Halocho #2372 - Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses; Moshe Rabeinu

According to most opinions, 7 Adar is the Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses - Moshe Rabeinu. 

Many Jewish Burial Societies [Chevra Kadisha] have their annual meeting on that day, including fasting and special prayers.

During leap years the Yahrzeit for somebody who passed away in a regular year is observed in the first Adar, and Kaddish is said again (if possible) during the second Adar.

Halachot related to Moshe Rabeinu:

When babies start talking one should teach them the verse "תּוֹרָה צִוָּה-לָנוּ, משֶׁה. מוֹרָשָׁה, קְהִלַּת יַעֲקב" and Shma Yisrael...", after ensuring that they are clean while being taught.

Moshe Rabeinu went up to Har-Sinai to get the 2nd set of Luchot on a Thursday and came down on a Monday, which is why these 2 days are auspicious for praying - and we therefore add the long "Vehu Rachum" prayer before Tachanun on these 2 days.

There's a limit as to how long one may mourn a deceased - but even for a great Torah scholar one may not mourn longer than 30 days, as nobody can be greater than our teacher Moshe for whom it is stated "and they mourned Moshe for 30 days".

Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 218:2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 165:10, 22:9, 215:1, 221:3

אֵלּוּ הַיָּמִים שֶׁאֵרְעוּ בָּהֶם צָרוֹת לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרָאוּי לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בָּהֶם...בְּז' בַּאֲדָר מֵת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ע''ה.

מִיָד כְּשֶׁהַתִּינוֹק מַתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר, יְלַמְּדוֹ הַפָּסוּק תּוֹרָה צִוָּה לָנוּ משֶׁה מוֹרָשָׁה וְגוֹ', וְכֵן פָּסוּק שְׁמַע יִשְֹרָאֵל וְגוֹ' (רַק יִזָּהֵר מְאֹד שֶׁיְהֵא הַתִּינוֹק נָקִי בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא מְלַמֵּד אוֹתוֹ)

בְּשֵׁנִי וּבַחֲמִשִּׁי לְפִי שֶׁהֵם יְמֵי רָצוֹן, כִּי בְּאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁל קַבָּלַת לוּחוֹת שְׁנִיּוֹת, עָלָה מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ בְּיוֹם ה', וְיָרַד בְּיוֹם בּ', לָכֵן מַרְבִּים בָּהֶם תַּחֲנוּנִים.

אֵין בּוֹכִין עָלָיו יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁלשִׁים יוֹם, דְּלָא עָדִיף מִמּשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, דִּכְתִיב בּוֹ, וַיִבְכּוּ בְנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אֶת משֶׁה וְגוֹ'. שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם.

וְאִם מֵת בְּשָׁנָה פְשׁוּטָה, אֲזַי בְּשָׁנָה מְעֻבֶּרֶת, יִתְעַנֶּה בַּאֲדָר רִאשׁוֹן, וְגַם בַּאֲדָר שֵׁנִי יֹאמַר קַדִּישׁ, אַךְ אַל יַסִּיג גְּבוּל אֲחֵרִים.

- Danny Schoemann

Sunday, 7 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #749 - Erev Purim Katan

Today (Thursday 13th Adar-I) Tachanun is not said at Mincha, since tomorrow (Friday) is Purim-Katan. (However, today is not the Fast of Esther; that applies in Adar-II only.)

On both days of Purim-Katan (Friday & Shabbat this year) one omits Tachanun, קל אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם (before the Torah reading on  Mondays & Thursday) and לַמְנַצֵּחַ (between אַשְׁרֵי  and וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן).

On Shabbat one omits אָב  הָרַחֲמִים  before Mussaf and צִדְקָתךָ  at Mincha.

One may not fast nor eulogize on these 2 days.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 142:10

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 13 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #748 - Is tomorrow a fast day?

In a non-leap year the 13th of Adar is Ta'anit Esther.

In leap years - like this year 5771 - תשע"א - we fast and celebrate Purim in Adar-II.

However, in Adar-I we mark the days as "Purim Katan".

One should eat a bigger meal to increase happiness on 14th of Adar-I. Even in "walled cities" where Shushan-Purim is celebrated (e.g. Jerusalem) this is done on 14th (not 15th) of Adar-I.

During Adar-I the Megila is not read, nor does one say עַל הַנִּסִּים.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 142:10

- Danny
Wednesday, 12 Adar-I 5771

Please daven for a complete recovery of 24 year old Michael Pinchas ben Frecha Fanny who suffered a brain haemorrhage

Halocho #740 - Mezuza checking

The Torah commands us to put a Mezuza on all our doorposts except for washrooms.

The Mezuza needs to be affixed to the top third of the doorpost - but not in the top 1 Tefach (~9 cm; 3.5").

Every Mezuza needs to be checked twice in seven years. 

A Mezuza on public buildings only needs to be checked twice in 50 years.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:5,17,25

Some have the custom of checking their Mezuzot in Adar-I; this is slightly more frequent than twice in seven years, but it's easy to remember.

- Danny
Sunday, 2 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #737 - When does one say Kaddish in a leap year?

This year - 5771 - is a Jewish leap year; the 12th month (starting on Shabbat) will be Adar-I and the 13th month will be Adar-II.

If a person dies during Adar in a non-leap year, then on leap years the Yahrzeit is observed during Adar-I.

However, Kaddish should be said in both Adar-I and Adar-II.

Nevertheless, in Adar-II he doesn't have the usual precedence given to a Yahrzeit; in places where only one person says Kaddish at a time, all other mourners get to say a Kaddish first, and if there are any left, he does too.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:3

- Danny
Tuesday, 27 Shvat 5771

Halocho #736 - Bat/Bar Mitzvas in a Jewish leap year

This year is a Jewish leap year; the 12th month (starting on Shabbat) will be Adar-I (or "Adar-Alef" or "Adar-Rishon") and the 13th month will be Adar-II (or "Adar-Bet" or "Adar-Sheni").

Girls and boys born in Adar (12 and 13 years ago) do not become Bat/Bar Mitzva until Adar II.

Girls born in either Adar-I or Adar-II this year will become Bat Mitzva in Adar, in 12 years time.

In 13 years time will again be a leap year, so boys born in either Adar-I or Adar-II this year will be Bar Mitzva on their "real" birthday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:2

- Danny
Monday, 26 Shvat 5771

Halocho #681 - It's going to be a long year

Some years the Jewish calendar have 12 months, the rest (7 out of 19) are leap-years with 13 months.

This year - 5771 - has 13 months; the 11th month - Shevat - is followed by Adar-I and then Adar-II. Purim is in Adar-II

Jewish months alternate between being 29 and 30 days long.

However, the months of Marcheshvan and Kislev sometimes both have 30 days (a full year), sometimes both have 29 days (a missing year) and sometimes follow the regular order with Marcheshvan having 29 days and Kislev 30.

As a result, Chanukah (which starts on 25 Kislev and lasts 8 days) sometimes ends on 2 Tevet and sometimes on 3 Tevet.

This year - 5771 - is a "full year" with both Marcheshvan and Kislev having 30 days.

Adar-I is always 30 days long, even though Shevat is 30 days long.

This year - 5751 - is 385 days long, a full 55 weeks. As a result, Pessach will once again start on Tuesday, and Rosh Hashana will once again be on Thursday-Friday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:4

- Danny
Tuesday, 25 Marcheshvan 5771

Halocho #510 - When does the younger boy become Bar Mitzva first?

Thirteen years ago - 1997 - תשנ"ז was a leap year - with an Adar-1 and an Adar-2

Boys born in both these months become Bar Mitzva next month - in Adar.

As a result, a boy born on the first day of Adar-2 5757 will become Bar Mitzva this Sunday, 29 days before the boy who was born 2 days before him on 29 Adar-1 5757.

A boy who was born on 30 Adar-1 should consult a competent Rabbinic authority how to proceed, as there's a dispute if he becomes Bar Mitzva on Rosh Chodesh Adar or Rosh Chodesh Nissan.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221, Lu'ach Dvar B'Itoh (30 Adar-1)

- Danny

Monday, 24 Shvat 5770

Halocho # 450 - How many days are there in Marcheshvan and Kislev?

Some years the Jewish calendar has 12 months, the rest (7 out of 19) are leap years with 13 months.

Jewish months alternate between being 29 and 30 days long.

However, the months of Marcheshvan and Kislev sometimes both have 30 days (a full year), sometimes both have 29 days (a missing year) and sometimes follow the regular order with Marcheshvan having 29 days and Kislev 30.

As a result, Chanukah (which starts on 25 Kislev and lasts 8 days) sometimes ends on 2 Tevet and sometimes on 3 Tevet.

This year is a "full" year; Marcheshvan has 30 days, Kislev has 30 days and Chanukah ends on 2 Tevet.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:4

Chodesh Tov

- Danny
Monday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Kislev, 29 Marcheshvan 5770

Halocho #278 - When the younger becomes Bat Mitzva first

12 years ago - 5757 - was a leap year on the Jewish calendar; the month of Adar was doubled. This year is not a leap year. Girls born 12 years ago in both Adar-I and Adar-II become Bat Mitzva on the same date this year in Adar. For example, a girl born 12 years ago on the 28th Adar-I will become Bat Mitzva in 4 weeks time, four weeks after her friend who was born 3 days later than her - on 1 Adar-II - who became Bat Mitzva today. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:2 Chodesh Tov! - Danny Wednesday, 1 Adar 5769 Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #215 - How many days are there in Marcheshvan and Kislev?

Some years the Jewish calendar has 12 months and some years (7 out of 19) are leap years with 13 months.

Jewish months alternate between being 29 and 30 days long.

However, the months of Marcheshvan and Kislev sometimes both have 30 days (a full year), sometimes both have 29 days (a missing year) and sometimes follow the regular order with Marcheshvan having 29 days and Kislev 30.

As a result, Chanuka (which starts on 25 Kislev and lasts 8 days) sometimes ends on 2 Tevet and sometimes on 3 Tevet.

This year is a "regular" year; Marcheshvan has 29 days, Kislev has 30 days and Chanuka ends on 2 Tevet.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:4

- Danny Sunday, 3 Kislev 5769

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

Halocho #41 - When is the "real" Adar?

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 valid for Adar 1 (being the "real" Adar; the 12th month) or it only refers to the Adar closest to our joyous month of redemption (Nissan), viz. 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. Girls born 12 years ago during Adar will not become Bat Mitzva until next month – Adar 2. If a person dies during a non-leap year in Adar then on leap years the Yahrzeit fast should be observed on Adar 1, and Kaddish should be said in both Adar 1 and Adar 2. However in Adar 2 he doesn’t have the usual preference given to a Yahrzeit, and in places where only one person at a time says Kaddish, then all other mourners get to say a Kaddish, and if there are any left, he does too. Source: KSA: 141:1, 15:2 and 221:3

משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה, וישראל שיש לו דין ודברים עם אינו יהודי ישפוט עמו בחודש זה. גדול, היינו שעברו לו שלש עשרה שנה ונכנס לשנת י"ד, (וסומכין על החזקה דמסתמא הביא ב' שערות) כגון שנולד בראש חודש ניסן, אינו נעשה גדול עד ראש חודש ניסן דהיינו בתחלת הלילה של ראש חדש ניסן לאחר י"ג שנים נעשה גדול, מי שנולד בחודש אדר, כשהיתה שנה פשוטה, וכשנעשה גדול השנה מעוברת, אינו נעשה גדול עד אדר שני, אבל אם נולד בשנה מעוברת באדר ראשון, נעשה גדול גם כן באדר ראשון. ואם כשנולד היתה שנה מעוברת, וכשנעשה גדול היא שנה פשוטה, בין שנולד באדר ראשון, בין שנולד באדר שני, נעשה גדול ביום זה באדר של עתה. ונמצא, כי לפעמים נער שנולד קודם לחבירו, יתאחר יותר להיות גדול, מחבירו שנולד אחריו, כגון שנולדו בשנה מעוברת, זה בכ' לאדר ראשון וזה בי' לאדר שני והשנה אשר נעשים גדולים, היא שנה פשוטה. אם מת בשנה מעוברת באדר ראשון או באדר שני, אזי בשנה פשוטה מתענה כן באדר, ובשנה מעוברת מתענה בזה האדר שמת, אם בראשון בראשון, ואם בשני בשני. מת בשנה פשוטה, אזי בשנה מעוברת יתענה באדר ראשון, וגם באדר שני יאמר קדיש אך אל יסיג גבול אחרים.