Halocho #2372 - Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses; Moshe Rabeinu

According to most opinions, 7 Adar is the Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses - Moshe Rabeinu. 

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

During leap years the Yahrzeit for somebody who passed away in a regular year is observed in the first Adar, and Kaddish is said again (if possible) during the second Adar.

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 Luchot 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 218:2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 165:10, 22:9, 215:1, 221:3

אֵלּוּ הַיָּמִים שֶׁאֵרְעוּ בָּהֶם צָרוֹת לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרָאוּי לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בָּהֶם...בְּז' בַּאֲדָר מֵת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ע''ה.

מִיָד כְּשֶׁהַתִּינוֹק מַתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר, יְלַמְּדוֹ הַפָּסוּק תּוֹרָה צִוָּה לָנוּ משֶׁה מוֹרָשָׁה וְגוֹ', וְכֵן פָּסוּק שְׁמַע יִשְֹרָאֵל וְגוֹ' (רַק יִזָּהֵר מְאֹד שֶׁיְהֵא הַתִּינוֹק נָקִי בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא מְלַמֵּד אוֹתוֹ)

בְּשֵׁנִי וּבַחֲמִשִּׁי לְפִי שֶׁהֵם יְמֵי רָצוֹן, כִּי בְּאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁל קַבָּלַת לוּחוֹת שְׁנִיּוֹת, עָלָה מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ בְּיוֹם ה', וְיָרַד בְּיוֹם בּ', לָכֵן מַרְבִּים בָּהֶם תַּחֲנוּנִים.

אֵין בּוֹכִין עָלָיו יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁלשִׁים יוֹם, דְּלָא עָדִיף מִמּשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, דִּכְתִיב בּוֹ, וַיִבְכּוּ בְנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אֶת משֶׁה וְגוֹ'. שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם.

וְאִם מֵת בְּשָׁנָה פְשׁוּטָה, אֲזַי בְּשָׁנָה מְעֻבֶּרֶת, יִתְעַנֶּה בַּאֲדָר רִאשׁוֹן, וְגַם בַּאֲדָר שֵׁנִי יֹאמַר קַדִּישׁ, אַךְ אַל יַסִּיג גְּבוּל אֲחֵרִים.

- Danny Schoemann

Sunday, 7 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #2370 - Mourning the Beit HaMikdash in Adar

The second Beit HaMikdash was dedicated today - 3 Adar - some 2370 years ago. (Ezra 6:15)

וְשֵׁיצִיא בַּיְתָה דְנָה עַד יוֹם תְּלָתָה לִירַח אֲדָר דִּי הִיא שְׁנַת שֵׁת לְמַלְכוּת דָּרְיָוֶשׁ מַלְכָּא
ונשלם בית זה עד יום שלישי לירח אֲדָר בשנת שש למלכות דָּרְיָוֶשׁ המלך : (רלב"ג)

After the destruction of the Temple, Chazal (the Sages of blessed memory) instituted that at all joyous occasions we remember the destruction, including.

• At festive meals, one should leave out one serving dish.
• A woman should not wear all her jewelry at the same time.
• At the engagement a plate is broken - though it should be a damaged plate.
• At the wedding, a glass cup is broken.
• The bride's veil shouldn't have gold or silver threads.
• The groom has ashes placed on his hair (where he places his Tefillin) before the wedding.

This way we fulfill the verse "If I forget you, O Jerusalem... if I do not set Jerusalem above the zenith of my joy." (Psalms 137:6-7)

אִם אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָם ... אִם לֹא אַעֲלֶה אֶת יְרוּשָׁלִַם עַל רֹאשׁ שִׂמְחָתִי:

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 126:1-2

מִשֶּׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ תִּקְּנוּ חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה שֶׁבְּכָל שִׂמְחָה יְהֵא בָּהּ זֵכֶר לַחֻרְבָּן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, אִם אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְגוֹ' אִם לֹא אַעֲלֶה אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עַל רֹאשׁ שִׂמְחָתִי. 

וְגָזְרוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִבְנֶה לוֹ יִשְֹרָאֵל בִּנְיָן מְסֻיָּד וּמְצֻיָּר כְּבִנְיָן הַמְּלָכִים. וְלֹא יְסַיֵּד אֶת כָּל בֵּיתוֹ בְּסִיד, אֶלָּא טָח בֵּיתוֹ בְּטִיט וְסָד בְּסִיד, וּמַנִּיחַ בּוֹ אַמָּה עַל אַמָּה כְּנֶגֶד הַפֶּתַח בְּלֹא סִיד, כְּדֵי לִזְכֹּר הַחֻרְבָּן. וּמַה שֶׁלֹּא נָהֲגוּ כֵן עַתָּה, לֹא יָדַעְנוּ טַעַם בָּרוּר.

וְכֵן תִּקְּנוּ שֶׁהָעוֹרֵךְ שֻׁלְחָן לַעֲשׂוֹת סְעוּדָה לְאוֹרְחִים, אֲפִלּוּ סְעוּדַת מִצְוָה, לֹא יִתֵּן כָּל הַתַּבְשִׁילִין הָרְאוּיִין לַסְּעוּדָה, וְכֵן הָאִשָּׁה לֹא תִּתְקַשֵּׁט בְּכָל תַּכְשִׁיטֶיהָ בְּפַעַם אֶחָת. וְהֶחָתָן קֹדֶם חֻפָּתוֹ, נוֹתְנִים אֵפֶר עַל רֹאשׁוֹ בִּמְקוֹם הַנָּחַת תְּפִלִּין. 

הַמִּכְסֶה שֶׁמְכַסִּים בָּהּ אֶת הַכַּלָּה, לֹא יִהְיוּ בוֹ חוּטֵי כֶסֶף אוֹ זָהָב. גַּם נוֹהֲגִין שֶׁבִּשְׁעַת כְּתִיבַת הַתְּנָאִין, אַחַר קְרִיאָתָן, שׁוֹבְרִין קְדֵרָה לַעֲשׂוֹת זֵכֶר לַחֻרְבָּן, אֲבָל יֵשׁ לִקַּח קְדֵרָה שְׁבוּרָה. וְתַחַת הַחֻפָּה שׁוֹבֵר הֶחָתָן כְּלִי זְכוּכִית, וְזֶה יָכוֹל לִהְיוֹת כּוֹס שָׁלֵם.

וְכֵן גָּזְרוּ שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמוֹעַ שׁוּם כְּלֵי שִׁיר, וַאֲפִלּוּ שִׁיר בַּפֶּה. וְאֵין לְשׁוֹרֵר בַּסְּעוּדָה אֶלָּא הַזְּמִירוֹת שֶׁנִּתְקְנוּ, כְּמוֹ בַשַׁבָּת. אֲבָל פִּיּוּטִים אֲחֵרִים, אָסוּר לְשׁוֹרֵר.

- Danny Schoemann
Wednesday, 3 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #2368 - Be happy! Adar is here

Today - Monday - is the second day of Rosh Chodesh Adar-Bet and the first of the month. (Yesterday was the 30th of Adar-Alef)

One increases joy when Adar begins because Adar and (next month) Nissan historically have been full of miracles, including the redemption from Egypt and (nearly a millennium later) the miracle of Purim.

Adar is considered an auspicious month for the Jews.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:1

מִשֶׁנִּכְנַס אֲדָר, מַרְבִּים בְּשִׂמְחָה. וְיִשְֹרָאֵל שֶׁיֵשׁ לוֹ דִין וּדְבָרִים עִם גּוֹי, יִשָּׁפֵט עִמּוֹ בְּחֹדֶשׁ זֶה.

Chodesh Tov

- Danny
Monday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

 מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא 

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #2365 - Shabbat Shekalim

This week is Shabbat Shekalim and 2 Torah Scrolls are taken out.

After the regular Torah Reading - Parshat וַיַּקְהֵל - we say half-Kaddish and then read the beginning of last week's Parsha כִּי תִשָּׂא (Shemot Ch. 30, Verses 11-16) in the second Sefer Torah.

This is followed by the Haftara for Shekalim from Melachim-2. Some communities start at chapter11 verse 17 - וַיִּכְרֹת יְהוֹיָדָע אֶת הַבְּרִית, others start from chapter 12 - בֶּן שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים יְהוֹאָשׁ בְּמָלְכוֹ.

Shabbat Shekalim reminds us of the half-Shekel that everybody donated yearly to finance the daily sacrifices in the Bet Hamikdash, may we merit to see it rebuilt, speedily in our days.

Shabbat is also Shabbat Mevarchim of the upcoming month of Adar-Bet. Rosh Chodesh Adar-Sheini will be on Sunday and Monday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:1

שַׁבָּת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר הַסָּמוּךְ לְנִיסָן, הִיא שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת שְׁקָלִים.

- Danny
Wednesday, 26 Adar-1 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #1044 - Mourning the Beit HaMikdash in Adar

The second Beit HaMikdash was dedicated today - 3 Adar - some 2360 years ago. (Ezra 6: 15) 

After the destruction of the Temple, Chazal (the Sages of blessed memory) instituted that at all joyous occasions we remember the destruction, including: 

- At festive meals one should leave out one serving dish 

- A woman should not wear all her jewelry at the same time

- At the engagement a plate is broken - though it should be a damaged plate 

- At the wedding a glass cup is broken 

- The bride's veil shouldn't have gold or silver threads 

- The groom has ashes placed on his hair (where he places his Tefillin) before the wedding 

This way we fulfill the verse "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem...if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." (Psalms 137: 6-7) 

Source: Kitzur Shulchon Aruch 126:1-2

- Danny
Wednesday, 3 Adar 5773

Halocho #1025 – Mezuza checking

The Torah commands us to put a Mezuza on all our doorposts except for the washroom. 

The Mezuza needs to be affixed to the top third of the doorpost - but not in the top 1 Tefach (~9 cm; 3.5"). 

Every Mezuza needs to be checked twice in seven years. (Some have the custom of checking their Mezuzot in Adar-א; this is slightly more frequent than twice in seven years, but it's easy to remember.) 

The Mezuzot on public buildings need to be checked only twice in 50 years. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:5,17,25

- Danny
Monday, 3 Shvat 5773

Halocho #762 - Why are we happy in Adar?

One increases joy when Adar begins because Adar and (next month) Nissan historically have been full of miracles, including the redemption from Egypt and (nearly a millennium later) the miracle of Purim.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch  141:1,
- Danny
Tuesday, 2 Adar II 5771

Halocho #760 - May one work on Rosh Chodesh?

Today is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar-II.

Rosh Chodesh is a "minor" YomTov - and after Shacharit one adds Hallel, Torah Reading and Mussaf.

All types of work are permitted on Rosh Chodesh.

Some women have a family custom to not do certain types of work on Rosh Chodesh.

This is a valid custom and they may not disregard it.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 97:3

- Danny
Sunday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Adar-II 5771

Halocho #749 - Erev Purim Katan

Today (Thursday 13th Adar-I) Tachanun is not said at Mincha, since tomorrow (Friday) is Purim-Katan. (However, today is not the Fast of Esther; that applies in Adar-II only.)

On both days of Purim-Katan (Friday & Shabbat this year) one omits Tachanun, קל אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם (before the Torah reading on  Mondays & Thursday) and לַמְנַצֵּחַ (between אַשְׁרֵי  and וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן).

On Shabbat one omits אָב  הָרַחֲמִים  before Mussaf and צִדְקָתךָ  at Mincha.

One may not fast nor eulogize on these 2 days.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 142:10

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 13 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #748 - Is tomorrow a fast day?

In a non-leap year the 13th of Adar is Ta'anit Esther.

In leap years - like this year 5771 - תשע"א - we fast and celebrate Purim in Adar-II.

However, in Adar-I we mark the days as "Purim Katan".

One should eat a bigger meal to increase happiness on 14th of Adar-I. Even in "walled cities" where Shushan-Purim is celebrated (e.g. Jerusalem) this is done on 14th (not 15th) of Adar-I.

During Adar-I the Megila is not read, nor does one say עַל הַנִּסִּים.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 142:10

- Danny
Wednesday, 12 Adar-I 5771

Please daven for a complete recovery of 24 year old Michael Pinchas ben Frecha Fanny who suffered a brain haemorrhage

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

Halocho #740 - Mezuza checking

The Torah commands us to put a Mezuza on all our doorposts except for washrooms.

The Mezuza needs to be affixed to the top third of the doorpost - but not in the top 1 Tefach (~9 cm; 3.5").

Every Mezuza needs to be checked twice in seven years. 

A Mezuza on public buildings only needs to be checked twice in 50 years.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:5,17,25

Some have the custom of checking their Mezuzot in Adar-I; this is slightly more frequent than twice in seven years, but it's easy to remember.

- Danny
Sunday, 2 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #739 - Rosh Chodesh and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

The 2 days of Rosh Chodesh Adar-I start this evening - Thursday evening.


On Rosh Chodesh one adds  יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא into Birkat Hamazon and the Amida.


On Friday we will call up 4 people to read from the Torah, between Hallel and Mussaf.


On Shabbat we will will take out 2 Sifrei Torah after Hallel. In the first one we will call up at least 7 people to read from Parshat Terumah. Then we call up the Maftir to read from the 2nd Sefer Torah.


The Haftara this week is הַשָּׁמַיִם כִּסְאִי  for Shabbat-Rosh Chodesh, consisting of the last chapter in Sefer Yeshayahu.


In Mussaf one says the  אַתָּה יָצַרְתָּ version (usually found at the bottom half of the Shabbat Mussaf pages) which includes both Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh.


Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 425

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar I, 29 Shvat 5771

Halocho #738 - Happy times ahead

The 2 days of Rosh Chodesh Adar-I start on Thursday evening.

One increases joy when Adar begins. Adar is a good time to deal with court cases involving non-Jews.

I have not been able to establish if - during a leap year - the above is also valid for Adar-I (being the "real" Adar; the 12th month) or it only refers to the Adar closest to our joyous month of redemption (Nissan), viz. Adar-II.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:1

- Danny
Wednesday, 28 Shvat 5771

Halocho #737 - When does one say Kaddish in a leap year?

This year - 5771 - is a Jewish leap year; the 12th month (starting on Shabbat) will be Adar-I and the 13th month will be Adar-II.

If a person dies during Adar in a non-leap year, then on leap years the Yahrzeit is observed during Adar-I.

However, Kaddish should be said in both Adar-I and Adar-II.

Nevertheless, in Adar-II he doesn't have the usual precedence given to a Yahrzeit; in places where only one person says Kaddish at a time, all other mourners get to say a Kaddish first, and if there are any left, he does too.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:3

- Danny
Tuesday, 27 Shvat 5771

Halocho #736 - Bat/Bar Mitzvas in a Jewish leap year

This year is a Jewish leap year; the 12th month (starting on Shabbat) will be Adar-I (or "Adar-Alef" or "Adar-Rishon") and the 13th month will be Adar-II (or "Adar-Bet" or "Adar-Sheni").

Girls and boys born in Adar (12 and 13 years ago) do not become Bat/Bar Mitzva until Adar II.

Girls born in either Adar-I or Adar-II this year will become Bat Mitzva in Adar, in 12 years time.

In 13 years time will again be a leap year, so boys born in either Adar-I or Adar-II this year will be Bar Mitzva on their "real" birthday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:2

- Danny
Monday, 26 Shvat 5771

Halocho #681 - It's going to be a long year

Some years the Jewish calendar have 12 months, the rest (7 out of 19) are leap-years with 13 months.

This year - 5771 - has 13 months; the 11th month - Shevat - is followed by Adar-I and then Adar-II. Purim is in Adar-II

Jewish months alternate between being 29 and 30 days long.

However, the months of Marcheshvan and Kislev sometimes both have 30 days (a full year), sometimes both have 29 days (a missing year) and sometimes follow the regular order with Marcheshvan having 29 days and Kislev 30.

As a result, Chanukah (which starts on 25 Kislev and lasts 8 days) sometimes ends on 2 Tevet and sometimes on 3 Tevet.

This year - 5771 - is a "full year" with both Marcheshvan and Kislev having 30 days.

Adar-I is always 30 days long, even though Shevat is 30 days long.

This year - 5751 - is 385 days long, a full 55 weeks. As a result, Pessach will once again start on Tuesday, and Rosh Hashana will once again be on Thursday-Friday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:4

- Danny
Tuesday, 25 Marcheshvan 5771

Halocho #521 – When did Esther fast?

Over 2,300 years ago, two days before Pessach, Haman decreed that all the Jews would be destroyed on 13th Adar, eleven months later.

After consulting with her cousin Mordechai, Queen Esther declared a 3-day long fast that lasted through the first days of Pessach, after which she went – uninvited – to the king and invited him and Haman to a wine feast.

At the wine feast she invited them to a second wine feast where which she gained royal permission for the Jews to defend themselves.

Jews always fast and pray when going out to war, and so they did on Adar 13, 3406 (354 BCE). On Adar 14 they celebrated their victory.

Ta’anis Esther is the only one of the 6 fast days not mentioned in Tanach.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:1,8, Esther 2:7, 3:12-9:30

- Danny
Tuesday, 9 Adar 5770

Please daven for the recovery of young father, David ben Mashiah, and for Hoshea ben Moshe

Halocho #515 - Be happy! Adar is here

One increases joy when Adar begins because Adar and (next month) Nissan historically have been full of miracles, including the redemption from Egypt and (nearly a millennium later) the miracle of Purim.

Adar is considered an auspicious month for the Jews.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:1

- Danny
Monday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Adar 5770

Please daven for newborn Noa Chaya bat Nava Yehudit, who is recovering from open heart surgery

Halocho #512 - Shabbat Shekalim

This week is Shabbat Shekalim and 2 Torah Scrolls are taken out.

After the regular Torah Reading - Parshat Mishpatim - we read the beginning of Parshat  כי תשא (Shemot Ch. 30, Verses 11-16) in the second Sefer Torah.

This is followed by the Haftara for Shekalim from Melachim-2 Ch.11

This is to remind us of the half-Shekel that everybody donated yearly to finance the daily sacrifices in the Bet Hamikdash, may we merit to see it rebuilt, speedily in our days.

Shabbat is also Shabbat Mevarchim of the upcoming month of Adar. Rosh Chodesh Adar will be on Sunday and Monday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:1

- Danny
Wednesday, 26 Shvat 5770