Daily Halacha Podcast - Daily Halacha By Rabbi Eli J. Mansour Podcast

Hanukah- How many Menorahs In Each Home by The Ashkenazim? from 2023-11-30T08:00

Generally, Sephardic Halachic practice follows the Rambam, and the Ashkenazim follow other Rishonim. However, there seems to be an exception to this rule with regard to lighting the Hanukah Menorah...

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Hanukah- Lighting One Hanukah Candle From Another from 2023-11-29T08:00

During the first half-hour after the Hanukah candles are lit, they may not be used for other purposes than publicizing the Hanukah miracle. Clearly, then, one may not light a cigarette, for example...

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Hanukah- Lighting Candles After Minha in an Office; Lighting at Weddings or Other Public Gatherings from 2023-11-28T08:00

One each of the eight evenings of Hanukah, we light Hanukah candles in the synagogue for the purpose of "Pirsumeh Nisa" – publicizing the miracle. After Minha, before Arbit, somebody lights the can...

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Hanukah- The Reward for Lighting Hanukah Candles from 2023-11-27T08:00

The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat (23; listen to audio recording for precise citation) tells that Rav Huna would often pass by the home of Rabbi Abin, and he noticed that many candles were lit in Rav ...

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Hanukah- Reciting the Berachot Before Lighting; Customs for After Lighting; Positioning the Candles from 2023-11-26T08:00

Before one lights the Hanukah candles on the first night, he recites three Berachot: "Le'hadlik Ner Hanukah"; "She'asa Nisim"; and "She'heheyanu." On all other nights of Hanukah, one recites the fi...

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Using Electric Lights as Shabbat Candles from 2023-11-24T08:00

Halacha requires lighting candles in the home before the onset on Shabbat every Friday. The Sages enacted this obligation in order to ensure the presence of "Shalom Bayit" – a sense of serenity in ...

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Shabbat Candle Lighting – Two Candles; Who Lights if The Matriarch Is Not Home? from 2023-11-23T08:00

The obligation of Hadlakat Nerot, the Ereb Shabbat candle lighting, requires lighting at least one candle, but it is customary for women to light two candles. The most common reason given for this ...

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Until When May a Woman Light Shabbat Candles on Friday Afternoon? from 2023-11-22T08:00

The Mishna in Masechet Shabbat (listen to audio recording for precise citation) establishes that one may not light the Shabbat candles on Friday afternoon at the time when it is uncertain whether o...

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May a Woman Drink After Lighting the Shabbat Candles? from 2023-11-21T08:00

If a woman lit Shabbat candles on Friday evening, and accepted the onset of Shabbat with her lighting, it is permissible for her to drink afterward, before Kiddush? Generally speaking, it is forbid...

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May a Woman Recite Minha After Lighting Shabbat Candles? from 2023-11-20T08:00

If a woman lit the Shabbat candles and accepted Shabbat at the proper time (eighteen minutes before sundown), and immediately thereafter remembered that she had not recited the Minha prayer, may sh...

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Lighting Shabbat Candles in an Illuminated Room from 2023-11-19T08:00

Hacham Ovadia Yosef ZT"L is of the opinion that under extenuating circumstances, one may fulfill the obligation of Shabbat candle lighting through the use of electric lighting. Thus, for example, a...

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The Obligation to Eat Bread on Shabbat, and the Guidelines for One Who Forgot to Add “Reseh” in Birkat Hamazon on Shabbat from 2023-11-17T08:00

Rav Abraham Palachi (son of the famous Rav Haim Palachi of Izmir, Turkey) was once asked why the Sages did not enact a Beracha to be recited before eating bread on Shabbat. On Pesah, for example, w...

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Covering the Bread on the Table on Shabbat and Yom Tob from 2023-11-16T08:00

Both on Shabbat and Yom Tob, one must recite the Beracha of "Ha'mosi" over two whole loaves of bread, and the bread must be covered during the recitation of Kiddush. Two reasons are given for the r...

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Is It Permissible for Everyone On The Table To Eat From Their Own Bread After Hearing HaMosi On Shabbat Before Eating From The Bread Of The Mekadesh from 2023-11-15T08:00

On Shabbat, when one person recites the Beracha of "Ha'motzi" over two loaves of bread and everybody else listens to and relies upon his Beracha, may they partake of the bread before the person who...

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Must the Bread be on the Table During Kiddush? from 2023-11-14T08:00

It occasionally happens that when one returns home from the synagogue on Friday night, the Hallot are still being warmed up, either in the oven or on the hotplate or "blech." Must the Hallot be pla...

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Must the Bread be on the Table During Kiddush? from 2023-11-14T08:00

It occasionally happens that when one returns home from the synagogue on Friday night, the Hallot are still being warmed up, either in the oven or on the hotplate or "blech." Must the Hallot be pla...

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The Requirement to Eat Bread at Se’uda Shelishit from 2023-11-13T08:00

Presented by Rav Gidon Ben Moshe of Jerusalem If a person forgot to include "Reseh" when he recited Birkat Ha’mazon after one of the first two Shabbat meals, he must repeat Birkat Ha’mazon. This Ha...

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Halachot Regarding the Kiddush Cup and How to Hold the Cup During Kiddush from 2023-11-10T08:00

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Bereshit (21), presents a number of Halachot relevant to the cup used for Kiddush on Shabbat (listen to audio recording for preci...

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Preparing for Kiddush from 2023-11-09T08:00

In an earlier edition of Daily Halacha (see "Customs for When One Arrives Home From the Synagogue on Friday Night", dated Dec. 7th 2009), we discussed some of the customary procedures performed bef...

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The Procedure for Reciting Kiddush and Drinking the Wine from 2023-11-08T08:00

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) writes (listen to audio recording for precise citation) that on Friday night, after one looks into the Kiddush cup and recites the introductor...

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Owning a Business That Operates on Shabbat from 2023-11-07T08:00

Halacha forbids buying or selling on Shabbat. If one did make a transaction on Shabbat, even though the sale is legally binding, one may not derive any benefit from money earned through that transa...

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Halachot Pertaining to Lel Shabbat: Covering the Table, Reciting Shalom Alechem, and Covering the Bread from 2023-11-06T08:00

It is proper to cover the table with a tablecloth for the Shabbat meals, as an expression of honor for Shabbat. Hacham Ovadia Yosef writes that the tablecloth does not necessarily have to be white....

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Cutting a Branch of Hadasim or a Cluster of Grapes on Shabbat from 2023-11-05T08:00

Is it permissible to cut a Hadasim branch into small pieces on Shabbat, in order to distribute it to the people in the synagogue? If a person has Hadasim in the synagogue, and after he recites the ...

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Saying "God Willing" Before Every Undertaking; the Delicate Balance Between Effort and Excessive Work (Work-A-Holics) from 2023-11-03T08:00

Rabbi Chayim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1868), in his work Kaf Ha'chayim (21:2), discusses the importance of saying "Im Yirtzeh Hashem" – "God willing" – before every undertaking. This concept is allude...

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Wine Touched by Muslims Who Practice Monotheism from 2023-11-02T08:00

We know that wine which is produced, or even touched or poured by a non-Jew, is prohibited; one may not drink or derive benefit from it. The prohibition of deriving benefit (issur hana'a) includes ...

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May One Purchase and Wear New Clothing During the Omer Period? from 2022-04-20T08:30

There is some discussion among the Halachic authorities regarding the recitation of the Beracha of "Shehehiyanu" during the period of Sefirat Ha’omer, until Lag Ba’omer. Rav Haim Palachi (Turkey, ...

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Sefirat Ha'omer - Training Children in the Misva; The Status of Women Vis-a-vis Counting the Omer from 2022-04-19T08:30

There is a Misva to train children to count each night of the Omer with a Beracha. Each night throughout the Omer period, a parent should recite the Beracha over Sefirat Ha’omer with the children ...

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If One Remembers After Sundown That He Had Not Counted the Omer from 2022-04-18T08:30

If a person forgot to count the Omer at night, and also forgot during the following day, but remembered shortly after sundown, may he still count the Omer? Let us take the example of a person who ...

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Pesach - Habdala When the Seder is Held on Mosa'eh Shabbat from 2022-04-15T08:30

When the Pesah Seder is held on Mosa’eh Shabbat, a special Kiddush is recited, one which incorporates Habdala. The sequence of this Kiddush is known by the acrostic "Yaknehaz," which stands for: Listen

Pesah - The Prayer Service When Seder Night Falls on Shabbat from 2022-04-14T08:30

When Seder night falls on Friday night, we recite "Mizmor Le’David" and welcome the Shabbat with the recitation of "Lecha Dodi" just as we do on an ordinary Friday night. There are those who maint...

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Pesah- Laws of Ereb Pesah from 2022-04-13T08:30

One may not eat Masa on Ereb Pesah. This restriction begins from dawn, but it is permitted the night before. Only Masa that is fit to fulfil the Misva of the Seder night is prohibited to eat. There...

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Pesah- Determining the Measurement of Kezayit from 2022-04-12T08:30

When the Torah commands us to eat something, "Ain achila pachot m'kezayit," the minimum amount required is a "Kezayit." Kezayit literally means like the size of an olive. The Mishna in Masechet Kei...

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Pesah- The Keara from 2022-04-11T08:30

The Halacha requires using a Ke'arah (platter) to serve the various foods for the Misvot of the Seder. While the Ke'arah does not have to be specially designed for the Seder, it is not sufficient t...

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Pesah: Selling Hames in a Different Time Zone from 2022-04-10T08:30

Hames which remained in a Jews possession over Pesah becomes forbidden to benefit from. However, if one sold his Hames to a non-Jew before the holiday, there is no problem benefiting from it when ...

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Why is the Shabbat Before Pesah Called "Shabbat Ha'gadol"? from 2022-04-08T08:30

The Shulhan Aruch writes that the Shabbat before Pesach is called by a special name – "Shabbat Ha’gadol." The reason for this name is because this Shabbat commemorates the miracle that occurred fo...

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Pesah-How to Take Halla from Massa? from 2022-04-07T08:30

The Halacha states (Shulhan Aruch 456) states that Massa dough should be kneaded in small batches of less than the amount that requires taking Halla (approximately 3.5 lbs.). The Rabbis were concer...

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Pesah-Soaking Massa in Liquid from 2022-04-06T08:30

Some have the custom not to eat Massa that has come in contact with water. The concern is that there may be flour that was not fully baked inside the Massa that will become Hametz upon contact with...

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Pesah-Egg Massa from 2022-04-05T08:30

The Poskim discuss the Halachic status of "Massa Ashira," literally "Rich Massa," which is commonly referred to as Egg Massa. The Gemara clearly states that "Meh Perot"-fruit juice does not cause l...

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Birkat HaIlanot from 2022-04-04T08:30

With the advent of the month of Nisan, the Halacha requires recitation of Birkat HaIlanot, (Blessing on the Trees), upon seeing blossoming fruit trees. Ideally, two trees are necessary to warrant r...

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Pesah: Giving Money to a Non-Jew to Buy Food from 2022-04-03T08:30

The Shulhan Aruch in Siman 450 permits giving money to a non-Jew on Pesah and instructing him to go buy himself something to eat, even if he is likely to buy Hames. However, he may not tell him exp...

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Pesah-Precautions During Massa Baking from 2022-04-01T08:30

The Rama (459) records the Halacha not to bake Massa in a room with a window exposed to the sun. This would potentially cause extra heat to the dough and expedite leavening. This is more problemati...

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Pesah- Making a Vessel Kosher for Pesah from 2022-03-31T08:30

To use a vessel on Pesah that was used during the year for Hames, it must first undergo koshering through Hag'ala, which literally means to extract or purge the Hames that has been absorbed in the ...

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Pesah- The Status of Oats on Pesah from 2022-03-30T08:30

The Gemara in Pesahim (p. 35) and Menahot (p. 70) discusses the five grains. In Hebrew, they are Hita, Se'orah, Kusemet, Shifon and Shibolet Shual. Hita is wheat. Se'orah is barley. The traditional...

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Shinui Makom - Must One Recite a New Beracha After Going to the Restroom During a Meal? from 2022-03-29T08:30

As we’ve learned in previous editions of Daily Halacha, in certain situations a person who leaves during a meal must recite a new Beracha when he returns and resumes eating. Namely, if he was eati...

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Shinui Makom - If a Person Begins Eating at Home Right Before Leaving from 2022-03-28T08:30

As a rule, if a person begins eating a fruit or drinking a beverage in his home, and he leaves before reciting "Boreh Nefashot," he must recite a new Beracha if he wishes to continue eating or drin...

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Shinui Makom - Eating While Walking from 2022-03-27T08:30

If a person is eating while walking in the street – such as if one sucks on a candy, chews gum, or eats nuts as he walks – it is clear that he does not have to recite a new Beracha every time he wa...

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Shinui Makom - If a Person Leaves an Apartment But Remains in the Building During a Meal from 2022-03-25T08:30

As we have discussed in previous editions of Daily Halacha, there are circumstances in which a person who leaves his place while eating must recite a new Beracha when he resumes eating. Specifical...

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Shinui Makom - If a Person Moves From Room to Room from 2022-03-24T08:30

There is a debate among the Halachic authorities concerning the case of a person who is eating a food requiring "Boreh Nefashot" (such as a beverage, fruits, etc.) and in the middle of his meal mov...

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Shinui Makom - If a Person Left During a Meal Eaten With Other People from 2022-03-23T08:30

In an earlier edition of Daily Halacha, it was mentioned that if a person was eating food that requires "Boreh Nefashot," such as fruit, and before reciting "Boreh Nefashot" he leaves, he must reci...

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Shinui Makom - If One Left While Eating a Mezonot Food or a Fruit From the Seven Species from 2022-03-22T08:30

In earlier editions of Daily Halacha, we saw a distinction between bread and foods requiring "Boreh Nefashot" with regard to one who leaves in the middle of a meal. If one leaves after eating brea...

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Shinui Makom - If One Leaves After Eating a "Boreh Nefashot" Food, or After Eating Less Than a Ke'zayit of Bread from 2022-03-21T08:30

If a person ate a food upon which one recites "Boreh Nefashot" after eating, such as fruits, or drank a beverage, and then left before reciting "Boreh Nefashot," he must recite a new Beracha before...

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Shinui Makom - If a Person Leaves His House During a Meal from 2022-03-20T08:30

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 178:1) rules that if a person was eating a meal with bread in his home, and in the middle he leaves and goes to another house, and no one is left behind at his table, t...

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Shabbat Parah from 2022-03-18T08:30

After Purim, either the Shabbat immediately after or the following Shabbat, there is Shabbat Para when we take a second Torah scroll from the ark and read from it the section known as "Parashat Par...

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Shabbat Parah- The Shabbat After Purim from 2022-03-18T08:30

On the Shabbat immediately following Purim, we take a second Torah scroll from the ark and read from it the section known as "Parashat Para." Parashat Para, which tells of the laws of the Para Adu...

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Purim- Customs and Practices for the Day of Purim from 2022-03-17T08:30

There is no obligation to recite Hallel on Purim. One reason for this is that the reading of the Megila, which tells the story of the miraculous events, takes the place of Hallel. Therefore, if one...

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Purim-The Seudah from 2022-03-16T08:30

One of the Misvot of Purim is Seudat Purim, the festive Purim feast. The proper time for the Seudah is during the day of Purim, as the Pasuk in the Megila emphasizes, "Y’meh Mishteh"-days of feasti...

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Are Women Obligated to Drink on Purim? from 2022-03-15T08:30

The Gemara in Masechet Megila (7) introduces the obligation to rejoice on Purim through drinking intoxicating beverages: "A person is obligated to rejoice on Purim to the point where he cannot dist...

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Purim - Celebrating the Miracles of the Present from 2022-03-14T08:30

The Gemara comments, "Just as when Ab comes we reduce our joy, when Adar comes we increase our joy." Rather than simply establishing the obligation to increase our joy during the month of Adar, th...

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Purim - Taking Time From Torah Study to Hear the Megila; Hearing the Megila in the Synagogue from 2022-03-13T08:30

The Halachic sources establish that "Mebatlin Torah Mipeneh Mikra Megila" – one can take time away from Torah study for the sake of the Misva of hearing the Megila reading. If one was supposed to ...

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Shabbat Zachor from 2022-03-11T08:30

On "Shabbat Zachor," the Shabbat before Purim, we take two Torah scrolls from the Heichal. After reading the regular Torah portion from the first Torah, we open the second scroll and read for the ...

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May a Bar Misva Boy Read Parashat Zachor in the Synagogue? from 2022-03-10T08:30

The public reading of Parashat Zachor in the synagogue on the Shabbat before Purim must be done by an adult, that is, a male who is at least thirteen years old and has reached physical maturity (de...

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The Observance of 7 Adar During a Leap Year; Observing a Yahrtzeit During a Leap Year from 2022-03-09T08:30

The day of 7 Adar is the day of Moshe Rabbenu’s death, and many have the custom to observe a fast on this day. Others have the custom of learning special material in the synagogue on the night of ...

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Matanot Laevyonim- 3 Halachot from 2022-03-08T08:30

Today we are presenting 3 Halachot on the Misva of Mishloach Manot

** 1st Halacha **

Mishlo’ah Manot – Ensuring That the Recipient is Aware of the Package; Ensuring That the Products ...

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Purim - Giving the Mahasit Ha'shekel from 2022-03-07T08:30

It is customary on Ta’anit Ester to make a special donation "Zecher Le’mahasit Ha’shekel" – in commemoration of the annual half-shekel tax that was given in the times of the Bet Ha’mikdash. Our Sa...

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Scheduling a Bar Misva During a Leap Year for a Boy Born in Adar from 2022-03-06T08:30

If a boy was born in Adar during a regular, twelve-month year, and the year of his Bar Misva is a leap year, when there are two months of Adar, he becomes Bar Misva in Adar Sheni. Halacha views Ad...

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Listening to "Me'en Sheba" in Lieu of the Amida on Friday Night from 2022-03-04T08:30

After the recitation of the Amida during the Friday night Arbit service, the Hazan recites a special Beracha called "Me’en Sheba."

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 268) rules that under certain ...

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Should Kiddush Be Recited in the Synagogue on Friday Night? from 2022-03-03T08:30

In Talmudic times, it was customary for the Hazan or Rabbi to recite the complete Kiddush in the synagogue after Arbit on Friday night. The reason was that guests from other communities would spen...

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The Recitation of "Bameh Madlikin" on Friday Night from 2022-03-02T08:30

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 270) writes that it is customary to recite the Mishnayot of "Bameh Madlikin" on Friday night, a custom that is recorded already by the Tur (Rabbenu Yaakob Ben Asher, 12...

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Tahanunim on Ereb Shabbat from 2022-03-01T08:30

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 267) rules that Tahanunim are omitted from the Minha prayer service on Friday afternoon. The Kedusha (sanctity) of Shabbat begins to set in even before the actual onse...

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The Recitation of "Va'yechulu" After the Amida on Friday Night from 2022-02-28T08:30

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 268) rules that after the recitation of the Amida prayer on Friday night, we recite the verses of "Va’yechulu Ha’shamayim Ve’ha’aretz." Although we recite "Va’yechulu"...

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Turning Off the Electric Lights Before Lighting Shabbat Candles from 2022-02-27T08:30

Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his Hazon Ovadia – Shabbat (p. 215; listen to audio recording for precise citation), writes that it is proper for women before they light Shabbat candles to shut off the ele...

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The Reading of Shir Ha'shirim on Friday Night from 2022-02-25T08:30

According to the custom of Aleppo, the congregation reads the entire book of Shir Ha’shirim collectively as part of the Friday night service. This is in contrast to the custom observed by Moroccan...

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The Recitation of Lecha Dodi on Friday Night from 2022-02-24T08:30

The Lecha Dodi hymn, which is sung in the synagogue on Friday night, was composed by the great Kabbalist Rabbi Shelomo Alkabetz, who lived in Safed around 450 years ago, during the time of the Ariz...

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Washing Dishes on Shabbat from 2022-02-23T08:30

Although it is forbidden to make preparations on Shabbat that are needed only after Shabbat, it is permissible to make preparations for later on Shabbat. And thus while it is forbidden on Shabbat ...

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May One Ask a Non-Jew to Turn on an Air Conditioner on Shabbat? from 2022-02-22T08:30

If the weather is uncomfortably hot on Shabbat, is it permissible to ask a non-Jew, such as a housekeeper, to turn on the air conditioning?

Halacha regards hot weather as a source of "Sa’ar"...

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May a Person Have a Vending Machine Operate on Shabbat? from 2022-02-21T08:30

If a person owns a vending machine, such as in the case of a launder mat or a candy machine, and he receives profits from the purchases made from the machine, may he allow the machine to operate on...

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Is It Permissible to Waive a Debt on Shabbat? from 2022-02-20T08:30

Halacha forbids conducting business affairs, such as buying and selling, and making any sort of transactions, on Shabbat. The question arises as to whether this also applies to waiving a debt. As...

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Giving Gifts on Shabbat from 2022-02-18T08:30

Just as the Sages forbade engage in commerce on Shabbat, they similarly enacted a provision forbidding giving gifts, which resembles transactions. Even though no money is paid when a gift is given...

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The Prohibition of Eating a Large Meal on Ereb Shabbat from 2022-02-17T08:30

(Delivered for the merit of a Refuah Shelemah for Ateret Roshenu Hacham Haim Ovadia Ben Georgia)

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 249:2) rules that it is forbidden on Friday to "establish" a lar...

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Applying a Fragrant Spray to Clothing on Shabbat and Yom Tob from 2022-02-16T08:30

The Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572), in the context of the laws of Yom Tob (Orah Haim 511:4), codifies the prohibition of "Molid Reha," which means making something fragrant. It i...

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Is it Permissible to Open a Clogged Drain on Shabbat? from 2022-02-15T08:30

One of the thirty-nine categories of Melacha (activity forbidden on Shabbat) is repairing, fixing something that is not working properly. Hacham Ovadia Yosef ruled that this prohibition of Tikkun ...

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Is it Permissible to Shower on Shabbat? from 2022-02-14T08:30

Especially in the summer months, the question is frequently asked as to the permissibility of bathing or showering on Shabbat. May one take a shower on Shabbat if he feels uncomfortable or is pers...

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Is it Permissible on Shabbat to Lie in a Hammock Tied to a Tree? from 2022-02-13T08:30

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 336) codifies the prohibition against making use a tree – such as climbing or leaning against it – on Shabbat. The Sages enacted this prohibition out of the concern th...

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Does The Beracha of HaMosi Cover Hard Liquor? from 2022-02-11T08:30

The Halacha established that the Beracha of Hagefen covers all other beverages, including hard liquor. The Halacha also states that the Beracha of Hamosi on bread covers both food and beverages con...

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The Beracha Recited Over Coffee; The Status of Coffee Prepared by a Gentile from 2022-02-10T08:30

Although it may seem obvious that one who drinks coffee must first recite the Beracha of "She’hakol Niheya Bidbaro," this issue was actually subject to controversy among the Poskim (Halachic author...

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The Beracha on Bread Made From Sprouted Wheat from 2022-02-09T08:30

Bread prepared from one of the five primary grains – wheat, rye, spelt, oats and barley – requires the Beracha of "Ha’mosi" before eating and then Birkat Ha’mazon after eating. However, this appli...

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Reciting a Beracha Upon Seeing Majestic Mountains from 2022-02-08T08:30

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 228) writes that one when sees tall mountains, he recites the Beracha, "Baruch At Hashem Elokenu Melech Ha’olam Oseh Ma’aseh Bereshit," praising Hashem for creating suc...

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Birkat Ha're'ah from 2022-02-07T08:30

When one recites the Beracha over spices, he should hold the spices in his right hand, just as when reciting a Beracha over food one should hold the food in his right hand. This is mentioned by th...

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The Beracha When Eating Spices; The Beracha Over Chocolate from 2022-02-06T08:30

The Yalkut Yosef discusses the case of one who eats spices that are normally used only as condiments or for seasoning, such as mustard. If a person eats mustard on its own, he recites the Beracha ...

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Asking a Non-Jew On Shabbat to Open a Refrigerator or Car Door from 2022-02-04T08:30

The Magen Abraham (Rabbi Abraham Gombiner, Poland, 1637-1682) established an important rule relevant to the prohibition of Amira Le’akum – asking a non-Jew to perform on Shabbat an act which is for...

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