From the Ravs Desk: Latest articles and Q&A [Tuesday 23rd Kisleiv 5784]

The source and reason behind age 13 being the age of Bar Mitzvah:

When a boy turns 13 years of age, he becomes obligated in Torah and Mitzvos. Until that age he is considered a Katan, and is Biblically exempt from keeping Mitzvos.

The sources in Poskim who mention age 13:

Admur Basra 4:2; 37:3; 39:1 [regarding Tefillin]; 55:6; 128:49; 199:9 [regarding Birchas Hamazon]; 271:7 [regarding Kiddush]; 616:8 [regarding Yom Kippur]; See Michaber O.C. 616:2; E.H. 155:12-15 [regarding Miun] and 169:10 [regarding Chalitza]; Rambam Shevisas Asur 2:11 regarding fasting on Yom Kippur; Ishus 2:10; Mishneh Avos 5:21; Mishneh Nida 5:6 p. 45b “At age 12 her vows become valid”; Shut Harosh 16:1; Rashi Avos 5:21; Orchos Chaim Tefila 73; Magen Avos of Tashbeitz Avos ibid in name of Midrash; Maharil 51; Birkeiy Yosef 55; Igros Kodesh 5:76; Likkutei Sichos 10:70; 15:291; Reshimos Choveres 19 and 21 and 59; Shaareiy Bar Mitzvah pp. 76-94; Encyclopedia Talmudit Vol 4 Erech Bar Mitzvah footnotes 1-4; Nitei Gavriel 1:1 footnote 1 in length; Shevach Yakar 38:1

The scriptural basis for age 13:

1) Some learn that the age of Bar Mitzvah is a tradition of Moshe from Sinai, and is not sourced in the written Torah. [Teshuvos Harosh Kelal 16; Maharil 51; See Likkutei Sichos 10:70; 15:291; Igros Kodesh 5:76]

2) Others learn that it is learned from the verse in Vayishlach [Bereishis 34:5] regarding Shimon and Levi who are called “Ish”, which shows that when one turns 13 years old he is called an Ish, and a woman, being that she has greater maturity, she is Bas Mitzvah a year earlier, at age 12. [Rashi Avos 5:21; Rashi Nazir 29b; Rav Ovadia Bartenura Avos ibid; Tosafos Yom Tov Avos ibid; Machzor Vitri Avos; ibid; See Likkutei Sichos 10:70; Igros Kodesh 5:76; Reshimos Choveres 21 in length]

The reason for age 13:

The reason that a boy becomes obligated in Mitzvos in age 13 is because at this age his G-dly soul completes its entry into the body. [Admur in Basra 4:2]

The reason a girl turns Bas Mitzvah a year before a boy: A girl becomes obligated in Mitzvos a year earlier than a boy is because Hashem granted extra understanding [Bina] to a woman. This means that her mental maturity is faster than a man, and she thus reaches the age of obligation, one year earlier. [Nidda 45b; Likkutei Sichos 11:331; Igros Kodesh 6:199; Toras Menachem 27^th Elul 5742 p. 2269; See Torah Temima on Bamidbar 30:4]

A gentile – Sheva Mitzvos:

According to the Rishonim[1] who rule that the age of 13 is a tradition of Moshe from Sinai , then it is possible that this age does not apply to a gentile. However, according to those Poskim[2] who rule the reason for age 13 is due to this being the age of maturity which is learned from Shimon and Levi, then since it is a matter of nature, it seemingly applies also to a gentile.[3] According to this approach, gentiles become Bar Mitzvah at age 20 or 21, which is the age that he is fit to go to war.[4]

[1] Teshuvos Harosh Kelal 16; Maharil 51; See Likkutei Sichos 10:70; 15:291; Igros Kodesh 5:76

[2] Rashi Avos 5:21; Rashi Nazir 29b; Rav Ovadia Bartenura Avos ibid; Tosafos Yom Tov Avos ibid; Machzor Vitri Avos; ibid; See Likkutei Sichos 10:70; Igros Kodesh 5:76; Reshimos Choveres 21 in length

[3] Igros Kodesh 5:76, brought in Shulchan Menachem 3:333; See Likkutei Sichos 10:70

[4] Reshimos Choevers 19

You have the following options available:

1. Search your house for a bottle of water, or any water that may happen to be in an item which did not have work done to it.
2. If there is water available within 18 minutes of travel, whether from a faucet or through purchasing a bottle of water in a store, then you must travel there to get water to wash for the bread.
3. If no water is available, and it will not for certain be available for a distance of 18 minutes, then one may wrap their hands in a cloth and eat the bread, although is not to rely on eating the bread while in a bag.

See From the Rav’s Desk: Eating bread in a bag without washing while on a trip – Shulchanaruchharav.com

Ideally, it is forbidden to play dreidel for gambling purposes unless all the items are returned after the game is over and nobody wins or loses any item.^[1] The widespread custom, however, is to be lenient and to permit playing dreidel even for loss and gain, such as chocolate coins, chocolate lentils and the like.^[2] However, one is certainly to avoid playing with large sums of money or valuable items.^[3]

See The Dreidel in Halacha and Agadah – Shulchanaruchharav.com

[1] Nitei Gavriel 51:3

[2] Nitei Gavriel ibid; Piskeiy Teshuvos 670 footnote 25 in name of Rebbe of Klozinberg in Shefa Chaim Chanukah writes that it is permitted on Chanukah to play Dreidel for winning purposes, as on Chanukah people forgive items to each other just like by family; See Chavos Yair 126 that the custom back then was to permit playing games on Chanukah

[3] See Choshen Mishpat 34:16

No. Nevertheless, it is proper to wrap it in a bag and place it in the garbage rather than placing it directly in together with all the filth.

See Piskeiy Teshuvos 21:2 footnote 42

Must one use the same Menorah throughout Chanukah?

No.

The four elements of the G-dly soul: [Torah Or Mikeitz]

The same way every physical item is made up of the four elements of fire, water, earth, and air, so too within the soul of man there exists these four elements. In the mind rests the element of water while in the heart rests the element of fire, and they work to complement each other. The lungs draw down liquid from the brain through the trachea and into the heart in order to cool down the heart. Now, the same way this applies physiologically in the relation between the brain and the heart, so too it applies within the G-dly soul. In the G-dly soul, the above element of fire in the soul represents a fiery desire to cleave to G-d. This thirst is quenched by the learning of Torah and Mitzvos, which corresponds to the element of water in the brain, through the source of the letters of Torah which refers to the trachea.