Thursday, March 21, 2024
Halocho #2376 - Destroy and remember
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Halocho #769 - Destroy and remember
This Shabbat - the one before Purim - is Parshat Zachor.
There is an opinion that it's a Torah obligation to hear Parshat Zachor being read in shul this week, and if you don't have a Minyan near home you need to go to a town with a Minyan for this Shabbat.
If a Minyan cannot be found, Parshat Zachor should be read even without a Minyan.
A second Sefer Torah is taken out; we read about the obligation to annihilate the nation of Amalek and remember their wickedness.
For the Haftara we read the story of King Saul's attempt to fulfill the Mitzva of annihilating Amalek. (Shmuel-1 Ch. 15)
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2, 3
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny
Thursday, Ta'anit Esther, 11 Adar II 5771
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Halocho #578 - Talebearing is forbidden
Yesterday's Torah reading ended with Miriam's punishment for discussing her brother Moshe's life with their brother Aaron.
This week's Torah reading starts with the sin of the spies who spoke evil about the Holy Land.
The Torah prohibits us from talebearing; telling one person what another person did, or what they said, or where they went.
Talebearing is forbidden even if the all the information is 100% true; the entire truth and nothing but the truth.
Talebearing is forbidden even if nothing derogatory is said.
An extreme example of the destructive power of talebearing is found in Shmuel-1 (Ch. 21 and 22). Do'eg told King Saul that Achimelech had given [future King] David supplies and a sword. Even though it was the truth - later Achimelech himself told King Saul about it - nevertheless King Saul ordered the city of Nov to be destroyed along with eighty five Cohanim and their families.
One can never know the consequences of passing along seemingly innocent information.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 30:1
- Danny
Sunday, 17 Sivan 5770
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Halocho #523 - Destroy and remember
This Shabbat - the one before Purim - is Parshat Zachor.
There is an opinion that it's a Torah obligation to hear Parshat Zachor being read in shul this week, and if you don't have a Minyan near home you need to go to a town with a Minyan for this Shabbat.
If a Minyan cannot be found, Parshat Zachor should be read even without a Minyan.
A second Sefer Torah is taken out and for Maftir we read about the obligation to annihilate the nation of Amalek and remember their wickedness.
For the Haftara we read the story of King Saul's attempt to fulfill the Mitzva of annihilating Amalek. (Shmuel-1 Ch. 15)
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2, 3
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny
Thursday, Fast of Esther, 11 Adar 5770
Monday, August 3, 2009
Halocho #383 - Is Tu B'Av the festival of love?
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 This Wednesday will be Tu B'Av, the day girls went to dance in the vineyards in the hope of attracting a future husband. The only other day this was done was on Yom Kippour, the day Hashem forgave the sin of the Golden Calf. The 15th of Av was the day Hashem forgave the Generation-of-the-Wilderness for the sin of the spies talking evil about the Promised Land. To quote The Book of our Heritage: "Since these 2 days were days of purification from sin, the earlier generations did not hesitate to regard them as days of festivity and dancing for the daughters of Israel... and there was no apprehension lest they breach the fence of chastity and modesty." Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol 3 page 307 King Saul called his son Yehonathan "Ben N'avat Hamardut", son of the rebellious outgoing one, because Achinoam noticed that Saul was too shy to approach any of the girls dancing, so she approached him. Source: Rashi on Shmuel-1, 20:30 - Danny Monday, 13 Av 5769
Monday, June 8, 2009
Halocho #343 - Why was Miriam (Moshe's sister) punished?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Halocho #144 - Is Tu B'Av the festival of love?
This Shabbat is Tu B'Av, which is famous for being the day girls went to dance in the vineyards in the hope of attracting a future husband. The only other day this was done was on Yom Kippour, the day Hashem forgave the sin of the Golden Calf. The 15th of Av was the day Hashem forgave the Generation-of-the-Wilderness for the sin of the spies talking evil about the Promised Land. To quote The Book of our Heritage: "Since these 2 days were days of purification from sin, the earlier generations did not hesitate to regard them as days of festivity and dancing for the daughters of Israel... and there was no apprehension lest they breach the fence of chastity and modesty." Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol 3 page 307 King Saul called his son Yehonathan " Ben N'avat Hamardut", son of the rebellious outgoing one, because Achinoam saw that Saul was too shy to approach any of the girls dancing, so she approached him. Source: Rashi on Shmuel-1, 20:30 - Danny Tuesday, 11 Menachem Av 5768
Monday, June 16, 2008
Halocho #102 - Talebearing is forbidden
Yesterday's Torah reading ended with Miriam's punishment for discussing her brother Moshe's life with their brother Aaron.
This week's Torah reading starts with the sin of the spies who spoke evil about the Holy Land.
The Torah prohibits us from talebearing; telling one person what another person did, or what they said, or where they went.
Talebearing is forbidden even if the all the information is 100% true; the entire truth and nothing but the truth.
Talebearing is forbidden even if nothing derogatory is said.
An extreme example of the destructive power of talebearing is found in Shmuel-1 (Ch. 21 and 22).
Do'eg told King Saul that Achimelech had given [future King] David supplies and a sword.
Even though it was the truth - later Achimelech himself told King Saul about it - nevertheless King Saul ordered the city of Nov to be destroyed along with eighty five Cohanim and their families.