Halocho #995 - Using the light of the Chanuka Menora

Each night of Chanuka we add an extra light, starting at 1 and ending at 8.

Besides for the nightly number, the custom is to add an extra candle each night - known as the Shamash.

This is ensure that one doesn't accidentally use the light from the actual Chanuka lights, which is forbidden.

After the Chanuka Menora has been burning for half an hour after nightfall, one may derive benefit from the lights of the Chanuka Menora.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:14

- Danny

19 Kislev 5773 - י"ט כסלו ה'תשע"ג

Halocho #992 - How early can one light the Chanuka Menora?

Chanuka lights can already be lit from Plug HaMincha, with the Brachot.

Plug HaMincha is 75 Halachic-minutes before sunset. In Winter this is closer to 60 minutes; on the first day of Chanukah this year in Jerusalem, Plug HaMincha is at 15:32 which is 63 minutes before sunset.

When lighting early, the Menora has to burn until 30 minutes after nightfall.

(As we already learned: there are 2 opinions regarding nightfall: Some say it refers to dusk, other say it refers to 3 stars appearing (like Motzai Shabbat). Everybody should follow their family custom.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:1, 10

- Danny
Wednesday, 14 Kislev 5773

Halocho # 465 -When should one light the Chanukah Menorah

During the week, the correct time to light the Chanukah Menorah is when the stars appear (about 18 minutes after sunset).

One should light as close to this time as possible, however if one cannot light then, one may light later, as long as some other member of the household is still awake.

If nobody is awake anymore, one lights without a Bracha.

If one cannot light on time, one can already light - with a Bracha - from Plag HaMincha; 75 Halachic minutes before sunset. (Divide the daytime hours by 12 to get a Halachic hour.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:10

Many have the custom to light the Chanukah Menorah at sunset.

Source: Mishna Berura 676:11

- Danny
Monday, 20 Kislev 5770

Halocho #349 - Calf and mother; can one eat them together?

It's a Torah prohibition to slaughter a calf and its mother on the same day.

It does not matter which animal was slaughtered first.

Even if the calf and its mother belong to 2 different people, it's still prohibited.

Even though it's prohibited, the meat of both animals is Kosher.

It does not matter how old the calf is.

One may slaughter a calf and its grandmother on the same day. If later on the same day one slaughters the mother/daughter, one transgresses 2 Torah prohibitions.

It's a debate if this prohibition applies to a calf and its father - even if one is 100% sure of the pedigree of the calf.

As in most of Jewish law, the day starts at sunset and ends the following day at dark.

There is no prohibition eating meat from a calf and its mother on the same day.

Source: Rambam, Hilchot Shechita (12:2)

- Danny Tuesday, 24 Sivan 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Chaya Uhdel Leah bat Shayna Yenta.

Halocho # 194 - Until when can one daven Mussaf?

Mussaf is added after the Torah Reading of Shacharit (morning prayers) on Shabbat, Yom Tov and Rosh Chodesh.

• Shacharit corresponds to the daily morning sacrifice offered in the Bet Hamikdash.
• Mussaf corresponds to the extra sacrifices offered on Shabbat, Yom Tov and Rosh Chodesh.
• Mincha corresponds to the afternoon daily sacrifice.

While Mussaf can be said until sunset, it preferably should be said before the "7th hour"; an hour after midday. If Mincha-time has already arrived (half hour after midday) and one has not yet said Mussaf then one should first pray Mincha then Mussaf. This applies when praying in private; a community should follow the regular order; Shacharit, Mussaf and then Mincha. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 76:11-12 Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom! - Danny Thursday, second day Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan 5769

Halocho #158 - Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday and Monday

Rosh Chodesh Elul will be on Sunday and Monday.

Usually when Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday then the Haftara is changed to "Machar Chodesh"; and Jonathan says to David "Tomorrow is Rosh Chodesh" (from Shemuel-1, 20:12).

However, from 9 B'Av until Rosh Hashana we read the 7 Haftarot of Consolation, and they take precedence over the Haftara of "Machar Chodesh".

Therefore, on Shabbat we will read the regular Haftara for Parshat Re'e (Yeshayahu 54).

Since Rosh Chodesh starts on Motzai Shabbat, one should try finish eating Seudat Shlishi (the 3rd Shabbat meal) before sunset, so as to avoid a conflict between saying Retzei and Ya'aleh Veyavo.

See Halocho #85 - http://halocho.blogspot.com/2008/04/halocho-85-rosh-chodesh-on-sunday.html - for more details.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:4, 44:17

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach and Chodesh Tov,

- Danny Erev Shabbat Re'eh, 28 Av 5768

Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #141 - When do we eat the Seudat Mafseket?

The fast of 9 B'Av begins at sunset; this year it starts at sunset slightly before Motzai Shabbat and lasts until Sunday night.

Usually the Seudat Mafseket - the "final meal" before the fast of 9 B'Av - is eaten while seated on the floor. It typically consists of a cold hard boiled egg and bread which is dipped into ashes.

Since the fast of 9 B'Av is on Sunday, there is no Seudat Mafseket this year.

One can eat a normal Se'udat Shlishit - 3rd Shabbat meal - however one needs to stop eating and drinking before sunset.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 125:1

- Danny Thursday 6 Menachem-Av 5768

Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #85 – Rosh Chodesh on Sunday

This Sunday is Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5768 – ה'תשס"ח When the 3rd Shabbos meal continues into the night, one still inserts Retzai – רצה during Birkas Hamazon (grace after meals). When one starts a meal on Erev Rosh Chodesh and eats a Kezayis (the size of an olive – 27 cc) of bread after dark, one inserts Ya’aleh V’Yavo – יעלה ויבוא during Birkas Hamazon. What happens when both of the above happen together? If Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday and one eats a Kezayis of bread after dark during the 3rd Shabbos meal, then one inserts both Retzai – רצה and Ya’aleh V’Yavo – יעלה ויבוא during Birkas Hamazon. However, some argue that mentioning both is a contradiction – since Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh aren’t on the same day. Therefore one should be careful not to eat after dark at the 3rd Shabbos meal when Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday. The same concept applies when Chanuka, Purim or Yom Tov start on Sunday. Since this Sunday is Rosh Chodesh, the Yom Kipour Kotton prayers that some people say on Erev Rosh Chodesh are said tomorrow – Thursday. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:17 - Danny

סימן מד, סעיף יז - היה אוכל בשבת וחשכה לו, כיון שעדיין הוא לא התפלל ערבית אומר רצה

וכן ביום טוב, ראש חדש, חנוכה ופורים, כיון שהתחלת הסעודה היתה ביום, צריך להזכיר מענין היום אף על פי שמברך בלילה

ואם אכל בערב ראש חדש ונמשכה סעודתו גם תוך הלילה, ואכל גם בלילה כזית פת צריך לומר יעלה ויבא, וכן בחנוכה ובפורים

ואם התחיל לאכול בשבת ונמשכה סעודתו תוך הלילה, ואכל גם בלילה כזית פת ולמחר הוא ראש חדש, אומר רצה וגם יעלה ויבא, וכן בחנוכה ופורים

ויש חולקין משם דהוי כתרתי דסתרי, על כן יש למנוע שלא לאכול אז בלילה

Halocho #7 - The "Final Meal" on Erev 9 b'Av

The "final meal" is eaten while seated on the floor. It typically consists of a cold hard boiled and bread which is dipped into ashes. This meal must end before sunset. Before this meal one may eat a regular meal. Source: KSA 123:3

Help me answer Judaism-related questions on WikiAnswers