Halocho #1015 - How to behave when visiting the sick

When visiting the sick one may not sit on a chair if they are lying on the floor, in deference to the Shechina which is above the sick person's head. 

If they are in a bed, one may sit on a chair. 

The main point of visiting the sick is to find out if one can help them in anyway, so that they feel they have friends who care about them, and in order to pray for them. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 193:2-3

- Danny,
Monday, 18 Tevet 5773

Halocho #1014 - Visiting the sick

It's a Mitzva to visit sick people irrelevant of the social standing of the visitor or the patient.

Close friends and family may visit immediately, but others should wait until the 4th day, so as not to aggravate his Mazal and give his the "sick" status.

However, if a person becomes very ill very suddenly then everybody may visit immediately.

One may visit numerous times a day - as long as it doesn't bother the patient.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 193:1

- Danny,
Sunday, 17 Tevet 5773

Halocho #1012 - Looking after your health and possessions – Bal Tashchis

The Torah gave permission to doctors to heal. Therefore someone who is not feeling well may not rely on a miracle, but must go see a doctor and follow his instructions.

One who ignores medical advice is not only endangering their life but is also considered to be arrogant; one should use the top expert in the field.

That said, a person needs to realize that the actual cure comes from The One Above and should pray that their doctor be a successful messenger to heal them.

The same way it’s a Mitzva to preserve one's health , so too it’s a Mitzva to look after one's possessions; not to lose, break or waste them.

One who breaks vessels, tears clothes, wastes edible food, wastes money or throws away objects that other people could use has done the Aveira of לֹא-תַשְׁחִית as it says in דְּבָרִים כ:יט:

כִּי-תָצוּר אֶל-עִיר יָמִים רַבִּים לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ לְתָפְשָׂהּ, לֹא-תַשְׁחִית אֶת-עֵצָהּ לִנְדֹּחַ עָלָיו גַּרְזֶן--כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ תֹאכֵל, וְאֹתוֹ לֹא תִכְרֹת, כִּי הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה, לָבֹא מִפָּנֶיךָ בַּמָּצוֹר

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 192:3, 190:3

- Danny
Wednesday, 13 Tevet 5773

Halocho #862 - Who must fast on 9 B'Av?

On 9 B'Av (from sunset today - Monday afternoon - until nightfall on Tuesday evening) almost everybody needs to fast. 


Pregnant and nursing mothers need to fast on 9 B'Av even if it causes them discomfort, unless it's dangerous to their health. 


When in doubt, consult your LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi). 


During the first 7 days after childbirth, a mother is not allowed to fast. 


Anybody who isn't healthy should only fast for a few hours. This includes a mother between 7 and 30 days after childbirth unless she feels up to fasting. When in doubt, consult your LOR. 


Children are not allowed to fast. 


Those who are not fasting should limit their food intake to the bare minimum; only bread and water if possible. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 124:6

- Danny
Monday, 8 Menachem Av 5771

Halocho #848 - Who needs to fast on the 17th Tamuz?

Nearly everybody above Bar/Bat Mitzva needs to fast tomorrow - Tuesday. The fast starts at dawn and ends at nightfall.

Pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting.

Anybody who isn't healthy shouldn't fast. When in doubt, consult your LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi).

Children are not allowed to fast.

Those who are not fasting should limit their food intake to the bare minimum; only bread and water if possible.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:9

- Danny
Jerusalem, Monday, 16 Tamuz 5771

Halocho #756 - Sitting while Visiting the sick

When visiting the sick who is lying on the floor, one may not sit on a chair, in deference to the Shechina (Divine presence) which is above the sick person's head.

If he's in a bed, one may sit on a chair.

The main point of visiting the sick is to find out if one can help him in anyway, so that he feels he has friends who care about him, and in order to pray for him.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 193:2-3

- Danny
Monday, 24 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #755 - Visiting the sick

It's a Mitzva to visit sick people, irrelevant of the social standing of the visitor or the patient.

Close friends and family may visit immediately, but others should wait until the 4th day, so as not to aggravate the patient's Mazal and give them the "sick" title.

However, if a person becomes very ill very suddenly then all may visit immediately.

One may visit numerous times a day - as long as it doesn't bother the patient.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 193:1

- Danny
Sunday, 23 Adar-I 5771

Halocho #670 - The Bracha on medicine

Before taking medicine - or doing any medical procedure -  one should say:

יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלקֵינוּ וֵאֱלקֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ,

שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִי עֵסֶק זֶה לִרְפוּאָה

כִּי רוֹפֵא חִנָּם אַתָּה

"May it be your will, Hashem,

 that this procedure should cure me,

for You are a Doctor who does not charge."

If the medicine tastes good, one should then say the relevant Bracha (usually Shehakol) before taking the medicine.

After taking medicine - or doing any medical procedure - one says:

בָּרוּךְ רוֹפֵא חוֹלִים

"Blessed is the One who heals the ill."

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61:4
- Danny
Monday, 10 Marchesvan 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 # 482 - Visiting the sick - how to behave

When visiting the sick one may not sit on a chair if he's lying on the floor, in deference to the Shechina (Divine presence) which is above the sick person's head.

If he's in a bed, one may sit on a chair.

The main point of visiting the sick is to find out if one can help him in anyway, so that he feels he has friends who care about him, and in order to pray for him.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 193:2-3

- Danny
Wednesday, 13 Tevet 5770

Halocho # 481 - Visiting the sick

It's a Mitzva to visit sick people, irrelevant of the social standing of the visitor or the patient.

Close friends and family may visit immediately, but others should wait until the 4th day, so as not to aggravate his Mazal and give his the "sick" title.

However, if a person becomes very ill very suddenly then all may visit immediately.

One may visit numerous times a day - as long as it doesn't bother the patient.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 193:1

With wishes for a healthy winter,

- Danny
Tuesday, 12 Tevet 5770

Halocho # 477 - When does the fast start on Sunday?

On Sunday will be the fast of 10 B'Tevet.

No eating and drinking is allowed from dawn to nightfall.

One may eat before dawn if one had the intention of doing so before one went to bed the night before.

If one always drinks when one gets up, then one can drink before dawn even of one didn't think about it when going to bed.

Pregnant and nursing mothers as well as people who aren't feeling well do not need to fast if fasting will cause them discomfort.


Those who may eat, as well as children, should not indulge in food. If possible they should limit themselves to bread and water.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:8, 8

- Danny
Wednesday, 6 Tevet 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for 4 year old Avraham Moshe ben Miriam Tova who has cancer that spread to his brain and spine.

Halocho #22 - Visting the sick - how to behave

When visiting the sick one may not sit on a chair of he's lying on the floor, in deference to the Shechina which is above the sick person's head. If he's in a bed, one may sit on a chair. The main point of visiting the sick is to find out if one can help him in anyway, so that he feels he has friends who care about him and in order to pray for him. Source: KSA 193:2-3

סעיף ב כשהחולה שוכב על הארץ לא ישב המבקר על גבי כסא שגבוה ממנו, לפי שהשכינה למעלה מראשותיו של חולה, שנאמר ה' יסעדנו על ערש דוי, אבל כשהחולה שוכב במטה, מותר להמבקר לישב על כסא וספסל. סעיף ג עיקר מצות ביקור חולים הוא, לעיין בצרכי החולה מה הוא צריך לעשות לו, ושימצא נחת רוח עם חביריו, וגם שיתן דעתו עליו ויבקש רחמים עליו. ואם ביקר ולא ביקש לא קיים את המצוה, ולכן אין מבקרין בשלש שעות הראשונות של היום, מפני שאז כל חולה מיקל עליו חליו, ולא יחוש לבקש עליו רחמים. ולא בשלש שעות אחרונות של יום, שאז מכביד עליו חליו ויתיאש מלבקש עליו רחמים.

Halocho #21 - Looking after your health

The Torah gave permission to Doctors to heal and therefore someone ill may not rely on miracle, but must go see a doctor and follow his instructions. Somebody who ignores medical advice is not only endangering his life but is also considered to be arrogant; rather he should use the top expert in the field. That said, a person needs to realize that the actual cure comes from The One Above and should pray that his doctor be a successful messenger to heal him. Source KSA 192:3

סעיף ג התורה נתנה רשות לרופא שירפא שנאמר ורפא ירפא, ולכן אין לו להחולה לסמוך על הנס, אלא חייב להתנהג בדרך העולם לקרות לרופא שירפאהו, וכבר כמה חסידי עולם נתרפאו על ידי רופאים. ומי שמונע את עצמו לקרות לרופא, שתים רעות הנהו עושה, האחת דאסור לסמוך על הנס במקום שיש סכנה, ודבר זה גורם שיזכרו עונותיו בשעת חליו, ועוד דהוי יוהרא וגיאות שסומך על צדקתו שיתרפא בדרך הנס, ויש לו לקרוא להרופא היותר מומחה, ובכל זאת לבו יהא לשמים ויבקש רחמים מאת הרופא הנאמן יתברך שמו, ואך בו יבטח לבו.

Halocho #19 - Visiting the sick

It's a mitzva to visit sick people irrelevant of the social standing of the visitor or the patient. Close friends and family may visit immediately, but others should wait until the 4th day, so as not to aggravate his Mazal and give his the "sick" title. However if a person becomes very ill very suddenly then all may visit immediately. One may visit numerous times a day - as long as it doesn't bother the patient. Source: KSA 193:1

סעיף א כשחלה האדם מצוה על כל אדם לבקרו, שכן מצינו בהקדוש ברוך הוא שמבקר חולים, כמו שדרשו רבותינו זכרונם לברכה בפסוק וירא אליו ה' באלוני ממרא, מלמד שבא אליו לבקר החולה. הקרובים והחברים שרגילים ליכנס לביתו תמיד, המה הולכים לבקרו מיד כששמעו שהוא חולה, אבל הרחוקים שאינם רגילים בביתו לא יכנסו מיד כי היכי דלא ליתרע מזליה להטיל עליו שם חולה, ואינם נכנסים עד לאחר שלשה ימים, ואם קפץ עליו החולי גם הרחוקים נכנסים מיד, אפילו הגדול ילך לבקר את הקטן ואפילו כמה פעמים ביום, וכל המוסיף הרי זה משובח, ובלבד שלא יהיה לטורח על החולה. השונא לא יבקר שונאו החולה ולא ינחמו כשהוא אבל, שלא יחשוב ששמח לאידו אבל מותר ללותו, וליכא למיחש שיאמרו כי הוא שמח לאידו, באשר זהו סוף כל אדם (עיין לעיל סימן ר"ז סעיף ב' דהחולה אינו צריך לעמוד אפילו מפני נשיא, ואם רוצה לעמוד אין אומרים לו שב).

Halocho #14: Looking after your health and possessions – Bal Tashchis

The same way it’s a mitzva to preserve ones health – to ensure its health and wellbeing – so to it’s a mitzva to look after ones possessions not to loose, break or waste them. Anybody who breaks vessels, tears clothes, wastes edible food, wastes money or throws away objects that other people could use has done the Aveira of Lo Sashchis. Source: KSA 190:3

Halocho #12: One may not harm animals

It’s a Torah prohibition to cause pain to animals – and a mitzvah to prevent such pain and even cure animals (even if they don’t belong to a Jew). However, if an animal is causing harm to humans, or can be used to help cure humans then one may kill it (as humanely as possible) for we see that the Torah allows one to eat meat. Source: KSA 191:1