Halocho #1367 - Rosh Chodesh is in 10 days time

This Shabbat is "Shabbat Mevarchim". 

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz will be on Shabbat-in-a-week's-time and the morrow; Sunday. (2nd and 3rd July)

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 the Sanhedrin 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

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach
- Danny
Thursday, 21 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1366 - Can one eat almond milk with meat?

If one cooks meat in almond milk, one has to leave some almonds in the dish, so that people do not suspect one of having cooked meat in milk.

As a general rule, one should be careful not to do anything which looks like it's against Halacha, even if one is not doing anything wrong, as it says in Bemidbar 23:22  וִהְיִיתֶם נְקִיִּים מֵה' וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל and in Mishlei 3:4 - וּמְצָא חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱ-לקִים וְאָדָם.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:14, 29:20
- Danny
Wednesday, 20 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1365 - Meat after cheese

After eating milky products one needs to wash one's hands or check them carefully, eat something hard (like bread) and rinse one's mouth or drink something and check between one's teeth or brush them. Then - if it's not at the same meal - one can eat meat right away.

The exception is hard cheese that aged for 6 months or became wormy. After eating such cheese, one needs to wait 6 hours before eating meat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:11

As we learned yesterday, some have the custom to only wait 1 or 3 hours.

There's a debate among Poskim if modern hard cheese that didn't age 6 months is considered like hard cheese. Check with your favorite LOR.

- Danny
Tuesday, 19 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1364 - Eating milk after chewing meat

After eating meat or chicken, one must wait 6 hours before eating milky products.

Even if one only chewed the meat, but did not swallow it, one must still wait.

If, after waiting 6 hours, one finds meat stuck between one's teeth, one has to remove it and rinse one's mouth and eat something solid before eating Milky, though one need not wait  another 6 hours.

If the food did not contain any meat, chicken or gravy, but was simply cooked in a meaty pot - even if the pot wasn't spotlessly clean - then one may eat milk right afterwards.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:9-10

Some have the custom of only waiting 1 hour or 3 hours, and not 6 hours between meat and milk. Everybody should follow their family Minhag.

- Danny
Monday, 18 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1363 - Which are the Milky dishes?

One cannot use the same dishes and cutlery for eating meat and milk.

If one has 2 identical sets of dishes, then the custom is to mark the Milky dishes (with ink, a scratch or otherwise) in order to tell them apart.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:8
- Danny
Sunday, 17 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1362 - Lego, lids and screws on Shabbat

An item made of various parts can be assembled on Shabbat, if the connections are loose, and it is taken apart and put back together frequently. (Like Lego pieces.)

If the parts are supposed to be tightly connected or screwed together - so as to "almost never" take them apart (like most door handles) -  then you cannot assemble them on Shabbat, even if you don't tighten the connection.

Lids of dishes may be taken off and put back on even if they are tight (like Tupperware) since they are not meant to remain connected permanently.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:83
Shabbat Shalom
- Danny
Thursday, 14 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1361 - You eat meat, I'll eat milk

Two acquaintances are not allowed to share the same table, if one is eating a meat meal and the other is eating a milky meal.

This applies to friends, family and even casual acquaintances, even those who wouldn't feel comfortable sharing their food with each other.

If there is some sort of separation on the table, then they are allowed to share the table. For example, if they each have their own place mat, or there is something between them on the table that normally is not on the table, E.g.: food (bottle of whiskey) or vessels (vase or extra salt cellars).

They should not share the same cup, pitcher or bottle, since food can get stuck on it and passed from one to the other.

They also should not be sharing the same loaf of bread. The custom is that they do not even share the same salt cellars.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:6, 7
- Danny
Wednesday, 13 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1360 - Kosher dog food?

There are 3 prohibitions regarding meat and milk:

•  One may not eat them together
•  One may not cook them together
•  One may not derive any benefit from such a mixture

Some mixtures of meat and milk are forbidden to be eaten - even by one's pets. 

Other mixtures of meat and milk one are allowed to be used as pet food, but not to be eaten by Jews. A competent Rabbinic authority needs to be consulted on a case-by-case basis.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:5
- Danny
Tuesday, 12 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1359 - Is your own blood Kosher?

If one bites into food - a piece of bread or fruit, for example - and some blood (from the gums or elsewhere) gets onto the food, one has to remove the bloody part before eating the rest.

However, you may swallow your own blood originating in your mouth - from bleeding gums or a cut tongue, for example - if it did not leave your mouth.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 41:3
- Danny
Monday, 11 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1358 - When can one eat blood?

Kosher meat and fowl is kashered with coarse salt in order to remove as much blood as possible.

Since liver is full of blood, salting it is ineffective. Liver needs to be roasted over an open flame to remove as much blood as possible.

Blood spots in eggs may not be eaten, and usually the entire egg is discarded if it has a blood spot.

If a fish has fins and scales then it is Kosher, and its blood may be eaten. However, if the blood has separated from the fish and cannot be distinguished from non-fish blood then it's forbidden.

If a bowl of fish-blood has fish-scales floating in it, then it's permitted.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:1,2

- Danny
Sunday, 10 Sivan 5774

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

Halocho #1357 - Isru Chag; the day after Yom Tov

The day after Yom Tov is called Isru Chag. 

Isru Chag is today - Thursday - in Israel, and on Friday everywhere else.

One may not fast on Isru Chag and no Tachanun is said on Isru Chag. 

The Minhag is to eat a bigger meal than usual, to mark the day as Isru Chag.

Some do not say Tachanun for the entire week after Shavu'ot since the Korbanot that one had to bring when coming to the Bet Hamikdash on Yom Tov could be brought for the entire week after Shavu'ot.

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

- Danny, Jerusalem, Israel
Thursday, Isru Chag Shavu'oth 5774

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

Halocho #1356 - Eating on Erev Yom Tov

Today - Tuesday - is Erev Shavuot.

In honor of Yom Tov one should bathe in warm water and cut one's hair and nails on Erev Yom Tov.

In order not to spoil one's appetite for the Yom Tov meal, one should not eat a meal during the second half of the afternoon, on Erev Yom Tov.

Outside of Israel this also applies to the first day of Yom Tov; so as not to spoil one's appetite for the evening meal of the 2nd day of Yom Tov one should not eat a meal during the second half of the afternoon on Wednesday.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:2

Chag Shavuoth Same'ach
- Danny
Tuesday, 5 Sivan 5774  - 49th day of the Omer - Erev Shavuoth

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

Halocho #1355 - Ruth and Shavu'ot

This year - 5774 - Shavu'ot will start on Tuesday evening at sundown and end on Wednesday evening after dark. 

Outside of Israel, Shavu'ot will end on Thursday evening after dark.

It is customary to read Megilat Ruth on Shavu'ot morning, between Hallel and the Torah Reading. 

In Israel, Megilat Ruth will be read on Wednesday and in the Diaspora most places will read Megilat Ruth on Thursday.

Outside of Israel one has to remember to leave a flame burning (like a Yahrzeit candle or gas range) from before Yom Tov (Tuesday afternoon) so that one can light the 2nd day's Yom Tov candles.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 75, Orach Chaim 490:9

On Shavu'ot 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

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

- Danny
Monday, 4 Sivan 5774 - 48th day of the Omer

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

Halocho #1354 - What is a Chagiga?

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash (may it be rebuilt speedily in our days) all men above Bar Mitzva have a Mitzva to appear in the Bet Hamikdash thrice yearly; during the Yom Tov of Pessach, Shavuoth and Sukkoth.

This Mitzva includes offering 2 sacrifices; a Korban Re'iya ("appearance sacrifice") which was completely burnt, and a Korban Chagiga ("festive sacrifice") which was eaten.

These sacrifices cannot be offered on Shabbat.

Preferably this Mitzva should be fulfilled on the first day of each Yom Tov. If the first day of Yom Tov is Shabbat, or if the person has other reasons to delay, then the Mitzva can be done during the remaining days of Sukkoth and Pessach.

Even though Shavuoth is only one day long (in Israel) this Mitzva can also be fulfilled during the 6 days following Shavuoth. This is the reason why some congregations do not say Tachanun during the entire week following Shavuoth.

Source: The Book of our Heritage, Vol III, Page 50

- Danny
Sunday, 3 Sivan 5774 - 47th day of the Omer

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

Halocho #1353 - Umbrellas on Shabbat and Yom Tov

We learned in Halocho #754 that making roofs on Shabbat is forbidden.

Therefore it's forbidden to open open an umbrella on Shabbat.

Even carrying an open umbrella on Shabbat or Yom Tov is forbidden.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:82

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

Tonight is Rosh Chodesh Sivan!

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

Halocho #1352 - Eating milk, honey and meat on Shavu'ot

The Minhag is to eat food made from milk products on the first day of Shavu'ot, for various reasons.

One should also eat foods made with honey since the Torah is compared to honey.

One should also eat meat, since - like every Yom Tov - there's a Mitzva to eat to meat on a Chag.

One needs to plan the meals carefully since one may not eat milk after meat, and one may not eat both together at the same meal.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:7

- Danny
Wednesday, 28 Iyar 5774 - 43rd day of the Omer

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

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