Chapter 258 It is permitted to place before Shabbos a cold item on top of something hot Halacha 1 It is permitted to insulate, [a pot with material that does not add heat,] before Shabbos, whether [the food in the pot is] hot or cold food, [and to then place […]
Chapter 257
Chapter 257 The Laws of insulating hot foods Introduction: In the previous chapters the laws relevant to leaving food on a flame from before Shabbos and placing it there on Shabbos were discussed. In the following chapter the laws of insulating a food before Shabbos and on Shabbos will be […]
Chapter 256
Chapter 256 The six horn blasts that were blown before Shabbos. Halacha 1 Announcing that Shabbos is coming some time before Shabbos: At the time that the Jews were properly settled the Sages instituted to blow six blasts from a high area, in order to stop the people from work […]
Chapter 255
Chapter 255 Preparing a fire before Shabbos comes in Introduction: The previous chapters dealt with the laws regarding leaving food on a fire from before Shabbos. The following chapter will deal with the laws of how the fire has to be lit before Shabbos in order for it to be […]
Chapter 254
Chapter 254 Laws of foods which are prepared before Shabbos which will finish cooking on Shabbos. Introduction: The following chapter will continue to discuss the laws of Shehiyah which were explained in the beginning of the previous chapter. It will discuss the laws of placing food directly over a fire, […]
Chapter 253
Chapter 253 The laws of Shehiyah [leaving a food on the fire on Erev Shabbos for the Shabbos meals] Halachas 1-13 The different types of ovens and their relative laws: The laws of the Kirah oven: Halacha 1: What is the Kirah oven? A Kirah oven is made like a […]
Bikur Cholim on Shabbos
Bikur Cholim on Shabbos:[1] It is permitted to visit the sick on Shabbos.[2] Nevertheless [one is not to arrange to visit the sick specifically on Shabbos and is rather to arrange to visit him during the week as] it was with difficulty that the Sages allowed visiting the sick on […]
Concentrating on Birchas Hamazon and knowing the meaning of the words
Kavana in Birchas Hamazon:[1] Understanding the meaning of the words: If one does not know the meaning of the words that he is saying in Birchas Hamazon, such as due to his lack of understanding of the language, then he does not fulfill his obligation. This applies even if one […]
Gender of angels-Female or male?
The gender of angels-Male versus female: In Kabala[1] it states that there are angels who come from the level of Za and angels who come from the level of Malchus. Angels who come from Z”a have a masculine aspect, while angels who come from Malchus have a feminine aspect and […]
Making Kiddush as soon as one arrives home from Shul Friday night
Making Kiddush as soon as one arrives home:[1] It is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar[2] to recite Kiddush as close to the entrance of Shabbos as possible.[3] [This especially applies if one has hungry guests or family members.[4]] Nevertheless, the central fulfillment of the Mitzvah continues to apply throughout the night […]
Living and/or visiting Egypt
Living or visiting Egypt?[1] The Torah prohibits one from living in Mitzrayim in various places in scripture.[2] This prohibition is counted as one of the 365 negative commands.[3] Does the prohibition apply today? Some Poskim[4] however rule that the prohibition no longer applies today.[5] Other Poskim[6] however rule this prohibition […]
Sending regards and inquiring of the well being of a woman
Sending regards to a woman:[1] A man may not ask a woman at all as to her wellbeing.[2] This applies even if one does so indirectly, through a messenger. It is forbidden to send greetings even through the woman’s husband.[3] [Thus, a man may not ask someone to send […]
Celebrating a birthday
Introduction It is customary amongst many people to celebrate their birthday. It is a happy day in which people yearn and desire to be cherished and allow themselves extravagances and luxuries that they would usually not partake in. In the secular world, many use the day for partying and sometimes […]
Birthday Customs
The customs of a Birthday Introduction It is customary amongst many people to celebrate their birthday. It is a happy day in which people yearn and desire to be cherished and allow themselves extravagances and luxuries that they would usually not partake in. In the secular world, many […]
Determining your birthday
Determining your birthday Someone who was born during Bein Hashmashos: If one was born on Bein Hashmashos, he is to choose one of the days to celebrate his birthday and fulfill the birthday customs. Some are accustomed to fulfill the customs on both days.[1] If one was born […]
Covering the wine bottle during Kiddush
Must one cover the wine bottle during Kiddush and may the wine still be used if it was left open? One may not recite Kiddush over wine that has been left open/revealed.[1] Nevertheless, if the wine remained open/revealed for only a short amount of time, one does not need to […]
Making Kiddush on wine that was left uncovered-Must one cover the wine bottle during Kiddush
Making Kiddush on wine which was left opened:[1] One may not recite Kiddush over wine that has been left open/revealed.[2] If it stayed opened for only a short amount of time:[3] Nevertheless, if the wine remained open/revealed for only a short amount of time, one does not need to be […]
Laws of Yichud in Taxis
Yichud in a taxi:[1] When a woman takes a taxi with a male taxi driver, or a man takes a taxi with a female taxi driver, the possibility of a Yichud prohibition arises.[2] This is dependent on several factors as will be explained: People/cars outside: If the windows of the […]
When did Avodas Habeirurim begin?
When did Avodas Habeirurim begin? Avraham Avinu began the Divine mission of refining the sparks of Tohu that fell into the worlds. This power however was only given to Avraham after he fulfilled the Mitzvah of Mila, as prior to doing this Mitzvah the Kelipa of Noga covered over the […]
Wearing the shoes and other clothing of the deceased
This article is an excerpt from our Sefer Wearing shoes of deceased:[1] One is not to wear the shoes of a deceased person due to fear of danger.[2] It is not to be given even to a poor person. It may however be sold to a gentile who is purchasing […]
Omitting Tachanun on the day of a Bar Mitzvah
Bar Mitzvah: Some[1] communities are accustomed not to say Tachanun in the presence of a Bar Mitzvah boy on the day of his Bar Mitzvah, and so is the widespread Sefaradic custom in Eretz Yisrael. Other[2] communities are accustomed to recite Tachanun on the day of the Bar Mitzvah, and […]
Inviting non-Frum Jew for Shabbos if he will drive
May one invite a non-religious guest for Shabbos if he will desecrate Shabbos in order to come to you?[1] Some Poskim[2] rule it is forbidden to invite guests to one’s home for the Shabbos meal if this will cause him to desecrate Shabbos, such as to drive, in order to […]
When to say Yehalelu on Shabbos after Mincha
When is Yehalelu to be recited on Mincha of Shabbos? In general, the verse of Yehalelu is recited by the Chazan when the Sefer Torah is being brought to the Aron.[1] However, according to the Chabad custom to begin the Kaddish towards the end of the Gelila, this forms a […]
Yehalelu & Returning the Sefer Torah to the Aron: When; Who and How
Yehalelu-Returning the Sefer Torah: A. When to return the Sefer Torah: The custom of Chassidim and Sefaradim is to return the Sefer Torah to the Aron after Uva Letziyon by Shacharis. The custom of Ashkenazim is to return it before Ashreiy. B. Yehlaleu:[1] The verse of Yehalelu[2] is recited by […]
Wishing good Shabbos after Mincha on Shabbos
Wishing good Shabbos after the time of Mincha:[1] There is a known custom not to wish good Shabbos or say Shalom Aleichem between Mincha and Maariv on Shabbos, during Bein Hashmashos.[2] _____________________________________________________________ [1] Piskeiy Teshuvos 292/8 in name of Sefer Matamim and Otzer Minhagei Yeshurun; Mentioned in Makor […]
From when may one say Karbanos before Mincha
At what time may one begin to recite Karbanos for Mincha?[1] The Karbanos for Mincha are not to be recited prior to 6.5 hours into the day, which is 30 minutes after midday, and the earliest legal time in which Mincha may be Davened.[2] _________________________________________________________ [1] Shraga Hameir 7/20; Piskeiy […]
Women wearing socks and stockings
Women wearing socks/stockings:[1] It is forbidden for men to learn Torah or Daven opposite a woman’s legs [literally, Shoka] as the legs are considered an area of privacy by a woman, and is therefore an Erva to be revealed. [It is therefore necessary for women and girls to cover their […]
Standing for Kaddish
Standing for Kaddish and Barchu:[1] Some Poskim[2] rule it is not necessary [for the listeners] to stand during the recital of Kaddish and Barchu. Other Poskim[3] rule one is required to stand upon answering Kaddish or any Davar Shebekedusha [i.e. a matter that requires a Minyan].[4] Practically, it is proper […]
Aliyah of Kol Hanearim
Kol Hanearim:[1] It is a worldly custom that on Simchas Torah all the male children receive an Aliyah to the Torah.[2] This Aliyah is customarily known as Kol Hanearim.[3] It is customary to spread a Tallis over the heads of the children during this Aliyah.[4] It is likewise customary to […]
Borer-Removing the bad together with the good [i.e. a hair together with some food]
Removing the bad/waste together with some of the good/food: The opinion of Admur in the Shulchan Aruch:[1] It is permitted to remove from food which has waste in it, the waste together with some of the food, such as [using a spoon to] remove a fly from a cup together […]
Crying on Shabbos
May one cry on Shabbos? One who receives pleasure from crying, may cry on Shabbos.[1] Thus, one may cry out of feelings of yearning and Dveikus for Hashem, such as occurs by those who Daven with concentration.[2] Furthermore, if one is saddened by a certain matter, and by crying over […]
Knowing how to judge-Hearing the details of a dispute in the presence of both sides
This Halacha is published in our Sefer “Topics in Practical Halacha” Volume 2 Hearing the claims of each side in the presence of the other side:[1] A. Introduction: Monetary claims are a basic aspect of day to day business dealings and interaction with others. These claims must be brought before […]
Saying “Harei Zu Challah” and the law if one did not say
Saying “Harei Zu Challah”:[1] After one separates a Kezayis of dough she is to say “Hareiy Zu Challah” or “This is Challah”. Bedieved if was not said:[2] If one did not say “Hareiy Zu Challah” but had in mind for it to become Challah, it is nevertheless valid. [If, […]
Pareve food cooked in meat pot or mixed with meat spoon-must one wait six hours after eating it
If Pareve food was cooked in a meat pot must one wait six hours after eating it?[1] If Pareve food was cooked in a meat pot it is permitted to eat dairy products after eating that food without waiting at all. There is no custom to be stringent. [This applies […]
The Blessing said upon seeing a cemetery
Saying the blessing of Yatzar Eschem Badin:[1] One who has not visited a cemetery [in thirty days] is to recite the following blessing upon seeing it: ברוך אתה יי אלקינו מלך העולם אשר יצר אתכם בדין וזן אתכם בדין וכלכל אתכם בדין והמית אתכם בדין ויודע מספר כלכם והוא עתיד […]
How often is Birchas Reiyah recited
How often may Birchas Hareiyah be recited?[1] All the blessings that are said over the sight of an item [i.e. Birchas Hareiyah] are not to be repeated if one re-saw the same item within thirty days of the previous sighting and subsequent blessing. [Thus, if one saw the Great-Sea on […]
If one said Vesein Tal Umatar prior/post its allowed time:
If one said Vesein Tal Umatar prior/post its allowed time:[1] If one said Vesein Tal Umatar Levracha during the summer, outside of its allowed time, which is between Pesach and 7th Cheshvan or 5th December, there is a difference in law between Eretz Yisrael and the Diaspora. Eretz Yisrael:[2] In Eretz […]
Said Visein Tal Umatar between Shemini Atzeres and the 7th of Marcheshvan, is he to repeat Shemoneh Esrei?
If one mistakenly said Visein Tal Umatar after Sukkos but before its proper time, is he to repeat Shemoneh Esrei? If one mistakenly said Visein Tal Umatar between Shemini Atzeres and the 7th of Marcheshvan, is he to repeat Shemoneh Esrei? Some Poskim[1] rule that one who said Visein Tal Umatar […]
Brushing dust off clothing/hat/shoes on Shabbos
Brushing dust/dirt from clothing [without using water]:[1] *This Halacha does not apply to removing wet or dry mud from clothing, and does not apply to using water or other liquids to clean the garment Some opinions[2] rule that it is [Biblically[3]] forbidden to shake off earth or dust from a […]
Damage caused by one’s objects left in a public area
Damage caused by one’s objects left in a public area: It is an act of piety for a person to hide his sharp objects [nails/glass], and any other damaging item, in an area that will not cause any potential harm/damage, such as to throw them in the river or to […]
Chazaras Hashatz if only five people from within the Minyan Davened together
This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com May Chazaras Hashatz be recited if only five people Davened together?[1] In general, a Minyan requires ten people to be in the room, and six people to have Davened together Sheoneh Esrei in order to recite Chazaras Hashatz. Nevertheless, in […]