After Hallel on Shabbat we will read from 2 Sifrei Torah; the second one for Rosh Chodesh, followed by the Shabbat-Rosh-Chodesh Haftara.

In Mussaf one says the "Ata Yetzarta - אַתָּה יָצַרְתָּ" version which talks about both the Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh sacrifices.

יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא is not said in Mussaf.

Source: Shulchan Aruch 525:3, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 97:3

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov
- Danny
Thursday, 28 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1370 - Who was burnt to death with a Sefer Torah?

The Shulchan Aruch says that it's appropriate to fast tomorrow - Wednesday 27 Sivan - since about 2,000 years ago on this date, the Romans wrapped the great Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon in a Sefer Torah, and burnt him to death.

Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon was one of the 10 martyrs.

King David started Tehilim - Psalms - by declaring: Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the gathering of the scornful.

Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon taught (Avot 3:3):

• A gathering of the scornful is when Jews sit together and don't discuss Torah-related topics. 
• When Jews do discuss Torah then the Shechina - G-d's presence - is with them. 
• Even when a lone Jew learns Torah (like a Halocho a Day), Hashem takes note and rewards him. 

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 580:2

Read about the 10 martyrs at http://www.answers.com/topic/ten-martyrs
Read about Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon at http://www.answers.com/topic/haninah-ben-teradion

- Danny
Tuesday, 26 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1369 - Transporting Kosher food

Kosher meat that is given to a non-Jew to store or transport, needs 2 seals, to ensure it's not tampered with.

The same applies to wine that is not cooked and to fish that no longer have their scales attached.

Cooked wine, wine-vinegar, milk, bread and cheese only need one seal.

The above applies whether a non-Jew is involved, or a Jew who cannot be trusted to keep Kosher.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:16

- Danny Schoemann
Monday, 25 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1368 - Kashering from meat to milk

When needed, one can Kasher utensils that are not Kosher. E.g. if one put a Milky spoon in a hot bowl of Meat it cannot be used until it is Kashered.

Before Pessach one can Kasher certain Chametz utensils to make them Kosher for Pessach.

Kashering must be done under the supervision of somebody who has learned all the intrinsic laws of Kashering, when possible.

When utensils are Kashered, they become Kosher and Parev; neither milky nor meaty.

The custom is to refrain from Kashering Milky utensils to use them subsequently for Meaty, or Meaty utensils to use them for Milky.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:15, 116:18
- Danny
Sunday, 24 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1367 - Rosh Chodesh is in 10 days time

This Shabbat is "Shabbat Mevarchim". 

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz will be on Shabbat-in-a-week's-time and the morrow; Sunday. (2nd and 3rd July)

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 the Sanhedrin 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

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach
- Danny
Thursday, 21 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1366 - Can one eat almond milk with meat?

If one cooks meat in almond milk, one has to leave some almonds in the dish, so that people do not suspect one of having cooked meat in milk.

As a general rule, one should be careful not to do anything which looks like it's against Halacha, even if one is not doing anything wrong, as it says in Bemidbar 23:22  וִהְיִיתֶם נְקִיִּים מֵה' וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל and in Mishlei 3:4 - וּמְצָא חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱ-לקִים וְאָדָם.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:14, 29:20
- Danny
Wednesday, 20 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1365 - Meat after cheese

After eating milky products one needs to wash one's hands or check them carefully, eat something hard (like bread) and rinse one's mouth or drink something and check between one's teeth or brush them. Then - if it's not at the same meal - one can eat meat right away.

The exception is hard cheese that aged for 6 months or became wormy. After eating such cheese, one needs to wait 6 hours before eating meat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:11

As we learned yesterday, some have the custom to only wait 1 or 3 hours.

There's a debate among Poskim if modern hard cheese that didn't age 6 months is considered like hard cheese. Check with your favorite LOR.

- Danny
Tuesday, 19 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1364 - Eating milk after chewing meat

After eating meat or chicken, one must wait 6 hours before eating milky products.

Even if one only chewed the meat, but did not swallow it, one must still wait.

If, after waiting 6 hours, one finds meat stuck between one's teeth, one has to remove it and rinse one's mouth and eat something solid before eating Milky, though one need not wait  another 6 hours.

If the food did not contain any meat, chicken or gravy, but was simply cooked in a meaty pot - even if the pot wasn't spotlessly clean - then one may eat milk right afterwards.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:9-10

Some have the custom of only waiting 1 hour or 3 hours, and not 6 hours between meat and milk. Everybody should follow their family Minhag.

- Danny
Monday, 18 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1363 - Which are the Milky dishes?

One cannot use the same dishes and cutlery for eating meat and milk.

If one has 2 identical sets of dishes, then the custom is to mark the Milky dishes (with ink, a scratch or otherwise) in order to tell them apart.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:8
- Danny
Sunday, 17 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1362 - Lego, lids and screws on Shabbat

An item made of various parts can be assembled on Shabbat, if the connections are loose, and it is taken apart and put back together frequently. (Like Lego pieces.)

If the parts are supposed to be tightly connected or screwed together - so as to "almost never" take them apart (like most door handles) -  then you cannot assemble them on Shabbat, even if you don't tighten the connection.

Lids of dishes may be taken off and put back on even if they are tight (like Tupperware) since they are not meant to remain connected permanently.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:83
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny
Thursday, 14 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1361 - You eat meat, I'll eat milk

Two acquaintances are not allowed to share the same table, if one is eating a meat meal and the other is eating a milky meal.

This applies to friends, family and even casual acquaintances, even those who wouldn't feel comfortable sharing their food with each other.

If there is some sort of separation on the table, then they are allowed to share the table. For example, if they each have their own place mat, or there is something between them on the table that normally is not on the table, E.g.: food (bottle of whiskey) or vessels (vase or extra salt cellars).

They should not share the same cup, pitcher or bottle, since food can get stuck on it and passed from one to the other.

They also should not be sharing the same loaf of bread. The custom is that they do not even share the same salt cellars.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:6, 7
- Danny
Wednesday, 13 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1360 - Kosher dog food?

There are 3 prohibitions regarding meat and milk:

•  One may not eat them together
•  One may not cook them together
•  One may not derive any benefit from such a mixture

Some mixtures of meat and milk are forbidden to be eaten - even by one's pets. 

Other mixtures of meat and milk one are allowed to be used as pet food, but not to be eaten by Jews. A competent Rabbinic authority needs to be consulted on a case-by-case basis.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:5
- Danny
Tuesday, 12 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1359 - Is your own blood Kosher?

If one bites into food - a piece of bread or fruit, for example - and some blood (from the gums or elsewhere) gets onto the food, one has to remove the bloody part before eating the rest.

However, you may swallow your own blood originating in your mouth - from bleeding gums or a cut tongue, for example - if it did not leave your mouth.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 41:3
- Danny
Monday, 11 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1358 - When can one eat blood?

Kosher meat and fowl is kashered with coarse salt in order to remove as much blood as possible.

Since liver is full of blood, salting it is ineffective. Liver needs to be roasted over an open flame to remove as much blood as possible.

Blood spots in eggs may not be eaten, and usually the entire egg is discarded if it has a blood spot.

If a fish has fins and scales then it is Kosher, and its blood may be eaten. However, if the blood has separated from the fish and cannot be distinguished from non-fish blood then it's forbidden.

If a bowl of fish-blood has fish-scales floating in it, then it's permitted.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:1,2

- Danny
Sunday, 10 Sivan 5774

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Halocho #1357 - Isru Chag; the day after Yom Tov

The day after Yom Tov is called Isru Chag. 

Isru Chag is today - Thursday - in Israel, and on Friday everywhere else.

One may not fast on Isru Chag and no Tachanun is said on Isru Chag. 

The Minhag is to eat a bigger meal than usual, to mark the day as Isru Chag.

Some do not say Tachanun for the entire week after Shavu'ot since the Korbanot that one 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, Jerusalem, Israel
Thursday, Isru Chag Shavu'oth 5774

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Halocho #1356 - Eating on Erev Yom Tov

Today - Tuesday - is Erev Shavuot.

In honor of Yom Tov one should bathe in warm water and cut one's hair and nails on Erev Yom Tov.

In order not to spoil one's appetite for the Yom Tov meal, one should not eat a meal during the second half of the afternoon, on Erev Yom Tov.

Outside of Israel this also applies to the first day of Yom Tov; so as not to spoil one's appetite for the evening meal of the 2nd day of Yom Tov one should not eat a meal during the second half of the afternoon on Wednesday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:2

Chag Shavuoth Same'ach
- Danny
Tuesday, 5 Sivan 5774  - 49th day of the Omer - Erev Shavuoth

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Halocho #1355 - Ruth and Shavu'ot

This year - 5774 - Shavu'ot will start on Tuesday evening at sundown and end on Wednesday evening after dark. 

Outside of Israel, Shavu'ot will end on Thursday evening after dark.

It is customary to read Megilat Ruth on Shavu'ot morning, between Hallel and the Torah Reading. 

In Israel, Megilat Ruth will be read on Wednesday and in the Diaspora most places will read Megilat Ruth on Thursday.

Outside of Israel one has to remember to leave a flame burning (like a Yahrzeit candle or gas range) from before Yom Tov (Tuesday afternoon) so that one can light the 2nd day's Yom Tov candles.

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://tinyurl.com/HalDay

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

- Danny
Monday, 4 Sivan 5774 - 48th day of the Omer

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Halocho #1354 - What is a Chagiga?

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash (may it be rebuilt speedily in our days) all men above Bar Mitzva have a Mitzva to appear in the Bet Hamikdash thrice yearly; during the Yom Tov of Pessach, Shavuoth and Sukkoth.

This Mitzva includes offering 2 sacrifices; a Korban Re'iya ("appearance sacrifice") which was completely burnt, and a Korban Chagiga ("festive sacrifice") which was eaten.

These sacrifices cannot be offered on Shabbat.

Preferably this Mitzva should be fulfilled on the first day of each Yom Tov. If the first day of Yom Tov is Shabbat, or if the person has other reasons to delay, then the Mitzva can be done during the remaining days of Sukkoth and Pessach.

Even though Shavuoth is only one day long (in Israel) this Mitzva can also be fulfilled during the 6 days following Shavuoth. This is the reason why some congregations do not say Tachanun during the entire week following Shavuoth.

Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol III, Page 50

- Danny
Sunday, 3 Sivan 5774 - 47th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma