Halocho #1351 - When is the Shavu'ot festival?

In the Torah, שָׁבֻעֹת does not have a fixed date, but happens on the day after finishing counting 7 full weeks - 49 days - of the Omer.

Since we currently have a fixed Jewish calendar, with Nissan always 30 days long and Iyar always 29 days long, שָׁבֻעֹת is always on 6 Sivan. (In the time of the Bet HaMikdash - may it be speedily rebuilt in our time - any month could be either 29 or 30 days long, depending on when the new moon was first sighted).

Outside Israel, שָׁבֻעֹת is 2 days long - 6 and 7 Sivan (4th and 5th of June, this year).

Source: Vayikra 23:15 - 19

On שָׁבֻעֹת we celebrate the giving of the Torah. Help spread Torah learning by inviting your Jewish friends to our Halocho a Day group at http://tinyurl.com/HalDay

- Danny
Tuesday, 27 Iyar 5774 - 42nd day of the Omer

Please daven and say some Tehilim for

 בַּת-עַמִּי   בַּת  רָחֵל 

who is undergoing surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) today (Tuesday).

Halocho #1350 - Should children be given Yom Tov treats?

There's a Mitzvah to relish Jewish Holidays. 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 5774 - 41st day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1349 - Extinguishing fire on Yom Tov is forbidden

Extinguishing fire is forbidden on Shabbat and Yom Tov.

Even though one may light fire from an existing flame on Yom Tov, one may not extinguish fire on Yom Tov.

One may not even lower a flame on Yom Tov (nor on Shabbat).

On Yom Tov (and on Shabbat) one may not put a candle in a windy place so that it will blow out.

(Yom Kippour has the same status as Shabbat; one may not light nor extinguish fire on either.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98: 25

- Danny
Sunday, 25 Iyar 5774 - 40th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1348 - Fire on Shabbat and Yom Tov

One of the differences between Yom Tov and Shabbat is the laws of lighting fire.

On Shabbat one may not light fires, nor extinguish them nor make them larger or smaller. Fires need to be lit before Shabbat and then left alone.

On Yom Tov one may light a fire from an existing flame, if there's a need. One may also make the fire larger.

One may light a flame or make an existing flame larger for:

• Light, including "candle-lighting" if one didn't manage before Yom Tov.

• Cooking, baking or warming food

• Boiling water for drinking

• Keeping warm, if it's so cold that food starts to congeal

• Warming water to wash ones hands and face

One may not use matches nor a magnifying glass to light a fire on Yom Tov; one has to light the fire from an existing flame.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 98:29, 30, 31

This week is Shabbat Mevorchim of Sivan; Rosh Chodesh will be on Friday in 9 days time

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach
- Danny
Thursday, 22 Iyar 5774 - 37th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1347 - When must you pay the garage and tailor?

We learned that there's a Mitzva to pay wages on time, and an Aveira to pay them late.

The same applies if one gave a garment to a tailor be mended, or a car to a mechanic be serviced, or any other item to any kind of worker to be fixed, and they returned the item - or you picked it up - during the day, they must be paid on that day.

If it was returned - or you picked it up - during the night, they must be paid that same night.

If they informed you that the item is ready, then you don't have to pay, as long as you have not picked it up - no matter how long it stays by them.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 185:4

- Danny
Wednesday, 21 Iyar 5774 - 36th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1346 - When must one pay weekly/monthly wages?

Yesterday we learned that there's a Mitzva to pay wages on time, and an Aveira to pay them late.

The same applies to daily, weekly, monthly or yearly workers:

• If pay-time arrives during the day, they must be paid before sunset.
• If pay-time arrives at night, they must be paid during that night.

If one does not have the money to pay, one loses the Mitzva, but does not transgress. However, the correct thing to do is to borrow money so as to pay wages on time.

If the local custom is not to pay immediately, or the contract stipulates that pay-day will be a few days after the job is completed (or until an invoice arrives), then one does not transgress if one waited, but one does lose the Mitzva of paying on the same day.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 185:2-3

- Danny
Tuesday, 20 Iyar 5774 - 35th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1345 - Paying wages on time

One of the the 613 Mitzvot in the Torah is to pay wages on time as it says (in Devarim 24:15) בְּיוֹמוֹ תִתֵּן שְׂכָרוֹ - "on the same day you shall pay the worker's wage".

If the job ended during the daytime and one delays payment past sunset, one has forfeited this Mitzva and has also transgressed the prohibition of וְלֹא תָבוֹא עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ (ibid) - "and the sun should not set on the worker being unpaid".

If the job ended during the night and one didn't pay the worker during that night, then one has forfeited this Mitzva and also transgressed the prohibition of לֹא תָלִין פְּעֻלַּת שָׂכִיר אִתְּךָ עַד בֹּקֶר - (Vayikra 19:13) - "do not keep the worker's wages until morning".

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 185:2

- Danny
Monday, 19 Iyar 5774 - 34th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1344 - Shaving and haircuts the Jewish way

The Torah prohibits men from removing their Peiyot. 

The Peiyot-area is the hair in the triangular area from the top of the ear to the forehead to the bottom of the ear. 

According to some opinions even cutting the Peiyot very close to the skin with scissors is forbidden. 

The beard-area begins at the bottom of the ear where the Peiyot-area ends and includes the entire face. 

Men may not shave their beard with a razor. 

Even when using hair-removal cream on the beard-area, men cannot use a blade or a knife; they should use a rounded spatula or other instrument that cannot cut. 

Women may not shave a man's beard or Peiyot for him either.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 170:1-2

- Danny
Sunday, 18 Iyar 5774 - 33rd day of the Omer - Lag B'Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1343 - Haircuts tomorrow

Lag B'Omer - the 33rd day of the Omer - will be on Sunday. No Tachanun is said on Sunday, and צִדְקָתְךָ צֶדֶק is not said on Shabbat at Mincha.

One may have haircuts on Friday (tomorrow) already, in honor of Shabbat.
All other customs of mourning are to be observed until the morning of Lag B'Omer.

Those who have the custom to mourn from Rosh Chodesh Iyar, resume the mourning customs after Lag B'Omer. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:6, 7 

Note: Many Sefardim only stop the mourning on the 34th day of the Omer and don't allow haircuts on Friday.

Shabbat Shalom
- Danny

Thursday, 15 Iyar 5774 - 30th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1342 - Today is Pessach Sheni

Today - Wednesday - is Pessach Sheni - the 2nd [minor] Pessach.

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash, if a person can't bring the Korban Pessach on Erev Pessach, they have a 2nd chance a month later.

In the afternoon of 14th Iyar they would bring the Korban Pessach and roast it. After nightfall they would eat it with Matza and Marror. The leftovers were burnt the next morning.

Unfortunately this year we again missed both chances to bring the Korban Pessach.

Source: Bamidbar 9:9-12

- Danny in Jerusalem
Wednesday, 14 Iyar 5774 - 29th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1341 - Neighbors's wall; is it yours?

One may not do activities in one's own property that would cause damage to the neighbors.

One may not pour water or other liquids - even from a drainpipe - near the neighbors's wall.

One may not store warm things near a neighbors's wall - including compost - as the heat damages the wall.

In both these cases one has to move the potential damage away; at least 3 Tefachim (24 cm, 9") from the wall.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 183:7

- Danny
Tuesday, 13 Iyar 5774 - 28th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1340 - Mind your own business

One should not stare at a field that is ripe and ready to be harvested, so as not to cause damage by Ayin Hora.

(Ayin Hora: Being somewhat envious of other's success, triggering a heavenly judgement which causes that success to become a failure.)

Obviously one may not stare at other people with the intent of causing them an Ayin Hora.

Similarly, one should not watch other people at work if they do not want to be watched.

The correct behavior when seeing busy people is to wish them success and bless them with prosperity.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 183:6

- Danny
Monday, 12 Iyar 5774 - 27th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1339 - Don't forget to count the Omer

If you forget to count the Omer at night, then you should count the next day - but without a Bracha. You then continue counting (at night) as usual with a Bracha.

If you forgot to count during the night as well as the following day, then you should still continue counting the Omer, but you may no longer make the Bracha.

If you're unsure if you counted the previous night, you may continue counting with a Bracha.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:2

- Danny
Sunday, 11 Iyar 5774 - 26th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1338 - Last minute Shabbos preparations

Close to candle-lighting time one should ensure that Challa has been separated from the loaves to be used during Shabbat, and then one should announce that it's Candle Lighting Time. All this should be done calmly and pleasantly. 

Before leaving the house on Friday afternoon, one should check one's pockets to make sure they don't contain objects which are Muktza. 

In places without an Eruv - where carrying is forbidden - one must ensure one's pockets are empty every time one wants to step outside. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:22-23.

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny
Thursday, 8 Iyar 5774 - 23rd day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1337 - What day of the Omer is it today?

Before making the Bracha on counting the Omer, one should know which day one is going to count.

If one has not yet counted the Omer, and somebody wants to know which day we're up to, you should tell them "yesterday was day such-and-such".

If, instead, you replied "today is such-and-such" you may not be allowed to make a Bracha on that night's count, since you already counted.

However, you should still count "properly" (without a Bracha) since you have to mention the weeks as well as the days.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:3

- Danny
Wednesday, 7 Sivan 5774 22nd day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1336 - Bracha on entering a cemetery

When entering a Jewish cemetery - or seeing Jewish graves, one says a Bracha.

This Bracha is  only said if one has not seen Jewish graves in the past 30 days.

The Bracha is:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶתְכֶם בַּדִין, וְזָן וְכִלְכֵּל אֶתְכֶם בַּדִין

וְהֵמִית אֶתְכֶם בַּדִין, וְיוֹדֵעַ מִסְפַּר כֻּלְּכֶם בַּדִין

וְהוּא עָתִיד לְהַחֲיוֹתכֶם וְלַקַיֵם אֶתְכֶם בַּדִין

 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' מְחַיֵה הַמֵּתִים

"Blessed are you Hashem, Our Gcd, King of the universe,
Who fashioned you with justice, nourished and sustained you with justice,
took your lives with justice, and knows the sum total of you all with justice,
and He will restore and resuscitate you with judgment.
Blessed are you Hashem, Who resuscitates the dead.

One then continues with:

אַתָּה גִּבּוֹר לְעוֹלָם, אֲד-נָי. מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים אַתָּה, רַב לְהוֹשִׁיעַ. מְכַלְכֵּל חַיִּים בְּחֶסֶד, מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים בְּרַחֲמִים רַבִּים, סוֹמֵךְ נוֹפְלִים, וְרוֹפֵא חוֹלִים, וּמַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים, וּמְקַיֵּם אֱמוּנָתוֹ לִישֵׁנֵי עָפָר. מִי כָמוֹךָ בַעַל גְּבוּרוֹת, וּמִי דוֹמֶה לָּךְ, מֶלֶךְ מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה וּמַצְמִיחַ יְשׁוּעָה. וְנֶאֱמָן אַתָּה לְהַחֲיוֹת מֵתִים

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:11

- Danny
Monday, 5 Sivan 5774 - 20th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1335- BeHaB; another fast?

The custom is to say extra Selichot on the first "Monday, Thursday and Monday" in the month following Pessach and Sukkoth.

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  בה"ב.

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.

Yet, 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.

However, 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 Sivan 5774 - 19th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1334 - Tefillin on 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.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 10:19

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny

Thursday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5774 - 16th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1333 - Ya'aleh VeYavo - it's Rosh Chodesh!

Today (Wednesday) and tomorrow are Rosh Chodesh Iyar.

One needs to add  יַעֲלֶה וְיָבוֹא  in the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רְצֵה. 

If one forgot to do so during the Amida of Ma'ariv (evening prayers) - on either day - one does not need to make amends; since the Sanhedrin did not sanctify the month at night.

If one forgot to do so during Shachrit (morning prayers) or Mincha (afternoon prayers), then one has to return to the 17th Bracha of the Amida - רְצֵה and make amends.

If one already finished the Amida - by saying יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן - then one needs to restart the Amida.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 19:10

Chodesh Tov
- Danny
Wednesday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5774 - 15th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1332 - Don't forget Ya'aleh Veyavo on Rosh Chodesh

Tonight - Tuesday night - is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar.

On Rosh Chodesh one should add Ya'aleh Veyavo during the Amida and Birkat Hamazon.

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 only realizes after starting the last Bracha, or one does not have the above Bracha readily available, then one does not need to make amends.

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

Chodesh Tov!
Tuesday, 29 Nissan 5774 - 14th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1331 - Mourning during the Omer

During the Omer period, the great sage Rabbi Akiva (who lived during and after the destruction of the second Temple) lost almost all of his thousands of Torah students; reducing Torah Scholars to a handful.

As a result, 33 days of the Omer are customarily observed as days of mourning, during which weddings and haircuts are forbidden.

One may get engaged during the Omer and even celebrate with a meal, but dancing and music is not allowed.

The Sandek, Mohel and father of the newborn may take haircuts the day before the Brit.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:6 - 9

- Danny
Monday, 28 Nissan 5774 - 13th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1330 - Work during the Omer

The custom is to not do any work from sunset until after one has counted the Omer.

This applies to men and women. 

This is hinted to in the verse (Shmot 23:15) which refers to the 7 weeks of the Omer-counting as "Sheva Shabbatot" - using the word "Shabbat" instead of weeks. 

 וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם, מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת, מִיּוֹם הֲבִיאֲכֶם אֶת-עוֹמֶר הַתְּנוּפָה: שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת, תְּמִימוֹת תִּהְיֶינָה

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:10

- Danny
Sunday, 27 Nissan 5774 - 12th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1329- Dismantling tents on Shabbat

Making a roof on Shabbat is forbidden; even if it's a temporary flimsy roof.

A roof is defined as a cover, over an area of at least 1 Tefach (8 cm, 3") by 1 Tefach, and at least 1 Tefach of space underneath it.

Any roof that one is not allowed to make on Shabbat, one is also forbidden from dismantling.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:81

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach - Rosh Chodesh Iyar will be on Wednesday & Thursday

- Danny
Thursday, 24 Nissan 5774 - 9th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1328 - Countdown!

From the second day of Pessach until Shavu'ot we count the 49 days of the Omer.

Counting is done after nightfall. Before counting a Bracha is said:

ברוך אתה... אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בּמִצְוֹתָיו, וצִוָּנוּ עַל ספִירַת הָעוֹמֶר

One counts both days and weeks, as the Torah says (Vayikra 23:15-16):

וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם ... שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת ... תִּסְפְּרוּ חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם

"And you shall count ... 7 weeks ... you shall count 50 days."

Today is the 8th day of the Omer which is 1 week and 1 day. 

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 120:1

- Danny
Wednesday, 23 Nissan 5774 - 8th day of the Omer

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma

Halocho #1327- What is Isru Chag?

The day after Pessach, Sukkoth and Shavuoth is called אִסְרוּ חַג .

That would be today (Tuesday) in Israel and Wednesday everywhere else.

Various reasons are given for Isru Chag after Pessach and Sukkoth.

On Isru Chag the custom is to eat a larger meal than usual. Nobody - not even a bride and groom on their wedding day, nor a Yahrzeit - may fast on Isru Chag.

One does not say Tachanun on Isru Chag. Some communities don't say לַמְנַצֵּחַ (before וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן  in Shacharit) on אִסְרוּ חַג .

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 22:8, 103:14, 146:2

- Danny, in Jerusalem
Tuesday  ,  23 Nissan 5774 - 8th day of the Omer, אִסְרוּ חַג

Please daven for 3 year old נָעֳמִי בַּת דִינָה who is being treated for lymphoma