Halocho #1023 - Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Shevat

Rosh Chodesh of Tevet is on Shabbat. Remember to add יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא into Birkat Hamazon and the Amida.

On Shabbat we will will take out 2 Sifrei Torah after Hallel. In the first one we will call up at least 7 people to read from the weekly Parsha; וָאֵרָא.

Then - after Kaddish - we call up the Maftir to read from the 2nd Sefer Torah: וּבְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת and וּבְרָאשֵׁי חָדְשֵׁיכֶם from Parshat פִּינְחָס.

The Haftara this week is הַשָּׁמַיִם כִּסְאִי for Shabbat-Rosh Chodesh, consisting of the last chapter in Sefer יְשַׁעְיָהוּ.

For מוּסַף one says the אַתָּה יָצַרְתָּ version (usually found at the bottom half of the Shabbat מוּסַף pages) which includes both Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh.

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 425

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 28 Tevet 5773

Halocho #834 - Who was burnt to death with a Sefer Torah?

The Shulchan Aruch says that it's appropriate to fast tomorrow - Wednesday 27 Sivan - since about 2,000 years ago on this date, the Romans wrapped the great Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon in a Sefer Torah, and burnt him to death.

Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon was one of the 10 martyrs.

King David started Tehilim - Psalms - by declaring: Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the gathering of the scornful.
Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon taught (Avot 3:3):
- A gathering of the scornful is when Jews sit together and don't discuss Torah-related topics.
- When Jews do discuss Torah then the Shechina - G-d's presence - is with them.
- Even when a lone Jew learns Torah (like a Halocho a Day), Hashem takes note and rewards him.

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 580:2

Read about the 10 martyrs at http://www.answers.com/topic/ten-martyrs
Read about Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon at http://www.answers.com/topic/haninah-ben-teradion

- Danny
Tuesday, 26 Sivan 5771

Since I am unemployed now, Halocho-a-Day will be sporadic. For my CV see http://il.linkedin.com/in/doniels

Halocho #586 - Who was burnt to death with a Sefer Torah?

The Shulchan Aruch says that it's appropriate to fast today - 27 Sivan - since about 2,000 years ago on this date, the Romans wrapped the great Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon in a Sefer Torah, and burnt him to death.

Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon was one of the 10 martyrs.

King David started Tehilim - Psalms - by declaring: "Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the gathering of the scornful".

Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon taught (Avot 3:3):
- A "gathering of the scornful" is when Jews sit together and don't discuss Torah-related topics.
- When Jews do discuss Torah then the Shechina - Gcd's presence - is with them.
- Even when a lone Jew learns Torah (like a Halocho a Day), Hashem takes note and rewards him/her.

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 580:2

Read about the 10 martyrs at http://www.answers.com/topic/ten-martyrs 
Read about Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon at http://www.answers.com/topic/haninah-ben-teradion

Yom Kippour Katan will be tomorrow in anticipation of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz which will be on Shabbat & Sunday .

- Danny
Wednesday, 27 Sivan 5770

Halocho # 472 - Rosh Chodesh and Chanukah

Tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday is Rosh Chodesh Tevet.

Rosh Chodesh Tevet is the only time the full-Hallel is said on Rosh Chodesh. (Usually on Rosh Chodesh we leave out 2 half-paragraphs.)

We then take out 2 Sifrei Torah. First we call up 3 people to the Torah for Rosh Chodesh and then - in the second Sefer Torah - a fourth person for Chanukah.

We then daven Mussaf for Rosh Chodesh, with Al Hanisim.

Don't forget Ya'aleh Veyavo and Al Hanisim in the Amida and Birkat Hamazon.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:24

Chodesh Tov,

- Danny
Wednesday, 5th day of Chanukah, 29 Kislev 5770

See other laws of Chanukah at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Chanukka

Halocho # 449 - May one write Pesukim?

One may not write a Pasuk (verse in the Torah) in Hebrew on paper without lines.

Some say one should not write mundane things in the special script used for a Sefer Torah.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:12

- Danny
Sunday, 28 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho # 447 - Don't drop the Sefer Torah

If - Gcd forbid - one drops a Sefer Torah, one needs to fast.

This is true even if the Sefer Torah was in its cover.

The Minhag is that those who saw the Sefer Torah fall, also fast.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:12

- Danny
Wednesday, 24 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho # 445 - Buying stolen goods

One should not buy stolen Sefer Torah, Tefillin or Mezuzot for more than their worth, so as not to encourage them to be stolen.

However, if one is offered them at market value, one must buy them, even if they are no longer Kosher.

If the thief is asking above market value then one should bargain with him to try get the price down; if he insists on a higher price, then one does not buy them.

One should not offer a ridiculously low price so as not to annoy the seller, lest he get angry and destroy the religious items.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:11

- Danny
Monday, 22 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho #440 - Treating Sefarim with respect

One may not sit in the same bench or chair as a Sefer (any book from which one can learn Torah-related subjects).

If the Sefer is placed on the bench on an item at least 1 Tefach (~10 cm) high, then one may sit on the bench.

One may not put a Sefer on the floor.

One may sit on a cupboard that has Sefarim inside, but not if there's a Sefer Torah inside.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:4

- Danny
Monday, 15 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho #439 - Honoring a Sefer Torah

A Sefer Torah needs to be stored in its own special place which must be kept clean.

One may not spit in front of a Sefer Torah.

One may not touch the parchement of a Sefer Torah unless it is covered.

One who sees a Sefer Torah being carried must stand up.

If a Sefer Torah is carried past one, one should walk behind it.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:3

- Danny
Sunday, 14 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho #436 - Hiring a Sofer to write your Sefer Torah

Yesterday we learned that every male Jew has to write his own Sefer Torah.

If you cannot write your own Sefer Torah, you can hire a Sofer (scribe) to do it for you.

If you buy a Sefer Torah and correct a mistake in it, it's as if you wrote it.

Similarly if you buy an unfinished Sefer Torah and complete it, it's as if you wrote it.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:1

- Danny
Tuesday, 9 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho #435 - Write a Sefer Torah

It's a Mitzva for every male Jew to write his own Kosher Sefer Torah.

Even if you inherited a Sefer Torah, you still needs to write your own copy.

You may not sell your Sefer Torah; in case of dire poverty, consult a Rabbinic authority.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:1

- Danny
Monday, 8 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho #234 - What comes first: Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh or Chanuka?

Rosh Chodesh Tevet is on Shabbat and Sunday.

On Shabbat we will take out 3 Sifrei Torah:

• In the first Sefer Torah we call up [at least] 6 people for the weekly portion - Miketz
• The second Sefer Torah is for Rosh Chodesh, starting from "וביום השבת", after which Kaddish is said.
• The 3rd Sefer Torah is for  Chanuka - ביום הששי from Parshat Naso.

The Haftara is the Chanuka one (רני ושמחי from Zecharia 2:14)

On Sunday we will take out 2 Sifrei Torah:

• In the first Sefer Torah we call up 3 people while reading the regular Rosh Chodesh portion.
• The second Sefer Torah is for  Chanuka - ביום השביעי from Parshat Naso after which Kaddish is said.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:24, 25

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny

 Thursday, 4th day Chanuka, 28 Kislev 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Re'uven ben Rachel - ראובן בן רחל

Halocho #122 - Why do we fast?

We fast on those days when misfortune happened to the Jewish people as a reminder to improve our ways. Those who treat a fast day as a semi-holiday and go on trips are missing the point. Fast days should be dedicated to introspection and figuring out which Mitzvot to take more seriously. On Sunday will be the fast of 17 Tammuz when 5 major misfortunes happened to the Jewish people:

1. Moshe Rabbeinu broke the luchot - the tablets - upon seeing the Golden Calf being worshiped
2. The daily Tamid sacrifice was suspended in the first Bet Hamikdash (temple) a result of the siege which led up to the destruction 3 weeks later.
3. At the time of the 2nd Bet Hamikdash the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the enemy, 3 weeks before the destruction
4. Apustumus the wicked [Roman] burned a Sefer Torah
5. An idol was placed in the Bet Hamikdash

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:1, 4 - Danny Tuesday, 12 Tammuz 5768

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

Halocho #111 - Who was burnt to death with a Sefer Torah?

The Shulchan Aruch says that it's appropriate to fast today - Monday 27 Sivan - since about 2,000 years ago on this date, the Romans wrapped the great Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon in a Sefer Torah, and burnt him to death. Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon was one of the 10 martyrs. King David started Tehilim - Psalms - by declaring: Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the gathering of the scornful. Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon taught (Avot 3:3): - A gathering of the scornful is when Jews sit together and don't discuss Torah-related topics. - When Jews do discuss Torah then the Shechina - G-d's presence - is with them. - Even when a lone Jew learns Torah (like a Halocho a Day), Hashem takes note and rewards him. Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 580:2 Read about the 10 martyrs at http://www.answers.com/topic/ten-martyrs Read about Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon at http://www.answers.com/topic/haninah-ben-teradion - Danny