This Sunday and Monday is Rosh Chodesh Kislev.
When the 3rd Shabbat meal continues into the night, one still inserts Retzai – רצה during Birkas Hamazon (grace after meals).
When one starts a meal on Erev Rosh Chodesh and eats a Kezayit (the size of an olive – 27 cc) of bread after dark, one inserts Ya’aleh V’Yavo – יעלה ויבוא during Birkat Hamazon.
What happens when both of the above happen together?
If Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday and one eats a Kezayit of bread after dark during the 3rd Shabbat meal, then one inserts both Retzai – רצה and Ya’aleh V’Yavo – יעלה ויבוא during Birkat Hamazon.
However, some argue that mentioning both is a contradiction – since Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh aren’t on the same day.
Therefore one should be careful not to eat after dark at the 3rd Shabbat meal when Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:17
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov
- Danny
Thursday, 27 Marchesvan 5771
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Halocho #683 - Shabbat is Erev Rosh Chodesh Kislev
Monday, January 4, 2010
Halocho #485 - Preparing the weekly Parsha
It's a Mitzva to review the week's Torah Reading by reading it twice in the original and once with the (Aramaic) Onkelus translation.
One who doesn't understand (or appreciate) Onkelus may instead read Rashi or even an English translation.
One may already start on Sunday, and one should finish before the Torah is read on Shabbat morning.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:11
- Danny
Monday, 18 Tevet 5770
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Halocho #423 - - The 4 minim - putting it all together!
On Sukkoth there's a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Haddasim, 2 Aravot and an Etrog.
When shaking them on Sukkoth, the Lulav, 3 Haddasim and 2 Aravot are tied together and held in ones right hand, and the Etrog in ones left hand. (Lefties hold the Lulav in their left, Etrog in the right.)
All 6 branches must be facing upwards, with the side where they were cut off the tree facing down.
The spine of the Lulav must be facing you. The 3 Haddasim are tied to the right of the Lulav. The 2 Aravot are tied to the left of the Lulav.
The Lulav is first bound with 3 ties typically made of palm leaves. The 3 Haddasim and 2 Aravot are then bound to it with another 2 ties. The Haddasim should be slightly higher than than the Aravot.
The spine of the the Lulav must protrude at least 1 Tefach (8 cm - 3") above the Haddasim and Aravot.
The top Tefach of the Lulav should not have any ties on it.
Since the first day of Sukkoth is on Shabbat, we will only start this precious Mitzvah on Sunday.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 136:8
Wishing everybody a Chag Same'ach!
- Danny Thursday, 13 Tishrei 5770
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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
Friday, August 29, 2008
Halocho #158 - Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday and Monday
Rosh Chodesh Elul will be on Sunday and Monday.
Usually when Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday then the Haftara is changed to "Machar Chodesh"; and Jonathan says to David "Tomorrow is Rosh Chodesh" (from Shemuel-1, 20:12).
However, from 9 B'Av until Rosh Hashana we read the 7 Haftarot of Consolation, and they take precedence over the Haftara of "Machar Chodesh".
Therefore, on Shabbat we will read the regular Haftara for Parshat Re'e (Yeshayahu 54).
Since Rosh Chodesh starts on Motzai Shabbat, one should try finish eating Seudat Shlishi (the 3rd Shabbat meal) before sunset, so as to avoid a conflict between saying Retzei and Ya'aleh Veyavo.
See Halocho #85 - http://halocho.blogspot.com/2008/04/halocho-85-rosh-chodesh-on-sunday.html - for more details.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:4, 44:17
Shabbat Shalom uMevorach and Chodesh Tov,
- Danny Erev Shabbat Re'eh, 28 Av 5768
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Halocho #157 - Tomorrow is Yom Kippour Kattan
The day before Rosh Chodesh is called Yom Kippour Kattan.
If Rosh Chodesh is on Shabbat or Sunday then Yom Kippour Kattan is on Thursday, so as not to fast on Friday.
Mincha (the afternoon prayers) on Yom Kippour Kattan includes prayers asking for repentance, so as to begin the new month with a "clean slate".
Some have the custom to fast on Yom Kippour Kattan.
In anticipation of the month of Elul and the upcoming High Holidays, most communities say the Yom Kippour Kattan prayers before Rosh Chodesh Elul, in order to get into the Teshuva (repentance) mood.
Tomorrow - Thursday - is Yom Kippour Kattan. Rosh Chodesh Elul will be on Sunday and Monday.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 97:1, 128:1
- Danny Wednesday, 26 Av 5768
Please daven for TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Halocho #141 - When do we eat the Seudat Mafseket?
The fast of 9 B'Av begins at sunset; this year it starts at sunset slightly before Motzai Shabbat and lasts until Sunday night.
Usually the Seudat Mafseket - the "final meal" before the fast of 9 B'Av - is eaten while seated on the floor. It typically consists of a cold hard boiled egg and bread which is dipped into ashes.
Since the fast of 9 B'Av is on Sunday, there is no Seudat Mafseket this year.
One can eat a normal Se'udat Shlishit - 3rd Shabbat meal - however one needs to stop eating and drinking before sunset.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 125:1
- Danny Thursday 6 Menachem-Av 5768
Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה
Monday, July 28, 2008
Halocho #132 - Who must fast on 9 B'Av?
On 9 B'Av almost everybody needs to fast. Pregnant and nursing mothers need to fast on 9 B'Av even if it causes them discomfort, unless it's dangerous to their health. When in doubt, consult your LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi). During the first 7 days after childbirth, a mother is not allowed to fast. Anybody who isn't healthy should only fast for a few hours. This includes a mother between 7 and 30 days after childbirth unless she feels up to fasting. When in doubt, consult your LOR. Children are not allowed to fast. Those who are not fasting should limit their food intake to the bare minimum; only bread and water if possible. Before eating, one needs to make Havdala this year (and any other year when 9 B'Av is on Sunday). Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 124:6 - Danny Monday, 25 Tamuz 5768
