Halocho #1412 - Good year wishes

From the beginning of the month of Elul until after Yom Kippur, one should add seasonal greetings when writing to friends.

This can be done at the start or end of the letter.

One should wish them - or bless them - with a good year; to be inscribed in the book of good life.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128: 2

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; with wishes for a year full of blessings

- Danny
Sunday, 5 Elul 5774

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Halocho #1411 - Removing nails and hangnails on Shabbat

One may not cut off hangnails on Shabbat; not with an instrument, nor by hand and not even by biting it off.

(Hangnail: A small piece of dead skin at the side or the base of a fingernail that is partly detached from the rest of the skin.)

One may not cut nails on Shabbat. If a nail is partly disconnected it may not be detached on Shabbat.

If a nail is almost completely detached - and will eventually fall off - and it's causing discomfort, one can remove it by hand but not with an instrument.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:55

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 2 Elul 5774

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Halocho #1410 - When do Selichot start?

This morning - Rosh Chodesh Elul - we started blowing the Shofar.

Starting tomorrow - Thursday - Sefardim say Selichot before Shacharit and continue doing so the entire month of Elul until Erev Yom Kippour.

This year Selichot - for Ashkenazim - start on Sunday (26 Elul / 21 September), 4 days before Rosh Hashana.

Selichot should be said before Shacharit, towards the end of the night. The end of the night is an עֵת רָצוֹן; an auspicious time when Hashem is more receptive to listening to one's prayers.

When arising for Selichot one should wash one's hands even if it's still night, and make the Bracha "עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם".

One should say the 2 Brachot of בִּרְכַּת הַתּוֹרָה  before saying Selichot.

After Selichot one should wash ones hands again (if the first washing was pre-dawn), but one does not repeat the Bracha.


One should preferably stand during Selichot; during the "אֵ-ל מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב" and 13 Middot and the Viddui one must stand.

The Chazzan for Selichot should preferably be a Torah Scholar, well liked and if possible married with children and over 30 years of age. However, any Jew can be a Chazzan as long as the community approves. The same applies to the Chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippour as well as the person blowing the Shofar.

Selichot are not said on Shabbat.

Source: Shulchan Aruch 581, 1

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; may all your prayers be answered,

Chodesh Tov

- Danny
Wednesday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Elul 5774

Halocho #1409 - Why do we blow the Shofar during the month of Elul?

Today - Tuesday - is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul. Today's date is 30 Av 5774

Tomorrow - Wednesday - is the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, and first day of the month of Elul.

The next 40 days, starting tomorrow, correspond to the 40 days that Moshe spent on Har Sinai, to receive the 2nd set of Luchot (Tablets with the 10 commandments written on them).

Moshe came down with these Luchot on Yom Kippur. Ever since, these 40 days are especially auspicious for Teshuva; repenting.

The custom is to blow the Shofar after Shacharit (the morning prayers) from tomorrow, until Tuesday, 28 Elul (23 September) , as a reminder to start improving one's Torah observance and to repent for past misdeeds.

On Erev Rosh Hashana the Shofar is not blown, in order to create a division between the custom of blowing Shofar in Elul and the Torah-commandment to blow Shofar on Rosh Hashana.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:1, 2

Chodesh Tov

- Danny
Tuesday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Elul 5774

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Halocho #1408 - Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul!

The 2 days of Rosh Chodesh Elul begin tonight - Monday night.

One needs to add יַעֲלֶה וְיָבא -  into the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רְצֵה.

If one forgets to do so during the Amida of Ma'ariv (evening prayers) - on either day - one does not need to make amends, since the Sanhedrin did not sanctify the month at night.

If one forgets to do so during Shacharit (morning prayers) or Mincha (afternoon prayers), then one has to return to the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רְצֵה  - and make amends.

If one already finished the Amida - by saying יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי  - then one needs to restart the Amida.

One also needs to add יַעֲלֶה וְיָבא - into Birkat Hamazon

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:10

Chodesh Tov!

- Danny
Monday, 29 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1407 - Tomorrow - Monday - is Yom Kippour Kattan

The day before Rosh Chodesh is called יוֹם כִּפּוּר קָטָן.

Mincha (the afternoon prayers) on יוֹם כִּפּוּר קָטָן includes prayers asking for repentance, so as to begin the new month with a "clean slate".

Some have the custom to fast on יוֹם כִּפּוּר קָטָן.

In anticipation of the month of Elul and the upcoming High Holidays, most communities say the יוֹם כִּפּוּר קָטָן prayers before Rosh Chodesh Elul, in order to get into the Teshuva (repentance) mood.

Tomorrow - Monday - is Yom Kippour Kattan. Rosh Chodesh Elul will be on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 97:1, 128:1

- Danny
Sunday, 28 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1406 - Watering meat on Shabbat

Meat has to Kashered (soaked, salted and rinsed to remove the blood) within 3 days of being slaughtered.

If this is not possible then the meat has to be hosed down every 3 days.

It is forbidden to hose down meat on Shabbat, however one may ask a non-Jew to do so, to prevent the meat from becoming forbidden.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:56

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 25 Menachem Av 5774

Halocho #1405 - Wash your face daily

Upon awakening one should wash one's hands from a cup, alternating between the right and left hand until each hand is washed 3 times.

Two reasons are given:

- You are starting a new day of serving Hashem; similar to a Cohen who had to wash his hands before serving in the Bet Hamikdash.

- Part of the soul leaves the body when one sleeps, therefore sleeping is considered a mini-death which generates impurity which needs to be washed away.

One should then wash one's face in honor of one's Maker, since the Pasuk says that man was created in Hashem's image.

One should be careful to dry one's hands and face, for health reasons.

One should also rinse one's mouth, in anticipation of saying Hashem's name during prayers.

On fast-days one may not rinse one's mouth.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 2:1, 3, 121:10

- Danny

Wednesday, 24 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1404 - May one say Tehillim by heart?

The Torah is divided into two parts: The written-law (Tanach) and the oral-law (Mishna and Gemara).

Even if one knows parts of the written-law by heart, one should be careful not say them without a text.

The exception being those verses that everybody knows by heart, like those Tehillim said often during prayers like אשרי.

If possible, one should pray from a Siddur, since Davening includes many verses that not everybody knows by heart.

Blind people are allowed to say everything by heart.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:6

- Danny
Tuesday, 23 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1403 - When to get up in the morning

If possible, one should awaken at midnight and say Tikun Chatzot; lamenting the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash and the resultant loss of Torah learning as well as the numerous Mitzvot we can no longer do.


If getting up at midnight is not an option, one should get up before dawn to say Tikun Chatzot.


After Tikun Chatzot one should learn some Torah; Mishna or Tehillim or Mussar.


At the very latest one needs to awaken in time to get to shul before they start morning prayers.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:5

- Danny
Monday, 22 Menachem Av 5774


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Halocho #1402 - Preparing the weekly Parsha

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


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Halocho #1401 - Are you bored? Do a Mitzvah!

There's a Mitzvah to be aware of Hashem's presence all the time.


Any time one thinks of Hashem and the fact that He runs the world and that He is aware of our every movement and thought, one fulfills a Mitzvah.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:1

- Danny
Sunday, 21 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1400 - How do I know if fruit is Kosher?

Fresh fruit is always Kosher, however it may have an Orlo problem, as per yesterday and Sunday's Halocho.

When in doubt if the tree is less than 4 years old:

- In Israel the fruit from such a tree is forbidden. (This is one of the reasons that fruit needs Rabbinic Supervision in Israel. Other issues include Shmita, "Neta Revo'i"  and the separation of Terumot and Ma'asrot.)

- Outside of Israel the fruit is allowed, as long as you don’t pick it yourself. This is the way Moshe was given the Halocho at Har Sinai.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:2, Mishna Orlo, 3:9

- Danny
Wednesday, 17 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1399 - What comes after Orlo?

Orlo - ערלה - is the Torah prohibition of eating fruit from tress less than 3 years old, as per Sunday's Halocho.

In the 4th year the fruit is called "Neta Revo'i"  - נטע רבעי - and needs to be "redeemed" by transferring its status onto a coin. The coin needs to be worth at least a "Peruta" (0.025 grams of pure silver; about 3¼ US pennies at today's rate.)

One says "I am redeeming the Neta Revo'i into this coin". The coin is then destroyed and disposed of. Instead of a coin one can use fruit worth about 4 pennies, which then needs to be destroyed.


After redeeming them, the "Neta Revo'i" (4th year fruit) can be eaten, anywhere by anybody.

Sources: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 173:2, Mishna Orlo, 3:9

- Danny
Tuesday, 16 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1398 - Why is today - Tu B'Av - a joyous day?

A number of joyous events happened over the years on Tu B'Av.

- It was the day the Generation-of-the-Wilderness realized that the sin of the spies had been forgiven, in the year 2488.

- It was the day that the tribes were allowed to intermarry, including orphaned daughters (as per בְּמִדְבַּר ל"ו:ח) once all those who conquered the Land had passed away.

- On the same day the tribe of בִּנְיָמִין were allowed to intermarry with other tribes, after the scandal of גִּבְעָה (as per שֹּׁפְטִים Ch. 19 - 21), around the year 2524.

- It was the day that King  הוֹשֵׁעַ בֶּן אֵלָה  removed the blockades that the wicked King  יָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט  had placed on the roads, preventing the Jews from going to Jerusalem for the שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים about 75 years earlier, around the year 3040.

- It was the day the Romans allowed those massacred by the wicked Hadrian in Beitar to be buried, some time after he died in 138 (C.E).

- It was the day they stopped chopping wood for the altar in the Bet Hamikdash every year, as it marks the end of "summer" (as per Rashi on Breishis 8:22) and the start of the 2 months of "heat". The wood had to be worm free to be used on the altar, and had to be fully dried before the rainy season.

This gave everybody more time for learning Torah - and therefore Tu B'Av is the Joyous Day of Increased Torah Learning (and one does not say Tachanun on Tu B'Av.)

Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol 3 page 307-313

- Danny
Monday, ט"ו באב - 15 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1397 - Three years of Orlo for trees

For 3 years after planting a tree, one may not eat its fruit, nor derive any benefit from the fruit, peels or pits. This is a Torah prohibition and applies to trees planted anywhere on the planet by anybody.

How to count these 3 years:

- Trees planted until Tu B'av (tomorrow - 15th of the month of Av; 45 days before Rosh Hashana) have their first birthday on Rosh Hashana, and 2 years later they turn "three years old".

- Trees planted less than 45 days before Rosh Hashana need to count three years from their first Rosh Hashana.

The laws of Orlo apply to trees grown from shoots or pits, and sometimes to trees that have been replanted. A tree that was cut and its stump is less than 1 Tefach (about 9 cm - 3.5 inches) high becomes Orlo again.

One does not say Tachanun on Tu B'Av, nor at Mincha the afternoon before. The bride and groom do not fast on their wedding day if it's on Tu B'Av.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 146:2, 173:1,3,4

- Danny
Sunday, 14 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1396 - Shabbat Nachamu

Usually the Haftara is connected to the weekly Torah Reading.

During the 7 weeks following the fast of 9 B'Av we read the Seven Haftarot of Consolation from Yeshayahu.

This Shabbat is named after the opening words of the first of the Seven Haftarot of Consolation: נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ עַמִּי  - Hashem instructs the prophet Yeshayahu to "Console, console My people". (Isaiah Ch. 40)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:4, 22:8,

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 11 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1395 - Tish'a B'Av isn't over yet

We mourn and fast on 9 B'Av since the Bet Hamikdash was burned to the ground. The fire was ignited on 9 B'Av in the afternoon and burned throughout the 10th of Av.

Therefore the restrictions of "the 9 days" continue until after midday on the 10th of Av (today - Wednesday).

The custom is to refrain from eating meat and wine, bathing, doing laundry, shaving and haircuts, saying Shehechiyanu and listening to music until Wednesday after noon.

One may make a Se'udat Mitzvah (like a Brit) in the morning, with meat and wine.

(When 9 B'Av is on Thursday - as will happen in 6 years time if the Bet Hamikdash is not yet rebuilt - then these Halalchot are slightly different.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 124:20-22

- Danny
Wednesday, 10 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1394 - Who must fast on 9 B'Av?

On 9 B'Av (from sunset today - Monday afternoon - until nightfall on Tuesday evening) almost everybody needs to fast.

Pregnant and nursing mothers need to fast on 9 B'Av even if it causes them discomfort, unless it's dangerous to their health.

When in doubt, consult your LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi).

During the first 7 days after childbirth, a mother is not allowed to fast.

Anybody who isn't healthy should only fast for a few hours. This includes a mother between 7 and 30 days after childbirth unless she feels up to fasting. When in doubt, consult your LOR.

Children are not allowed to fast.

Those who are not fasting should limit their food intake to the bare minimum; only bread and water if possible.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 124:6

- Danny
Monday, 8 Menachem Av 5774

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Halocho #1393 - Can we sit on chairs on 9 B'Av?

On the fast of 9 B'Av it is customary not to sit on chairs from the time the fast begins (Monday afternoon before sunset) until noon the following day (Tuesday).

Instead, one sits on the floor. Anything within 3 Tefachim (about 9" - 24 cm) of the floor is considered as being on the floor.

After noon on 9 B'Av (Tuesday) one may sit on regular chairs. However, all other restrictions of the fast apply until the fast is over at night-fall.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 124: 16

- Danny
Sunday, 7 Menachem Av 5774