This week we read the double Parsha of Matos-Mas'ay. Parshat מסעי begins by listing the 42 encampments the wandering Jews had during their 40 years in the desert. All 42 encampments should be read together during the same "Aliya". Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 78:4 See http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos for more Shabbat related Halachot. Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 24 Tamuz 5769
As we learnt in Halocho 338, for the past 5 weeks the Parsha being read in Israel was one ahead of the one being read in the Diaspora.
This week in Israel we will read Parshat Balak - בלק, while in the Diaspora they will read the double Parsha of Chukath-Balak - חוקת-בלק.
Henceforth we will be once again be reading the same Parsha again for almost 3 years, until after Pessach 2012 - ה'תשע"ב when we will diverge again for 6 weeks. (Pessach will end on Friday on Israel, and on Shabbat in the Diaspora.)
This week's Haftara includes one of the admonitions to remember: עַמִּי, זְכָר-נָא מַה-יָּעַץ בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב, וּמֶה-עָנָה אֹתוֹ, בִּלְעָם בֶּן-בְּעוֹר O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Bilam the son of Beor answered him... (Micha 6:5)
Shabbat Shalom,
- Danny Thursday, 10 Tamuz 5769
Written L'Ilui Nishmas Reuven Ben Shlomo Dov
The last time the Torah Reading consisted of a double-Parsha was before Rosh Hashana a year and a half ago; Shabbat Nitzavim-Vayelech, 8 September '07
This week we once again have a double Parsha: Vayakel-Pekudei.
When there is a double Parsha, we usually read the Haftara of the second Parsha. This week is an exception, since it's also Shabbat Hachodesh.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 79:6
- Danny Tuesday, 21 Adar 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
We already learned that if a parent requests one to sin, one must not obey. When else do you not have to obey your parents? If your parents don't approve of your choice of marriage partner, you do not have to obey them (at your own risk). If you want to go learn Torah somewhere, and you are convinced that only there can you fulfill your potential, and your parents do not want you to go there, you do not have to obey them. We learn this from this weeks Parsha; Yaakov's parents instructed him to go to Uncle Lavan, and Yaakov decided to detour to the Bet Hamidrash of Ever for 14 years. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:12 - Danny Tuesday, 5 Kislev 5769
The Parsha this week is Balak; all about Bilam the Wizard's failed attempts to curse the Jews. It's a Torah prohibition to curse a fellow Jew. E.g. Saying "Darn him!" is an sin. Cursing a fellow Jew using any reference to Hashem - in any language - would result in 39 lashes by Bet Din. E.g. Saying "The Almighty should punish Ploni" is a Torah prohibition for which one deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din. Using G-d's "real" name in any language (e.g. G-d, or Hashem as said during prayers) would add a second sin of saying His Name in vain. Even invoking the loss of a blessing - "The Merciful One shouldn't let Ploni succeed" - is a Torah prohibition. Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 6:3 Be Blessed! - Danny Tuesday 5th Tamuz 5768
This Shabbat morning we will read the weekly portion of Beha'aloscha which begins with the Mitzva of the Cohen lighting the Menora in the Bet Hamikdash every afternoon with pure olive oil. The popular custom is to use light Shabbat candles on Friday afternoon. However, a Hidur Mitzva (a "deluxe" way of performing the Mitzva) is to use olive oil. Whatever one decides to use, it has to create a flame that burns steadily without flickering or spluttering and does not generate an unpleasant odor. The Mishna lists wicks and oils that are disqualified, e.g. wicks from silk or seaweed as well as cottonseed oil. We already learned in Halocho #44 that one may not use a 7 branched candelabra. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 75:3, Mishna Shabbat, Ch. 2 Shabbat Shalom, - Danny
This coming Shabbos is Parshas Shekolim as well as Rosh Chodesh. We will take out 3 Sifrei Torah for the Shachris Torah Reading in Shul:
One may not build a house using the measurements of the Bet Hamikdash, nor a courtyard the size of its courtyards. (These measurements can be found in Tractate Midot.) One may not make a table identical to the one in the Bet Hamikdash. (Measurements and materials are in last week's Parsha: Terumah) One may not have a Menorah identical to the one in the Bet Hamikdash:
Source: KSA 168:5-6
סעיף ד - אסור לעשות בית תבנית היכל כשיעור גבהו וארכו ורחבו. אכסדרה תבנית אולם חצר תבנית עזרה, שלחן תבנית השלחן שהיה בבית המקדש, מנורה, תבנית המנורה שהיתה בבית המקדש, אבל עושה של חמשה קנים או של ששה או של שמונה, אבל של שבעה לא יעשה אפילו משאר מיני מתכות, ואפילו בלא גביעים וכפתורים ופרחים, ואפילו אינה גבוהה שמונה עשר טפחים, משם דכל אלו דברים גם במנורה שבמקדש לא היו מעכבין. סעיף ה - יש נוהגין לעשות מנורה לשבעה נרות, דהיינו ששה בעיגול ואחד באמצע אבל הרבה פוסקים אוסרים זאת, ויש להחמיר בספק איסור דאורייתא. סעיף ו - העושה שמן המשחה במעשה ובמשקל האמור בתורה, חייב כרת ובשוגג חייב חטאת, והוא שעושה אותו כדי להמשח. והעושה קטורת מאחד עשר סמנין שבתורה לפי המשקולת אפילו לא עשה אלא חציו או שלישיתו חייב כרת, עשה להתלמד בה פטור.
