Halocho #814 - Should children be given Yom Tov treats?

There's a Mitzvah to relish Jewish Holidays and therefore one must eat two Yom Tov meals; one at night and one during the day. (Se'udat Shlishi - the 3rd meal - is only eaten on Shabbat and is not required on Yom Tov.)

Each meal starts with Kiddush over wine and two Challot (loaves of bread) and should include meat and other delicacies.

It's also a Mitzvah to ensure that others are happy:

- Children should be given treats

- Wives should get new clothes and jewelry according to one's budget

- Men should be served meat and wine

In order to prove that the extra expenses are for Yom Tov and not simply for self-indulgence, one must ensure that the poor and needy are also supplied with their Yom Tov needs; invite some over for the meals and donate generously to reputable charity funds before Yom Tov.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:3, 5, 9

- Danny
Monday, 26 Iyar 5771 - 41st day of the Omer

Halocho #701 - Who should light the Chanukah Menorah?

This year Chanukah starts on Thursday, 2nd December 2010. We will light the first flame on Wednesday afternoon, 1st Dec.

Since both men and women were included in the miracle of Chanukah, they both need to light the Chanukah Menorah.

At least one person per household must light.

The custom is for everybody to light, including children under Bar Mitzva. However, married couples share one Chanukah Menorah that either the husband or wife lights.

Even blind people should light, if they live by themselves.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:16

- Danny
Tuesday, 23 Kislev 5771

Halocho #679 - Being responsible to the last minute

When returning an object that you were asked to safeguard, or when returning a loan, it must be returned to the person who gave it to you.

Giving it to a member their household is not acceptable;  if something happens to the item you would be held responsible.

However, giving it to the owner's spouse is permitted, unless you were explicitly asked not to do so, since spouses trust each other to look after each other's property.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 188:5

- Danny
Sunday, 23 Marcheshvan 5771

Please daven for 3 year old David ben Lea who has bacteria in his blood

Halocho #651 - Should children be given Yom Tov treats?

There's a Mitzvah to by happy on Jewish Holidays and therefore one must eat two Yom Tov meals; one at night and one during the day. (Se'udat Shlishi - the 3rd meal - is only eaten on Shabbat and is not required on Yom Tov.)

Each meal starts with Kiddush over wine and two Challot (loaves of bread) and should include meat and other delicacies.

It's also a Mitzvah to ensure that others are happy:

- Children should be given treats

- Wives should get new clothes and jewelry according to ones budget

- Men should be served meat and wine

In order to prove that the extra expenses are for Yom Tov and not simply for self-indulgence, one must ensure that the poor and needy are also supplied with their Yom Tov needs; invite them over for meals and donate generously to reputable charity funds before Yom Tov.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:3, 5, 9

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; may you always be on the giving end

- Danny
Monday, 5 Tishrei 5771

Halocho # 469 - Traveler's guide to Chanukah

If one is in ones hometown, one needs to go home to light the Chanukah Menorah.

If one is traveling, and ones wife is lighting the Chanukah Menorah at home, then one should light without the Brachot. If possible one should try hear the Brachot from somebody else.

Bachelors and others living away from home, who don't have a spouse lighting for them at home, preferably should light for themselves with the Brachot. Alternately they can chip in with somebody else's Menorah lighting, by giving him a Peruta (a few pennies).

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:19

- Danny
Sunday, 2nd day of Chanukah, 26 Kislev 5770

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

Halocho #405 - Should children be given Yom Tov treats?

There's a Mitzvah to relish Jewish Holidays and therefore one must eat two Yom Tov meals; one at night and one during the day. (Se'udat Shlishi - the 3rd meal - is only eaten on Shabbat and is not required on Yom Tov.)

Each meal starts with Kiddush over wine and two Challot (loaves of bread) and should include meat and other delicacies.

It's also a Mitzvah to ensure that others are happy:

- Children should be given treats

- Wives should get new clothes and jewelry according to ones budget

- Men should be served meat and wine

In order to prove that the extra expenses are for Yom Tov and not simply for self-indulgence, one must ensure that the poor and needy are also supplied with their Yom Tov needs; invite some over for the meals and donate generously to reputable charity funds before Yom Tov.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:3, 5, 9

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; may you always be on the giving end

- Danny Thursday, 14 Elul 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery of Rafael Moshe Yisrael ben Shulamith Adina

Halocho #357 - Where is your Ketubah?

A husband's obligations to his wife are documented in a contract called a Ketubah.

The Chattan gives a signed and witnessed Ketubah to his Kallah under the Chuppah.

The Ketubah must be in the wife's possession for as long as she remains married.

Anytime the Ketubah gets lost, the couple needs to immediately contact a Rabbi, since they are not allowed to live together without a valid Ketubah.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 145:11

- Danny Sunday, 6 Tamuz 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Yisrael Meir ben Ruth - ישראל מאיר בן רות

Halocho #346 - Can a husband separate Challa?

In Parshat Shlach (the Torah Reading this week in Israel, next week in the Diaspora) we learn about the Mitzva of separating Challa from dough made from any of the 5 types of grain: wheat, barley, oats, spelt or rye.

Challa should be separated before the dough is baked; one may not eat the dough before separating Challa.

If Challa was not separated before the dough is baked, then the baked goods are forbidden to be eaten until Challa is separated from them.

The Mitzva of separating Challa rightfully belongs to the housewife.

However, if waiting for the housewife would cause the dough to spoil, then anybody above Bar/Bat Mitzva may separate Challa.

The piece of Challa that was separated should be burnt.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35

Since nowadays we don't have fires readily available, my Rabbi suggested we freeze the Challa (in a well marked container that nobody should eat from it) and whenever there's a bonfire (Lag B'Omer and Erev Pessach) we should burn the accumulated Challa.

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny Thursday, 19 Sivan 5769

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

Halocho #340 - Are the laws of Sotah applicable nowadays?

In Parshat Naso we learn about the Sotah; a wife who has been warned by her husband not to seclude herself with a man she seems [too] friendly with.

If she disobeys - and secludes herself with him - she is forbidden to live with her husband until she is taken to the Bet Hamikdash and giving the Sotah-water to drink to prove her innocence.

It's a Mitzva for a husband to ensure that his wife follows Halacha - especially in matters of modest behavior. However, he has to be careful never to say to her "do not seclude yourself with Mr. so-and-so".

Even warning her privately is a problem, since if she disobeys she may be a Sotah; and nowadays there's no way to give her Sotah-water to drink.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 145:25

- Danny Wednesday, 11 Sivan 5769

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

Halocho #300 - Buying jewelry for Yom Tov

There's a Mitzva to honor the Yom Tov: - One should bathe, cut nails and get a haircut before Yom Tov. - One shouldn't eat a meal during the second half of the afternoon on Erev Yom Tov so as not to spoil ones appetite for the festive evening meal. - Yom Tov clothes should be nicer than Shabbat clothes There's a Mitzva to be joyous on Yom Tov. This includes having 2 meals; one in the evening and one during the day. The meals start with Kiddush and should include meat and delicacies and should be more elaborate than on Shabbat. One should also provide the Neshama (soul) with Yom Tov joy by learning some Torah (e.g. Yom Tov related Halachot) at every meal. There's a Mitzva to make others happy on Yom Tov: - Children should be given nuts and other treats. - Women should be given new clothes and jewelry. - The poor and unfortunate should be invited or provided with financial support. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:2,3,4,7 - Danny Monday, 5 Nissan 5769 ================================= On Tuesday I'm going to be part of the panel of experts about "Practical ways to manage your team in times of change". No cost to register. Visit: http://www.regonline.co.uk/team-change =================================

Halocho #218 - Do married daughters have to respect their parents?

Sons and daughters both have the same obligation to fear and respect their parents.

However, if a daughter has a conflict between respecting her parents or her husband, then her husband has priority.

However, if her husband doesn't mind, then her parents have priority.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:13

- Danny Wednesday, 6 Kislev 5769

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