Halocho #258 - Praying with a minyan

Men should make an effort to pray thrice daily with a minyan. Even when not praying with a minyan, it's appropriate to pray at the same time when a local minyan is praying. We learn this from the verse in Tehillim (69:14):

וַאֲנִי תְפִלָּתִי לְךָ ה' עֵת רָצוֹן

My prayer to You Hashem, in an acceptable time.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:7,12 - Danny Wednesday, 3 Shvat 5769

Halocho #257 - Washing before prayers

Before each of the daily prayers one should wash ones hands until the wrist. If one has touched a covered part of ones body or scratched ones head since last washing, one needs to wash again. If water is not readily available one should spend time finding some unless doing so would make one miss praying on time. In case of need one can clean ones hands with anything that cleans them including rubbing them with sand. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:5 - Danny Tuesday, 2 Shvat 5769

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

Halocho #256 - Eat! it's Rosh Chodesh

It's a Mitzva to eat a bigger meal on Rosh Chodesh.

There is no obligation to eat bread on Rosh Chodesh.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:2

Chodesh Tov!

- Danny Monday, Rosh Chodesh Shvat 5769

Halocho #255 - Tonight is Rosh Chodesh Shvat

During the Amida and Birkat Hamazon on Rosh Chodesh one should add Ya'aleh Veyavo.

If one forgot to do so during the Amida at night one does not need to make amends. During the day one needs to go back to רצה.

If one forgot Ya'aleh Veyavo during Birkat Hamazon (during the day or night), and one remembers before starting the last Bracha, one can say:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

אֲשֶׁר נָתַן רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְזִכָּרוֹן

If one forgot after starting the last Bracha, or one does have the above Bracha handy, one does not need to make amends.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:10, 44:14

Chodesh Tov!

- Danny Sunday, 29 Tevet, Erev Rosh Chodesh Shvat 5769

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

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 #253 - Charity before praying

It's good to give Tzedaka - charity - before praying. This is hinted to in the verse (Psalms 17:5) "I will behold Your countenance with Tzedek"

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:2

- Danny Wednesday, 25 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #252 - How soon does one need to affix the Mezzuza?

When renting an apartment outside of Israel, one need not affix the Mezuzot for the first 30 days.

If one buys an apartment one needs to affix the Mezuzot as soon as one moves in.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:21

- Danny Tuesday, 24 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #251 - Socializing before morning prayers

One may not go to a friend's house before Shacharit (morning prayers), even if one only plans on wishing them a "good morning".

If one happens to meet a friend before Shacharit one should not use the standard greeting, as a reminder to oneself not to get distracted before prayers.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 9:5

- Danny Monday, 23 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #250 - Right, then Left, then Right

Various times the Torah gives precedence to the right hand. As a result we usually give precedence to the right. When washing one first washes the right hand. When getting dressed one first puts on the right hand side. When putting on shoes one first puts on the right shoe. Regarding Tefillin the Torah requires us to tie them on the left hand. As a result we give precedence to the left when it comes to tying things. When tying ones shoes one first ties the left one. Summary: Put on right shoe, then left shoe, then tie the left then tie the right. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 3:4 - Danny Sunday, 22 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #249 - Noshing on Shabbat

One should try say 100 Brachot daily. On a regular weekday this happens if one prays all 3 prayers and says ones blessing over food.

On Shabbat the shorter Amida means one is missing 29 Brachot.

One way to complete the quota is to eat fruit and treats between meals, and smell spices.

One also fulfills Oneg Shabbat - enjoying Shabbat - this way.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:22

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny

 Thursday, 19 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #248 - Wash your face daily

After washing Negel Vasser, one should wash ones face in honor of ones 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 2:3 , 121:10

- Danny 

  Wednesday, 18 Tevet 5769

Halocho #247 - Always wear your Tzitzit

Jewish males should not walk 4 Amot (~2 meters) without wearing Tzitzit.

As soon as he gets out of bed he should put on Tzitzit. 

If he has not yet washed his hands, he should not make the Bracha on Tzitzit yet.

One also cannot make the Bracha on Tzitizit until "Misheyakir": When it's light enough outside to recognize a casual acquaintance from a distance of 4 Amot.

Misheyakir is about an hour before sunrise. Check a Lu'ach for precise times.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 2:2, 9:9

- Danny 

 Tuesday, 17  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 #245 - May one say Tehillim by heart?

The Torah is divided into two parts: The written-law (Tanach) and the oral-law (Mishna and Gemara).

Even if one knows parts of the written-law by heart, one should be careful not say them without a text.

The exception being those verses that everybody knows by heart, like those Tehillim said often during prayers like אשרי

If possible, one should pray from a Siddur, since Davening includes many verses that not everybody knows by heart. 

Blind people are allowed to say everything by heart.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:6

- Danny 

 Sunday, 15 Tevet 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for baby Moshe ben Esther  -  a 6 months old baby who had a heart surgery - משה בן אסתר

Halocho #244 - Fasting on Shabbat is forbidden

One should not abstain from food on Shabbat in order to fast - even for a few hours.

Even without any intention of fasting, one shoud try eating before midday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:20

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny

 Thursday, 12 Tevet 5769

Halocho #243 - When to get up in the morning

If possible, one should awaken at midnight and say Tikun Chatzot; lamenting the Bet Hamikdash that was destroyed and the resultant loss of Torah learning as well as all the Mitzvos we can no longer do. If getting up at midnight is not an option, one should get up before dawn to say Tikun Chatzot.

After Tikun Chatzot one should learn some Torah; Mishna or Tehillim or Mussar. At the very latest one needs to awaken in time to get to shul before they start morning prayers.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:5

- Danny

 Wednesday, 11 Tevet 5769

Please daven for a Refu'a Shleimah Michael Meshulem ben Kaila - מיכאל משולם בן קיילא

Halocho #242 - Torah reading on a fast day

On fast days we read the Torah during Shachrith and Mincha.

Three people are called up  to the Torah. At Mincha the 3rd person also reads the Haftara (from Yeshayahu 55:6).

A person who is not fasting should not be called up to the Torah.

During Mincha, those who are fasting add Aneinu during Shma-Koleinu. 

The Chazzan says Aneinu during both Shachrith and Mincha as a separate Bracha before Refo'enu.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 23:15

- Danny

 Tuesday, 10 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #241 - Why do we fast tomorrow?

Tomorrow - 10 Tevet - we fast to commemorate the beginning of the siege against Jerusalem.

In the year 3,338 the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege against Jerusalem which culminated in the destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash, a year and a half later.

This is the King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in whose court Daniel (who survived the lion's den) served.

The purpose of the fast is to awaken us to repent; if the Bet Hamikdash has not been rebuilt then we suffer from similar deficiencies that caused it to be destroyed.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:3

- Danny

 Monday, 9 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #240 - Laws of Fast of 10 B'Tevet

On Tuesday is the fast of 10 B'Tevet.

No eating and drinking is allowed from dawn to nightfall.

One may eat before dawn if one had the intention of doing so before one went to bed the night before.

If one always drinks when one gets up, then one can drink before dawn even of one didn't think about it when going to bed.

Pregnant and nursing mothers as well as people who aren't feeling well do not need to fast if fasting will cause them discomfort.

Those who may eat, as well as children, should not indulge in food. If possible they should limit themselves to bread and water.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:8, 8

- Danny

 Sunday, 8 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #239 - Review the weekly Parsha

Everybody is supposed to review the week's Parsha twice in the original and once with Targum Onkelus (or Rashi).

This should preferably be completed  before the Shabbat morning meal.

If that's not possible one should finish before Mincha (when we start reading the coming week's Parsha).

At the very latest one should be finished by Tuesday (since - in emergency - one can make Havdala until Tuesday).

(There are opinions that allow one to catch up until Simchat Torah.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:19, (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 285)

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny

 Thursday, 5 Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #238 - Are you bored? Do a Mitzvah!

There's a Mitzvah to be aware of Hashem's presence all the time.

Any time one thinks of Hashem and the fact that He runs the world and is aware of our every movement and thought, one fulfills a Mitzvah.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:1

- Danny

 Wednesday, 4 Tevet 5769

Halocho #237 - Look after the crumbs

Throwing away crumbs is bad for ones livelihood - and can cause poverty.

One should gather them up and give them to the birds.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 42:11

- Danny

 Tuesday, 3 Tevet 5769

Halocho #236 - Left over oil and wicks

Oil that was put in the Chanuka Menora and was not burnt, as well as wicks that were used and candles that didn't burn fully should be burnt after Chanuka.

Since they were set aside for the Mitzva of Chanuka they cannot be used for any other purpose.

If one had the explicit intention to use the left-overs, then they need not be burnt.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:20

- Danny

 Monday, Zot Chanuka, 2 Tevet 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Yosef ben Rachel - יוסף בן רחל

Halocho #235 - When is Zot Chanuka?

The Torah Reading for tomorrow - the last day of Chanuka - has 39 verses.

It starts from ביום השמיני in Naso and continues all the way past the end of the Parsha and ends with the first paragraph of Parshat Beha'alotcha which talks about lighting the Menora in the Bet HaMikdash.

The last paragraph of Parshat Naso starts with the words זאת חנוכת המזבח - as a result the last day of Chanuka is often referred to as Zot Chanuka.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch  139:23

Chodesh Tov,

- Danny

 Sunday, 7th day Chanuka, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Tevet 5769

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

Halocho #234 - What comes first: Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh or Chanuka?

Rosh Chodesh Tevet is on Shabbat and Sunday.

On Shabbat we will take out 3 Sifrei Torah:

• In the first Sefer Torah we call up [at least] 6 people for the weekly portion - Miketz
• The second Sefer Torah is for Rosh Chodesh, starting from "וביום השבת", after which Kaddish is said.
• The 3rd Sefer Torah is for  Chanuka - ביום הששי from Parshat Naso.

The Haftara is the Chanuka one (רני ושמחי from Zecharia 2:14)

On Sunday we will take out 2 Sifrei Torah:

• In the first Sefer Torah we call up 3 people while reading the regular Rosh Chodesh portion.
• The second Sefer Torah is for  Chanuka - ביום השביעי from Parshat Naso after which Kaddish is said.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:24, 25

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny

 Thursday, 4th day Chanuka, 28 Kislev 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Re'uven ben Rachel - ראובן בן רחל