Halocho #2376 - Destroy and remember

This Shabbat - the one before Purim - is Parshat Zachor, פָּרָשַׁת זָכוֹר.

A second Sefer Torah is taken out to read פָּרָשַׁת זָכוֹר and for Maftir we read about the obligation to annihilate the nation of Amalek and remember their wickedness. 

There is an opinion that it's a Torah obligation to hear Parshat Zachor being read in shul this week, and if you don't have a Minyan near home you need to go to a town with a Minyan for this Shabbat. 

If a Minyan cannot be found, Parshat Zachor should be read even without a Minyan.

For the Haftara we read the story of King Saul's attempt to fulfill the Mitzva of annihilating Amalek. (Shmuel-1 Ch. 15) 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2, 3

שַׁבָּת שֶׁלִפְנֵי פּוּרִים הוּא שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת זָכוֹר. וְהַשַׁבָּת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן, הִיא שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת הַחֹדֶשׁ. וְאִם חָל רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ בַּשַׁבָּת, אָז הִיא פָּרָשַׁת הַחֹדֶשׁ, וְדִינָהּ כְּמוֹ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר שֶׁחָל בַּשַׁבָּת. וְהַשַׁבָּת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי פָּרָשַׁת הַחֹדֶשׁ, הִיא שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת פָּרָה.

יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, כִּי פָּרָשַׁת זָכוֹר וּפָרָשַׁת פָּרָה, חַיָבִים לִקְרוֹתָן מִדְּאוֹרַיְתָא, וְאֵין קוֹרִין בָּהֶם קָטֹן לַמַּפְטִיר. וּבְנֵי הַיִשׁוּבִים שֶאֵין לָהֶם מִנְיָן, צְרִיכִין שֶׁיָבוֹאוּ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵשׁ בּוֹ מִנְיָן. וְאִם אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָהֶם, לְכָל הַפָּחוֹת יִקְרְאוּ אוֹתָן בִּנְגִינוֹת כָּרָאוּי.

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny Schoemann

Thursday, Fast of Esther, 11 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #2374 - How do we publicize the miracle of Purim?

One of the Mitzvot of Purim is hearing Megilat Esther being read at night and again in the morning.

One needs to hear every single word to fulfill this Mitzva.

The Megila should be heard in a shul if possible; the bigger the crowd the bigger the publicity of the miracle.

Everybody needs to hear the Megila including men, women and children old enough to attend without disturbing.

The reading needs to be done from a Kosher Megila; one that is handwritten by a Sofer on parchment.

The entire Megila - some 20 columns in a standard edition - is unrolled and folded like a letter before it is read.

Three Brachot are recited before the Megila is read (both in the evening and the morning) and a single one after the reading.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:7, 9, 10, 11

חַיָב כָּל אָדָם, בֵּין אִישׁ בֵּין אִשָּׁה, לִשְׁמֹעַ קְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה בַּלַיְלָה וּבַיוֹם. וְלָכֵן גַּם הַבְּתוּלוֹת, יֵשׁ לָהֶן לָלֶכֶת לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת. וְאִם אֵינָן הוֹלְכוֹת, צְרִיכִין לִקְרוֹת לִפְנֵיהֶן בַּבָּיִת. וְגַם אֶת הַקְּטַנִים חַיָבִים לְחַנֵּךְ אוֹתָם שֶׁיִשְׁמְעוּ קְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה. וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם לֹא יָבִיאוּ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת קְטַנִּים בְּיוֹתֵר, שֶׁמְּבַלְבְּלִים דַּעַת הַשּׁוֹמְעִים.

מִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר לִשְׁמוֹעַ אֶת הַמְּגִלָה בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵשׁ רֹב אֲנָשִׁים, מִשּׁוּם דִּבְרָב עָם הַדְרַת מֶלֶךְ. וּלְכָל הַפָּחוֹת יִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִשְׁמֹעַ אוֹתָהּ בְּמִנְיַן עֲשָׂרָה. וְאִם אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִקְרוֹתָהּ בְּמִנְיָן, יִקְרָא אוֹתָהּ כָּל יָחִיד מִתּוֹךְ מְגִלָּה כְּשֵׁרָה עִם הַבְּרָכוֹת שֶׁלְּפָנֶיהָ.

מִנְהָג בְּכָל יִשְֹרָאֵל, שֶהַקּוֹרֵא אֵינוֹ קוֹרֵא מִתּוֹךְ מְגִלָּה כְּרוּכָה, אֶלָּא פּוֹשֵׁט אוֹתָהּ וְכוֹפְלָהּ דַּף עַל דַּף כְּמוֹ אִגֶּרֶת, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת אִגֶּרֶת הַפּוּרִים, אֲבָל הַשׁוֹמְעִים, אֵינָם צְרִיכִים לְפָשְׁטָהּ.

הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת הַמְּגִלָּה, בֵּין בַּיוֹם בֵּין בַּלַּיְלָה, מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ שָׁלֹשׁ בְּרָכוֹת, עַל מִקְרָא מְגִלָּה, שֶעָשָׂה נִּסִּים, וְשֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ. וּלְאַחַר קְרִיאָתָהּ, כּוֹרְכָהּ כֻּלָהּ וּמַנִּיחָהּ לְפָנָיו, וּמְבָרְכִין בִּרְכַּת הָרָב אֶת רִבֵנוּ וְכוּ'. אִם אָבֵל קוֹרֵא אֶת הַמְגִלָּה, יְבָרֵךְ אַחֵר אֶת הַבְּרָכוֹת, מִשׁוּם בִּרְכַּת שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ.

- Danny Schoemann

Tuesday, 9 Adar-2 5784

Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּיילָא

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #1003 - When do we light the Menora on Erev Shabbat?

On Friday afternoon one lights the Chanuka Menora before lighting Shabbat candles. One can light as early as 75 Halachic minutes before sunset. (15:34 in Jerusalem, this year.)

If possible, one should daven an early Mincha so as to light the Menora after Mincha.

One must start lighting the Menora early enough to be able to light Shabbat candles at the regular time.

On Friday one needs longer candles or more oil to ensure the Menora will be lit until 30 minutes after dark.

If lighting near a doorway, one needs to ensure that opening the door will not extinguish the Menora. If needed one should put a non-flammable partition between the Menora and the door.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:17

Reminder: Thursday night and Friday is Rosh Chodesh; don't forget to add both יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא and עַל הַנִּסִּים to the Birkat HaMazon and the Amida.

On Shabbat we will take out 2 Sifrei Torah:
- In the first Sefer Torah we call up [at least] 7 people for the weekly portion - מִקֵּץ .
- Maftir is read from the 2nd Sefer Torah and is for Chanuka - בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי from Parshat נָשֹׂא .

The Haftara this week is the Chanuka one (רָנִּי וְשִׂמְחִי בַּת צִיּוֹן from Zecharia 2:14).

Review: On Motzai Shabbat - the last night of Chanuka this year - one first makes Havdalah and then lights the Chanuka Menora.

In Shul - on Motzai Shabbat - the Menora is lit after the full-Kaddish - before וְיִתֶּן לְךָ (after ensuring that it's already Motzai Shabbat if one started prayers early).
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:18

Some have the custom of lighting the Menora before making Havdala, since one already heard Havdala in shul. (Source: רמ"א 581:2)

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny,
Thursday, 5th day of Chanuka, Erev Rosh Chodesh Tevet 5773

Halocho #989 - When is Chanukah this year?

The 8 days of Chanukah always start on the 25th of Kislev; the first candle being lit on the evening before.

This year Chanukah starts on Sunday, 9th December 2012. We will light the first flame on Motzai Shabbat VaYeshev.

A week later - (Motzai Shabbat Miketz, 15th Dec) we will light all 8 flames for the 8th day of Chanuka.

On Motzai Shabbat one first makes Havdalah and then lights the Chanukah Menorah.

In Shul - on Motzai Shabbat - the Menorah is lit after the full-Kaddish - before וְיִתֶּן לְךָ (after ensuring that it's already Motzai Shabbat if one started prayers early).

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:18

Some have the custom of lighting the Menorah before making Havdala, since one already heard Havdala in shul. (Source: רמ"א 581:2)

- Danny
11 Kislev 5773

Halocho #895 - What should I think about when hearing the Shofar?

The blast of the Shofar should remind us to awaken from our spiritual slumber and start taking our Torah study and Mitzvah observance seriously.

Hearing the Shofar being blown on Rosh Hashanah is a Torah commandment!

This crucial detail should not be forgotten when reflecting on the various symbolic reasons given for Shofar blowing.

One should not talk after hearing the Brachah on the Shofar until after hearing 100 blasts from the Shofar so as not to interrupt between the Bracha and fulfilling the Mitzvah as prescribed by Chazal. This means not talking until after Mussaf.

(As a general rule one shouldn't ever talk during prayer services. On Rosh Hashanah there's another reason why not to so.)

At a minimum one should be careful not to talk after the Bracha until hearing the first set of 30 Shofar blasts.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 129:15

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year with lots of time to learn Torah,

- Danny
Sunday, 26 Elul 5771

Halocho #871 - When to get up in the morning

If possible, one should awaken at midnight and say Tikun Chatzot; lamenting the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash and the resultant loss of Torah learning as well as the numerous Mitzvot we can no longer do.


If getting up at midnight is not an option, one should get up before dawn to say Tikun Chatzot.


After Tikun Chatzot one should learn some Torah; Mishna or Tehillim or Mussar. 


At the very latest one needs to awaken in time to get to shul before they start morning prayers.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:5

- Danny
Monday, 22 Menachem Av 5771

Halocho #766 - How do we publicize the miracle of Purim?

One of the Mitzvot of Purim is hearing Megilat Esther being read at night and again in the morning.

One needs to hear every single word to fulfill this Mitzva.

The Megila should be heard in a shul if possible; the bigger the crowd the bigger the publicity of the miracle.

Everybody needs to hear the Megila including men, women and children old enough to attend without disturbing.

The reading needs to be done from a Kosher Megila; one that is handwritten by a Sofer on parchment.

The entire Megila - some 20 columns in a standard edition - is unrolled and folded like a letter before it is read.

Three Brochos are recited before the Megila is read (both in the evening and the morning) and a single one after the reading.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:7, 9, 10, 11

- Danny
Monday, 8 Adar-II 5771

Halocho #706 - The Chanukah Menorah in shul

In order to publicize the miracle of Chanuka, the Menora is lit - with the correct Brachot - in the synagogue, between Mincha and Ma'ariv.

The person who lit the Menora in shul has to light again at home, with the correct Brachot.

A mourner should not light the Menora in shul on the first night of Chanuka, since it's inappropriate for him to say "Shehechiyanu" in public. At home a mourner does say "Shehechiyanu" on the first night.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:15

Chodesh Tov! Don't forget Ya'aleh Veyavo and Al Hanisim in the Amida and Birkat Hamazon.

- Danny
Tuesday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Tevet, 5771

Halocho #662 - First Aid

"When a member of one's household is unwell, one should go to a Rabbi and ask him to pray for mercy" is what Rav Pinchas bar Chama taught us in Bava Basra (116a) based on a verse in Mishlei (17:14).

It's customary to also give charity to the poor, since "Repentance, Prayer and Charity abolish evil decrees".

The custom is to make a special "Mi Sheberach" prayer in the synagogue for the patient; even on Shabbat, if the condition is life threatening.

In extreme cases, the patient's name is changed (usually by adding another name), as this is another effective way of abolishing evil decrees against a person.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 192:2

- Danny
Wednesday, 28 Tishrei 5771

Halocho #523 - Destroy and remember

This Shabbat - the one before Purim - is Parshat Zachor.

There is an opinion that it's a Torah obligation to hear Parshat Zachor being read in shul this week, and if you don't have a Minyan near home you need to go to a town with a Minyan for this Shabbat.

If a Minyan cannot be found, Parshat Zachor should be read even without a Minyan.
A second Sefer Torah is taken out and for Maftir we read about the obligation to annihilate the nation of Amalek and remember their wickedness.

For the Haftara we read the story of King Saul's attempt to fulfill the Mitzva of annihilating Amalek. (Shmuel-1 Ch. 15)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 140:2, 3

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, Fast of Esther, 11 Adar 5770

Halocho #520 - How do we publicize the miracle of Purim?

One of the Mitzvot of Purim is hearing Megilat Esther being read at night and again in the morning.

One needs to hear every single word to fulfill this Mitzva.

The Megila should be heard in a shul if possible; the bigger the crowd the bigger the publicity of the miracle.

Everybody needs to hear the Megila including men, women and children old enough to attend without disturbing.

The reading needs to be done from a Kosher Megila; one that is handwritten by a Sofer on parchment.

The entire Megila - some 20 columns in a standard edition - is unrolled and folded like a letter before it is read.

Three Brochos are recited before the Megila is read (both in the evening and the morning) and a single one after the reading.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Oruch 141:7, 9, 10, 11

- Danny
Monday, 8 Adar 5770

Halocho #511 - Kaddish when there are 2 Torah scrolls

On a regular Shabbat, a Kaddish is said after reading the Parsha, before the Maftir is read.

When 2 Torah scrolls are used - like this coming week - then the second Torah scroll is put on the Bima next to the first one and the Kadish is said over both.

(This Thursday will be Yom Kippour Katan.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 79:1

- Danny
Tuesday, 25 Shvat 5770

Halocho # 467 - What comes first? Havdala or Chanukah candles?

On Motzai Shabbat - the second night of Chanukah this year - one first makes Havdalah and then lights the Chanukah Menorah.

In Shul the Menorah is lit after the full-Kaddish - before ויתן לך - on Motzai Shabbat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:18

Some have the custom of lighting the Menorah before making Havdala, since one already heard Havdalah in shul. (Source: רמ"א 581:2)

- Danny
Wednesday, 22 Kislev 5770

See other laws of Chanukah at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Chanukka

Halocho # 462 -The Chanukah Menorah in shul

In order to publicize the miracle of Chanuka, the Menora is lit - with the correct Brachot - in the synagogue, between Mincha and Ma'ariv.

The person who lit the Menora in shul has to light again at home, with the correct Brachot.

A mourner should not light the Menora in shul on the first night of Chanuka, since it's inappropriate for him to say "Shehechiyanu" in public. At home the mourner does say "Shehechiyanu" on the first night.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:15

- Danny
Wednesday, 15 Kislev 5770

Halocho #430 - Abridged Hallel on Rosh Chodesh

On Rosh Chodesh one says Hallel after the Amida - but one skips 2-half paragraphs.


Hallel must be said standing, and one may not interrupt the Hallel by talking.


If the congregation is saying Hallel while one is saying Psukei D'Zimra, one says Hallel with them, without its opening and closing Bracha. (This can only be done on days that one says the shortened "half"-Hallel.)

If one arrives late to shul and the congregation is already up to Hallel, one says Hallel with them, and then one starts ones morning prayers.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 97:4

Chodesh Tov,

- Danny
Monday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan 5770

Written in memory of Rivka bat Mordechai Ha-cohen

Halocho #385 - The day the Western Lamp was extinguished

In the Bet Hamikdash, a Cohen would light the Menorah every afternoon. Its 7 lamps would burn until morning.

Miraculously, the Ner Ma'aravi - the Western Lamp - would burn all day, even though it was identical to the other 6 lamps. One of the reasons most Shuls have a Ner-Tamid always burning, is to commemorate this miracle.

Forty years before the destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple), in the days of the wicked King Achaz, (father of King Hezekiah), this miracle stopped.

This happened on the 17th of Av (some say on the 18th). As a result, this day was declared as one of the tragic days in our history and is included in the list of days on which it would be appropriate to fast.

Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 580:1-2, Yoma 39.

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny Erev Shabbat, 17 Av 5769

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

Halocho #271 - Eating and sleeping in a synagogue

One may not eat or drink in a shul. People who learn all day in the shul may eat there so as not to waste time. If no other location is readily available one may have a Seudat Mitzva (e.g. Brit, Siyum) in a shul; but levity and drunkenness are forbidden. One may not nap in a shul unless one learns there all day and leaving for a nap would waste time. One should distance oneself from the Aaron Hakodesh when napping. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 13:4 - Danny Monday, 22 Shvat 5769 Please daven for a complete recovery for baby Yahel Chen bat Dalya Shulamit - יהל חן בת דליה שולמית

Halocho #262 - May one take a tour of a synagogue?

One may not wander into a shul for no reason. One may not even enter a shul in order to protect oneself from the weather. If one needs to enter a shul to talk to somebody or give them a message, one should enter and first read a few verses or say a short prayer or listen to something being studied or simply sit for a while (since sitting in a shul is a Mitzvah). Only then may one approach ones friend to talk to him. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 13:3 - Danny Tuesday, 9 Shvat 5769

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

Halocho #261 - You must come to Minyan

Members of a (small) Jewish community may force each other to come to shul (synagogue) daily so as to ensure there is always a Minyan - a quorum of 10 over-Bar-Mitzvah males - for thrice-daily prayers.

If needed, they may impose fines on those who don't come.

Making a Minyan takes precedence over Torah learning; there's a time to learn and a time to pray.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:15

- Danny Monday, 8 Shvat 5769

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

Halocho #260 - Help build the shul

The Jewish inhabitants of a city should coerce each other to build a Bet Kneset (synagogue) or Bet Medrash (Torah study hall) so that they have a place to pray and learn. Included is the obligation to buy the appropriate books; Sidurim, Chumashim and appropriate texts for Torah learning. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:15 - Danny Sunday, 7 Shvat 5769

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