Halocho #2412 - What's special about a firstborn Kosher animal?

If a Kosher animal that has never given birth - and belongs only to a Jew - gives birth to a male, the calf has Kedusha (some holiness) and needs to be given to a Cohen, even nowadays. 

This first-born animal may not be used for any work, and its wool may not be sheared, nor used if it fell off. 

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash (Temple) the animal would be brought as a sacrifice, with most of the meat being eaten by the Cohen. 

Nowadays the Cohen needs to keep it until it gets a permanent blemish, at which time anybody can help eat it. The Cohen may not blemish it. 

It's a Mitzva to sell part of all first-time pregnant kosher animals to a non-Jew so that the calf - if it's a male - will not have any Kedusha; avoiding the possibility of it not being treated properly. 

Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 177

הַבְּכוֹר בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה, צְרִיכִין לְהַשְׁהוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיִפּוֹל בּוֹ מוּם. וּכְשֶׁנָפַל בּוֹ מוּם, מַרְאִין אוֹתוֹ לִשְׁלשָׁה בַּעֲלֵי תוֹרָה, וְאֶחָד מֵהֶם יִהְיֶה בָקִי לָדַעַת אִם הוּא מוּם קָבוּעַ, וּמַתִּירִין אוֹתוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ שׁוֹחֲטִין אוֹתוֹ. וְאִם הוּא כָּשֵׁר, אוֹכְלִין אוֹתוֹ, וּמֻתָּר גַם לְיִשְֹרָאֵל. אֲבָל אֵינוֹ נִמְכָּר בְּמָקוֹלִין, וְאֵינוֹ נִשְׁקָל בְּלִיטְרָא, וְאֵין נוֹתְנִין מִמֶּנוּ לַכְּלָבִים, וְאֵין מוֹכְרִין אוֹ נוֹתְנִין מִמֶּנוּ לַגּוֹי.

הַכֹּהֵן צָרִיךְ לְגַדֵל אֶת הַבְּכוֹר עַד שֶׁיִפֹּל בּוֹ מוּם. וְיָכוֹל לְמָכְרוֹ לְיִשְֹרָאֵל, בֵּין שֶׁיֵשׁ בּוֹ מוּם בֵּין שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ מוּם, רַק שֶׁהַיִשְֹרָאֵל יִנְהַג בּוֹ בִּקְדֻשַּׁת בְּכוֹרָה, וְגַם לֹא יִקְנֵהוּ לִסְחוֹרָה.

הַבְּכוֹר, בֵּין תָּם בֵּין בַּעַל מוּם, אָסוּר בְגִזָּה וַעֲבוֹדָה. וַאֲפִלוּ נִתְלַשׁ מִמֶּנוּ צֶמֶר מֵעַצְמוֹ, אוֹתוֹ הַצֶמֶר, אָסוּר בַהֲנָאָה לְעוֹלָם. אֲבָל הַצֶּמֶר שֶׁעַל גּוּפוֹ, אִם נִשְׁחַט בְּמוּמוֹ, הַשְּׁחִיטָה מַתֶּרֶת גַּם אֶת הַצֶּמֶר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִיא מַתֶּרֶת אֶת הַבָּשָׂר וְאֶת הָעוֹר.

מִצְוָה לִמְכֹּר לַגּוֹי אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה הַטְּהוֹרָה אוֹ לְהִשְּׁתַּתֵּף עִמוֹ בָּהּ קֹדֶם שֶׁתֵּלֵד, כְּדֵי לְפָטְרָהּ מֵהַבְּכוֹרָה.

- Danny

Tuesday, 13 Iyar 5784 - 28th day of the Omer

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

 מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #2380 - What color is a Red Heifer?

This Shabbat a second Sefer Torah is taken out for Maftir and the laws of פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה – the Red Heifer – are read. (The first 22 verses of Parshat חֻקַּת in במדבר י"ט) 

There are opinions that there’s a Torah obligation to hear it being read, and people who don’t have access to a Minyan should find one this week. 

A Kosher פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה is a (female) cow past its second birthday that is completely ginger-brown. Even two white or black hairs near each other would invalidate it. 

The non-brown part of its horns and hooves need to be filed down. Its eyes, teeth and tongue do not need to be ginger-brown. 

Using the פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה for any work – even to carry something – would invalidate it. Birds and insects that land on its back do not invalidate it. 

The פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה is slaughtered and burnt and the ashes mixed with spring water and sprinkled on people who come in contact with a corpse, on the third and seventh day of their purification process. 

This was a prerequisite for access to the בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּש (Temple). Since there’s a Mitzva to go into the בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּש on Pessach, we read this in anticipation of being able to implement it this year, or at least בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ – soon in our lifetime. 

Sources: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2-3, Mishna Masechet Para, Ch. 1, Rambam Hil. Para Ch. 1 

וְהַשַׁבָּת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי פָּרָשַׁת הַחֹדֶשׁ, הִיא שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת פָּרָה.

יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, כִּי פָּרָשַׁת זָכוֹר וּפָרָשַׁת פָּרָה, חַיָבִים לִקְרוֹתָן מִדְּאוֹרַיְתָא, וְאֵין קוֹרִין בָּהֶם קָטֹן לַמַּפְטִיר. וּבְנֵי הַיִשׁוּבִים שֶאֵין לָהֶם מִנְיָן, צְרִיכִין שֶׁיָבוֹאוּ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵשׁ בּוֹ מִנְיָן. וְאִם אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָהֶם, לְכָל הַפָּחוֹת יִקְרְאוּ אוֹתָן בִּנְגִינוֹת כָּרָאוּי.

מִצְוַת פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה שֶׁתִּהְיֶה בַּת שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים אוֹ בַּת אַרְבַּע. וְאִם הָיְתָה זְקֵנָה כְּשֵׁרָה אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין מַמְתִּינִין לָהּ שֶׁמָּא תַּשְׁחִיר וְתִפָּסֵל.

הָיוּ בָּהּ שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת לְבָנוֹת אוֹ שְׁחוֹרוֹת בְּתוֹךְ גֻּמָּא אַחַת אוֹ בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנֵי כּוֹסוֹת וְהֵן מֻנָּחוֹת זוֹ עַל זוֹ פְּסוּלָה.

הָיוּ קַרְנֶיהָ אוֹ טְלָפֶיהָ שְׁחוֹרִים יָגוֹד. גַּלְגַּל הָעַיִן וְהַשִּׁנַּיִם וְהַלָּשׁוֹן אֵין מַרְאֵיהֶן פּוֹסְלִים בְּפָרָה.

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny Schoemann

Thursday, 18 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #1024 – One animal at a time

The Torah prohibits using different species of animals at the same time. This is called Kil'ay Beheimah. 

One may not pull a wagon with 2 different types of animals, e.g. a donkey and a horse. 

One may not ride in a wagon being pulled by 2 different types of animals. 

One may not even tie 2 different types of animals together to prevent them from escaping; this applies to birds as well. 

One may use a female and male of the same species as well as small and large animals of the same species. E.g. one could pull a wagon with a cow, a bull and a calf. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 175:2, 3, 5

- Danny
Sunday, 2 Shvat 5773

Halocho #824 - Kosher dog food?

There are 3 prohibitions regarding meat and milk:
- One may not eat them together
- One may not cook them together
- One may not derive any benefit from such a mixture

Some mixtures of meat and milk are forbidden even to be fed to one's pets.

From other mixtures of meat and milk one is allowed to derive benefit. A competent Rabbinic authority needs to be consulted on a case-by-case basis.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:5
- Danny
Tuesday, 12 Sivan 5771

Halocho #687 - May a worker go on a starvation diet?

In this week's Parsha we learn that Yaakov said to Lavan's daughters "with all my might I worked for your father".

All employees have to work to the best of their ability.

A worker may not fast (besides on obligatory fast days) nor go on a starvation diet, if that will have a negative effect on his work.

This includes teachers as well as any other paid employee.

If one hires out one's animals, then one may not work with them at night if that will tire them out the next day.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 185:6

- Danny
Wednesday, 3 Kislev 5771

Halocho #678 - Trees on Shabbat

Moving objects that are Muktza is not allowed on Shabbat. One may touch Muktza on Shabbat if it will not move.

However, one may not use a tree on Shabbat even if it is solid and will not move; one may not climb on it, nor hang from it.

One may not hang things onto trees on Shabbat, nor remove items hanging on trees.

One may not tie an animal by its leash to a tree on Shabbat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:60

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 20 Marcheshvan 5771

Please daven for the complete recovery of Rivka bat Tirtzel.

Halocho #673 - Breaking things on Shabbat

One should not break or cut items on Shabbat, with the exception of food.

Even items that are only fit for animals to eat may be cut or broken. Thus, one may break a piece of straw to make a toothpick.

One may rub or break spices in order to extract their fragrance, even if they are as hard as wood.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:59

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 13 Marchesvan 5771

Halocho #582 - Mosquitoes on Shabbat

One may not catch animals or bugs on Shabbat - hunting is one of the 39 forbidden categories of forbidden work.

One may not kill creatures on Shabbat - killing is another one of the 29 forbidden categories of forbidden work.

If an insect lands on one's body for the purpose of biting, it's permissible to remove it, taking care not to kill it.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:52

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 21 Sivan 5770

Halocho #573 - What's special about a firstborn Kosher animal?

If a Jew's Kosher animal that has never given birth gives birth to a male, the calf has Kedusha (some holiness) and needs to be given to a Cohen, even nowadays.

This first-born animal may not be used for any work, and its wool may not be sheared, nor used if it fell off.

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash (Temple) the animal is brought as a sacrifice, with most of the meat being eaten by the Cohen.

Nowadays the Cohen needs to keep it until it gets a permanent blemish, at which time anybody can help eat it. The Cohen may not blemish it.

It's a Mitzva to sell part of all first-time pregnant Kosher animals to a non-Jew so that the calf - if it's a male - will not have any Kedusha; avoiding the possibility of it not being treated properly.

Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 177

- Danny
Sunday, 10 Sivan 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for

 Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה

Halocho #562 - May one ride a mule?

The Torah forbids mating animals or birds of different species - this is part of Kil'ay Beheima which we started learning about yesterday.

However, there is no obligation to prevent them from mating naturally.

A mule is the hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. A hinny is the hybrid offspring of a male horse and a female donkey. The way to tell them apart is by their ears, tails and bray. (Yes. All this is from the Kitzur.)

One may not use a mule and a hinny together as they are considered as 2 distinct species.

If their ears, tails and bray are similar then one can assume they are both the same animal.

There is an opinion that one may not use a mule at all - not even for riding on - as one would be using 2 species simultaneously.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 175:1, 6

- Danny
Wednesday, 21 Iyar 5770 - 36th day of the Omer

Halocho#503 - May one feed the birds on Shabbat Shira?

House pets or any other animals that depend on you for their food, must be fed on Shabbat.

Animals that do not rely on you for their food may not be fed on Shabbat, and you may not even throw them leftovers, with the exception of stray dogs.

One may not feed pigeons as they are capable of fending for themselves.

The custom to put out grain for the birds on Shabbat Shira (this week) is incorrect as birds do not rely on humans for their food. (One may put out grain for them before Shabbat.)

Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 87:18

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 13 Shvat 5770

Halocho # 475 - Cruelty to animals

It’s a Torah prohibition to cause pain to animals – and a Mitzvah to prevent such pain and even cure animals (even if they don’t belong to a Jew).

One may not tie the legs of animals in such a way that they are in discomfort.

One may not sit a bird to roost on eggs from a different type of bird.

However, if an animal is causing harm to humans, or can be used to help cure humans then one may kill it (as humanely as possible) for we see that the Torah allows one to eat meat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 191:1, 3

- Danny
Monday, 4 Tevet 5770

Halocho #355 - When is gold like sand?

After slaughering a bird or a non-domestic animal (i.e. a "Chaya", for example a deer) one needs to cover its blood. This Mitzva of "Kisuy Hadam" does not apply to domestic animals ("Behemot") like cows, sheep and goats. It does apply to fowl. One needs to have sand on the floor before one slaughters. After slaughtering one puts other sand on top of the blood. Before covering the blood one makes a Bracha:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱ-לקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְווֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל כִּסּוּי הַדָּם

If one does not have sand or fine sawdust or something similar, one may use gold dust to cover the blood, since the Pasuk in Iyov (28:6) refers to gold as sand. Source: Rambam, Hilchot Shechita, Ch. 14 - Danny Wednesday, 2 Tamuz 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Naomi Malka bas Toiba Fradel

Halocho #349 - Calf and mother; can one eat them together?

It's a Torah prohibition to slaughter a calf and its mother on the same day.

It does not matter which animal was slaughtered first.

Even if the calf and its mother belong to 2 different people, it's still prohibited.

Even though it's prohibited, the meat of both animals is Kosher.

It does not matter how old the calf is.

One may slaughter a calf and its grandmother on the same day. If later on the same day one slaughters the mother/daughter, one transgresses 2 Torah prohibitions.

It's a debate if this prohibition applies to a calf and its father - even if one is 100% sure of the pedigree of the calf.

As in most of Jewish law, the day starts at sunset and ends the following day at dark.

There is no prohibition eating meat from a calf and its mother on the same day.

Source: Rambam, Hilchot Shechita (12:2)

- Danny Tuesday, 24 Sivan 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Chaya Uhdel Leah bat Shayna Yenta.

Halocho #347 - Must dogs eat Kosher food?

It's a Torah prohibition to cook meat and milk together.

This prohibition is only for milk and meat originating from Kosher animals.

Non-Kosher meat from a Kosher animal is also included. (A Kosher animal has split hooves and chews its cud.)

It's also a Torah prohibition to derive any benefit from such meat and milk that was cooked together.

If the ingredients of pet food include meat and milk, one has to ascertain they were not cooked together or were not from Kosher animals. Otherwise one may not feed such food to ones pets.

One may feed ones dogs non-Kosher meat and other non-Kosher food.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:5

- Danny Sunday, 22 Sivan 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Nathan ben Beila - נתן בן ביילא

Halocho #264 - Not feeding birds on Shabbat Shira

House pets or any other animals that depend on you for their food, may be fed on Shabbat.

Animals that do not rely on you for their food may not be fed, and you may not even throw them leftovers, with the exception of stray dogs.

One may not feed pigeons as they are capable of fending for themselves.

The custom to put out grain for the birds on Shabbat Shira (this week) is incorrect as birds do not rely on humans for their food. (One may put out grain for them before Shabbat.)

Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 87:18

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny Thursday, 11 Shvat 5769

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

Halocho #201 - How could I forget?

The Torah was given to us at Sinai in 2 parts: The Written Law (Torah) and The Oral Law (Mishna). Until the Mishna was written down less than 2,000 years ago, it was studied by-heart. Each student was expected to memorize the entire Oral Law. Since memorizing lots of Torah is important, the Kitzur mentions some things that are bad for your memory: - Be careful to dry your hands properly - and don't dry them on your clothes as it's bad for your memory. - Putting on 2 items of clothing at the same time is bad for your memory. - Eating the heart of animals and birds, and eating from that part of the food that a cat or mouse ate from, is bad for your memory. - Reading the inscription on tombstones if the letters are elevated (as opposed to engraved or flat), is bad for your memory. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 40:6, 3:5, 32:9, 128:13 - Danny Monday, 12 Marcheshvan 5769

Halocho #161 - When can one eat blood?

Last week's Torah Reading included numerous warnings against eating blood.

Kosher meat and fowl is kashered with coarse salt in order to remove as much blood as possible.

Since liver is full of blood, salting it is ineffective. Liver needs to be roasted over an open flame to remove as much blood as possible.

Blood spots in eggs may not be eaten, and usually the entire egg is discarded if it has a blood spot.

If a fish has fins and scales then it is Kosher, and its blood may be eaten. However, if the blood has separated from the fish and cannot be distinguished from non-fish blood then it's forbidden.

If a bowl of fish-blood has fish-scales floating in it, then it's permitted.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:1,2

With wishes for a year of health, happiness and success

- Danny Tuesday, 2 Elul 5768

Please daven for ESTHER DEVORA bat MINDEL RUTH - אסתר דבורה בת מינדל רות

Halocho #77 - What's special about a firstborn Kosher animal?

If a kosher animal that has never given birth - and belongs only to a Jew - gives birth to a male, the calf has Kedusha (some holiness) and needs to be given to a Cohen, even nowadays. This first-born animal may not be used for any work, and its wool may not be sheared, nor used if it fell off. In the time of the Bet Hamikdash (Temple) the animal would be brought as a sacrifice, with most of the meat being eaten by the Cohen. Nowadays the Cohen needs to keep it until it gets a permanent blemish, at which time anybody can help eat it. The Cohen may not blemish it. It's a Mitzva to sell part of all first-time pregnant kosher animals to a non-Jew so that the calf - if it's a male - will not have any Kedusha; avoiding the possibility of it not being treated properly. Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 177

Halocho #59 - May one ride a mule?

The Torah forbids mating animals and birds of different species - this is part of Kil'ay Beheimo. However there is no obligation to prevent them from mating naturally. A mule is the hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. A hinny is the hybrid offspring of a male horse and a female donkey. The way to tell them apart is by their ears, tails and bray. (Yes. All this is from the Kitzur.) One may not use a mule and a hinny together as they are considered as 2 distinct species. If their ears, tails and bray are similar then one can assume they are both the same animal. There is an opinion that one may not a mule at all - not even for riding on - as one would be using 2 species simultaneously. Source: KSA 175:1, 6

סימן קעה – הלכות כלאי בהמה

סעיף א - אסור להרכיב זכר על נקבה משני מינים, בין בבהמות בין בחיות בין בעופות ואפילו לגרום שירכיבו אסור. סעיף ו - פרד הוא הבא מן הסוס והחמור, ויש בו שני מינים, יש שאביו סוס ואמו חמורה, יש שאמו סוסיה ואביו חמור, והם כלאים זה בזה, ולכן הבא לקשור שתי פרדות, בודק בסימני אזנים וזנב וקול, אם דומין זה לזה בידוע שאמן ממין אחד ומותרים, ויש אומרים דאפילו פרד אחד הוי כלאים משום דבא משני מינים, ואסור לעשות בו מלאכה או לרכוב עליו.