Halocho #2394 - May one sew on Yom Tov?

All 39 categories of "creative work" that are forbidden to do on Shabbos are also forbidden on Yom Tov, with some notable exceptions:

• In order to prepare food for Yom Tov one may knead, cook, bake and shecht (ritually slaughter).
• One may carry outside - even without an Eruv - on Yom Tov, as long as it's for some purpose, even if it's not food-related.
• One may light a flame from an existing flame on Yom Tov if it's for some useful purpose, even if it's not food-related. However, one may not light a Yahrzeit candle on Yom Tov.
• One may grind those spices on Yom Tov that would lose their flavor if ground before Yom Tov.
• One may sew up stuffed chicken on Yom Tov, but the needle needs to be threaded before Yom Tov. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:1, 3, 15

כָּל מְלָאכָה שֶׁאֲסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ בַּשַׁבָּת, אָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ בְּיוֹם טוֹב.

וְאֵין בֵּין יוֹם טוֹב לְשַׁבָּת אֶלָּא אֹכֶל נֶפֶשׁ בִּלְבָד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, אַךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל לְכָל נֶפֶשׁ הוּא לְבַדּוֹ יֵעָשֶׂה לָכֶם, דְּהַיְנוּ, לִישָׁה, אֲפִיָּה, שְׁחִיטָה .וּבִשּׁוּל. וְהוֹצָאָה וְהַבְעָרָה מֻתָּרוֹת בְּיוֹם טוֹב גַּם שֶׁלֹּא לְצֹרֶךְ אֹכֶל נֶפֶשׁ, אֶלָּא לְצֹרֶךְ אַחֵר

תַּבְלִין שֶׁאִם יִטְחַן אוֹתָם קֹדֶם יוֹם טוֹב יָפִיגוּ טַעֲמָן, מֻתָּר לְדוּכָן בְּיוֹם טוֹב עַל יְדֵי שִׁנּוּי, כְּגוֹן שֶׁיַּטֶּה אֶת הַמַּכְתֶּשֶׁת לַצְּדָדִין אוֹ שֶׁיָּדוּךְ עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן וְכַיּוֹצֵא בוֹ.

מֻתָּר לִתְפּוֹר עוֹפוֹת שֶׁמְמַלְּאִין אוֹתָן, אַךְ צָרִיךְ לִזָּהֵר לְהַכְנִיס אֶת הַחוּט בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּחַט בְּעֶרֶב יוֹם טוֹב. וְאִם לֹא הִכְנִיסוֹ מֵעֶרֶב יוֹם טוֹב, אָסוּר לְהַכְנִיסוֹ בְּיוֹם טוֹב. לְאַחַר שֶׁתְּפָרוֹ, מֻתָּר לִשְׂרוֹף אֶת הַחוּט הַנִּשְׁאָר

- Danny Schoemann

Wednesday, 9 Nissan 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #2391 - Is burning Chametz wasteful?

The Torah forbids us to waste or destroy items that can still be used.

The Torah commands us to burn - or otherwise destroy - all Chametz in our possession on Erev Pessach morning.

Can we reconcile these 2 Halachot?

The Mitzva to destroy Chametz can be fulfilled with a bare minimum of Chametz; preferably with leftovers that nobody would be able to use. Usable Chametz can be donated to various charity organizations which will distribute it to the needy. 

That said, whatever Chametz is still in your possession mid-morning on Erev Pesach, needs to be burned.

Alternately, Chametz can be sold to a non-Jew. More about that tomorrow.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 114

יִשְֹרָאֵל שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ חָמֵץ שֶׁלּוֹ בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ בַּפֶּסַח, עוֹבֵר בְּכָל רֶגַע וְרֶגַע עַל בַּל יֵרָאֵה וּבַל יִמָּצֵא. וְהֶחָמֵץ אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה לְעוֹלָם, וַאֲפִלּוּ בִּטְּלוֹ קֹדֶם פֶּסַח. וְלָכֵן מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ הַרְבֵּה חָמֵץ שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְבַעֲרוֹ מִן הָעוֹלָם, צָרִיךְ לְמָכְרוֹ לְאֵינוֹ יְהוּדִי קֹדֶם הַפֶּסַח בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא עֲדַיִן מֻתָּר בַּהֲנָאָה.

- Danny Schoemann

Sunday, 6 Nissan 5770

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #819 - Ruth and Shavu'ot

This year - 5771 - Shavu'ot will start on Tuesday evening at sundown and end on Wednesday evening after dark.


Outside of Israel, Shavu'ot will end on Thursday evening after dark.


It is customary to read Megilat Ruth on Shavu'ot morning, between Hallel and the Torah Reading.


In Israel, Megilat Ruth will be read on Wednesday and in the Diaspora most places will read Megilat Ruth on Thursday.


Outside of Israel one has to remember to leave a flame burning (like a Yahrzeit candle or gas range) from before Yom Tov (Tuesday afternoon) so that one can light the 2nd day's Yom Tov candles.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 75, Orach Chaim 490:9

On Shavu'ot we celebrate the giving of the Torah. Help spread Torah learning by inviting your Jewish friends to our Halocho a Day group at http://tinyurl.com/HalDay

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

- Danny
Monday, 4 Sivan 5771 - 48th day of the Omer

Halocho #813 - Extinguishing fire on Yom Tov is forbidden

Extinguishing fire is forbidden on Shabbat and Yom Tov.

Even though one may light fire from an existing flame on Yom Tov, one may not extinguish fire on Yom Tov.

One may not even lower a flame on Yom Tov (nor on Shabbat).

On Yom Tov (and on Shabbat) one may not put a candle in a windy place so that it will blow out.

(Yom Kippour has the same status as Shabbat; one may not light nor extinguish fire on either.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98: 25

- Danny
Sunday, 25 Iyar 5771 - 40th day of the Omer

Halocho #812 - Fire on Shabbat and Yom Tov

One of the differences between Yom Tov and Shabbat is the laws of lighting fire.

On Shabbat one may not light fires, nor extinguish them nor make them larger or smaller. Fires need to be lit before Shabbat and then leave it alone.

On Yom Tov one may light a fire from an existing flame, if there's a need. One may also make the fire larger.

One may light a flame or make an existing flame larger for:

• Light, including "candle-lighting" if one didn't manage before Yom Tov.
• Cooking, baking or warming food
• Boiling water for drinking
• Keeping warm, if it's so cold that food starts to congeal
• Warming water to wash ones hands and face
One may not use matches nor a magnifying glass to light a fire on Yom Tov; one has to light the fire from an existing flame.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:29, 30, 31

This week is Shabbat Mevorchim of Sivan; Rosh Chodesh will be on Friday in 9 days time

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach
- Danny
Thursday, 22 Iyar 5771 - 37th day of the Omer

Halocho # 474 - Chanukah leftovers

Oil that was put in the Chanukah Menorah and was not burnt, as well as wicks that were used and candles that didn't burn fully should be burnt after Chanukah.

Since they were set aside for the Mitzva of Chanukah they cannot be used for any other purpose.

If one had the explicit intention to use the left-overs, then they need not be burnt.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:20

- Danny
Sunday, 3 Tevet 5770

Halocho # 464 - What happens if your Chanukah candles blow out?

A Chanukah Menorah must be lit such that it could burn for the required half hour.

If it didn't have enough oil, or the location was windy, then one has not fulfilled the Mitzva, and one must light them again. No Bracha is said the second time.

If it was not a windy place, and it unexpectedly blew out, the Mitzva has been fulfilled, though the Minhag is to light it again.

One cannot light one candle from another; one needs to use the Shamash or another source of fire.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:14

- Danny
Sunday, 19 Kislev 5770

Halocho # 453 - Getting drenched on Shabbat

If one gets caught in rain on Shabbat one can continue on home even if ones clothes are soaked; however one may not squeeze out the water.

Once one gets home and removes them, one may not hang them up to dry.

One may also not dry them by standing near a source a heat while wearing them.

The same applies to clothes that are soaked from sweat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:35

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny
Thursday, 2 Kislev 5770

Please daven for SARAH MIRIAM BAT TAMAR; a 7 year old currently in ICU due to a severe case of swine flu.

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 #327 - Firewood on Yom Tov

As we learnt, one may light fire from an existing flame on Yom Tov.

One may not chop wood on Yom Tov, not with an ax and not by hand.

On Yom Tov one may not collect firewood that is scattered.

On Yom Tov one should not use bellows, however the custom is to use non-commercial bellows by turning them upside-down.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:4

- Danny Sunday, 23 Iyar 5769, 38th day of the Omer

Please daven for a complete recovery for Nesanel Arye ben Tziporah Ester- a little baby with a tumor on his liver!

Halocho #320 - Extinguishing fire on Yom Tov is forbidden

Extinguishing fire is forbidden on Shabbat and Yom Tov.

Even though one may light fire from an existing flame on Yom Tov, one may not extinguish fire on Yom Tov.

One may not even lower a flame on Yom Tov (nor on Shabbat).

On Yom Tov (and on Shabbat) one may not put a candle in a windy place so that it will blow out.

(Yom Kippour has the same status as Shabbat; one may not light nor extinguish fire on either.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98: 25

- Danny Wednesday, 12 Iyar 5769, 27th day of the Omer

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

Halocho #319 - Fire on Yom Tov

One of the differences between Yom Tov and Shabbat is the laws of lighting fire.

On Shabbat one may not light fires, nor extinguish them nor make them larger or smaller. One needs to light the fire before Shabbat and then leave it alone.

On Yom Tov one may light a fire from an existing flame, if there's a need. One may also make the fire larger.

One may light a flame or make an existing flame larger for:

• Light, including "candle-lighting" if one didn't manage before Yom Tov.
• Cooking, baking or warming food
• Boiling water for drinking
• Keeping warm, if it's so cold that food starts to congeal
• Warming water to wash ones hands and face

One may not use matches nor a magnifying glass to light a fire on Yom Tov; one has to light the fire from an existing flame.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:29, 30, 31

- Danny Tuesday, 11 Iyar 5769, 26th day of the Omer

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

Halocho #318 - Is Yom Tov like Shabbat, regarding work?

With some exceptions, the laws of work on Shabbat and Yom Tov are identical. These exceptions are:

• Some aspects of food preparation
• Carrying in the public domain
• Lighting fires from an existing flame

We will go into more detail in the coming days. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:1 - Danny Monday, 10 Iyar 5769, 25th day of the Omer

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