Halocho #2373 - If you forget to say עַל הַנִּסִּים on Purim

On Purim one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים to the Birkat Hamazon in the middle of the 2nd Bracha - נוֹדֶה לְךָ.

If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'ברוך אתה 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:

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הַהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה בִּימֵי מרדכי

...and then continue with the rest of the עַל הַנִּסִּים.

During every Amida of Purim one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים during מוֹדִים.

If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'ברוך אתה ה then you don't have to make amends.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:16, 139:21

בַּחֲנֻכָּה וּבַפּוּרִים אִם שָׁכַח לוֹמַר עַל הַנִּסִּים, וְלֹא נִזְכַּר עַד לְאַחַר שֶׁאָמַר אֶת הַשֵּׁם מֵחֲתִימַת הַבְּרָכָה, שֶׁאָמַר, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר. אַךְ בְּתוֹךְ הָרַחֲמָן יֹאמַר, הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הַהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה בִּימֵי מַתִּתְיָהוּ וְכוּ', בִּימֵי מָרְדְּכַי וְכוּ'

אוֹמְרִים בִּשְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה, עַל הַנִּסִּים. וְאִם שָׁכַח וְלֹא אֲמָרוֹ, אִם נִזְכַּר קֹדֶם שֶׁאָמַר אֶת הַשֵׁם מִן בִּרְכַּת הַטּוֹב שִׁמְךָ וְכוּ', חוֹזֵר וּמַתְחִיל עַל הַנִּיסִּים. אֲבָל אִם לֹא נִזְכַּר עַד לְאַחַר שֶׁאָמַר אֶת הַשֵׁם, גּוֹמֵר אֶת הַבְּרָכָה וְאֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר.

- Danny Schoemann

Monday, 8 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #2197 - Torah reading on a fast day

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 19:14, 23:15

- Danny
Tuesday, 10 Tevet 5779

בְּתַעֲנִית צִבּוּר כְּשֶׁקּוֹרִין וַיְחַל, אֵין קוֹרִין לַעֲלֹת לַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא לְמִי שֶׁמִּתְעַנֶּה. וְאִם אֵין כָּאן כֹּהֵן אַחֵר אֶלָּא זֶה שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְעַנֶּה, אוֹ שֶׁאֵין בְּדַעְתּוֹ לְהַשְׁלִים, קוֹרִין לְיִשְֹרָאֵל אוֹ לְלֵוִי בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. וְטוֹב שֶׁיֵּצֵא הַכֹּהֵן מִבֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְאִם יֵשׁ כֹּהֵן אַחֵר אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לָצֵאת, אֶלָּא יוֹדִיעַ שֶׁלֹּא יִקְרְאוּהוּ. וְאִם יִקְרְאוּהוּ לֹא יַעֲלֶה. וְאִם הוּא בְּשֵׁנִי וּבַחֲמִשִּׁי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקּוֹרִין וַיְחַל, מִכָּל מָקוֹם, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעַתָּה הוּא זְמַן קְרִיאַת הַתּוֹרָה, לָכֵן בְּדִיעֲבַד אִם לֹא יָצָא מִבֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת וקְרָאוּהוּ יַעֲלֶה

בְּיוֹם הַתַּעֲנִית בֵּין בְּתַעֲנִית צִבּוּר בֵּין בְּתַעֲנִית יָחִיד, אוֹמְרִים בִּתְפִלַּת הַמִּנְחָה בְּבִרְכַּת שְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ, עֲנֵנוּ, וּכְשֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לִבְכָל עֵת צָרָה וְצוּקָה יְסַיֵּם כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ וְכוּ'. וְאִם שָׁכַח מִלּוֹמַר עֲנֵנוּ, אִם לֹא נִזְכַּר עַד לְאַחַר שֶׁאָמַר אֵת הַשֵּׁם מִבִּרְכַּת שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה, אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר וְאוֹמְרוֹ, אֶלָּא לְאַחַר שֶׁגָּמַר כָּל הַתְּפִלָּה, לְאַחַר אֱלֹהַי נְצֹר קוֹדֶם שֶׁיַּעֲקֹר רַגְלָיו, אוֹמְרוֹ עַד בְּכָל עֵת צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמְסַיֵּם יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן וְכוּ', וְאִם לֹא נִזְכַּר עַד לְאַחַר שֶׁעָקַר רַגְלָיו, אֵינוֹ אוֹמְרוֹ עוֹד כְּלָל 

Halocho #1955 - Ask for rain in the Diaspora tonight!

In Israel,  we started adding "וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה" - "and bless us with dew and rain" in the 9th Bracha of the weekday Amida - בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ - on the 7th Marcheshvan.

In the Diaspora we will start tonight -  Monday night, 15 Kislev, the eve of Tuesday 5 December.

If you forget to add "וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה", then:

- If you remember before you finish the 9th Bracha -  מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים -, then you insert it and continue from there.

- If you already said "Baruch Ata HaShem" of the 9th Bracha, then you insert it into שְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ - the 16th Bracha - before "כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ ".

- If you forget to say it in שְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ then you need to go back to the 9th Bracha - בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ.

- If you didn't remember until you finished the Amida (defined as saying "יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי ") then you have to restart the entire Amida.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:5

- Danny
Monday, 16 Kislev 5778

מַתְחִילִין לוֹמַר טַל וּמָטָר, בִּתְפִלַּת עַרְבִית שֶׁל יוֹם שִׁשִּׁים לְאַחַר תְּקוּפַת תִּשְׁרֵי וְהוּא בְּיוֹם דּ' אוֹ בְּיוֹם ה' לְחֹדֶשׁ דֶּעצֶעמְבֶּער, וְאוֹמְרִים עַד פֶּסַח

אִם טָעָה וְלֹא אָמַר טַל וּמָטָר, אִם נִזְכַּר קוֹדֶם שֶׁסִּיֵם הַבְּרָכָה מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים, אוֹמֵר שָׁם וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה וְשַׂבְּעֵנוּ וְכוּ' וְחוֹתֵם כָּרָאוּי

 וְאִם לֹא נִזְכַּר עַד לְאַחַר שֶׁחָתַם הַבְּרָכָה מִתְפַּלֵּל לְהַלָּן. וּבְתוֹךְ בִּרְכַּת שְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ אַחַר רֵיקָם אַל תְּשִׁיבֵנוּ, אוֹמֵר וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ וְכוּ' וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם לֹא נִזְכַּר אָז רַק אַחַר שֶׁאָמַר בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, כָּל שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר עֲדַיִן אֶת הַשֵּׁם, יָכוֹל לוֹמַר וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ וְכוּ' אֲבָל לֹא נִזְכַּר עַד לְאַחַר שֶׁסִּיֵּם הַבְּרָכָה שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה, חוֹזֵר וּמַתְחִיל בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ וְכוּ' וְאִם לֹא נִזְכַּר עַד לְאַחַר שֶׁאָמַר אֵת הַפָּסוּק יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן וְגוֹ', חוֹזֵר לְרֹאשׁ הַתְּפִלָּה

Halocho #1047 - If you forget to say עַל הַנִּסִּים on Purim

On Purim one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים to the Birkat Hamazon during the 2nd Bracha.

If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'ברוך אתה 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:

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הַהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה בִּימֵי מרדכי

...and then continue with the rest of the עַל הַנִּסִּים.

During every Amida of Purim one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים during Modim.

If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'ברוך אתה ה then you don't have to make amends.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:16, 139: 21

- Danny
Monday, 8 Adar 5773

Halocho #1023 - Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Shevat

Rosh Chodesh of Tevet is on Shabbat. Remember to add יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא into Birkat Hamazon and the Amida.

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 the weekly Parsha; וָאֵרָא.

Then - after Kaddish - we call up the Maftir to read from the 2nd Sefer Torah: וּבְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת and וּבְרָאשֵׁי חָדְשֵׁיכֶם from Parshat פִּינְחָס.

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

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

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 425

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 28 Tevet 5773

Halocho #999 - Al HaNisim during Chanuka

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:

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת, 

כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ

בַּיָּמִים הַהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה בִּימֵי מַתִּתְיָהוּ

...and then continue with the rest of the עַל הַנִּסִּים.

During every Amida of Chanuka (including Mussaf) one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים during מוֹדִים .

If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה then you don't have to make amends.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:16, 139: 21

- Danny
Sunday, 1st day Chanuka, 25 Kislev 5773

Halocho #998 - Shabbat Erev Chanuka

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: 

 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ... מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁלַחֲנֻכָּה

 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ... מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה

 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ... מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 139

Some have the custom of lighting the Menora before making Havdala at home, since one already heard Havdala in shul. (Source: רמ"א 581:2)

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach

- Danny
Thursday,22 Kislev 5773

Halocho #997 - I don't remember if I prayed for rain...

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.: 

אֶת הַשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת כָּל מִינֵי תְּבוּאָתָהּ לְטוֹבָה וְתֵן טַל וּמָטָר לִבְרָכָה עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה

Source: Shulchan Aruch 114:9

- Danny
Wednesday 21 Kislev 5773

Halocho #996 - Ask for rain tonight!

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:

• If you remember before you finish בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ then you insert it and continue from there.
  
• If you already said "Baruch Ata Hashem" of the בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ then you insert it into שְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ before כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ.
  
• If you forget to say it in שְׁמַע קוֹלֵנוּ  then you need to go back to the 9th Bracha - בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ .
  
• If you don't remember until you finished the Amida (defined as saying יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי ) then you have to restart the entire Amida.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:5

- Danny
Jerusalem, Tuesday 20 Kislev 5773

Halocho #908 - Wind and rain

Since Mussaf on Shmini Atzeret (last Thursday) 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.

If one forgets to add מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם, what does on do?

If one has not yet finished the 2nd Bracha - בָּרוּךְ... מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים - then one adds it after any of the many phrases in this Bracha. If one wishes, one may restart the Bracha and say it in it's correct place.
If one already finished  - מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים - the 2nd Bracha?

If you have the custom of adding "Morid haTal" - מוֹרִיד הַטָּל - during the summer, then continue as usual. No amendment is required.

If you do NOT have the custom of adding "Morid haTal" - מוֹרִיד הַטָּל - during the summer, then you have to restart the Amida from the beginning. This is because the first 3 Brachot of the Amida are considered a single entity.

One continues saying V'Then Bracha - וְתֵן בְּרָכָה - in the 9th Bracha of the Amida  - בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ - until the 7th Marcheshvan in Israel and the 6th December in the Diaspora.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:1, 2, 5

- Danny
Sunday, 25 Tishrei 5772


Please daven for the recovery of 4 month old Dovid-Yehuda ben Chaya who is recovering from serious surgery.

Halocho #849 - Why do we fast on the 17th Tamuz?

Today - Tuesday - is the fast of 17 Tamuz which commemorates 5 major misfortunes which happened to the Jewish people on this date:

• Moshe Rabbeinu broke the Luchot - the tablets - upon seeing the Golden Calf being worshiped
• The daily Tamid sacrifice was suspended in the first Bet Hamikdash as a result of the siege
• At the time of the 2nd Bet Hamikdash the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the enemy, three weeks before the destruction
• Apustumus the wicked [Roman] burned a Sefer Torah
• An idol was placed in the Bet Hamikdash

On every fast-day there is Kriat HaTorah (Torah Reading) at both Shacharit and Mincha.

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

Have a meaningful fast,

- Danny
Tuesday, 17 Tamuz 5771

Halocho #796 - Ya'aleh VeYavo - it's Rosh Chodesh!

Today (Wednesday) and tomorrow are Rosh Chodesh Iyar.

One needs to add Ya'a'leh VeYavo - יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא  in the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רצה.

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 Shachrit (morning prayers) or Mincha (afternoon prayers), then one has to return to the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רצה and make amends.

If one already finished the Amida - by saying Yihyu leRatzon - יהיו לרצון - then one needs to restart the Amida.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:10

Chodesh Tov
- Danny
Wednesday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5771 - 15th day of the Omer

Halocho #770 - Al Hanisim - עַל הַנִּסִּים on Purim

On Purim one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים to the Birkat Hamazon during the 2nd Bracha.

If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'ברוך אתה 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:

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת

כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ

בַּיָּמִים הַהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה בִּימֵי מרדכי

and then continue with the rest of the עַל הַנִּסִּים.

During every Amida of Purim one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים during Modim.

If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'ברוך אתה ה then you don't have to make amends.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:16, 139: 21

- Danny, from Jerusalem
Sunday, Purim, 14-Adar II 5771

No Halocho-a-Day tomorrow; it's Shushan Purim for us in Jerusalem

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 #684 - Ya'aleh VeYavo - it's Rosh Chodesh!

Today (Sunday) and tomorrow are Rosh Chodesh Kislev.

One needs to add Ya'a'leh VeYavo - יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא  in the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רצה.

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 Shachrit (morning prayers) or Mincha (afternoon prayers), then one has to return to the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רצה and make amends.
If one already finished the Amida - by saying Yihyu leRatzon - יהיו לרצון - then one needs to restart the Amida.

One also needs to add Ya'a'leh VeYavo - יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא  - in Birkat Hamazon.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:10

Chodesh Tov

- Danny
Sunday, 30 Marchesvan, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5771

Halocho #668 - Ask for rain

In Israel, starting this this evening - Thursday evening - (7th Marcheshvan) we start praying for rain in the 9th Bracha of the weekday Amida - Barech-Aleinu - ברך עלינו.
In the Diaspora we will start 7 weeks later - on Motzai Shabbat Miketz; the 4th night of Chanuka (5 Dec).

If you forgot to add "ותן טל ומטר לברכה" - "and bless us with dew and rain", then:
- If you remember before you finish the 9th Bracha, then you insert it and continue from there.
- If you already said "Baruch Ata Hashem" of the 9th Bracha, then you insert it into Shma-Kolienu - the 16th Bracha - before "Ki Ata".
- If you forget to say it in Shma-Kolienu then you need to go back to the 9th Bracha - Barech-Aleinu.
- If you didn't remember until you finished the Amida (defined as saying "Yihyu Leratzon") then you have to restart the entire Amida.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:5

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 6 Marchesvan 5771

Halocho #663 - Rosh Chodesh and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

The 2 days of Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan 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 Noah. 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.

For 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, 29 Tishrei, Erev Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan 5771

Halocho #659 - Wind and rain

Since Mussaf on Shmini Atzeret (last Thursday) we have been praising Hashem for the wonderful gift of rain, by adding Mashiv HaRu'ach Umorid HaGeshem - משיב הרוח ומוריד הגשם - into the second Bracha of the Amida.

If one forgets to add this?

If one has not yet finished the 2nd Bracha then one adds it after any of the many phrases in this Bracha. If one wishes, one may restart the Bracha and say it in it's correct place.

If one already finished the 2nd Bracha?

If you have the custom of adding "Morid haTal" - מוריד הטל - during the summer, then continue as usual. No amendment is required.

If you do NOT have the custom of adding "Morid haTal" - מוריד הטל - during the summer, then you have to restart the Amida from the beginning. This is because the first 3 Brachot of the Amida are considered a single entity.

One continues saying V'Then Bracha - ותן ברכה - in the 9th Bracha of the Amida until the 7th Marcheshvan in Israel and the 5th December in the Diaspora.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:1, 2, 5

- Danny
Sunday, 25 Tishrei 5771

Halocho #649 - Warning! The King is arriving!

A main theme of Rosh Hashanah is Hashem's reign over the entire world. This sovereignty is displayed by His ability to judge the world.

As a result, from Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippour is over, we replace "Gcd" with "King" in various places in davening (prayers).

1. The ending of the 3rd Bracha of the Amida changes to HaMelech Hakadosh. If you forget, you have to restart the Amida, unless you caught yourself immediately. (Immediately means: you didn't yet have time to say 3 words.) If you're not sure what you said, you also have to restart the Amida.

2. The end of the 11th Bracha in the weekday Amida changes to HaMelech HaMishpat. If you forget or are not sure what you said then you continue. No correction is needed.

3. Friday night during the "Magen Avot" we replace "HakEl HaKodesh" with HaMelech Hakadosh. If you forget, no correction is needed.

From Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippour is over we add four phrases to the Amida. If you forget after concluding that Bracha, no correction is needed. Until saying "Baruch Ata" you should make amends.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 129:3, 4 5

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a sweet and healthy year.

- Danny
Wednesday, Erev Rosh Hashana, 29 Elul 5770

Clarification: Eruv Tavshilin can be done on bread or Matza.

==> Do a Mitzva: Call a friend and remind them to do Eruv Tavshilin.<==

Halocho #628 - Erev Rosh Chodesh!

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

One needs to add Ya'a'leh VeYavo - יעלה ויבא in the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רצה.

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 Shachrit (morning prayers) or Mincha (afternoon prayers), then one has to return to the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רצה and make amends.

If one already finished the Amida - by saying Yihyu leRatzon - יהיו לרצון - then one needs to restart the Amida.

One also needs to add Ya'a'leh VeYavo - יעלה ויבא - in Birkat Hamazon

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:10

Chodesh Tov!

- Danny
Monday, 29 Menachem Av 5770