Friday, January 14, 2011

Shomer Negiyah-touching opposite gender:

Shomer Negiya is brought down by Maran (Shulhan Arukh, Eben HaEzer Siman 20, and Siman 21), and according to HaRambam it is an obligation from the Torah. However, according to HaRamban this is a from Rabbis.
Maran writes (ibid.) that this even applies to a sister. One may not hug a sister, and one that does so, is called a fool. A father may hug his daughter, and a son my hug his mother.
These Halakhot are not very well known, but are extremely important, and must be handled for carefully.
If one is in a situation where a woman attempts to shake his hand for business matters, he may NOT shake her hand, even if it will embarrass the woman. However, woman are permitted to kiss scholars' hands, because it is in a way of awe and respect, rather than a way of love and attraction.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Hoq LeYisra'el, Shnayim Miqra:

The Ari HaQadosh instituted "Hoq LeYisra'el", and nowadays is a commonly known practice. In fact, HaRab Ben Sion Abba Sha'ul (Israel 1924-1998) writes (Or Lesion) that there is a real obligation on every Jew to learn Hoq LeYisr'ael. Although, HaRab Yis'haq Yosef doesn't require Yeshiba students to learn from Hoq LeYisr'ael on a daily basis.
However, "Shanyim Miqra WeAhat Targum" is a Halakha brought down in Shulhan Arukh, and in the Gemara Berakhot. So, one must be meticulous to say "Shnayim Miqra WeAhat Targum." Maran explains how to recite Shnayim Miqra: read the Pasuq twice, and then read the Targum Unkelus. Some opinions hold, that one should read the Pasuk twice, and then read Rashi. Some opinions hold, that one should read the Pasuq twice, and then read Rashi and Unkelus. Maran holds that the official way of doing Shnayim Miqra, is by reading the Pasuk twice, and then the Unkelus. Although, Maran writes that a Saddiq should read the Pasuq twice, then read the Rashi, and then the Unkelus.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Saying WaYidaber, and WeHayah Ki Yebi'akha:

The Ben Ish Hai writes that after donning one's Teffilin, they shall recite WaYidaber, and WeHayah Ki Yebi'akha. Some have the same Minhag of reciting it, with Rabenu Taam Teffilin on, although it is not required. If one didn't recite it with Teffilin Rashi on, he is not required to don is Teffilin once more in order to recite it.
The reason for this, is because inside of our Teffilin we have these four Parashaiot: Qadesh Li, Shema, WeHaya Im Shamo'ah, and WeHayah Ki Yebi'akha. Rabenu, and Rashi argue on this matter, however most people simply wear Rashi. Maran holds (S"A, O"H 34) that only people that are famous in their righteousness should wear both. The Ben Ish Hai holds that one must wear both, and at the same time. We follow the opinion, that if you are going to wear both, you shall wear them separately. Although one may wear both simultaneously. Some hold one should only wear both after they get married. Our Minhag is that everyone wears either Rashi and Rabenu Taam, or just Rashi. One only makes a Berakha on Rashi. One is not permitted to bless on Rabenu Taam alone.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Learning at night; Hassot:

One who is awake and learning at night, must say (at Hassot) Shema She'al HaMita, and then Birkhot Hashahar. However, one does not recite Birkhot HaTorah at this time, rather when the days appears. However, if one was sleeping and then arose at Hassot, he must recite all the Berakhot HaShahar, and then say Tikkun Hassot (Dibre Shalom, Siman 14).
All 18 Berakhot one must recite them, and even if he does fuflfill their actions (Nahar Shalom 20b).


Sunday, December 12, 2010

Se'ouda Shelesheet:

One should be very careful to fulfill the obligation of Se'ouda Shelesheet. He should at least consume an egg-size, and if he is unable to do so, he shall not bother himself so much to do so. One who is smart shall not fill up is stomach in the morning meal, in order that he will have space for Se'ouda Shelesheet (Meqor Haim, 291:1).
The time for Se'ouda Shelesheet is the time of Minha, and if one does so before this time, he has not fulfilled his obligation (Meqor Haim, 291:2). There is no necessity to make Qiddush on Se'ouda Shelesheet, but there is a necessity to use two loaves of bread (Meqor Haim, 291:4).

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Teshuba-repentance:

The Rambam holds (Hilkhot Teshuba, Perek 2:1) that to accomplish complete Teshuba, you must be in the situation where you are able to commit the sin, and remember that you are trying to do Teshuba, and then avoid doing the sin. The Rambam continues (Hilkhot Teshuba 2:2) "what constitutes Teshuvah? That a sinner should abandon his sins and remove them from his thoughts, resolving in his heart, never to commit them again as [Isaiah 55:7] states "May the wicked abandon his ways...." Similarly, he must regret the past as [Jeremiah 31:18] states: "After I returned, I regretted."

[He must reach the level where] He who knows the hidden will testify concerning him that he will never return to this sin again as [Hoshea 14:4] states: "We will no longer say to the work of our hands: `You are our gods.'"

He must verbally confess and state these matters which he resolved in his heart."

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

100 blessings a day:

In the time of Dawid HaMelekh, there was a period of time where 100 people would die everyday. So the solution for this was to make 100 Berakhot a day.
In the Gemara (Menahot) brings the verse "מה השם אלוקים שאול ממך-what does Hashem your G-d ask of you ", they expound "don't read it מה rather מאה. Meaning to say, that we should say 100 Berakhot a day.
Shelomo HaMelekh in the last few verses in Shir HaShirim says
יא כֶּרֶם הָיָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה בְּבַעַל הָמוֹן, נָתַן אֶת-הַכֶּרֶם לַנֹּטְרִים: אִישׁ יָבִא בְּפִרְיוֹ, אֶלֶף כָּסֶף.11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he gave over the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof brought in a thousand pieces of silver.
יב כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי, לְפָנָי; הָאֶלֶף לְךָ שְׁלֹמֹה, וּמָאתַיִם לְנֹטְרִים אֶת-פִּרְיוֹ.12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me; thou, O Solomon, shalt have the thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
יג הַיּוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּגַּנִּים, חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ--הַשְׁמִיעִנִי.13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken for thy voice: 'Cause me to hear it.'

Introduction: on Shabbat, we don't have that many Berakhot because Shemonah Esreh is cut short, so we try to make Berakhot on fruit to cover and reach 100. Also, on Shabbat we usually without the meals, we usually reach about 80 Berakhot. So, in this verse it says "1000 (100) for you Shelomo, and 200 (20) we eat your fruit. So, it's explained to mean that on Shabbat we have 80 Berakhot, so if we eat the fruit we will get to as much Shelomo-100. Also, verse 13, we see "those that dwell in the garden, companions listen for your voice, 'cause me to hear'". This is talking about answering Aamen to the Berakha. People listen to your voice, because they want to fulfill with yours, so they "cause me to hear".
The Mishna Berurah (Siman 46), explains that everday one usually makes about 91 (Sepharadim)/92(Ashkenazim) Berakhot just from Tefillah. However, if we just eat two meals that will add another 16, and take us to 107/108. So, if we do this many anyways, why do so many Poskim, and Gemarot speak of it? To show us, not that we won't have enough, it's that we need to proper intention on the Berakhot. However, if it is difficult,then make a condition with Hashem, "all the Berakhot I will make today, even if I don't intend on so, it will be as if I intended on Hashem's name (Alef-Dalet-Nun-Yud)- it will intend as 'MASTER OF ALL". Also, with the name of Hashem (Yud-Ke-Waw-Ke) it should be as "MASTER OF ALL; IS, WAS, AND WILL BE." Last, for the name of Hashem that I utter with E-lokim, it shall be "POWERFUL:MASTER OF ABILITY (MAN'S), MASTER OF THE STRENGTHS OF THE WORLD.MASTER, AND RULER. HIGHEST ABOVE ALL, AND MASTER OF ALL THE WORLD."
So, we should always remember, having the 100 is not enough, because we have it anyways, we either have proper intent or at least the condition.