Halocho #2368 - Be happy! Adar is here

Today - Monday - is the second day of Rosh Chodesh Adar-Bet and the first of the month. (Yesterday was the 30th of Adar-Alef)

One increases joy when Adar begins because Adar and (next month) Nissan historically have been full of miracles, including the redemption from Egypt and (nearly a millennium later) the miracle of Purim.

Adar is considered an auspicious month for the Jews.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:1

מִשֶׁנִּכְנַס אֲדָר, מַרְבִּים בְּשִׂמְחָה. וְיִשְֹרָאֵל שֶׁיֵשׁ לוֹ דִין וּדְבָרִים עִם גּוֹי, יִשָּׁפֵט עִמּוֹ בְּחֹדֶשׁ זֶה.

Chodesh Tov

- Danny
Monday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

 מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא 

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #783 - Moving homes on Chol HaMo'ed

One should not move one's furniture from one home to another on Chol HaMo'ed, with the following exceptions:

- Both homes are in the same complex and the furniture will not be carried into the street, or

- The 2 complexes have a common doorway and the furniture will not be carried into the street, or

- There's a financial loss involved in not moving, or

- One is moving from a rented home to one's own home, as this will increase one's joy on the holiday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 105:1

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 3 Nissan 5771

Halocho #762 - Why are we happy in Adar?

One increases joy when Adar begins because Adar and (next month) Nissan historically have been full of miracles, including the redemption from Egypt and (nearly a millennium later) the miracle of Purim.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch  141:1,
- Danny
Tuesday, 2 Adar II 5771

Halocho #738 - Happy times ahead

The 2 days of Rosh Chodesh Adar-I start on Thursday evening.

One increases joy when Adar begins. Adar is a good time to deal with court cases involving non-Jews.

I have not been able to establish if - during a leap year - the above is also valid for Adar-I (being the "real" Adar; the 12th month) or it only refers to the Adar closest to our joyous month of redemption (Nissan), viz. Adar-II.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:1

- Danny
Wednesday, 28 Shvat 5771

Halocho #711 - Long time no see

If one is happy when seeing a very dear friend (including spouses, parents, siblings and teachers) after not having seen them for 30 days, one makes the Bracha of Shehechiyanu:

"Blessed... who has kept us alive, sustained us and permitted us to reach this occasion."
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱ-לֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

 שֶׁהֶחֱיָינוּ וקִיְּמָנוּ והִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה

One can make this Bracha even if one received letters from them during this time.

If one has not seen them for more than 12 months one makes this Bracha instead:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱ-לֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים
"Blessed... who revives the dead".

This is because anything 12 months old is considered to be forgotten. Therefore, if one communicated with them - or received regards from them - during the past 12 months, one says Bracha of Shehechiyanu.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 59:20

- Danny
Sunday, 19 Tevet 5771

Please daven that Nathan ben Beila should have a successful operation tomorrow.

Halocho #185 - When should we say Kiddush Levana this month?

Kiddush Levana (the monthly blessing on the waxing moon) should be said when one is happy, and the 10 days of repentance are solemn days of introspection. Some people delay saying Kiddush Levana until Motzai Yom Kippour. One can say Kiddush Levana on Motzai Yom Kippour while still fasting since one is happy with the knowledge the Hashem has forgiven ones sins. This is unlike Motzai 9 B'Av when one has to first eat and put on shoes so as to end the mourning, before saying Kiddush Levana. Others prefer to say Kiddush Levana before Yom Kippour since every Mitzva counts towards tipping the scales in our favor to be granted a good year. Along the same lines some people buy their 4 Minim (Lulav, etc) before Yom Kippour. This week's Shabbat is known as "Shabbat Shuva" in honor of its Haftara which starts with the words "Shuva Yisrael"; Repent O Israel! It's customary for the Rabbi or some other dignitary to be given the Haftara of Shuva. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 130:5, 6 Shabbat Shalom - Danny Friday, Erev Shabbat Vayelech-Shuva, 4 Tishrei 5769

Halocho #109 - What Bracha does one make on Good News

Today - Thursday - is the 23rd day of the month of Sivan. Today - 2,362 years ago - was the day that Esther and Mordechai sent the second royal decree informing the Jews that they may defend themselves against Haman's original decree of total annihilation. When finding out joyous tidings or upon hearing good news from a reliable source, one says a Bracha. If it only affects oneself, then one says Shehechiyanu; "... who has kept us alive, sustained us and permitted us to reach this occasion."

ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם

שהחינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה

If it affects a group of people then one says Hatov Vehametiv; "..Who is Good, and bestows good."

ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם

הטוב והמטיב

If one cannot say the Bracha right away - due to an unclean location or hands - then one can say it later, as long as one still feel the joy. Even if the joyful event will probably cause one trouble at a later date, one still says the Bracha. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 59:1,3 - Danny

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Halocho #84 - Buying jewelery for Yom Tov

There's a Mitzva to honor the Yom Tov: - One should bath, cut nails and get a haircut before Yom Tov. - One shouldn't eat a meal during the second half of the afternoon on Erev Yom Tov so as not to spoil ones appetite for the festive evening meal.

- Yom Tov clothes should be nicer than Shabbat clothes

There's a Mitzva to be joyous on Yom Tov. This includes having 2 meals; one in the evening and one during the day. The meals start with Kiddush and should include meat and delicacies and should be more elaborate than on Shabbat. One should also provide the Neshomo (soul) with Yom Tov joy by learning some Torah (e.g. Yom Tov related Halochos) at every meal. There's a Mitzva to make others happy on Yom Tov: - Children should be given nuts and other treats. - Women should be given new clothes and jewelery. - The poor and unfortunate should be invited or provided with financial support. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:2,3,4,7 =================================== Please daven for the full recovery of Bentzion ben Masha Yehudit =================================== - Danny

Halacho #76 – Pessach starts on Purim

On the afternoon of the fast of Esther (today - Thursday), the custom is to give 3 halves of the local currency to charity. In Israel that would be 3 half-shekels, other places it would be three times 50 cents.

This commemorates the biblical half-shekel given yearly to buy the communal sacrifices during the time of the Bet Hamikdash – which today would be about US$ 15.-

This is besides the Matonos L’evyonium that are given to 2 poor people on Purim. (Each Matonos L’evyonium have the value of a small meal, e.g. a falafel, currently 12 NIS in Israel.)

The Purim meal should begin with a Dvar-Torah. Since Purim is 30 days before Pessach, the following is an appropriate Purim-meal Dvar-Torah:

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

This year (outside of Jerusalem and other walled cities) the Purim meal is on Friday and needs to start in the morning, so as not to spoil ones appetite for the Friday-night meal.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:5, 142:5. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 429:1

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The next Halocho a Day is planned for Monday

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Have a joyful Purim and a Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny, in Jerusalem

Halocho #67 - Mourning the Beis Hamikdash in Adar

The second Beis Hamikdosh was dedicated today - 3 Adar - some 2355 years ago. (Ezra 6: 15) After the destruction of the Temple, Chazal (the Sages of blessed memory) instituted that at all joyous occasions we remember the destruction, including: - At festive meals one should leave out one serving dish - A woman should not wear all her jewelery together - At the engagement a plate is broken - though it should be a damaged plate - At the wedding a glass cup is broken - The bride's veil shouldn't have gold or silver threads - The groom has ashes placed on his hair (where he places his Tefillin) before the wedding This way we fulfill the verse "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem...if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." (Psalms 137: 6-7) Source: Kitzur Shulchon Aruch 126:1-2

סימן קכו – לעשות זכר לחורבן

סעיף א - משחרב בית המקדש תקנו חכמינו זכרונם לברכה שבכל שמחה יהא בה זכר לחורבן כמו שנאמר אם אשכחך ירושלים וגו' אם לא אעלה את ירושלים על ראש שמחתי, וגזרו שלא יבנה לו ישראל בנין מסוייד ומצוייר כבנין המלכים. ולא יסיד את כל ביתו בסיד אלא טח ביתו בטיט וסד בסיד ומניח בו אמה על אמה כנגד הפתח בלא סיד כדי לזכור החורבן, ומה שלא נהגו כן עתה לא ידענו טעם ברור. סעיף ב - וכן תקנו שהעורך שלחן לעשות סעודה לאורחים אפילו סעודת מצוה לא יתן כל התבשילין הראויין לסעודה, וכן האשה לא תתקשט בכל תכשיטיה בפעם אחת, והחתן קודם חופתו נותנים אפר על ראשו במקום הנחת תפילין, והמכסה שמכסין בה את הכלה לא יהיו בה חוטי כסף או זהב, גם נוהגין שבשעת כתיבת התנאים אחר קריאתן שוברין קדרה לעשות זכר לחרבן אבל יש ליקח קדרה שבורה, ותחת החופה שובר החתן כלי זכוכית וזה יכול להיות כוס שלמה.

Halocho #66 - Why are we happy in Adar?

One increases joy when Adar begins because Adar and (next month) Nissan historically have been full of miracles, including the redemption from Egypt and (nearly a millennium later) the miracle of Purim. Boys and girls born this week will become Bar/Bat Mitzva three weeks before their friends born last week, since 2020 and 2021 have only a single Adar. As we learnt in Halocho #41, girls born 12 years ago during Adar will become Bat Mitzva this month; Adar-2. Since 13 years ago was also a leap year, boys born 13 years ago become Bar Mitzva this year during whichever Adar they were born in. Source: KSA: 141:1, 15:2

Halocho #24 - Honoring Parents

Honoring parents includes feeding them, clothing and covering them as well as accompanying them. All the above must be done cheerfully - as the attitude counts more than the actions; one gets punished for being dour around ones parents even if one treats them with delicacies. Source KSA 143:3

סעיף ג איזהו כבוד, מאכילו ומשקהו, מלביש ומכסה, מכניס ומוציא, ויתננו לו בסבר פנים יפות. שאפילו מאכילתו בכל יום פטומות, והראה לו פנים זועפים, נענש עליו.