Halocho #2377 - Shushan Purim is tonight

Today - Sunday - Purim is celebrated in most of the world. 

The Purim meal should begin with a Dvar-Torah. Since Purim is 30 days before Pessach, the following is an appropriate Purim-meal Dvar-Torah: 

“The laws of Pessach in Shulchan Aruch begin with: One should start learning the laws of Pessach thirty days before Pessach.” 

In Jerusalem - and other cities that were walled in the time Joshua-ben-Nun conquered the Holy Land - we celebrate Shushan-Purim a day later. 

On both Purim and Shushan-Purim Tachanun, Kel-Erach-Apaim and Lamenatze'ach are not said and fasting is not allowed. 

Don't forget to add עַל הַנִּסִּים during the Amida and Birkat Hamazon. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:23, 142:9, Shulchan Aruch 429:1

יוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בַּאֲדָר נִקְרָא אֶצְלֵנוּ שׁוּשַן פּוּרִים. אֵין אוֹמְרִים בּוֹ תַחֲנוּן, וְלֹא אֵל אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם, וְלֹא לַמְנַצֵּחַ. וְאָסוּר גַּם כֵּן בְּהֶסְפֵּד וְתַעֲנִית. וְנוֹהֲגִין בּוֹ קְצָת מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה, אֲבָל אֵין אוֹמְרִים עַל הַנִּסִּים. 

עִיר שֶהִיא מֻקֶּפֶת חוֹמָה מִימוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן, קוֹרִין בָּהּ בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָֹר וְלֹא שְכִיחִי בִּמְדִינוֹתֵינוּ.

שׁוֹאֲלִין בְּהִלְכוֹת פֶּסַח קֹדֶם לַפֶּסַח שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם.

- Danny who celebrates Purim tomorrow.

Sunday, 14 Adar-2 5784

Next Halocho-a-day on Tuesday.

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #1000 - Hallel and fasting on Chanuka

The entire Hallel is said on all 8 days of Chanuka. Chanuka is the only time that the entire Hallel is said on Rosh Chodesh. (Usually on Rosh Chodesh we leave out 2 half-paragraphs; לֹא לָנוּ and אָהַבְתִּי כִּי יִשְׁמַע.)

One does not fast on Chanuka, except for a Ta'anit Chalom (fasting after a worrisome dream).

No Tachanun is said on Chanuka, starting from Mincha the day before. א' אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם is not said before Kriat HaTorah on Chanuka.
לַמְנַצֵּחַ is not said after אַשְׁרֵי during Chanuka.

Don't forget עַל הַנִּסִּים !
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 25:2, 139:2

- Danny
Monday, 2nd day of Chanuka, 26th Kislev 5773

Please daven for the רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה of אֶפְרַיִם בן מרים

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 #654 - It's a Mitzvah to eat tomorrow

Tomorrow - Friday - is Erev Yom Kippour.

It's a Mitzvah to eat more than usual on the day before Yom Kippour, in order to have an easy fast the next day. Those people who find it easier to fast if they don't eat too much beforehand, do not need to eat more than usual.

On Erev Yom Kippour one does not say מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה in Shacharit. The reason being that מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה parallels the Korban Toda (thanksgiving sacrifice) which was eaten for 2 consecutive days. Since a sacrifice brought on Erev Yom Kippour couldn't be eaten for 2 consecutive days, therefore one couldn't bring a Korban Toda on Erev Yom Kippour.

On Erev Yom Kippour one also omits Tachanun and לַמְנַצֵּח . Since Yom Kippour is on Shabbat this year, one says Avinu Malkeinu during Shacharit on Erev Yom Kippour.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 131:2,3
Wishing everybody an easy and meaningful fast and a Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday,  8 Tishrei 5771

Halocho #524 - Shushan Purim is tonight

Today - Sunday - Purim is celebrated in most of the world.

The Purim meal should begin with a Dvar-Torah. Since Purim is 30 days before Pessach, the following is an appropriate Purim-meal Dvar-Torah:

“The laws of Pessach in Shulchan Aruch begin with: One should start learning the laws of Pessach thirty days before Pessach.”

In Jerusalem - and other cities that were walled in the time Joshua-ben-Nun conquered the Holy Land - we celebrate Shushan-Purim a day later.

On both Purim and Shushan-Purim Tachanun, Kel-Erach-Apaim and Lamenatze'ach are not said and fasting is not allowed.

Don't forget to add עַל הַנִּסִּים during Amida and Birkat Hamazon.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:9

- Danny who celebrates Purim tomorrow.
Sunday, 14 Adar 5769

Next Halocho-a-day on Tuesday.

Halocho #424 - The Isru Chag meal

The day after Pessach, Sukkoth and Shavuoth is called Isru Chag.

Today (Sunday) is Isru Chag in Israel and tomorrow (Monday) is Isru Chag everywhere else.

On Isru Chag the custom is to eat a larger meal than usual.

Nobody - not even a bride and groom on their wedding day, nor a Yahrzeit - may fast on Isru Chag.

Some communities don't say Lamenatze'ach (before Uvo L'zion in Shacharis) on Isru Chag.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 103:14, 146:2

- Danny
Sunday, 23 Tishrei 5770

Halocho #306 - A day full of Mitzvot

Tomorrow - Wednesday - is Erev Pessach; a busy day.

- Remember to do Birkat Hachama soon after sunrise - see Halocho #290

- Don't forget to do Eruv Tavshilin before candle-lighting, if you live outside Israel - see Halocho #304

- Remember to light a 48-hour candle (or leave on a flame on the stove) so that you can light Shabbat candles on Friday afternoon, if you live outside Israel .

- For details of the Fast of the Firstborn see Halocho #301

One does not say מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה nor לַמְנַצֵּחַ from Erev Pessach until Isru Chag.

One may not eat Chametz after 1/3 of the day - and then one needs to burn ones 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 Pessach after noon.

One may not eat Matza on Erev Pessach.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113: 1 - 5

Wishing everybody a meaningful and enjoyable Pessach

- Danny Tuesday, 13 Nissan 5769

The next Halocho-a-Day is scheduled for after Pessach, Sunday, 25 Nissan

Halocho #287 - Shushan Purim is tonight

Today - Tuesday - Purim is celebrated in most of the world. In Jerusalem - and other cities that were walled in the time Joshua-ben-Nun conquered the Holy Land - we celebrate Shushan-Purim a day later. On both Purim and Shushan-Purim Tachanun, Kel-Erach-Apaim and Lamenatze'ach are not said and fasting is not allowed. Don't forget to add עַל הַנִּסִּים during Amida and Birkat Hamazon. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:9 - Danny who celebrates Purim tomorrow. Tuesday, 14 Adar 5769 Next Halocho-a-day on Thursday. Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #51 - The day before Purim-Koton

Today - Tuesday 13th Adar-1 - Tachanun is not said at Mincha, since tomorrow (Wednesday) is Purim-Koton. (However, today is not the Fast of Esther; that applies in Adar-2 only.) On both days of Purim-Koton (Wednesday & Thursday) one omits Tachanun, Kel-Erech-Apayim (before the Torah reading on Thursday) and Lamenatze'ach (between Ashray and U'vo L'Tzion). One may also not fast nor eulogize on these 2 days. Source: KSA: 142:10

סימן קמב – הלכות משלוח מנות איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים וסעודת פורים

סעיף י - יום י"ד וט"ו שבאדר הראשון, גם כן אין אומרים לא תחנון ולא אל ארך אפים ולא למנצח, ואסורין בהספד ותענית, וביום י"ד מרבים קצת בסעודה.