There's a Mitzva in the Torah to get married, in order to have children. Having children is the first Mitzva that Hashem instructed Adam HaRishon to do. This Mitzva only applies once a person turns 18. By age 20 one should try to be married unless getting married will interfere with ones full-time Torah learning. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 145:1 - Danny Sunday 25, Marcheshvan 5769
This Shabbat is "Shabbat Mevarchim": There's an ancient custom to bless the upcoming month on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh, before Mussaf. This is not to be confused with Sanctifying the Month that was done by Av Bet Din when the new moon appeared. Nevertheless, the custom is to stand when the Chazzan announces which day(s) will be Rosh Chodesh, since the sanctification of the month was done while standing. Source: Mishna Brura 417:1 (1) Previous Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos - Danny Thursday, 22 Marcheshvan 5769
We learnt in Halocho #24 that honoring parents includes feeding them, clothing and covering them as well as accompanying them. Accompanying them includes escorting them when they go somewhere, picking them up from home and returning them back home. All this must be done cheerfully else one risks punishment instead of reward. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:3 Please invite your Jewish Facebook friends to join Halocho a Day - you can do so from this link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2387884087#/groups/edit.php?members&gid=2387884087 - Danny Wednesday, 21 Marcheshvan 5769
When seeing comets or falling stars one says the Bracha of "Baruch... Oseh Ma'aseh Breishith" - "... Who makes the work of creation". ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית The Bracha on falling stars can only be said once per night even of one sees different meteors every time. One can only say the Bracha once per comet, unless 30 days have passed since one last saw it. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:2 - Danny Tuesday, 20 Marcheshvan 5769
According to many opinions, Cain killed Hevel today - 19 Marcheshvan; 49 days after they were born. The Medrash tells us that Cain wounded Hevel numerous times until he found a spot that was fatal. Before burial, the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) do a "Tahara"; they wash the body and wrap it in white shrouds. If a person bled while being killed and the blood is on their body or clothes then no Tahara is done, though the body is wrapped in shrouds. If a person was murdered by Goyim - even if there was no bleeding - no Tahara is done, so as to invoke Divine Anger. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 197: 9, 12 Thanks, - Danny Monday, 19 Marcheshvan 5769
When seeing the ocean one says the Bracha of "Baruch... Oseh Ma'aseh Breishith" - "... Who makes the work of creation".
Everybody has an obligation to eat 3 meals on Shabbat; one on Friday night, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This is besides for the Melave Malka that is eaten on Motzai Shabbat. At each of the three Shabbat meals one should make Motzi on 2 complete loaves of bread. Kiddush is only said twice; at the first 2 meals. One should not overeat at Shabbat morning lunch -especially during the short winter days - so that one can eat a proper afternoon meal. In case of need one can eat cake at the 3rd meal instead of bread. If that's not possible then fish or meat. At the very least one should have some fruit. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:16, 17 Previous Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos Shabbat Shalom - Danny Thursday, 15 Marcheshvan 5769
When seeing lightning one says the Bracha of "Baruch... Oseh Ma'aseh Breishith" - "... Who makes the work of creation".
ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית
This Bracha must be said immediately after seeing the lightning. Immediately is defined as the time needed to say 3 short words.
If one hears the thunder after saying the above mentioned Bracha, then on the thunder one says the Bracha of "Baruch... Shekecho Ugvurato Maleh Olam" - "...for His strength and His power fill the universe".
ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם שֶׁכּוֹחוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ מָלֵא עוֹלָם
If the thunder boomed before one finishes saying the Bracha on the lightning, then it is included in the same Bracha, and one does not say a second Bracha on the thunder.
This Bracha must be said immediately after hearing the thunder. One can begin before the roll of the thunder ends.
These Brachot can only be said once per storm. The storm ends when the sky clears of clouds.
No Bracha is said on lightning that is caused by the heat and doesn't produce thunder (summer lightning)
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:2, 3
- Danny Wednesday, 14 Marcheshvan 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
When seeing a rainbow one says the Bracha "Baruch... Zocher Habrit Ven'eman Bivrito Vekayam Bema'amaro" - "...Who remembers the covenant, is trustworthy in His covenant and fulfills His word". ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֱמָן בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְקַיָּם בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ This Bracha is said only once per rainbow. One should not stare at a rainbow for extended periods of time. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:4 The reason for not staring at the rainbow is explained in Chagiga (16:1). The prophet Yechezkel compares the appearance of the Glory of Hashem to a rainbow: "As the appearance of the rainbow in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Hashem."(Ezekiel 1:28) Staring at a rainbow is compared to staring at the Glory of Hashem, an impolite thing to do. The Gemara states that as a punishment for staring at the rainbow, ones eyesight could suffer. - Danny Tuesday, 13 Marcheshvan 5769 Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
The Torah was given to us at Sinai in 2 parts: The Written Law (Torah) and The Oral Law (Mishna). Until the Mishna was written down less than 2,000 years ago, it was studied by-heart. Each student was expected to memorize the entire Oral Law. Since memorizing lots of Torah is important, the Kitzur mentions some things that are bad for your memory: - Be careful to dry your hands properly - and don't dry them on your clothes as it's bad for your memory. - Putting on 2 items of clothing at the same time is bad for your memory. - Eating the heart of animals and birds, and eating from that part of the food that a cat or mouse ate from, is bad for your memory. - Reading the inscription on tombstones if the letters are elevated (as opposed to engraved or flat), is bad for your memory. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 40:6, 3:5, 32:9, 128:13 - Danny Monday, 12 Marcheshvan 5769
Today, 3561 years ago, Rachel Imeinu died after giving birth to Binyamin. When a son is born, both the mother and father should say the Bracha of Hatov-VeHametiv - "...Who is Good, and bestows Good."
After Shabbat morning prayers, both men and women have to make (or hear) Kiddush before eating or drinking. The morning Kiddush consists of the Bracha of HaGefen over a cup of wine. (The custom is to recite certain Shabbat-related verses before the Kiddush). If one prefers other alcoholic beverages more than wine, one may use them for the morning Kiddush, but one still has to use a full cup and immediately drink a mouth full. After Kiddush, one must immediately eat: - Either start the meal with HaMotzi on 2 loaves - Or make Mezonot on 2 whole pieces of Mezonot - Or else drink another Revi'is (86 cc) of wine (besides for the original mouth full) Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:13, 15, 17 Shabbat Shalom - Danny Thursday 8 Marcheshvan 5769
Yesterday we learnt that we add a prayer for rain in the 9th Bracha of the Amida starting from 7th Cheshvan (today - Wednesday) in Israel. (From 5th December outside of Israel.) If you're unsure if you added "Vethen Tal Umatar Livracha" or not: - For the first 30 days you have to assume you left it out. (Yesterday's Halocho gave the rules for amending that). - After 30 days you can assume that you said it. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:8 Tip: If you practice adding it 90 times (starting from את השנה הזאת) then you can assume you said it correctly. Source: Shulchan Aruch 114:9 - Danny Wednesday 7 Marcheshvan 5769
In Israel, starting tonight (Tuesday night) we start praying for rain on weekdays, in the 9th Bracha of the Amida - Barech-Aleinu. Outside of Israel we will start on the evening before the 5th of December (this year. Some years it's the 6th December). If you forgot to add "Vethen Tal Umatar Livracha"; "and bless us with dew and rain", then: - If you remember before you finish the 9th Bracha then you insert it and continue from there. - If you already said "Baruch Ata Hashem" of the 9th Bracha then you insert it into Shma-Kolienu - the 16th Bracha - before "Ki Ata". - If you forget to say it in Shma-Kolienu then you need to go back to the 9th Bracha - Barech-Aleinu. - If you didn't remember until you finished the Amida (defined as saying "Yihyu Leratzon") then you have to restart the entire Amida. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:5, 6 - Danny Tuesday 6 Marcheshvan 5769
A person should strive to learn the entire Torah. A partial list would include Tanach (Bible), Mishna, Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi, Rambam, Tur, Shulchan Aruch, Midrash, Zohar. Somebody who cannot sit and learn Torah all day should learn practical Halachot as well as Midrashim and Mussar (ethics). This way one knows what to do (Halacha), has the drive to (Midrash) and the ability to overcome obstacles when trying to do (Mussar). Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:3 - Danny Monday, 5 Marcheshvan 5769
On the first "Monday, Thursday and Monday" in the month following Pessach and Sukkoth the custom is to say extra Selichot. Some communities do this on the last "Monday, Thursday and Monday" of the month. Since Monday is "Yom Sheni" or "Yom Bet - ב" and Thursday is "Yom Chamishi" or "Yom Heh - ה" these days are referred to as BeHaB - בה"ב Some people have the custom to fast on BeHaB. A special Mi-Sheberach was recited on Shabbat before the Torah was returned to the Aron Hakodesh to bless those who will fast. Despite being a "private" (not communal) fast day, a person need not "declare his intention to fast" during the Mincha-Amida of the preceding day, if he answered Amen to the Mi-Sheberach. Answering Amen to the Mi-Sheberach does not oblige one to fast. Even if one intended to fast when answering Amen and then on the designated day there was a Se'udat Mitzva (e.g. Brit Mila or Siyum or Pidyon HaBen) one should join the meal and not fast. If one "declared his intention to fast" during the Mincha-Amida of the preceding day, then one needs to fast. Tomorrow - Monday, and Thursday and next week Monday are BeHaB in most communities. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 127:3, 14 - Danny Sunday, 4 Marcheshvan 5769
Mussaf is added after the Torah Reading of Shacharit (morning prayers) on Shabbat, Yom Tov and Rosh Chodesh.
Men wear Tefillin (phylacteries) every day during Shacharit (morning prayers) except for Shabbat and Yom Tov.
Rosh Chodesh has some aspects of a Yom Tov, yet work is permitted. Tefillin are worn on Rosh Chodesh during Shacharit, Hallel and the Torah reading. They are removed before starting Mussaf.
(On Chol HaMo'ed there are 2 opinions. Every community should have a single Minhag as to whether Tefillin are/aren't put on during Chol HaMo'ed in that community. Where Tefillin are worn on Chol HaMo'ed they are usually removed before Hallel.)
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 10:19
Chodesh Tov!
- Danny Wednesday, first day Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan 5769
After Shacharit (morning prayers) a person should have a fixed time to to learn Torah; at least one verse or a single Halacha. The Torah requires everybody to have a fixed time to learn Torah every day and every night. Somebody who does not know how to learn Torah, or cannot find the time to learn, should support others who do learn Torah and they share the reward. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 27:1-2 - Danny Tuesday, 29 Tishrei 5769 Reminder: Tonight - Tuesday night - is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Marchesvan
Since Mussaf of Shemini Atzeret (last Tuesday) we have been adding "Mashiv Haru'ach uMorid Hageshem" into the second Bracha of the Amida. The reason being that now is the rainy season and we praise Hashem for the rain. Since rain on Sukkoth is undesirable, we waited until after Sukkoth to start dealing with the rain. If one forgot to add "Mashiv Haru'ach": - If you have not ended the 2nd Bracha then you say it at the end of any phrase (at a comma in the Siddur) and continue. - If you already said "Baruch Ata Hashem" of "Mechaye Hameithim" then: -- If you said "Morid HaTal" then you continue as usual, since you have praised Hashem for precipitation; dew in this case. -- If your Nusach doesn't include "Morid HaTal" and you haven't yet started the 3rd Bracha - "Ata Kadosh" - then you say "Mashiv Haru'ach uMorid Hageshem" between the 2nd and 3rd Bracha. -- If your Nusach doesn't include "Morid HaTal" and you already started the 3rd Bracha then you need to start the Amida over again, since the first 3 Brachot are a set. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:1-3 - Danny Monday, 28 Tishrei 5769
Since the S'chach (branches covering the Sukkah) was used for a Mitzva, it deserves some respect even after it's done its duty.
After Sukkoth when the S'chach is taken down, one should not trample on it.
One may throw them away, but one may not use them for disrespectful purposes like building an outhouse.
One may burn S'chach.
Care should be taken with decorations that have Torah verses written on them.
Preferably one shouldn't hang up such decorations, but if one did, then they need to go into Geniza or otherwise carefully looked after.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 134:13, 14
- Danny Sunday, 27 Tishrei 5769
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The days between Yom Kippour and Sukkoth are joyous days, since Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) inaugurated the first Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple) during this period. One does not fast even for a Yahrzeit, nor does one say Tachanun on these days. A Sukkah needs at least 3 walls that do not move in the wind. The roof of the Sukkah is made of branches or bamboo that have not been used for any other purpose. The covering must be thick enough to ensure that even on the last day of Sukkoth at midday there is more shade than sunshine. The covering must not be so thick that rain cannot get through. In rainy climates, one should make a Sukkah that can be covered, so that it can be used once it stops raining. One must be careful to open the roof before using the Sukkah. On the fist night of Sukkoth the roof should be opened from candle-lighting until nightfall, if possible. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 133:30, 31, 134:1 Chag Same'ach - we'll be back after Sukkoth - Danny Sunday, 13 Tishrei 5769
Tomorrow - Wednesday - is Erev Yom Kippour. It's a Mitzva to eat more than usual on on the day before Yom Kippour in order to have an easy fast the next day. Those people who find it easier to fast if they don't eat too much beforehand, do not need to eat more than usual. On Erev Yom Kippour one does not say Mizmor Lesoda in Shacharit. The reason being that Mizmor Lesoda parallels the Korban Toda (thanksgiving sacrifice) which was eaten for 2 consecutive days. Since a sacrifice brought on Erev Yom Kippour couldn't be eaten for 2 consecutive days, therefore one couldn't bring a Korban Toda on Erev Yom Kippour. On Erev Yom Kippour one also omits Tachanun, Lamenatze'ach and Avinu Malkeinu. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 131:2,3 Wishing everybody an easy and meaningful fast, - Danny Tuesday, 8 Tishrei 5769 This post was written in memory of my grandmother - Esther bas Kalman - who passed away on Yom Kippour afternoon
Any work that may not be done on Shabbat may not be done on Yom Kippour. In addition there are other Mitzvos for Yom Kippour only:
All the above are forbidden from candle-lighting on Erev Yom Kippour until after Havdala some 25 hours later.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 133:1 Gmar Vechatima Tova; - Danny Monday, 7 Tishrei 5769
Yom Kippour does not atone for misdeeds done against ones fellow-Jew unless one first asks them for forgiveness. One should be careful to repay all overdue loans before Yom Kippour; after which one can beg for forgiveness for the delay. If one is being asked for forgiveness one should not be stubborn nor vengeful; rather one should be forgiving, the same way one hopes that Hashem will be forgiving of our sins. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 131:4 Gmar Chatima Tova; - Danny Sunday, 6 Tishrei 5769 Help me answer Judaism-related questions on WikiAnswers
