Halocho #833 - Transporting Kosher food

Kosher meat that is given to a non-Jew to store or transport, needs 2 seals, to ensure it's not tampered with.

The same applies to wine that is not cooked and to fish that no longer have their scales attached.

Cooked wine, wine-vinegar, milk, bread and cheese only need one seal.

The above applies whether a non-Jew involved, or a Jew who cannot be trusted to keep Kosher.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:16
- Danny Schoemann
Monday, 25 Sivan 5771

Halocho #825 - You eat meat, I'll eat milk

Two acquaintances are not allowed to share the same table, if one is eating a meat meal and the other is eating a milky meal.

This applies to friends, family and even casual acquaintances who wouldn't feel comfortable sharing their food.

If there is some sort of separation on the table, then they are allowed to share the table. For example, if they each have their own place mat, or there is something between them on the table that normally is not on the table, E.g.: food (bottle of whiskey) or vessels (vase or extra salt cellars).

They should not share the same cup, pitcher or bottle, since food can get stuck on it and passed from one to the other.

They also should not be sharing the same loaf of bread. The custom is that they do not even share the same salt cellars.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:6, 7
- Danny
Wednesday, 13 Sivan 5771

Halocho #727 - Which Bracha comes first?

Thursday will be Tu B'Shvat and customarily lots of fruit will be served.

Which fruit should you choose as the one to hold in your right hand and make the Bracha on?

- If one has a favorite fruit and it's being offered, it should be used to make the Bracha. 
- If one has no preference then one of the "7 species" has preference.
- If there are none of the 7 species, then one should pick a whole fruit, as opposed to a cut one.
- A Boreh Pri Ha'Etz has precedence over Boreh Pri Ha'Adama (e.g. strawberries and bananas).

The 7 species are (in order of Bracha-precedence): Bread from wheat, Cakes from wheat, Wine, Olives, Barley (baked or cooked), Dates, Grapes (in solid form), Figs, Pomegranates

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 55:1 - 3

- Danny
Tuesday, 13 Shvat 5771

Please daven for Asher ben Gohar and David ben Mashiah for a complete recovery

Halocho# 501 - Which Bracha comes first?

Shabbat will be Tu B'Shvat and customarily lots of fruit will be served.

Which fruit should you choose as the one to hold and make the Bracha on?

- If one has a favorite fruit and it's being offered, it should be used to make the Bracha on.

- If one has no preference then one of the "7 species" has preference.

- If there are none of the 7 species, then one should pick a whole fruit, as opposed to a cut one.

- A Boreh Pri Ha'Etz has precedence over Boreh Pri Ha'Adama (e.g. strawberries and bananas)

The 7 species are (in order of Bracha-precedence): Bread from wheat, cakes from wheat, Wine, Olives, Barley (baked or cooked), Dates, Grapes (in solid form), Figs, Pomegranates

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 55:1 - 3

- Danny
Tuesday, 11 Shvat 5770

Halocho#495 - Eating bread without water

Even when travelling, one needs to wash both hands with a cup of water before eating bread.

If there's water within 4 Km in the direction one is travelling, or 1Km behind one, then one has to go wash one's hands properly.

If one is scared to leave one's travelling companions, or if one cannot find water to wash before eating bread, one can cover one's hands or wear gloves.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 40:14

- Danny
Monday, 3 Shvat 5770

Halocho # 477 - When does the fast start on Sunday?

On Sunday will be the fast of 10 B'Tevet.

No eating and drinking is allowed from dawn to nightfall.

One may eat before dawn if one had the intention of doing so before one went to bed the night before.

If one always drinks when one gets up, then one can drink before dawn even of one didn't think about it when going to bed.

Pregnant and nursing mothers as well as people who aren't feeling well do not need to fast if fasting will cause them discomfort.


Those who may eat, as well as children, should not indulge in food. If possible they should limit themselves to bread and water.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:8, 8

- Danny
Wednesday, 6 Tevet 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for 4 year old Avraham Moshe ben Miriam Tova who has cancer that spread to his brain and spine.

Halocho #380 - May one wear shoes at The Final Meal

The "Seudat Mafseket - final meal" before the fast of 9 B'Av - is eaten while seated on the floor. However, one may wear ones leather shoes during this meal. It typically consists of only a cold hard boiled egg and bread which is dipped into ashes. (One does not have to eat the ashes.) This meal must end before sunset. Before this meal one may eat a regular meal. One does not wear leather shoes on the fast of 9 b'Av, and therefor one must remove them before sunset - Wednesday afternoon this year. One may wear shoes that have no leather in them; cloth, rubber and wood are OK. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 123:3, 5 - Danny Wednesday, 8 Av 5769

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

Halocho #370 - 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. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 124:6 - Danny Wednesday 23 Tamuz 5769

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

Halocho #346 - Can a husband separate Challa?

In Parshat Shlach (the Torah Reading this week in Israel, next week in the Diaspora) we learn about the Mitzva of separating Challa from dough made from any of the 5 types of grain: wheat, barley, oats, spelt or rye.

Challa should be separated before the dough is baked; one may not eat the dough before separating Challa.

If Challa was not separated before the dough is baked, then the baked goods are forbidden to be eaten until Challa is separated from them.

The Mitzva of separating Challa rightfully belongs to the housewife.

However, if waiting for the housewife would cause the dough to spoil, then anybody above Bar/Bat Mitzva may separate Challa.

The piece of Challa that was separated should be burnt.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35

Since nowadays we don't have fires readily available, my Rabbi suggested we freeze the Challa (in a well marked container that nobody should eat from it) and whenever there's a bonfire (Lag B'Omer and Erev Pessach) we should burn the accumulated Challa.

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny Thursday, 19 Sivan 5769

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

Halocho #305 – Should one use a candle for Bedikat Chametz?

On Tuesday night one may not do any work, nor eat anything, until one has checked the house for Chametz.

Before one starts searching the house for Chametz the entire house needs to be cleaned, and the Chametz that one plans to use until mid-morning on Wednesday morning needs to be put in a secure place.

First one says the Bracha "אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל בִּעוּר חָמֵץ" – "… to destroy Chametz", since the point of the search is to rid the house of Chametz.

After the search is complete one says “Kol Chamira” declaring that "all Chametz one isn’t aware of " to be “ownerless and worthless like dust”.

This declaration constitutes a Halachic “destroying Chametz”, which is why one shouldn’t interrupt between the Bracha, the searching and the Kol Chamira with anything not related to the search.

One may appoint other members of the household to help with the search, as long as they are over Bar/Bat Mitzva.

The search is done using a single candle which provides the optimal light for searching. A torch (like a Havdala candle) is not allowed – as it’s a fire hazard and it gives a flickering light – and if it was used one needs to redo the search.

Search under all furniture, inside all closets, pockets of all clothes worn in the past year, schoolbags, purses, cars and anywhere else where Chametz could have been placed accidentally or purposely by adults, children or toddlers.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 111:1-10

There is no need to turn off the electric lights while searching with a candle, since with more light it’s easier to find Chametz.

After searching with a candle in those places where it’s safe and convenient to do so, one should continue with a flashlight, so that one can search safely and calmly without fear of burning down the house.

Source: Rabbi Shimon Eider zt”l, Halachos of Pessach, Vol. 1, page 86

- Danny Monday, 12 Nissan 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Liora Tamar bat Libah - ליאורה תמר בת ליבה

Halocho #263 - Which Bracha comes first?

Monday will be Tu B'Shvat and customarily lots of fruit will be served.

Which fruit should you choose as the one to hold and make the Bracha on?

- If one has a favorite fruit and it's being offered, it should be used to make the Bracha on. - If one has no preference then one of the "7 species" has preference. - If there are none of the 7 species, then one should pick a whole fruit, as opposed to a cut one. - A Boreh Pri Ha'Etz has precedence over Boreh Pri Ha'Adama (e.g. strawberries and bananas)

The 7 species are (in order of Bracha-precedence): Bread from wheat, cakes from wheat, Wine, Olives, Barley (baked or cooked), Dates, Grapes (in solid form), Figs, Pomegranates

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 55:1 - 3

- Danny Wednesday,10 Shvat 5769

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

Halocho #256 - Eat! it's Rosh Chodesh

It's a Mitzva to eat a bigger meal on Rosh Chodesh.

There is no obligation to eat bread on Rosh Chodesh.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:2

Chodesh Tov!

- Danny Monday, Rosh Chodesh Shvat 5769

Halocho #237 - Look after the crumbs

Throwing away crumbs is bad for ones livelihood - and can cause poverty.

One should gather them up and give them to the birds.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 42:11

- Danny

 Tuesday, 3 Tevet 5769

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

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

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Halocho #123 - who needs to fast on Sunday?

Nearly everybody above Bar/Bat Mitzva needs to fast on this coming Sunday.

Pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting.

Anybody who isn't healthy shouldn't fast. When in doubt, consult your LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi).

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.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:9

- Danny

Wednesday, 13 Tamuz 5768

Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה - who is undergoing chemotherapy

Halocho #105 - Who gets to separate Challa?

In this weeks Parsha we learn about the Mitzva of separating Challa from dough made from any of the 5 types of grain: wheat, barley, oats, spelt or rye. Challa should be separated before the dough is baked. If this was not done then the baked goods are forbidden to be eaten until Challa is separated from them. The Mitzva of separating Challa rightfully belongs to the housewife. However, if waiting for the housewife would cause the dough to spoil, then anybody above Bar/Bat Mitzva take Challa. The piece of Challa that was separated should be burnt. Since nowadays we don't have fires readily available, my Rabbi suggested we freeze the Challa (in a well marked container that nobody should eat from it) and whenever there's a bonfire (Lag B'Omer and Erev Pessach) we should burn the accumulated Challa. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35 Shabbat Shalom - Danny

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Please daven for a little girl

TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה

who is undergoing chemotherapy

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Halocho #81 - Eating before Mussaf

If one makes Kiddush after Shacharis, before praying Mussaf, then one should eat no more than a Kezayit (size of an egg - 28cc) of bread or cake. One can eat unlimited amounts of fruit. If one wants to eat only fruit, then one has to drink a mouthful of Kiddush wine and another Revi'is (86cc) of wine. A Cohen who is going to do Birkas Cohanim (bless the congregation) in Mussaf, must hear Kiddush from another person, as he is not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages before Birkas Cohanim . Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:15, 100:3 Reminer: This week is Parshas Para. Shabbat Shalom, - Danny =========================================== Please daven for the Refu'a Shleimah of Eliezer Mordechai ben Chaya Sheina Rochel ===========================================

Halocho #35 – Washing with Snow

If no cup is available for washing ones hands, one can immerse them into a river or into snow, if there's enough snow on the ground to fill a mikve. (About 350 litres/90 gallons.) This applies to washing three times after arising as well as before eating bread. Sources: KSA 2:6, 40:7