Halocho #223 - Must a Menorah be straight?

The wicks on a Menorah must all be at the same level; you cannot have some higher and some lower. The Shamash should be higher. It's purpose is to provide light so that you don't use the Chanukah lights which are for "display and not for use". The wicks should be far enough away from each other that they don't join and become a torch. If using candles they mustn't be close enough to melt each other. The wicks do not have to be in a straight line; a Menorah can be shaped as a semi-circular or even a full circle. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:9 - Danny Wednesday, 13 Kislev 5769

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

Halocho #222- How long must the Chanukah Menorah burn?

On weekdays the Chanukah lights should be lit at nightfall and should be able to burn for at least 30 minutes. Chanukah lights can already be lit from Plag HaMincha (75 Halachic minutes before nightfall). At Chanukah time in the Northern Hemisphere this may be as short as 50 minutes before nightfall. (Try http://tinyurl.com/luach to get your local time.) Even when lighting earlier, the Menorah has to burn until 30 minutes after nightfall. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:10 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. - Danny Tuesday, 12 Kislev 5769

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

Halocho #221 - Abusive parents

If a person is wearing his finest and chairing a large meeting, and his father or mother come and tear his clothes and hit him over the head and spit in his face, he may NOT embarrass them nor cause them pain nor display any anger towards them.

Rather one should remain silent and fear ones Father in Heaven who commanded us to respect and honor ones parents.

However one may demand payment for the damage, and even take them to Bet Din if needed.

One may move away from ones parents - and ask other people to look after them - if one isn't capable of dealing with their emotional state.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:2, 16

- Danny Monday, 11 Kislev 5769

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

Halocho #220 - Remembering miracles

182 years ago on 10 Kislev the 2nd Lubavitcher Rebbe was released. You can read about him at http://www.answers.com/topic/dovber-schneuri.

Anytime a miracle happens to you, you should give charity and have in mind that it is instead of bringing a Thanksgiving sacrifice.

One should also fix or establish something for the public good.

On the yearly anniversary of the miracle one should seclude oneself and spend the day thanking Hashem for the miracle.

One should also publicize the miracle.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61:3

- Danny Sunday, 10 Kislev 5769

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

Halocho #219 - Pray for rain outside of Israel

Starting tonight - Thursday night - we start praying for rain on weekdays, in the 9th Bracha of the Amida - Barech-Aleinu all over the world. In Israel we started 4 weeks ago - on 7th Marcheshvan. As we learned in Halocho #197: If you forgot to add "ותן טל ומטר לברכה"; "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 Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 7 Kislev 5769, 4 Dec '08 Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos

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

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

Halocho #217 - Don't listen to your parents??

We already learned that if a parent requests one to sin, one must not obey. When else do you not have to obey your parents? If your parents don't approve of your choice of marriage partner, you do not have to obey them (at your own risk). If you want to go learn Torah somewhere, and you are convinced that only there can you fulfill your potential, and your parents do not want you to go there, you do not have to obey them. We learn this from this weeks Parsha; Yaakov's parents instructed him to go to Uncle Lavan, and Yaakov decided to detour to the Bet Hamidrash of Ever for 14 years. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:12 - Danny Tuesday, 5 Kislev 5769

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

Halocho #216 - Yahrzeit on non-existing days

Yesterday we learned that the months of Marcheshvan and Kislev sometimes both have 30 days, sometimes both have 29 days and sometimes follow the regular order with Marcheshvan having 29 days and Kislev 30. The 30th day of the month as well as the first day of the month are Rosh Chodesh. If the month ending has only 29 days then there's only one day of Rosh Chodesh. If a person died on 30 Marcheshvan, do we say he died on the last day of Marcheshvan or on Rosh Chodesh Kislev? - If the year of the first anniversary also has a 30 Marcheshvan then the Yahrzeit will henceforth always be on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev; be it 30 Marcheshvan or 1 Kislev. - If the year of the first anniversary does not have a 30 Marcheshvan then the Yahrzeit will henceforth always be on the last day of Marcheshvan; be it 30 Marcheshvan (1st day Rosh Chodesh) or 29 Marcheshvan (Erev Rosh Chodesh). In this last case, if possible Kaddish should also be said on Rosh Chodesh. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:4 - Danny Monday, 4 Kislev 5769

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

Halocho #215 - How many days are there in Marcheshvan and Kislev?

Some years the Jewish calendar has 12 months and some years (7 out of 19) are leap years with 13 months.

Jewish months alternate between being 29 and 30 days long.

However, the months of Marcheshvan and Kislev sometimes both have 30 days (a full year), sometimes both have 29 days (a missing year) and sometimes follow the regular order with Marcheshvan having 29 days and Kislev 30.

As a result, Chanuka (which starts on 25 Kislev and lasts 8 days) sometimes ends on 2 Tevet and sometimes on 3 Tevet.

This year is a "regular" year; Marcheshvan has 29 days, Kislev has 30 days and Chanuka ends on 2 Tevet.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:4

- Danny Sunday, 3 Kislev 5769

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

Halocho #214 - Tonight is Rosh Chodesh

Tonight (Thursday night) and tomorrow (Erev Shabbat) is Rosh Chodesh Kislev; the 9th month. On Rosh Chodesh one adds Ya'aleh Veyavo in Birkat Hamazon (grace after meals); forgetting to do so (night or day) does not require amendment. However, if one noticed the omission after finishing the third blessing - בּוֹנֶה בְּרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלָיִם - but before beginning the fourth blessing, there is a special blessing that is to be said before proceeding:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

אֲשֶׁר נָתַן רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְזִכָּרוֹן

Many Sidurim include this blessing. If one does not know this blessing, one may proceed as usual, omitting it. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:13 Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Thursday, 29 Marcheshvan 5769 Shabbat-related posts can be reviewed at http://halocho.blogspot.com/search/label/Shabbos

Please daven for a complete recovery for Avigayil bat Tamar who was hit by a car and is in a great deal of pain

Halocho #213 - Yom Kippour Katan is tomorrow

Tomorrow - Thursday - is Erev Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Tachanun is not said at Mincha on Erev Rosh Chodesh. Some people have the custom of adding the Yom Kippour Katan prayers during Mincha. Some even fast on Erev Rosh Chodesh to atone for the sins of the past month. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 97:1 - Danny Wednesday, 28 Marcheshvan 5769

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

Halocho #212 - Not obeying ones parents

We learned yesterday that one may not contradict ones parents. However, if a parents requests one transgress a Halacha, one must not obey them. This is because both parents and children are required to obey Hashem. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:11 - Danny Tuesday, 27 Marcheshvan 5769

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

Halocho #211 - Correcting parents

One may not contradict ones parents. One may also not correct them. However, if a parent is doing something against Halacha, one should say to them "Doesn't it say in the Torah such-and-such". This should be said in a questioning manner and not as a rebuke. The parent will then understand how to correct their behavior. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:10 - Danny Monday, 26 Marcheshvan 5769

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

Halocho #210 - The first Mitzva and getting married

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

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

Halocho #209 - Blessing the month

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

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

Halocho #208 - Escorting parents

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

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

Halocho #207 - Sky gazing

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

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

Halocho #206 - The first murder

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

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

Halocho #205 - The tourists' Bracha guide

When seeing the ocean 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

When seeing mountains that are famous for their height one says the same Bracha. These Brachot can only be said if one hasn't seen the ocean or that specific mountain for 30 days; excluding the day one last saw it and excluding the recent sighting. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:5, 12 - Danny Sunday, 18 Marcheshvan 5769

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

Halocho #204 - 3 meals; 6 loaves

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

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

Halocho #203 - Thunder and lightning

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

Halocho #202 - Don't stare at the rainbow

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

Halocho #201 - How could I forget?

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

Halocho #200 - Rachel Imeinu's Yahrzeit

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."

ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם

הטוב והמטיב

If the mother died during childbirth, then the father says the Bracha of Shehechiyanu; "... Who has kept us alive, sustained us and permitted us to reach this occasion" on the birth, and the Bracha of Dayan-HaEmeth - "... the True Judge" on the bad news.

ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם

שהחינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה

ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם

דיין האמת

If the father died before the child was born then the mother says the Bracha of Shehechiyanu on the birth. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 59:5 See Halocho #109 for more details about the Bracha on good news. - Danny Sunday 11 Marcheshvan 5769

Halocho #199 - The morning Kiddush

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