The custom is to say extra Selichot on the first "Monday, Thursday and Monday" in the month following Pesach and Sukkoth.
Some communities do this on the last "Monday, Thursday and Monday" of the month.
Since Monday is "Yom Sheni" or "Yom Bet - ב" and Thursday is "Yom Chamishi" or "Yom Heh - ה" these days are referred to as BeHaB - בה"ב
Some people have the custom to fast on בה"ב.
A special מִּי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ was recited on Shabbat before the Torah was returned to the Aron Hakodesh to bless those who will 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 אָמֵן to the מִּי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ .
Yet, answering אָמֵן to the מִּי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ does not oblige one to fast.
Even if one intended to fast when answering אָמֵן and then on the designated day there was a סְעוּדַת מִצְוָה (e.g. Brit Mila or Siyum or Pidyon HaBen) one should join the meal and not fast.
However, if one "declared his intention to fast" during the Mincha-Amida of the preceding day, then one needs to fast.
Tomorrow (Monday), and Thursday and next week Monday are בה"ב in most communities.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 127:3, 14
- Danny
Sunday, 4 Sivan 5777 - 19th day of the Omer
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Halocho #1815- BeHaB; another fast?
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Halocho #1814 - Tefillin on Rosh Chodesh
Men wear Tefillin (phylacteries) every day during Shacharit (morning prayers) except for Shabbat and Yom Tov.
Rosh Chodesh has some aspects of a Yom Tov, yet work is permitted.
Tefillin are worn on Rosh Chodesh during Shacharit, Hallel and the Torah reading. They are removed before starting Mussaf.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 10:19
Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom
- Danny
Thursday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5777 - 16th day of the Omer
בְּרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ חוֹלְצִין קֹדֶם תְּפִלַּת מוּסָף
בְּחֹל הַמּוֹעֵד סֻכּוֹת, כֻּלָּם חוֹלְצִין קֹדֶם הַלֵּל. וּבְחֹל הַמּוֹעֵד פֶּסַח, הַצִּבּוּר חוֹלְצִין קֹדֶם הַלֵּל, וְהַשְּׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר אַחַר הַלֵּל
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Halocho #1813 - Ya'aleh VeYavo - it's Rosh Chodesh!
Today (Wednesday) and tomorrow are Rosh Chodesh Iyar.
One needs to add יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא in the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רְצֵה.
If one forgot 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 forgot 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 - then one needs to restart the Amida.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:10
Chodesh Tov!
- Danny
Wednesday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5777 - 15th day of the Omer
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Halocho #1812 - Tuesday night - is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar.
On Rosh Chodesh, one should add יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא during the Amida and Birkat Hamazon.
If one forgot יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא during Birkat Hamazon (during the day or night), and one remembers before starting the last Bracha, one can make amends by inserting this before starting the last Bracha:
If one only realizes after starting the last Bracha, or one does not have the above Bracha readily available, then one does not need to make amends.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:10, 44:14
Chodesh Tov!
Tuesday, 29 Nissan 5777 - 14th day of the Omer
Monday, April 24, 2017
Halocho #1811 - Why the mourning during part of the Omer?
During the Omer period, the great sage Rabbi Akiva (who lived during and after the destruction of the second Temple) lost almost all of his thousands of Torah students; reducing Torah Scholars to a handful.
As a result, 33 days of the Omer are customarily observed as days of mourning, during which weddings and haircuts are forbidden.
One may get engaged during the Omer and even celebrate with a meal, but dancing and music are not allowed.
The Sandek, Mohel and father of the newborn may take haircuts the day before the Brit.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:6 - 9
- Danny
Monday, 28 Nissan 5777 - 13th day of the Omer
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Halocho #1810 - Don't work before counting the Omer?
The custom is to not do any work from sunset until after one has counted the Omer.
This applies to men and women.
This is hinted to in the verse (Shmot 23:15) which refers to the 7 weeks of the Omer-counting as "Sheva Shabbatot" - using the word "Shabbat" instead of weeks.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:10
- Danny
Sunday, 27 Nissan 5777 - 12th day of the Omer
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Halocho #1809 - Dismantling tents on Shabbat
Making a roof on Shabbat is forbidden; even if it's a temporary flimsy roof.
A roof is defined as a cover, over an area of at least 1 Tefach (8 cm, 3") by 1 Tefach, and at least 1 Tefach of space underneath it.
Any roof that one is not allowed to make on Shabbat, one is also forbidden from dismantling.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:81
Shabbat Shalom uMevorach - Rosh Chodesh Iyar will be on Wednesday & Thursday
- Danny
Thursday, 24 Nissan 5777 - 9th day of the Omer
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Halocho #1808- Countdown!
From the second day of Pesach until Shavuot we count the 49 days of the Omer.
Counting is done after nightfall. Before counting a Bracha is said:
One counts both days and weeks, as the Torah says (Vayikra 23:15-16):
Today is the 8th day of the Omer which is 1 week and 1 day.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:1
- Danny
Wednesday, 23 Nissan 5777 - 8th day of the Omer
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Halocho #1807 - Erev Pesach check-list
Tomorrow - Monday - is Erev Pessach; a busy day.
- Remember to light a 26-hour candle (or leave on a flame on the stove) so that you can light Yom-Tov candles on Tuesday evening if you live outside Israel.
- For details of the Fast of the Firstborn see Halocho #1804.
- Prepare the Salt Water for the Seder.
- Roast the Egg and Bone.
- Open the boxes of Matza, so as not to tear writing on Yom Tov.
- Ensure the wine bottles can be opened on Yom Tov without tearing any writing; else open them beforehand.
- Ensure Challa has been separated from the Matza to be used on Yom Tov.
- Make the Charoset.
One does not say מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה nor לַמְנַצֵּחַ from Erev Pesach until Isru Chag.
One may not eat Chametz after 1/3 of the day, and then - within the hour - one needs to burn one's Chametz and say Kol Chamira declaring all Chametz one owns to be ownerless like dust.
Work that may not be done on Chol Hamo'ed may not be done on Erev Pesach after noon. See Halocho #1311, #1312 and #1320 for details.
One may not eat Matza on Erev Pessach.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113: 1 - 5
Wishing everybody a meaningful and enjoyable Pesach
- Danny
Sunday, 13 Nissan 5777 - tonight is Bedikat Chametz night
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Halocho #1806 - What's great about Shabbat Hagadol?
Today, 10 Nissan, in the year 2449, the Jews in Egypt selected lambs for their Pesach sacrifice.
Forty years later, on 10 Nissan, the prophetess Miriam - sister of Aaron and Moshe - died.
A year later on 10 Nissan, the Jews crossed the Jordan river, as recorded in Joshua 3-4.
The Jews in Egypt were commanded to take home a lamb for their pre-Exodus Seder on 10 Nissan, four days before it was going to be sacrificed.
It was a miracle that the Egyptians didn't harm the Jews when they did this, since lambs were considered sacred objects in Egypt.
Since we left Egypt on Thursday 15 Nissan, this miracle happened on a Shabbat. To commemorate this miracle, the Shabbat before Pesach is called Shabbat Hagadol - the Great Shabbat - and a special Haftarah is read; the last chapter in Malachi which predicts the future redemption, may we merit it in our days.
The custom is to read the narrative section of the Haggada - from Avadim Hayinu (we were slaves) until (but not including) Rabban Gamliel's admonition to say "Pesach, Matza and Marror" - at Mincha on Shabbat Hagadol.
Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 430
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny
Thursday, 10 Nissan 5777
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Halocho #1805 - Should one use a candle for Bedikat Chametz?
On Sunday night one may not do any work, nor eat anything, until one has checked the house for Chametz.
Before one starts searching the house for Chametz the entire house needs to be cleaned, and the Chametz that one plans to use until mid-morning on Monday morning needs to be put in a secure place.
First one says the Bracha:
After the search is complete one says “Kol Chamira” declaring that "all Chametz one isn't aware of " to be “ownerless and worthless like dust”.
This declaration constitutes a Halachic "destroying Chametz", which is why one shouldn't interrupt between the Bracha, the searching and the Kol Chamira with anything not related to the search.
One may appoint other members of the household to help with the search, as long as they are over Bar/Bat Mitzva.
The search is done using a single candle which provides the optimal light for searching. A torch (like a Havdala candle) is not allowed – as it's a fire hazard and it gives a flickering light – and if it was used one needs to redo the search.
Search under all furniture, inside all closets, pockets of all clothes worn in the past year, school bags, purses, cars and anywhere else where Chametz could have been placed accidentally or purposely by adults, children or toddlers.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 111:1-10
There is no need to turn off the electric lights while searching with a candle, since with more light it's easier to find Chametz.
After searching with a candle in those places where it's safe and convenient to do so, one should continue with a flashlight, so that one can search safely and calmly without fear of burning down the house.
Source: Rabbi Shimon Eider zt”l, Halachos of Pessach, Vol. 1, page 86
- Danny
Wednesday, 9 Nissan 5777
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Halocho #1804 - Why do the firstborns fast instead of celebrating?
Why don't firstborns celebrate the fact that they were saved from the 10th plague - the smiting of Egyptian firstborns?
On Erev Pesach - this coming Monday - all firstborns will fast in memory of them fasting in Egypt on Erev Pesach, to ensure they wouldn't be punished along with the Egyptians in the 10th plague.
The Hallel said at the Seder includes praise for their delivery.
All firstborn males fast; even if they're only a firstborn to one of their parents.
Even firstborns who are exempt from Pidyon haBen - like Cohanim, Levites or being born after a stillborn - also have to fast.
The father of a young firstborn needs to fast for the infact.
Whether a firstborn (or his father) may attend a Se'udat Mitzva like a Siyum, Brit or Pidyon haBen and break his fast to participate in the meal, depends on local / family custom.
After breaking his fast, he can eat the rest of the day.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113:6, 115:2
- Danny
Tuesday, 8 Nissan 5777
Monday, April 3, 2017
Halocho #1803 - Tell me about selling Chametz to a non-Jew
Since most of us don't want to start selling Chametz on Erev Pesach, one can go to most local Rabbis and appoint them as a messenger to sell our Chametz.
The Rabbi will make a legal sale of the Chametz including a legal document and a deposit. Realize that this is a bona fide sale, and that the non-Jew is entitled to come to our homes and request we hand over our Chametz, as has occasionally happened.
After Pesach, the Rabbi goes to the non-Jew and asks to be paid the remainder of the debt and offers to buy back the Chametz from the non-Jew at a higher price. Since the non-Jew usually prefers to make a quick profit rather than paying for hundreds of items scattered throughout the city, he will sell the Chametz to the Rabbi.
One should only sell Chametz and not the containers it's in - especially not containers that require Tevila, like metal and glass, otherwise one would need to Toivel them in a Mikva after Pesach, since they belonged to a non-Jew during Pesach.
Chametz that has been sold (via the Rabbi) must be locked away so that one doesn't accidentally use it, which would be a double problem: Chametz on Pesach and stealing from the non-Jew.
Even if one has no intention of keeping Chametz in one's home, one should still go to a Rabbi to appoint him to sell one's Chametz.
Why?
A lot of products may be Chametz contrary to popular belief - depending on the latest production methods - like medications, creams, soaps or even food which one discovers later weren't really Kosher for Pessach.
Or, during Pesach one may discover Chametz that one wasn't aware of, or that one forgot to get rid of in the last-minute pre-Pesach rush.
If one sold all one's Chametz then one didn't own any during Pesach.
Chametz that belonged to a Jew during Pesach may not be used after Pessach. This is a Rabbinical decree; a punishment for owning the Chametz.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 114
- Danny
Monday, 7 Nissan 5777
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Halocho #1802 - Is burning Chametz wasteful?
The Torah forbids us to waste or destroy items that can still be used.
The Torah commands us to burn - or otherwise destroy - all Chametz in our possession on Erev Pesach morning.
Can we reconcile these 2 Halachot?
The Mitzva to destroy Chametz can be fulfilled with a bare minimum of Chametz; preferably with leftovers that nobody would be able to use. Usable Chametz can be donated to various charity organizations which will distribute it to the needy.
Alternately, Chametz can be sold to a non-Jew. More about that tomorrow.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 111:9
- Danny
Sunday, 6 Nissan 5770
