Halocho #753 - The Pidyon HaBen ceremony

[Comments in brackets are based on my observations,and are not in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch]

On day 31 of a firstborn's life (if he was born naturally and neither parent is a Cohen or Levi) the Pidyon HaBen ceremony is takes place - along with a festive meal.

The Cohen washes and says haMotzi over bread, starting the festive meal.

The father then holds the baby [bedecked in jewelry on a silver tray] and says to the Cohen:
"This is my firstborn son; he is the the first issue of his mother's womb and Hashem has commanded me to redeem him as it says in the Torah: "And those who must be redeemed, from the age of a month you are to redeem... five silver Shekel of the sanctuary..." (Numbers 18:16)

He then sets the baby down [on the table] in front of the Cohen, and the Cohen asks [rhetorically]:
"What do you prefer? Your firstborn son or the 5 Shekels you need to redeem him?"

The father then answers:
"I want to redeem my son, as we are commanded in the Torah, and here is the cost of his redemption"

While still holding the money [in Israel they have specially minted silver coins with the exact weight of a Biblical Shekel] the father says the Brachot:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' , אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל פִּדְיוֹן הַבֵּן

"...Who has sanctified us with His Mitzvot and commanded us regarding the redemption of a son"

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' , אֱלקֽינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָינוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

"...Who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this occasion"

The father then hands the money to the Cohen.

While waving the money over the baby's head the Cohen says:
"This is instead of that; this is in exchange for that; this is pardoned because of that. May this son enter into life, into Torah and into fear of heaven. May it be Your will that just as he was redeemed so too shall he enter into Torah learning, marriage and doing good deeds."

The Cohen then adds the following classic blessings:

יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלקִים כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה

(Genesis 48:20)

יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ: יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ: יִשָּׂא ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

(Numbers 6:24-26)

כִּי אֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם יוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ

(Proverbs 3:2)

 ה' יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל רָע יִשְׁמֹר אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ

(Psalms 127:7)

The Cohen then [hands the baby back to the father and] says the Bracha of HaGefen over a full cup of wine.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:4

- Danny
Wednesday, 19 Adar-I 5771

 

Halocho #752 - Who does a Pidyon HaBen at his Bar Mitzva?

Usually a firstborn baby boy whose father is a Cohen or Levi, or his mother is the daughter of a Cohen or Levi does not need a Pidyon HaBen.

If the firstborn's mother is Jewish but his father is not, then he does his own Piyon at his Bar Mitzva.

A daughter of a Cohen or Levi who slept with a non-Jew has lost her special status and does not exempt her firstborn son from a Pidyon HaBen, even if the firstborn's father is Jewish.

A firstborn who was orphaned from his father before his Pidyon HaBen, should get redeemed by Bet Din, not by his mother.

A firstborn who was not redeemed as a child, needs to do a Pidyon HaBen to himself as soon as he finds out; once he becomes Bar Mitzva.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 164:7, 8

- Danny
Tuesday, 18 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #751 - How much does a firstborn cost?

At the Pidyon HaBen ceremony the father has to give a Cohen 5 biblical Shekalim.

5 biblical Shekalim is about 117 grams of silver (3.77 troy ounces) with a value of about $123.- at yesterday's rate.

This value can be given in coins, or other goods.

Bank notes, checks, IOUs and property are not acceptable for a Pidyon HaBen.

If the Cohen wants, he can return the money to the father, after the ceremony, but he does not have to.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 164:1, 6

- Danny
Monday, 17 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #750 - When does one do a Pidyon HaBen?

All firstborn sons (born naturally) have to be "redeemed" by giving 5 biblical Shekalim to a Cohen; unless the baby's father is a Cohen or Levi, or his mother is the daughter of a Cohen or Levi.

The Mitzva is to be done on the 31st day of his life.

If day 31 is Shabbat or YomTov then the redemption is done at night on Motzai Shabbat or Motzai YomTov.

It is customary to have a Seuda - a festive meal - to celebrate this ceremony.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 164:1

More details tomorrow...

- Danny
Sunday, 16 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #317 - Should we fast tomorrow - BeHa"B?

As we learned in Halocho 316, on Shabbat a special Mi-Sheberach was recited for those fasting tomorrow (Monday), Thursday and next Monday - בה"ב. Even if one intended to fast when answering Amen and then on the designated day there was a Se'udat Mitzva (e.g. Brit Mila or Siyum or Pidyon HaBen) one should join the meal and not fast. Despite being a "private" (not communal) fast day, a person need not "declare his intention to fast" during the Mincha-Amida of the preceding day, if he answered Amen to the Mi-Sheberach. If one "declared his intention to fast" during the Mincha-Amida of the preceding day, then one needs to fast. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 127:3, 14 - Danny Sunday, 9 Iyar 5769, 24th day of the Omer

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

Halocho #301 - Why do the firstborns fast?

Why don't firstborns celebrate the fact that they were saved from the 10th plague - the smiting of Egyptian firstborns?

On Erev Pessach - Wednesday next week - all firstborns will fast in memory of them fasting in Egypt on Erev Pessach, to ensure they wouldn't be punished along with the Egyptians in the 10th plague.

The Hallel said at the Seder includes praise for their delivery.

All firstborn males fast; even if they're only a firstborn to one of their parents.

Even firstborns who are exempt from Pidyon haBen - like Cohanim, Levites or being born after a stillborn - also have to fast.

The father of a young firstborn needs to fast for him.

Whether a firstborn (or his father) may attend a Se'udat Mitzva like a Siyum, Bris or Pidyon haBen and break his fast to participate in the meal, depends on local / family custom.

After breaking his fast, he can eat the rest of the day.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113:6, 115:2

- Danny Tuesday, 6 Nissan 5769

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

Halocho #170 - Parties, but no weddings?

The Minhag is to not get married during the 10 days-of-repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipppour. The Minhag is to not get married on Chol Hamo'ed, so as not to mingle the joy of Yom Tov with ones private celebration. However, one may remarry ones divorcee on Chol Hamo'ed. (One may never again marry ones divorcee if she married somebody else, even if she subsequently got divorced or was widowed. A Cohen may never marry a divorcee; even his ex-wife.) One may make a Brit, Pidyon Haben and engagement party on the above days. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 104:17, 130:4, 145:12 Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year full of good tidings Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Erev Shabbat Ki-Theitzei, 12 Elul 5768

Halocho #135 - No meat leftovers next week

From Rosh Chodesh Av until midday on 10th Av is the period known as the "9 days". The custom is not to eat meat and chicken and not to drink wine during the 9 days, except on Shabbat. Food cooked together with meat should not be eaten - even if one doesn't eat the meat. Those who need to eat meat (or drink wine) for health reasons may do so. If possible, even they should refrain (with the Doctor's permission) from the 7th of Av; the day the Romans entered the Holy Temple. At a Se'udat Mitzva (a Mitzva meal) - a Brit, Pidyon HaBen or Siyum - one may serve meat and wine. Besides for close family, one may invite up to 10 friends whom one normally invites. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:8 - Danny Thursday, 28 Tamuz 5768

Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה

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Halocho #97 - Why do the firstborns fast?

Why don't firstborns celebrate the fact that they were saved from the 10th plague - the smiting of Egyptian firstborns? Tomorrow - Thursday - firstborns will fast in memory of them fasting in Egypt on Erev Pessach, to ensure they wouldn't be punished along with the Egyptians in the 10th plague. The Hallel said at the Seder includes praise for their delivery. The fast is usually on Erev Pessach; since we don't fast on Shabbat, and fasting on Friday is also not a pleasant way to greet Shabbat, so the fast was advanced to Thursday. All firstborns males fast; even if they're only a firstborn to one of their parents. Even firstborns who are exempt from Pidyon haBen - like Cohanim, Levites or being born after a stillborn - also have to fast. The father of a young firstborn needs to fast for him. Whether a firstborn (or his father) may attend a Se'udat Mitzva like a Siyum, Bris or Pidyon haBen and break his fast to participate in the meal, depends on local / family custom. Once he breaks his fast he can eat for the rest of the day. A firstborn may break his fast after nightfall, before doing Bedikas Chometz, if needed. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113:6, 115:2 - Danny 11 Nissasn 5768

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