Halocho #643 - If it rains, does one sleep in the Sukkah?

Since the Mitzvah of Sukkah is to move out of the house and into the Sukkah for the duration of Sukkoth, one should really sleep in the Sukkah.

People who are meticulous about their Mitzvah observance will not even take a nap outside the Sukkah. Their entire family moves into the Sukkah; husband, wife and children.

There are numerous reasons why not to sleep in a Sukkah. However, if the Sukkah is not fit for sleeping (e.g. it's too dangerous) then the Sukkah is not Kosher even for eating in.

The slightest precipitation renders the Sukkah unfit for sleeping and one should then sleep indoors. Once one lies down inside one is exempt from returning to the Sukkah the entire night, even if the Sukkah subsequently dries.

Women are exempt from the Mitzvah of Sukkah, as it's a time-bound Mitzvah.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 135:8, 9, 10

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

- Danny
Monday, 20 Elul 5770

Halocho #625 - Wash your face daily

Upon awakening one should wash ones hands from a cup, alternating between the right and left hand until each hand is washed 3 times.

Two reasons are given:
- You are starting a new day of serving Hashem; similar to a Cohen who had to wash his hands before serving in the Bet Hamikdash.

- Part of the soul leaves the body when one sleeps, therefore sleeping is considered a mini-death which generates impurity which needs to be washed away.

One should then wash ones face in honor of one's Maker, since the Pasuk says that man was created in Hashem's image.

One should be careful to dry ones hands and face, for health reasons.

One should also rinse ones mouth, in anticipation of saying Hashem's name during prayers.

On fast-days one may not rinse ones mouth.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 2:1, 3, 121:10

- Danny
Wednesday, 24 Menachem Av 5770

Halocho #506 - Waking one's parents

This Shabbat we will read the 10 commandments - so we are reviewing the laws of the 5th commandment.

One may not wake up one's parents even if it is going to cause one a major monetary loss.

However if one's parents are going to suffer a monetary loss and they will be distressed over the loss then one must wake them.

So too one should wake them in time for prayers or for any other Mitzva.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:4

- Danny
Tuesday, 18 Shvat 5770

Halocho # 489 - How often can one say Tefilat HaDerech?

One usually says Tefilat HaDerech only once a day.

If one arrives at one's final destination for the day, and subsequently decided to take another trip, then one says Tefilat HaDerech again.

One who travels through the night says Tefilat HaDerech on the second day without the final Baruch Ata Hashem.

Even if one sleeps part of the night, if it was not in an inhabited place, one says Tefilat HaDerech on the second day without the final Baruch Ata Hashem.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 68:5

- Danny
Sunday, 24 Tevet 5770

Halocho # 486 - When does one say Tefilat HaDerech?

Tefilat HaDerech - the traveler's prayer - cannot be said before one has left the city limits; defined as 70 and ⅔ Amot (~35 meters / 115 feet) after the last house.

Preferably it should be said after one has travelled at least one "Miel" (~1 Km / ~0.6 miles) from the city limit.

If you're overnighting on a multi-day trip, you can say Tefilat HaDerech before leaving for the day.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 68:1

- Danny
Tuesday, 19 Tevet 5770

Halocho #422 - What to bring into the Sukka

The Torah command us to live in the Sukka for the duration of Sukkoth. 7 days in Eretz Yisrael, 8 days in the Diaspora.

One should move into the Sukka and bring along ones creature comforts; ones comfortable chairs and favorite dishes.

The Mitzvah of Sukka is one of the few where the Torah explicitly gives us a reason to accompany the Mitzvah: Sit in the Sukka for seven days in order that your descendants should be aware that the Yidden dwelled in Sukkoth during their journey out of Egypt.

Sukkoth could be referring to the Clouds of Glory that surrounded and protected the entire Jewish encampment (as per R' Eliezer) or actual Sukkah-huts that individual families lived in (as per R' Akiva).

One should keep these "reasons" in mind when fulfilling the Mitzvah of Sukka.

One should treat the Sukka with respect and not bring in items one wouldn't tolerate at a Shabbat table.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 135:1, 2

- Danny
Wednesday, 12 Tishrei 5770

Join my Mitzva-a-Day group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140905878541

Halocho #407 - If it rains, does one sleep in the Sukkah?

Since the Mitzvah of Sukkah is to move out of the house and into the Sukkah for the duration of Sukkoth, one should really sleep in the Sukkah.

People who are meticulous about their Mitzvah observance will not even take a nap outside the Sukkah. Their entire family moves into the Sukkah; husband, wife and children.

There are numerous reasons why not to sleep in a Sukkah. However, if the Sukkah is not fit for sleeping (e.g. it's too dangerous) then the Sukkah is not Kosher even for eating in.

The slightest precipitation renders the Sukkah unfit for sleeping and one should then sleep indoors. Once one lies down inside one is exempt from returning to the Sukkah the entire night, even if the Sukkah subsequently dries.

Women are exempt from the Mitzvah of Sukkah, as it's a time-bound Mitzvah.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 135:8, 9, 10

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

- Danny Monday, 18 Elul 5769

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 #254 - May one nap on Shabbat?

After eating the Shabbat meal one may nap. However one may not say "I am going to nap in order to be able to do something on Motzai Shabbat". Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:23 This week is Shabbat M'vorchim of Chodesh Shvat. Rosh Chodesh Shvat will be on Monday. Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 26 Tevet 5769

Halocho #246 - Why do we wash Negel Vasser every morning?

Upon awakening one should wash ones hands from a cup, alternating between the right and left hand until each hand is washed 3 times.

Two reasons are given:

- You are starting a new day of serving Hashem; similar to a Cohen who had to wash his hands before serving in the Bet Hamikdash.

- Part of the soul leaves the body when one sleeps, therefore sleeping is considered a mini-death which generates impurity which needs to be washed away.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 2:1, 3

- Danny 

 Monday, 16 Tevet 5769

Please daven for a Refua Shleimah for Edis Malka bat Chaya Zelda

Halocho #179 - Must I sleep in the Sukkah?

Since the Mitzva of Sukkah is to move out of the house and into the Sukkah for the duration of Sukkoth, one should really sleep in the Sukkah. People who are meticulous about their Mitzva observance will not even take a nap outside the Sukkah. Their entire family moves into the Sukkah; husband, wife and children. There are numerous reasons why not to sleep in a Sukkah. However, if the Sukkah is not fit for sleeping (e.g. it's too dangerous) then the Sukkah is not Kosher even for eating in. The slightest precipitation renders the Sukkah unfit for sleeping and one should then sleep indoors. Once one lies down inside one is exempt from returning to the Sukkah the entire night, even if the Sukkah subsequently dries. Women are exempt from the Mitzva of Sukkah, as it's a time-bound Mitzva. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 135:8, 9, 10 Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year with lots of time to learn Torah, - Danny Tuesday, 23 Elul 5768