From the Rav’s Desk: 1) Lighting Yizkor candle for Yom Kippur; 2) Harvesting grapes

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Q&A relating to Yom Kippur

  1. Question: [Sunday 6th Tishrei 5781]

I am not normally accustomed to light a Yizkor candle before holidays, and I believe that this was also the custom of the Rebbe. What about Yom Kippur, should Yizkor candle be lit or not according to our custom?

 

Answer:

Absolutely. Anyone who has a parent who passed away r”l should light a 24-hour Yizkor candle before Yom Kippur.

Explanation: Although in general the custom of the Rabbeim and subsequent Chabad custom was not to be particular to light a Yizkor candle prior to the holidays, nonetheless, for Yom Kippur a Yizkor candle is to be lit as recorded in the Rishonim, and Rama and Alter Rebbe in his Shulchan Aruch. This is known as a Ner Neshama. This is different than the custom of lighting a Yizkor candle before other holidays in which Yizkor is recited, in which neither the recital of Yizkor, nor the lighting of the candle beforehand, has any source in the Poskim, and is seemingly a later generation adapted custom, which did not spread to all communities. This is likewise the Chabad custom and custom of the Rabbeim to light a Ner Neshama prior to the start of Yom Kippur, as brought in Sefer Haminhagim and Sichos.

Sources: See Admur 610:5; Rama 610:4; Kol Bo 68; Sefer Haminhagim p. 58; Sefer Hasichos 5704 p. 7-8; 5705 p. 14; See Otzer Minhagei Chabad Tishreiy pp. 166-170; Maaseh Melech Tishreiy 23

 

Q&A relating to Shemita

  1. Question: [Sunday 6th Tishrei 5781]

I live in Eretz Yisrael and am scheduled to harvest grapes this week. Is there any Shemita restrictions involved in me doing so?

 

Answer:

No. The grapes which grew before the start of Shemita may be harvested as usual.

Explanation: The harvesting regulations during Shemita only apply to produce that has the status of Kedushas Shevi’is. Thus, all tree produce [with exception to Esrogim and lemons] that grew prior to the Shemita year, known as 6th year produce, since they do not contain Kedushas Shevi’is, they may be harvested as usual in the 7th year.

Sources: See Chazon Ish 3:23; 12:7; 22:2; Halichos Hashevi’is 8:2

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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