Halocho #2401 - Mourning during the Omer

During the Omer period, the great sage Rabbi Akiva (who lived during and after the destruction of the second Temple) lost almost all of his thousands of Torah students; reducing Torah Scholars to a handful.

As a result, 33 days of the Omer are customarily observed as days of mourning, during which weddings and haircuts are forbidden.

One may get engaged during the Omer and even celebrate with a meal, but dancing and music are not allowed.

The Sandek, Mohel and father of the newborn may take haircuts the afternoon before the Brit.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:6 - 9

בִּימֵי הַסְּפִירָה מֵתוּ תַּלְמִידֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא בְּל"ג יוֹם, וְלָכֵן נוֹהֲגִין בְּיָמִים אֵלּוּ קְצָת אֲבֵלוּת, שֶׁאֵין נוֹשְׂאִין נָשִׁים וְאֵין מִסְתַּפְּרִים.

הַסַּנְדָּק (הוּא הַתּוֹפֵס אֶת הַתִּינוֹק בִּשְׁעַת מִילָה) וְהַמּוֹהֵל, וַאֲבִי הַבֵּן, מֻתָּרִין לְהִסְתַּפֵּר בְּיּוֹם שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַמִּילָה סָמוּךְ לָעֶרֶב קֹדֶם הֲלִיכָה לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת.

לַעֲשׂוֹת שִׁדּוּכִין אֲפִלּוּ בַּסְּעוּדָּה, מֻתָּרִין בְּכָל הַיָּמִים. אַךְ רִקּוּדִין וּמְחוֹלוֹת, אֲסוּרִין.

- Danny

Monday, 28 Nissan 5784 - 13th day of the Omer

 Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

 מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #2372 - Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses; Moshe Rabeinu

According to most opinions, 7 Adar is the Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses - Moshe Rabeinu. 

Many Jewish Burial Societies [Chevra Kadisha] have their annual meeting on that day, including fasting and special prayers.

During leap years the Yahrzeit for somebody who passed away in a regular year is observed in the first Adar, and Kaddish is said again (if possible) during the second Adar.

Halachot related to Moshe Rabeinu:

When babies start talking one should teach them the verse "תּוֹרָה צִוָּה-לָנוּ, משֶׁה. מוֹרָשָׁה, קְהִלַּת יַעֲקב" and Shma Yisrael...", after ensuring that they are clean while being taught.

Moshe Rabeinu went up to Har-Sinai to get the 2nd set of Luchot on a Thursday and came down on a Monday, which is why these 2 days are auspicious for praying - and we therefore add the long "Vehu Rachum" prayer before Tachanun on these 2 days.

There's a limit as to how long one may mourn a deceased - but even for a great Torah scholar one may not mourn longer than 30 days, as nobody can be greater than our teacher Moshe for whom it is stated "and they mourned Moshe for 30 days".

Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 218:2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 165:10, 22:9, 215:1, 221:3

אֵלּוּ הַיָּמִים שֶׁאֵרְעוּ בָּהֶם צָרוֹת לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרָאוּי לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בָּהֶם...בְּז' בַּאֲדָר מֵת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ע''ה.

מִיָד כְּשֶׁהַתִּינוֹק מַתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר, יְלַמְּדוֹ הַפָּסוּק תּוֹרָה צִוָּה לָנוּ משֶׁה מוֹרָשָׁה וְגוֹ', וְכֵן פָּסוּק שְׁמַע יִשְֹרָאֵל וְגוֹ' (רַק יִזָּהֵר מְאֹד שֶׁיְהֵא הַתִּינוֹק נָקִי בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא מְלַמֵּד אוֹתוֹ)

בְּשֵׁנִי וּבַחֲמִשִּׁי לְפִי שֶׁהֵם יְמֵי רָצוֹן, כִּי בְּאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁל קַבָּלַת לוּחוֹת שְׁנִיּוֹת, עָלָה מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ בְּיוֹם ה', וְיָרַד בְּיוֹם בּ', לָכֵן מַרְבִּים בָּהֶם תַּחֲנוּנִים.

אֵין בּוֹכִין עָלָיו יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁלשִׁים יוֹם, דְּלָא עָדִיף מִמּשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, דִּכְתִיב בּוֹ, וַיִבְכּוּ בְנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אֶת משֶׁה וְגוֹ'. שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם.

וְאִם מֵת בְּשָׁנָה פְשׁוּטָה, אֲזַי בְּשָׁנָה מְעֻבֶּרֶת, יִתְעַנֶּה בַּאֲדָר רִאשׁוֹן, וְגַם בַּאֲדָר שֵׁנִי יֹאמַר קַדִּישׁ, אַךְ אַל יַסִּיג גְּבוּל אֲחֵרִים.

- Danny Schoemann

Sunday, 7 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #872 - 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 5771

Halocho #871 - When to get up in the morning

If possible, one should awaken at midnight and say Tikun Chatzot; lamenting the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash and the resultant loss of Torah learning as well as the numerous Mitzvot we can no longer do.


If getting up at midnight is not an option, one should get up before dawn to say Tikun Chatzot.


After Tikun Chatzot one should learn some Torah; Mishna or Tehillim or Mussar. 


At the very latest one needs to awaken in time to get to shul before they start morning prayers.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:5

- Danny
Monday, 22 Menachem Av 5771

Halocho #863 - One may not learn Torah today

On Tish'a B'Av it is forbidden to learn Torah, since Torah learning gladdens the heart.


One may learn Halachot related to the day itself and study stories related to the destruction of the Bet haMikdash.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch  124:5

- Danny
Tuesday,  9 Av 5771

Halocho #840 - When should one learn Torah?

After Shacharit (morning prayers) a person should have a fixed time to to learn Torah; at least one verse or a single Halacha.

The Torah requires everybody to have a fixed time to learn Torah every day and every night.

Somebody who does not know how to learn Torah, or cannot find the time to learn, should support others who do learn Torah and they share the reward.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:1-2

- Danny
Monday, 4 Tamuz 5771

Halocho #771 - Why start learning about Pessach?

The laws of Pessach in Shulchan Aruch begin with: "One should start learning the laws of Pessach thirty days before Pessach."

This is learned from the fact that Moshe Rabbeinu started teaching the laws of Pessach-Sheini on Erev Pessach.

Starting 30 days beforehand is especially important for Pessach, where - as opposed to other Chagim - certain things have to be done before the Chag, like destroying all Chametz and having Kosher L'Pessach food.

Source:  Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 429:1

- Danny
Tuesday, 16 Adar-II 5771

Please daven for the complete recovery of Pary bat Shlomo

Halocho #744 - Shabbat party for newborn boys

The Minhag (custom) is to celebrate with fruit and drinks on the Friday night before a baby boy's Brit Mila.

This party is a Se'udat Mitzva (and is called a Shalom-Zachor)

There is also a custom to gather in the baby's house the night before the Brit and to learn Torah. The meal served at this event (known as a Brit Yitzchak) is not a Se'udat Mitzva.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 163:8

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 6 Adar-I 5771

Mazal Tov to my sister on becoming a grandmother this morning, with support from my wife

Halocho #705 - Rosh Chodesh and Chanukah

Tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday 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.)

Between Shacharit and Mussaf we will 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.

Starting tonight - Monday night - don't forget Ya'aleh Veyavo and Al Hanisim in the Amida and Birkat Hamazon.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:24

- Danny
Monday, 29 Kislev 5771

Halocho #623 - When to get up in the morning

If possible, one should awaken at midnight and say Tikun Chatzot; lamenting the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash and the resultant loss of Torah learning as well as the numerous Mitzvot we can no longer do.

If getting up at midnight is not an option, one should get up before dawn to say Tikun Chatzot.

After Tikun Chatzot one should learn some Torah; Mishna or Tehillim or Mussar.

At the very latest one needs to awaken in time to get to shul before they start morning prayers.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:5

- Danny
Monday, 22 Menachem Av 5770

Please daven for the complete recovery of Bracha Beila bat Miriam

Halocho #618 - Why is Tu B'Av a joyous day?

A number of joyous events happened over the years on Tu B'Av.

- It was the day the Generation-of-the-Wilderness realized that the sin of the spies had been forgiven, in the year 2488.

- It was the day that the tribes were allowed to intermarry, including orphaned daughters (as per Bemidbar 36:8) once all those who conquered the Land had passed away.

- On the same day the tribe of Binyamin were allowed to intermarry with other tribes, after the scandal of Give'ah (as per Shoftim 19 - 21), around the year 2524.

- It was the day that King Hoshea ben Elah removed the blockades that the wicked King Yerav'am ben Nevat had placed on the roads, preventing the Jews from going to Jerusalem for the Festivals about 75 years earlier, around the year 3040.

- It was the day the Romans allowed those massacred by the wicked Hadrian in Beitar to be buried, some time after he died in 138 (C.E).

- It was the day they stopped chopping wood for the altar in the Bet Hamikdash every year, as it marks the end of "summer" (as per Rashi on Breishis 8:22) and the start of the 2 months of "heat". The wood had to be worm free to be used on the altar, and had to be fully dried before the rainy season.

This gave everybody more time for learning Torah - and therefore Tu B'Av is the Joyous Day of Increased Torah Learning (and one does not say Tachanun on Tu B'Av.)

Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol 3 page 307-313

Increase Torah learning on FaceBook; click on http://www.new.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?members&gid=2387884087 and invite your Jewish friends to sign up to this Torah group.

- Danny
Monday, ט"ו באב - 15 Menachem Av 5770

Halocho #590 - What Torah should I learn?

A person should strive to learn the entire Torah.

A partial list would include Tanach (Bible), Mishna, Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi, Rambam, Tur, Shulchan Aruch, and Midrash.

Somebody who cannot sit and learn Torah all day should learn practical Halachot as well as Midrashim and Mussar (ethics). This way one knows what to do (Halacha), will have the drive to do so (Midrash) and acquire the ability to overcome obstacles when trying to do (Mussar).

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:3

Get other people to learn Torah as well; invite them to join this group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?members&gid=2387884087

- Danny
Tuesday, 3 Tamuz 5770

Halocho #589 - When should one learn Torah?

After Shacharit (morning prayers) a person should have a fixed time to to learn Torah; at least one verse or a single Halacha.

The Torah requires everybody to have a fixed time to learn Torah every day and every night.

Somebody who does not know how to learn Torah, or cannot find the time to learn, should support others who do learn Torah and they share the reward.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:1-2

- Danny
Monday, 2 Tamuz 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for

Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה

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 # 492 - Travel preparations

Before leaving on a trip one should give charity.

Since one should learn Torah or say Tehilim while traveling, one should remember to take along a Sefer.

One should never go on a trip - even a short one - without taking along food.

Men should also take along spare Tzitzit in case the one they are wearing rip and become Pasul (unfit), as well as their Tefillin if there's a chance they won't be back home before the morrow.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 68:6

- Danny
Wednesday, 27 Tevet 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 #444 - Can one hide behind a Sefer?

One may not place a Sefer such that it blocks the sunlight to enable one to be more comfortable.

One may not place a Sefer such that ones friends cannot see what one is up to.

If the sun is disturbing ones ability to learn Torah, then one can use another Sefer to block the sun.

One may use a Sefer to prop up the Sefer one is learning, if that will help one learn better.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:9

- Danny
Sunday, 21 Marcheshvan 5770

Please daven for Marina bat Ludmila for a full recovery

Halocho #437 - Buying Sefarim

Everybody has a Mitzva to buy Sefarim to learn from.

This should include the Chumash (5 books of Moses), Mishna, Talmud and Practical-Halachic works.

If one does not understand them in the original, one must buy them with a translation, since the point is to learn them.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:2

- Danny
Wednesday, 10 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho #411 - Tashlich when Rosh Hashanah is on Shabbat

This year, because of Shabbat, Tashlich is said on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashana.

After Mincha (afternoon prayers) on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Minhag is to walk to a river to say Tashlich; verses about Hashem's willingness to forgive those who repent.

Preferably the river should have fish and be outside the city. If this is impractical one can even use a well which doesn't flow and is without fish.

One then symbolically shakes out ones pockets as a reminder to shake off ones sins and to start the new year with a fresh attitude towards Mitzvoth. (Feeding the fish is forbidden according to many Halachic authorities.)

After Tashlich one should go to shul and spend the rest of the time before Maariv (evening prayers) learning Torah, Mussar or saying Tehillim.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 129:21, 22

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year with lots of time to learn Torah,

- Danny Sunday, 24 Elul 5769

Please daven for Menashe ben Shlomit

Halocho #400 - Shabbat is a good time for Teshuva

During Elul one gets ready for the upcoming Days of Judgement (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur) with a three-pronged approach:

• Teshuva; repenting.
• Tefilla; praying.
• Tzedaka; giving charity.

Learning Torah is a prerequisite for repenting; if one isn't aware of ones obligations, one cannot repent for not doing them, or for doing them incorrectly. Every person has a Mitzva to learn Torah every day and every night. One should concentrate on learning practical Halacha, to review what ones obligations are and to discover their finer details. People who are too busy all week should learn at least one Halacha every day, and one at night. On Shabbat one should spend as much time as possible learning Torah; the less Torah one learns during the week, the more time one should spend learning Torah on Shabbat. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:2, 77:24 K'tiva V'chatima Tova; wishing you a year with lots of time to learn Torah, Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 7 Elul 5769