Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Did You Know (47)

The Chok Yakov quotes from the Shibolei Leket  two more reasons for Yemei Sefira:

1) According to R. Yochanan ben Nuri* the Mishpat (judgement)  for Reshoim is between Pesach & Shavuos.

2) The Yemei Hadin for grains, are between Pesach & Shavuos.



*for saying Kaddish 11 months we hold like Tanna Kama (12 months)

Monday, April 27, 2015

Today Is Bahab

Why do we fast on BAHAB ?

click here to see 7 reasons why we fast on bahab

Oldest Kalah

Who was the oldest (known) Kalah in Tanach?
She was at least 80 years older than her Choson.

For answer click here 

Tipping the Badchan

Part of the Mitzvah Tanz ceremony is  to hire a Badchan who sings in rhyme the praises of the individuals  he calls up for  the dance. The Minhag is, the person who was called up, will hand over a monetary  tip to the Badchan.

The origin of this Minhag goes back to the times of the Rishonim.
The Minhag was for the Chazzan to attend weddings and sing a Mi Shebeirach for each guest. It was expected from the guest to pay the Chazzan.
The Agodos Maharsha (Ta’anis 16 D.H.Beiso) is very much against this practice. He considers it  Gezeilah and not a Matana. (The guest never asked for a Mi Shebeirach, and must hand over money unwillingly to the Chazzan)

Going back even earlier in history, Reb Yehuda Hachasid was also against this practice.

The  Or Zarua (113) quotes R. Eliezer Mibhim(Bohemia) who wrote to R.Y. Hachasid defending this Minhag. He says in most towns in Poland, Russia and Hungary they are not Lomdei Torah. It is necessary to hire a Chazzan to be their Shliach
Tzibbur , Moreh Tzedek and teach the children. By not allowing them to earn additional monies at the Chasenes  we won’t find Chazanim  to do this job.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Eliyohu Hanavi At A Bris

The Gemoro (Eruvin 43a) assumes that Eliyahu Hanavi cannot appear on Shabbos or Yom Tov, because of the Issur of Chutz L’tchum. (if Issur Techumin is Lemaloh Meiasarah )


How can we say at a Bris, on Shabbos & Yom Tov “Zeh Hakisei Shel Eliyahu—Amoid al Yemini- ?

Answer:

The Shu”t Chasam Sofer (Chelek 6-98) explains that there are two parts to Eliyohu Hanavi. His Guf (body) which is resting in Gan Eden Hatachton, in this world. The other part is his Neshama, which went up to heaven and serves as a Malach.

At a Bris he appears as a Malach (Malach Habris) from heaven. A Malach is not
obligated to keep the Mitzvohs. There also is no Din of Techumin from heaven to earth
(Tosfos 45b dh. Leima) .

When the time will come, Bimeheiro Veyomeinu to bring us the Besura of Higia Z’man
Geulaschem, Eliyohu Hanavi will appear with his Guf & Neshama.  at this stage he is like any Yid who is Mechuyav in Mitzvohs . He can’t come on Shabbos & Yom Tov from Gan Eden Hatachton which is Chutz L’tchum.

With this we can answer a famous kashye:
Why by  a metzia we say Moonach ad Sheyovy ELiyahu and Teiku is the Roshey Taivos for  Tishbi Yetaretz Kushyos Uboyos . It should be Eiku - Eliyahu Yetaretz Kushyos Uboyos. 

Tishbi Yetaretz Kushyos Uboyos will be with his Guf, therefore
we don’t have the problem of Lo Bashomayim Hie

Moonach ad Sheyovy ELiyahu is just a matter of who it belongs to which someone from shomayim may say 

Those who believe that E. Hanavi appears at the seder,

it can only be the Neshama (Guf can’t come from chutz l’tchum)

Thursday, April 23, 2015

The Minhag Of Chapping Challah

This is not Shlisel Challah 

Chappen Challah  (grabbing Challah)

At many Simchos  there is a Minhag to cut up the large Seuda Challah and pass it around to the guests.

The origin of this Minhag goes back to  the times of R. Akiva Eiger zt”l . In Pozen & surrounding towns the Minhag was for the guest to grab away the Challa (Motzie) from the Choson,

(after he ate the first Kezayis). 

It was done so , for a Remez to show that this Chasuna  there is no” Motzie  Ani Mar Mimoves”  but

“Motzo Isho Motzo Tov. “

Later on they changed it to a more civilized manner to have the waiter cut up the Challah and serve

the Motzie to the guest.

Not knowing the reason, they followed this Minhag at other Simchos as well. (Bris, Bar Mitzvah etc.)


Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Did you know (46)

According to the Chida ( Moreh B'etzba 114) Mayim Achronim is part of the Sitra  Achra (other side of Kedusha), therefore you should be careful to use a  minimal  amount of water.


The Gaon argues and holds to use a Revi'is for Mayim Achronim.

See Here a post about mayim achronim at the seder


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

The Chavas Yair On Dikduk


                                                                                                                                                                                                                    לז"נ הבחור הקדוש


                                                                                                                                                                    מנחם שלמה בן ר' אברהם אשי הי"ד
                                                                                                                                                                          יום השנה - ב' דר"ח (א') אייר


The Chavas Yair #124 writes :

 “Learning is important and necessary only for the basics. (Zochor/Nekeivah,
Ovar /Osid, Yochid/ Rabim, Nochach /Nistar,etc.)

Wasting days learning various different Binyonim is not important”.

The Tashbatz 1:33 writes :
” Not knowing Dikduk doesn’t reduce
the Ma’alos of a Talmid Chacham”.


In Shu”t Ha’Rema (5-6-7) there are exchanges of letters from  the Maharshal who criticizes the Rema for writing Teshuvos with Dikduk  mistakes.

The Rema admits to him that his writing is not fluent. He says that
he is careful to make his point clear and understood, and that is more important than proper grammer.

 Only a Sefer Torah, needs to be exact with the wording. The Rema continues , he is not trying to brag about it but he never learned Dikduk in his life.

It seems, the lack of Dikduk study goes back, way before the Maskilim reintroduced it.



Monday, April 20, 2015

What is the correct Nusach For Birchas Ilanos הלא דבר הוא

According to Kabbalah, the Birchas Hailonos should be said only in Chodesh Nissan. This year trees in most of North America, haven’t blossomed yet . We will  make the Bracha Iy"h  in Iyar. According to Halacha, most Poskim hold  it is perfectly acceptable to make the Bracha in the months of Adar or Iyar.
In Shas Bavli & Yerushalmi, Zohar, Poskim (Tur Sh. Aruch 233) and all Sidurim printed over 300 years ago, the Nusach of the Bracha ends "Shelo Chisar Bo’olamo KLUM".

Most Siddurim  today have the Nusach is "Shelo Chisar Bo'olamo DOVOR".


Why the change?

For Answer click HERE

Did You Know (45

According to the Shulchan Aruch* , Weddings should not be performed on Sundays.

*E.H. 64:3

  "Some say not to marry women on Fridays and Sundays-
Others say it is allowed and the Minhag is to marry on Fridays."



The Pischei Teshuva writes " On Sundays the Minhag remains not to marry because the Goyim get married on Sundays.

The Teshuvas Ha' Rema 124,agrees and writes" We don't marry on
Sundays כחוקת הכותים." 

Friday, April 17, 2015

אַל-תְּשַׁקְּצוּ, אֶת-נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם, -Vort On Parshas Hashevua-Parshas Shemini

The Bais Yosef (Y.D. 121) quotes the Orchas Chaim who
says:
 “The same way you need to Kasher a vessel that has absorbed Issur , so too must you Kasher a vessel that absorbed Dovor Ma’us (repulsive) like urine etc. You should not be Meikel on this Minhag”

The Bais Yosef argues. He holds this Minhag has no source and nobody follows it. He says:
 “All you need to do, is rinse clean the vessel and may use it without Kashering."
I saw or heard (don’t remember, where/who) an explanation on the Machlokeh, is if the Issur of Ba’al Teshaktzku is an Issur Gavra or Cheftza.
The Orchas Chaim holds it is an Issur Cheftza, therefore, when it is absorbed in a Keli it is no different than any other Issur and needs Kashering.

The Bais Yosef holds Ba’al Teshatzku is an Issur Gavra,

Therefore all you need to do is to clean it.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

did you know? (44)

According to Tosfos (Chulin 63a D.H. Neitz):

Those who translate  נשר as an “ eagle” (Adler) are mistaken.

According to Chazal a Nesher  has only three fingers. Eagles have four.




Monday, April 13, 2015

Did You Know (43)

According to Reb Shlomo Zalman  Auerbach zt"l :

A Ben Chutz L'aretz in Cutz La'aretz may cook* on Yom Tov Sheini for a Ben Eretz Yisroel.

However in Eretz Yisroel he should not cook on Yom Tov Sheini for a Ben Eretz Yisroel.


*It is preferable for him to eat from it as well.

Did You Know (42)

Someone fasting* on Yom Tov may not cook for
others (Shulchan Aruch O.Ch 527 :20) 

According to the Ben Ish Chai,the same would apply for someone who is Fleishigs. He may not cook Milchigs**.


* Tanis Chalom

** R.S.Z. Auerbachzt"l argues & considers this as a strange Psak

Monday, April 6, 2015

מה שפגמתי בספירה

Nusach Sefard  says after counting the Omer the Tefillah of  “Ribono Shel Olam.” 
The Chida in Avodas Hakodesh has an additional special Tefillah for the ending of every week of the Sefira.
The Chok Yakov ( O. Ch.489) writes not to say  the kabalistic tefilos  after counting the Omer.
“We should refrain from saying the Tefilla because we have no clue of the meaning. These tefilos are only for practicing kabalists who know and understand what they are saying. 
Even the Kabalist  should also only say it betzina and quietly. “
The Teshuvas Rashbash (189) writes that we have no clue what sefiros  are.
 The Mishna in Avos says:
"Hashem created the world Basara Ma’amoros". The Kabbalist refer to them as the ten Sefiros , the tools with which Hashem created and runs (sends his Ha’ashpa’a ) his world.
When we say “Ma Shepagamti Bisefirah” (what I have blemished with the sefira.)
The simple explanation is, by doing an Aveirah  we somehow block the Tzinor (pipe) from where Hashem’s Ha’ashpa’a flows through to this world. 
                      

Friday, April 3, 2015

Chag Kosher Vsameach!

                          Rare Shabbos

The only Shabbos* ( only once every few years)
when the Birchos מעין שבע are not said in Shul,
is on first days Pesach**.(ליל שימורים )

*O.Ch. 487:1
** The Kaf Hachayim brings a Minhag where they do
say it even on first days Pesach

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Did You Know #41

According to Mori V'Rabi R.S. Miller Shlita:

You may not wear in a Reshus Harabim (No Eiruv) raincoats if the attached hood is stored inside its pocket.  

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