Halocho #2384 - Is January the first month?

This Shabbat for Maftir we will read Parshas HaChodesh (Exodus Ch. 12, Verses 1-20).

Parshas HaChodesh reminds us of the following upcoming Mitzvot:

• The month of Nissan (which begins on Tuesday) is the first month on the Jewish calendar, as the opening words of Parshat Hachodesh proclaim:

"הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה"

"This month is for you the first month".

• The laws of Korban Pessach: sacrificed on Erev Pessach in the afternoon, it had to be roasted whole and then eaten on the first night of Pessach with Matza and Marror (bitter herbs).

וְאָכְלוּ אֶת הַבָּשָׂר בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה צְלִי אֵשׁ וּמַצּוֹת עַל מְרֹרִים יֹאכְלֻהוּ.

אַל תֹּאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ נָא וּבָשֵׁל מְבֻשָּׁל בַּמָּיִם כִּי אִם צְלִי אֵשׁ רֹאשׁוֹ עַל כְּרָעָיו וְעַל קִרְבּוֹ.

• Leftovers had to be burnt on the first day of Chol Hamo'ed.

וְהַנֹּתָר מִמֶּנּוּ עַד בֹּקֶר בָּאֵשׁ תִּשְׂרֹפוּ.

• Matza needs to be made carefully to ensure it doesn't become Chametz (leaven).

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת הַמַּצּוֹת

• The first and last days of Pessach are Yom Tov.

וּבַיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל מְלָאכָה לֹא יֵעָשֶׂה בָהֶם אַךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל לְכָל נֶפֶשׁ הוּא לְבַדּוֹ יֵעָשֶׂה לָכֶם

• One may not own Chametz, nor eat it, during Pessach .

שִׁבְעַת יָמִים שְׂאֹר לֹא יִמָּצֵא בְּבָתֵּיכֶם כִּי כָּל אֹכֵל מַחְמֶצֶת וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מֵעֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּגֵּר וּבְאֶזְרַח הָאָרֶץ.

כָּל מַחְמֶצֶת לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ בְּכֹל מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם תֹּאכְלוּ מַצּוֹת.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2

הַשַׁבָּת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן, הִיא שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת הַחֹדֶשׁ. וְאִם חָל רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ בַּשַׁבָּת, אָז הִיא פָּרָשַׁת הַחֹדֶשׁ, וְדִינָהּ כְּמוֹ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר שֶׁחָל בַּשַׁבָּת. 

- Danny Schoemann
Wednesday, 24 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #806 - Today is Pessach Sheni

Today - Wednesday - is Pessach Sheni - the 2nd Pessach.

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash, if a person couldn't bring the Korban Pessach on Erev Pessach, they have a 2nd chance a month later.

In the afternoon of 14th Iyar they would bring the Korban Pessach and roast it. After nightfall they would eat it with Matza and Marror. The leftovers were burnt the next morning.

Unfortunately this year we again missed both chances to bring the Korban Pessach.

Source: Bamidbar 9:9-12

Wednesday, 14 Iyar 5771 - 29th day of the Omer
- Danny

Halocho #778 - Is January the first month?

This Shabbos we take out 2 Sifrei Torah. In the first we will read weekly Parsha of Tazria, in the second we will read Parshat HaChodesh (Exodus Ch. 12, Verses 1-20).

Parshat HaChodesh reminds us of the following upcoming Mitzvot:

- The month of Nissan (which begins on Tuesday) is the first month on the Jewish calendar, as the opening words of Parshat HaChodesh proclaim: "This month is for you the first month".

- The laws of Korban Pessach; sacrificed on Erev Pessach in the afternoon; it has to be roasted whole and then eaten on the first night of Pessach with Matza and Marror (bitter herbs).

- Korban Pessach leftovers have to be burnt on the first day of Chol Hamo'ed.

- Matza needs to be made carefully to ensure it doesn't become Chametz (leaven).

- The first and last days of Pessach are Yom Tov.

- One may not own Chometz, nor eat it, during Pessach.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach
- Danny
Thursday, 25 Adar II 5771

Halocho #777 - The Seder night menu

On Seder night there's a Mitzva in the Torah to eat a piece of Korban Pessach on Matza with Marror (bitter herbs).

Until the Bet Hamikdash (temple) is rebuilt we only have the Matza and Marror.

The minimum Torah requirement is to eat a Kezayit (an olive's worth) of Matza, which is approximately one-third of a square machine-Matza.

At a typical Seder it's customary to eat 2 Kezeitim for Motzi-Matza, a 3rd for the Hillel-sandwich and a fourth for the Afikomen.

On Seder night there's also a Rabbinic requirement to drink 4 cups of wine.

All the above - besides for the Marror - must be eaten while leaning on ones left side.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 119:4, 5, 7

May we merit to eat the Korban Pessach soon, in our lifetime.

- Danny
Wednesday, 24 Adar II 5771

Please daven for the complete recovery of Shimon ben Yaakov

Halocho #557 - Today is Pessach Sheni

Today - Wednesday - is Pessach Sheni - the 2nd Pessach.

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash, if a person couldn't bring the Korban Pessach on Erev Pessach, they have a 2nd chance a month later.

In the afternoon of 14th Iyar they would bring the Korban Pessach and roast it. After nightfall they would eat it with Matza and Marror. The leftovers were burnt the next morning.

Unfortunately this year we again missed both chances to bring the Korban Pessach.

Source: Bamidbar 9:9-12

- Danny
Wednesday, 14 Iyar 5770 - 29th day of the Omer

Halocho #321 - The second Pessach

Tomorrow - Friday 14th Iyar - is Pessach Sheni - the 2nd Pessach.

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash, if a person couldn't bring the Korban Pessach on Erev Pessach, he has a 2nd chance a month later.

In the afternoon of 14th Iyar he would bring the Korban Pessach and roast it. After nightfall he would eat it with Matza and Marror. The leftovers were burnt the next morning.

Unfortunately this year we again missed both chances to bring the Korban Pessach.

Source: Bamidbar 9:9-12

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny Thursday, 13 Iyar 5769, 28th day of the Omer

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

Halocho #302 - Storytelling is a Mitzva

Seder night consists of food and talk.

Food:

- On Seder night there's a Mitzva in the Torah to eat a piece of Korban Pessach on Matza with Marror (bitter herbs). Until the Bet Hamikdash (temple) is rebuilt we only have the Matza and Marror.

The minimum Torah requirement is to eat a Kezayit (an olive's worth) of Matza, which is approximately one-third of a square machine-Matza.

At a typical Seder it's customary to eat 2 Kezeitim for Motzi-Matza, a 3rd for the Hillel-sandwich and a fourth for the Afikomen.

- On Seder night there's also a Rabbinic requirement to drink 4 cups of wine.

All the above - besides for the Marror - must be eaten while leaning on ones left side.

Talk:

The rest of the Seder consists of reading the entire Haggada. However, there's no Mitzva per se, to read the Haggada.

There's a Mitzva in the Torah to tell ones children the story of the Exodus from Egypt in Question-Answer format on Seder night.

The Haggada gives a framework so that one covers all required parts of the story, which is why it's important to understand and explain all those parts of the Haggada that recount the slavery, 10 plagues and deliverance in a language that all participants understand.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 119:4, 5, 7

May we merit to eat the Korban Pessach soon, in our lifetime.

- Danny Wednesday, 7 Nissan 5769

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

Halocho #292 - Is January the first month?

This Shabbat for Maftir we will read Parshas Hachodesh (Exodus Ch. 12, Verses 1-20).

Parshas Hachodesh reminds us of the following upcoming Mitzvot:

- The month of Nissan (which begins the following Thursday) is the first month on the Jewish calendar, as the opening words of Parshat Hachodesh proclaim: "This month is for you the first month".

- The laws of Korban Pessach; sacrificed on Erev Pessach in the afternoon, it had to be roasted whole and then eaten on the first night of Pessach with Matza and Marror (bitter herbs).

- Leftovers had to be burnt on the first day of Chol Hamo'ed.

- Matza needs to be made carefully to ensure it doesn't become Chametz (leaven).

- The first and last days of Pessach are Yom Tov.

- One may not own Chametz, nor eat it, during Pessach .

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2

- Danny Wednesday, 22 Adar 5769

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

Halocho #94 - Schedule for Erev Pessach on Shabbos

This year Erev Pessach is on Shabbos. This happened 3 years ago and will happen again in 13 years time (2021/תשפ"א - 5781). Since Erev Pessach is on Shabbos, the standard pre-Pessach schedule is different. Here are some highlights in chronological order: - The Fast of the Firstborns is on Thursday. In case of need, the firstborn may break his fast before doing Bedikas Chometz. - Bedikas Chometz (searching the house for leaven) is done on Thursday evening. - The first Kol Chamiro (annulling all Chometz that one isn't aware of) is said after Bedikas Chometz on Thursday night. - Burning all Chometz (besides what is needed for the next 24 hours) is done on Friday morning - check your local luach (Jewish calendar) for the correct time. No Kol Chamiro is said. - The sale of Chometz should be organized with your local Rabbi by Friday morning. He'd probably appreciate if you come by earlier in the week. - In order to prevent complicated halachic situations one should do the following on Friday:

• Prepare the Salt Water for the Seder.
• Roast the Egg and Bone.
• Make the Charoset.
• Light a 26 hour (Yahrzeit) candle from which to light Yom Tov candles on Saturday night, unless one will have another flame available, like a gas range.
• Prepare wicks for the Yom Tov oil-candles, as one may not re-use the Shabbos wicks.
• Prepare candles for the Yom Tov candles, as one may not melt candles nor trim them on Yom Tov.
• Open the boxes of Matza, so as not to tear writing on Yom Tov.
• Ensure the wine bottles can be opened on Yom Tov without tearing any writing; else open them beforehand.

- Ensure Challa has been separated from the bread to be used on Shabbos as well as from the Matza to be used on Yom Tov. - On Shabbos morning one must finish eating Chometz by a third of the day - check your local luach for the correct time. More details about this tomorrow. - After one finishes eating Chometz on Shabbos morning, one disposes of the leftover Chometz and says the second Kol Chamiro - annulling all Chometz still in one's possession. - One may not make any Seder preparations on Shabbos. One must wait until the time for Motzai Shabbos - check your local luach for the correct time. One can then say "Boruch Hamavdil ben Kodesh L'Kodesh" - ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לקודש - "Blessed is He who separates between the Holiness of Shabbos and the [lesser] Holiness of Yom Tov", and then light Yom Tov candles from an existing flame and start cooking and preparing the table for the Seder. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 96:5, 110:6, 115

Halocho #93 - When is Shabbos Hagodol this year?

The Jews in Egypt were commanded to take home a lamb for the pre-Exodus Seder on 10 Nissan, four days before it was going to be sacrificed. It was a miracle that the Egyptians didn't harm the Jews when they did this, since lambs were considered sacred objects in Egypt. Since we left Egypt on Thursday 15 Nissan, this miracle happened on a Shabbos. To commemorate this miracle, the Shabbos before Seder Night is called Shabbos Hagodol - the Great Shabbos and a special Haftara is read; the last chapter in Malachi which predicts the future redemption, may we merit it in our days. Typically on Shabbos Hagodol the Rabbi's Drasha (lecture) is a refresher course of Pessach laws. When Pessach starts on Sunday - like this year - then the Shabbos Hagodol Drasha is given a week early, so as to make it useful. The custom is to read the narrative section of the Haggada - from Avadim Hayinu (we were slaves) until (but not including) Rabban Gamliel's admonition to say "Pesach, Matza and Marror" at Mincha on Shabbos Hagodol. The yearly Shabbos Hagodol Drasha will be tomorrow - Shabbos Parshat Metzora, 7 Nissan, whereas Shabbos Hagodol (with its special Haftarah and Haggada reading) is actually next week, Erev Pessach. Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 430 Shabbat Shalom - Danny

Halocho #90 - Storytelling is a Mitzva

Seder night consists of food and talk. Food: - On Seder night there's a Mitzva in the Torah to eat a piece of Korban Pessach on Matza with Marror (bitter herbs). Until the Bet Hamikdash (temple) is rebuilt we only have the Matza and Marror. The minimum Torah requirement is to eat a Kezayit (an olive's worth) of Matza, which is approximately one-third of a square machine-Matza. At a typical Seder it's customary to eat 2 Kezeitim for Motzi-Matza, a 3rd for the Hillel-sandwich and a fourth for the Afikomen. - On Seder night there's also a Rabbinic requirement to drink 4 cups of wine. All the above - besides for the Marror - must be eaten while leaning on ones left side. Talk: The rest of the Seder consists of reading the entire Haggada. However, there's no Mitzva per se, to read the Haggada. There's a Mitzva in the Torah to tell ones children the story of the Exodus from Egypt in Question-Answer format on Seder night. The Haggada gives a framework so that one covers all required parts of the story, which is why it's important to understand and explain all those parts of the Haggada that recount the slavery, 10 plagues and deliverance in a language that all participants understand. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 119:4, 5, 7 May we merit to eat the Korban Pessach soon, in our lifetime. - Danny 3 Nissan 5768

Halocho #86 - Is January the first month?

This Shabbos we take out 2 Sifrei Torah. In the first we will read Parshas Tazria and in the second we will read Parshas Hachodesh (Exodus Ch. 12, Verses 1-20). Parshas Hachodesh reminds us of the following upcoming Mitzvos: - The month of Nissan (which begins on Sunday) is the first month on the Jewish calendar, as the opening words of Parshat Hachodesh proclaim: "This month is for you the first month". - The laws of Korban Pessach; sacrificed on Erev Pessach in the afternoon, it had to be roasted whole and then eaten on the first night of Pessach with Matza and Marror (bitter herbs). - Leftovers had to be burnt on the first day of Chol Hamo'ed. - Matza needs to be made carefully to ensure it doesn't become Chometz (leaven). - The first and last days of Pessach are Yom Tov. - One may not own Chometz, nor eat it, during Pessach . Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2

שמות פרק יב

א ויאמר ה' אל-משה ואל-אהרן, בארץ מצרים לאמר

ב החדש הזה לכם, ראש חדשים: ראשון הוא לכם, לחדשי השנה

ג דברו, אל-כל-עדת ישראל לאמר, בעשר, לחדש הזה: ויקחו להם, איש שה לבית-אבת--שה לבית

ד ואם-ימעט הבית, מהיות משה--ולקח הוא ושכנו הקרב אל-ביתו, במכסת נפשת: איש לפי אכלו, תכסו על-השה

ה שה תמים זכר בן-שנה, יהיה לכם; מן-הכבשים ומן-העזים, תקחו

ו והיה לכם למשמרת, עד ארבעה עשר יום לחדש הזה; ושחטו אתו, כל קהל עדת-ישראל--בין הערבים

ז ולקחו, מן-הדם, ונתנו על-שתי המזוזת, ועל-המשקוף--על, הבתים, אשר-יאכלו אתו, בהם

ח ואכלו את-הבשר, בלילה הזה: צלי-אש ומצות, על-מררים יאכלהו

ט אל-תאכלו ממנו נא, ובשל מבשל במים: כי אם-צלי-אש, ראשו על-כרעיו ועל-קרבו

י ולא-תותירו ממנו, עד-בקר; והנתר ממנו עד-בקר, באש תשרפו

יא וככה, תאכלו אתו--מתניכם חגרים, נעליכם ברגליכם ומקלכם בידכם; ואכלתם אתו בחפזון, פסח הוא לה

יב ועברתי בארץ-מצרים, בלילה הזה, והכיתי כל-בכור בארץ מצרים, מאדם ועד-בהמה; ובכל-אלהי מצרים אעשה שפטים, אני ה

יג והיה הדם לכם לאת, על הבתים אשר אתם שם, וראיתי את-הדם, ופסחתי עלכם; ולא-יהיה בכם נגף למשחית, בהכתי בארץ מצרים

יד והיה היום הזה לכם לזכרון, וחגתם אתו חג לה': לדרתיכם, חקת עולם תחגהו

טו שבעת ימים, מצות תאכלו--אך ביום הראשון, תשביתו שאר מבתיכם: כי כל-אכל חמץ, ונכרתה הנפש ההוא מישראל--מיום הראשן, עד-יום השבעי

טז וביום הראשון, מקרא-קדש, וביום השביעי, מקרא-קדש יהיה לכם: כל-מלאכה, לא-יעשה בהם--אך אשר יאכל לכל-נפש, הוא לבדו יעשה לכם

יז ושמרתם, את-המצות, כי בעצם היום הזה, הוצאתי את-צבאותיכם מארץ מצרים; ושמרתם את-היום הזה, לדרתיכם--חקת עולם

יח בראשן בארבעה עשר יום לחדש, בערב, תאכלו, מצת: עד יום האחד ועשרים, לחדש--בערב

יט שבעת ימים--שאר, לא ימצא בבתיכם כי כל-אכל מחמצת, ונכרתה הנפש ההוא מעדת ישראל--בגר, ובאזרח הארץ

כ כל-מחמצת, לא תאכלו; בכל, מושבתיכם, תאכלו, מצות

- Danny Thursday, 27 Adar-2 5758