Halocho #881 - Excel in one Mitzva

Doing Teshuva - repenting - is a Mitzva mentioned in the Torah.

Even though Hashem is prepared to accept our Teshuva all year round, the days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippour are an auspicious period for improving ones ways.


This dates back to when Moshe went up to Har Sinai to receive the second set of Luchot; Moshe went up on Rosh Chodesh Elul and returned 40 days later on Yom Kippour with the second set of Luchot.


At the very least one should choose one Mitzva or Halacho to improve on during this period.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128: 1

Ktiva Vechatima Tova

- Danny
Monday, 6 Elul 5771

Halocho #633 - Excel in one Mitzva

Doing Teshuva - repenting - is a Mitzva mentioned in the Torah.

Even though Hashem is prepared to accept our Teshuva all year round, the days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippour are an auspicious period for improving ones ways.

This dates back to when Moshe went up to Har Sinai to receive the second set of Luchot; Moshe went up on Rosh Chodesh Elul and returned 40 days later on Yom Kippour with the second set of Luchot.

At the very least one should choose one Mitzva or Halacho to improve on during this period.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128: 1

Ktiva Vechatima Tova

- Danny
Monday, 6 Elul 5770

Halocho #282 - Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses; Moshe Rabeinu

Today (according to most opinions), 7 Adar, is the 3,279th Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses - Moshe Rabeinu and is a Ta'anis Tzadikim.

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

Halachot related to Moshe Rabeinu:

When babies start talking one should teach them the verse "תּוֹרָה צִוָּה-לָנוּ, מֹשֶׁה. מוֹרָשָׁה, קְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב" 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 for Moshe for 30 days".

Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 58:2, KSA 165:10, 23:9, 215:1

- Danny

Tuesday, 7 Adar 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #201 - How could I forget?

The Torah was given to us at Sinai in 2 parts: The Written Law (Torah) and The Oral Law (Mishna). Until the Mishna was written down less than 2,000 years ago, it was studied by-heart. Each student was expected to memorize the entire Oral Law. Since memorizing lots of Torah is important, the Kitzur mentions some things that are bad for your memory: - Be careful to dry your hands properly - and don't dry them on your clothes as it's bad for your memory. - Putting on 2 items of clothing at the same time is bad for your memory. - Eating the heart of animals and birds, and eating from that part of the food that a cat or mouse ate from, is bad for your memory. - Reading the inscription on tombstones if the letters are elevated (as opposed to engraved or flat), is bad for your memory. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 40:6, 3:5, 32:9, 128:13 - Danny Monday, 12 Marcheshvan 5769

Halocho #159 - Why do we blow the Shofar during Elul

Today - Sunday - is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul. Today's date is 30 Av 5768. Tomorrow - Monday - 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 Sunday, 28 Elul (28 September) , as a reminder to start improving ones Torah observance and to repent for past misdeeds. On Erev Rosh Hashana the Shofar is not blown, so as to create a break 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 Sunday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Elul 5768

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Halocho #55 - What comes after Orlo?

Orlo is the Torah prohibition of eating fruit from tress less than 3 years old. In the 4th year the fruit is called "Neta Revo'i" 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; currently less than 2 US pennies.)

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 2 pennies, which then needs to be destroyed.

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

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

• In Israel the fruit is forbidden. (This is one of the many reasons that fruit needs Rabbinic Supervision in Israel)
• 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.

Sources: Kitzur SA 173:2, Mishna Orlo, 3:9

סעיף ב בשנה הרביעית נקראו הפירות, "נטע רבעי" וצריכין פדיון. כיצד פודה אותן, תולשן לאחר שנגמרו כל צרכן, ונוטל מטבע כסף או פירות של היתר שוות פרוטה, ואומר: בזה אני פודה פירות נטעי רבעי. ונוטל המטבע או הפירות ושוחקן וזורקן בנהר, ואין מברכין בחוץ לארץ על הפדיון.

Halocho #46 - Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses; Moshe Rabeinu

Today, 7 Adar, is the 3,279th Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses - Moshe Rabeinu (according to most opinions) and is a Ta'anis Tzadikim. (Many Jewish Burial Societies [Chevra Kadisha] have their annual meeting today, including fasting and special prayers.) Halachot related to Moshe Rabeinu: When babies start talking one should teach them the verse "Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe..."* 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 for Moshe for 30 days" Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 58:2, KSA 165:10, 23:9, 215:1 *תורה צוה לנו משה, מורשה קהלת יעקב