Halocho #624 - May one say Tehillim by heart?

The Torah is divided into two parts: The written-law (Tanach) and the oral-law (Mishna and Gemara).

Even if one knows parts of the written-law by heart, one should be careful not say them without a text.

The exception being those verses that everybody knows by heart, like those Tehillim said often during prayers like אשרי

If possible, one should pray from a Siddur, since Davening includes many verses that not everybody knows by heart.

Blind people are allowed to say everything by heart.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:6

- Danny
Tuesday, 23 Menachem Av 5770

Halocho #399 - Understanding ones prayers

During Elul one gets ready for the upcoming Days of Judgement (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur) with a three-pronged approach: - Teshuva; repenting. Improving ones Mitzva observance - Tefilla; praying. Asking Hashem for help and praising and thanking Him for being good to us. - Tzedaka; giving charity to those less fortunate than ourselves. In order to pray properly one needs to understand what one is saying. If one is not fluent in Hebrew, one should get a Siddur and Machzor with an English translation. One should remember that one is praying - talking - to the One Above. If ones thoughts wander during prayers one should pause and recollect ones thoughts. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 18: 3-4. Ktiva Vechatima Tova; with wishes for a Happy New Year, - Danny Wednesday, 6 Elul 5768

Halocho #260 - Help build the shul

The Jewish inhabitants of a city should coerce each other to build a Bet Kneset (synagogue) or Bet Medrash (Torah study hall) so that they have a place to pray and learn. Included is the obligation to buy the appropriate books; Sidurim, Chumashim and appropriate texts for Torah learning. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:15 - Danny Sunday, 7 Shvat 5769

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

Halocho #214 - Tonight is Rosh Chodesh

Tonight (Thursday night) and tomorrow (Erev Shabbat) is Rosh Chodesh Kislev; the 9th month. On Rosh Chodesh one adds Ya'aleh Veyavo in Birkat Hamazon (grace after meals); forgetting to do so (night or day) does not require amendment. However, if one noticed the omission after finishing the third blessing - בּוֹנֶה בְּרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלָיִם - but before beginning the fourth blessing, there is a special blessing that is to be said before proceeding:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

אֲשֶׁר נָתַן רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְזִכָּרוֹן

Many Sidurim include this blessing. If one does not know this blessing, one may proceed as usual, omitting it. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:13 Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 29 Marcheshvan 5769 Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos

Please daven for a complete recovery for Avigayil bat Tamar who was hit by a car and is in a great deal of pain

Halocho #162 - Understanding your prayers

During Elul one gets ready for the Days of Judgement (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur) with a three-pronged approach: - Teshuva; repenting. - Tefilla; praying. - Tzedaka; giving charity.

In order to pray properly one needs to understand what one is saying.

If one is not fluent in Hebrew, one should get a Siddur and Machzor with an English translation.

One should remember that one is praying to the One Above.

If ones thoughts wander during prayers one should pause and recollect ones thoughts.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 18: 3-4.

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; with wishes for a Happy New Year,

- Danny Wednesday, 3 Elul 5768

Halocho #88 - Rosh Chodesh Nissan

Today - Sunday - is the first day of the first month - Nissan. Don't forget Hallel and Ya'aley V'yavo. Today - 1 Nissan - was the last of the 8 inaugural days of the Mishkan (tabernacle) and the first day that Aaron served as Cohen Gadol (high priest) and his 4 sons as Cohanim. That same day, two of them - Nadav and Avihu - brought an offering not in accordance with Halocho and were killed by a heavenly fire. Today the heads of the 12 tribes started bringing their inaugural sacrifices - one prince each day. Some people have the custom of reading that days sacrifice during the first 12 days of Nissan. This can be found in the Siddur as the Torah Reading for Chanuka. One does not say Tachanun during the entire month of Nissan. One may not fast during Nissan, with the following exceptions: - Firstborns fast on Erev Pessach (or the Thursday before, this year). - Fasting for distressingly bad dreams. - Couples getting married during Nissan. Even today - Rosh Chodesh - they fast, whereas on any other Rosh Chodesh the bride and groom do not fast. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 107:1,2 Chodesh Tov! - Danny