Halocho #2416 - Is a firstborn donkey holy?

The Torah says that a firstborn male donkey has Kedusha (some holiness) and may not be used until it is redeemed. How? By giving a Cohen either a sheep or a goat in its stead. 

The result is a donkey for the owner, and a sheep (or goat) for the Cohen, both without any Kedusha. 

The "redeeming" sheep or goat can be male or female, of any age and any physical condition as long as it's alive. 

If one does not want to redeem the firstborn donkey, the Torah instructs one to chop off its head and bury it. It is preferable to redeem it rather than killing it. 

A firstborn male donkey belonging to a Cohen or Levite does not need to be redeemed. (As opposed to a firstborn Kosher animal that has Kedusha even if belonging to a Cohen or Levite.) 

One should not sell (part of) first-time pregnant donkeys to a non-Jew, as one would be exempting oneself from a Mitzva, of either redeeming or killing it. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 178

יִשְֹרָאֵל שֶׁיֵשׁ לוֹ חֲמוֹרָה וְיָלְדָה בְכוֹר, מִצְוָה לִפְדוֹתוֹ. וּבַמֶּה פּוֹדֶה אוֹתוֹ. בְּשֶׂה מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים אוֹ מִן הָעִזִּים, בֵּין זָכָר בֵּין נְקֵבָה, בֵּין גָּדוֹל בֵּין קָטָן, בֵּין תָּם בֵּין בַּעַל מוּם, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא טְרֵפָה וְלֹא שָׁחוּט וְלֹא בֶּן פְּקוּעָה, וְיִתֵּן אֶת הַשֶּׂה לַכֹּהֵן. וּמֵאֵימָתַי חַיָב לִפְדוֹתוֹ. מִשֶׁיִוָּלֵד עַד שֶׁיָמוּת, אֶלָּא שֶׁמִּצְוָה לִפְדוֹתוֹ מִיָד, שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׁהוֹת אֶת הַמִּצְוָה. וּלְאַחַר שֶׁפָּדָה אוֹתוֹ, הֲרֵי הוּא בְּיַד הַיִשְֹרָאֵל חֻלִּין גְמוּרִים, וְגַם הַשֶּׂה הוּא בְיַד הַכֹּהֵן חֻלִּין גְמוּרִים.

מִיָּד כְּשֶׁהִפְרִישׁ אֶת הַטָּלֶה שֶׁיְהֵא תַּחַת פֶּטֶר הַחֲמוֹר, נַעֲשָׂה פֶּטֶר הַחֲמוֹר חֻלִין, אֲפִלּוּ קֹדֶם שֶׁנָּתַן אֶת הַטָּלֶה לַכֹּהֵן. לְפִיכָךְ מִיָד כְּשֶׁמַּפְרִישׁוֹ, מְבָרֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל פִּדְיוֹן פֶּטֶר חֲמוֹר.

קֹדֶם שֶׁנִּפְדֶּה, אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ נְתָנוֹ לַכֹּהֵן. גַּם הַכֹּהֵן אָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ, עַד שֶׁיִפְדֶּה אוֹתוֹ וְיִקַּח אֶת הַשֶּׂה לְעַצְמוֹ. וְאִם מֵת קֹדֶם שֶׁנִפְדָּה, יִקָּבֵר.

אִם אֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לִפְדוֹתוֹ, מַכֵּהוּ בְּקופִיץ בְּעָרְפּוֹ עַד שֶׁיָמוּת וְיִקְבְּרֶנּוּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה. וּמִצְוַת פְּדִיָה, קוֹדֶמֶת לְמִצְוַת עֲרִיפָה.

כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּם, פְּטוּרִים מִפֶּטֶר חֲמוֹר. וְכֵן בַּת כֹּהֵן וּבַת לֵוִי. אֲבָל בַּעֲלֵיהֶן, חַיָבִים בְּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר שֶׁלָּהֶם. וְֹשֻתָּפוּת כֹּהֵן וְלֵוִי וְכֵן שֻׁתָּפוּת גּוֹי, גַּם כֵּן פוֹטֶרֶת. אֲבָל אָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּתֵּף עִמָהֶם אוֹ לִמְכֹּר לָהֶם כְּדֵי לְהַפְקִיעַ קְדֹֻשָתוֹ, כֵּיוָן דְאֶפְֹשָר בִּפְדִיָה אוֹ בַעֲרִיפָה.

- Danny

Monday, 19 Iyar 5784 - 34th day of the Omer

 Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

 מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא לרפואה שלמה

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 #2393 - Why do the firstborns fast?

How do firstborns celebrate the fact that they were saved from the 10th plague - the smiting of Egyptian firstborns?

On Erev Pessach - this coming Monday - all firstborns will fast in memory of them fasting in Egypt on Erev Pessach, to ensure they wouldn't be punished along with the Egyptians in the 10th plague.

The Hallel said at the Seder includes praise for their delivery.

All firstborn males fast; even if they're only a firstborn to one of their parents.

Even firstborns who are exempt from Pidyon haBen - like Cohanim, Levites or being born after a stillborn - also have to fast.

The father of a young firstborn needs to fast for him.

Whether a firstborn (or his father) may attend a Se'udat Mitzva like a Siyum, Brit or Pidyon haBen and break his fast to participate in the meal, depends on local / family custom.

After breaking his fast, he can eat the rest of the day.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113:6

הַבְּכוֹרִים בֵּין בְּכוֹר לְאָב בֵּין בְּכוֹר לְאֵם, מִתְעַנִּים בְּעֶרֶב פֶּסַח, אֲפִלּוּ חָל בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת. וְגַם הַבָּא אַחַר הַנְּפָלִים, צָרִיךְ לְהִתְעַנּוֹת. וְכַל זְמַן שֶׁהַבְּכוֹר קָטָן, הָאָב מִתְעַנֶּה תַּחְתָּיו. בִּסְעוּדַּת מִצְוָה אִם מֻתָּרִים לֶאֱכוֹל, תַּלְיָא בְּמִנְהַג הַמְּקוֹמוֹת.

- Danny Schoemann

Tuesday, 8 Nissan 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #786 - Why do the firstborns fast?

Why don't firstborns celebrate the fact that they were saved from the 10th plague - the smiting of Egyptian firstborns?

On Erev Pessach - this coming Monday - all firstborns will fast in memory of them fasting in Egypt on Erev Pessach, to ensure they wouldn't be punished along with the Egyptians in the 10th plague.

The Hallel said at the Seder includes praise for their delivery.

All firstborn males fast; even if they're only a firstborn to one of their parents.

Even firstborns who are exempt from Pidyon haBen - like Cohanim, Levites or being born after a stillborn - also have to fast.

The father of a young firstborn needs to fast for him.

Whether a firstborn (or his father) may attend a Se'udat Mitzva like a Siyum, Brit or Pidyon haBen and break his fast to participate in the meal, depends on local / family custom.

After breaking his fast, he can eat the rest of the day.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113:6, 115:2

- Danny
Tuesday, 8 Nissan 5770

Halocho #751 - How much does a firstborn cost?

At the Pidyon HaBen ceremony the father has to give a Cohen 5 biblical Shekalim.

5 biblical Shekalim is about 117 grams of silver (3.77 troy ounces) with a value of about $123.- at yesterday's rate.

This value can be given in coins, or other goods.

Bank notes, checks, IOUs and property are not acceptable for a Pidyon HaBen.

If the Cohen wants, he can return the money to the father, after the ceremony, but he does not have to.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 164:1, 6

- Danny
Monday, 17 Adar-I 5771

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 #540 - Why do the firstborns fast?

Why don't firstborns celebrate the fact that they were saved from the 10th plague - the smiting of Egyptian firstborns?


On Erev Pessach - Monday next week - all firstborns will fast in memory of them fasting in Egypt on Erev Pessach, to ensure they wouldn't be punished along with the Egyptians in the 10th plague.

The Hallel said at the Seder includes praise for their delivery.

All firstborn males fast; even if they're only a firstborn to one of their parents.

Even firstborns who are exempt from Pidyon haBen - like Cohanim, Levites or being born after a stillborn - also have to fast.

The father of a young firstborn needs to fast for him.

Whether a firstborn (or his father) may attend a Se'udat Mitzva like a Siyum, Brit or Pidyon haBen and break his fast to participate in the meal, depends on local / family custom.

After breaking his fast, he can eat the rest of the day.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113:6, 115:2

- Danny
Tuesday, 8 Nissan 5770

Get the Ohr Sameach Pessach handbook at http://ohr.edu/pesachbook/pesach.pdf

Halocho #339 - Birkat Cohanim; the priestly blessing - who gets to wash the Cohen?

Parshat Naso includes the Mitzva of the priestly blessing; it's a Mitzva for the Cohanim to bless the Jews with the Bracha as written in the Torah:

יְבָרֶכְךָ ה', וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ יִשָּׂא ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

Before giving the blessing, the Cohanim remove their shoes.

Then they wash their hands - up to their wrists - from a cup, but do not say a Bracha on the washing.

It's the Levi's privilege to pour the water over the hands of the Cohanim.

If no Levi is present, a firstborn (from his mother; one who qualifies for Pidyon Haben) may wash the Cohanim's hands.

If no Levi and no firstborn is present, the Cohanim wash their own hands.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1, 5-6 - Danny Tuesday, 10 Sivan 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Yosef Zalman ben Tamar Yael - יוסף זלמן בן תמר יעל who has meningitis.

Halocho #301 - Why do the firstborns fast?

Why don't firstborns celebrate the fact that they were saved from the 10th plague - the smiting of Egyptian firstborns?

On Erev Pessach - Wednesday next week - all firstborns will fast in memory of them fasting in Egypt on Erev Pessach, to ensure they wouldn't be punished along with the Egyptians in the 10th plague.

The Hallel said at the Seder includes praise for their delivery.

All firstborn males fast; even if they're only a firstborn to one of their parents.

Even firstborns who are exempt from Pidyon haBen - like Cohanim, Levites or being born after a stillborn - also have to fast.

The father of a young firstborn needs to fast for him.

Whether a firstborn (or his father) may attend a Se'udat Mitzva like a Siyum, Bris or Pidyon haBen and break his fast to participate in the meal, depends on local / family custom.

After breaking his fast, he can eat the rest of the day.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113:6, 115:2

- Danny Tuesday, 6 Nissan 5769

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

Halocho #98 – Should one use a candle for Bedikas Chometz?

Tonight- Thursday night - one may not do any work, nor eat anything, until one has checked the house for Chometz. (Firstborns who fasted may break their fast if needed, but may not eat a meal.) The entire house needs to be cleaned, and the Chometz that one plans to use until mid-morning on Shabbos needs to be put in a secure place, before one starts searching the house for Chometz. First one says the Brocho “… Al Bi’ur Chometz” – “… to destroy Chometz”, since the point of the search is to rid the house of Chometz. After the search is complete one says “Kol Chamiro” declaring that all Chometz one isn’t aware of to be “ownerless and worthless like dust”. This declaration constitutes a Halachic “destroying Chometz”, which is why one shouldn’t interrupt between the Brocho, the searching and the Kol Chamiro 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 Havdolo 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 Chometz 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 Chometz. 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 safely and calmly search without fear of burning down the house. Source: Rabbi Shimon Eider zt”l, Halachos of Pessach, Vol. 1, page 86 Wishing everybody a meaningful and enjoyable Pessach - Danny 12 Nissan 5768 P.S. The next Halocho a Day will be sent out soon after Pessach

Halocho #97 - Why do the firstborns fast?

Why don't firstborns celebrate the fact that they were saved from the 10th plague - the smiting of Egyptian firstborns? Tomorrow - Thursday - firstborns will fast in memory of them fasting in Egypt on Erev Pessach, to ensure they wouldn't be punished along with the Egyptians in the 10th plague. The Hallel said at the Seder includes praise for their delivery. The fast is usually on Erev Pessach; since we don't fast on Shabbat, and fasting on Friday is also not a pleasant way to greet Shabbat, so the fast was advanced to Thursday. All firstborns males fast; even if they're only a firstborn to one of their parents. Even firstborns who are exempt from Pidyon haBen - like Cohanim, Levites or being born after a stillborn - also have to fast. The father of a young firstborn needs to fast for him. Whether a firstborn (or his father) may attend a Se'udat Mitzva like a Siyum, Bris or Pidyon haBen and break his fast to participate in the meal, depends on local / family custom. Once he breaks his fast he can eat for the rest of the day. A firstborn may break his fast after nightfall, before doing Bedikas Chometz, if needed. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 113:6, 115:2 - Danny 11 Nissasn 5768

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