Note: Now that Rosh Hashana, Aseres Yemei Teshuva and Yom Kippur have
past, we will resume where we left off in Hilchos Tefilah. If you have joined
the list recently, please CLICK
HERE to see the archives of Hilchos Tefilah for Halachos that you
have missed.
Halachos for Erev
Shabbos
1) It is important to prepare the
body, and make sure that there is no need to use the restroom before davening.
One who davens [Shemona Esrei] without a clean body
[i.e. while needing the bathroom urgently], the Tefilah has a status of a
"Toeva- abomination"
2) If one does indeed have an urge to
use the restroom, even if he/she is sure they can withstand the urge for 72
minutes [the Halachic time period known as "Halichas Parsah". Each
Person has to know their own body and its limits (Aruch Hashulchan). These 72
minutes have to be calculated if one can "walk" for 72 minutes without usingthe
bathroom, and not simply "sit" for that amount of time (Biur Halacha)]
Shemona Esrei should not be recited. If it was recited, it needs not be repeated
as B’dieved you are Yotzei. If by using the restroom now, he/she will miss the
Z’man Tefilah, Shemona Esrei may be recited before using the
restroom.
However, Krias Shema, other Brachos and learning
Torah may be done if the usage of the restroom can be postponed for 72
minutes.
If, however, one knows that they will be unable to
postpone using the restroom for more than 72 minutes, it is forbidden to say
Krias Shema, any Brachos or learn Torah. Even if by using the restroom in such a
case it will cause you to miss Z’man Krias Shema or Z’man Tefilah, it is still
forbidden to recite the Shema or the Shemona Esrei.
Halachos for Shabbos
Kodesh
1) If one started Shemona Esrei, Shma or any Bracha
when they shouldn’t have as they urgently needed the restroom, they must stop
mid-Bracha and use the restroom.
If one did not stop the Shemona Esrei, it must be
repeated. However, if one did not stop saying Shema or other Brachos, they do
not need to be repeated.
2) If one started Shemona Esrei when not needing
the bathroom, and during Shemona Esrei the urge arose, he/she should not
interrupt he davening, rather finish then use the restroom. However, in the
middle of Shma or its Brachos, one may stop and use the restroom before
continuing, or one may continue until before Shemona Esrei and then use the
restroom. Shemona Esrei ,however, may not be started as we said
earlier.
If the urge arose in middle of Pesukei D’Zimra,
he/she may finish Pesukei D’Zimra, but may not begin the Birchos Krias
Shma.
The rule of thumb is:
If you started something before needing the bathroom, you mayfinish that subject which you started, but
may not start a new subject ( some examples of individual "subjects": Pesukei
D’Zimrah, Birchos Krias Shema and Krias Shema, Shemona Esrei, Halel, Birchas
Hamazon, Krias Megilah, Learning a particular subject of Torah
etc.)
If after davening Shemona Esrei, one is not sure if he/she was allowed
to have postponed the bathroom, he/she can daven again a Tefilas Nedava- a
non-mandatory recital of Shemona Esrei (Sefer L’Shichno
Tidrishu Vol 1 in the name of Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlita)
The Halacha is that we should say Modeh Ani the firstthing after we
awake in the morning.
Some people use an alarm clock. What should we do, when alarm goes
on in a morning?
Modeh Ani, Negel Vasser and only after this turn alarm off?
My Answer:
1) if someone else is sleeping in the room, for sure turn off alarm
first! even before Modeh Ani. Waking someone who is sleeping is "Gezel Shaina-
stealing sleep". We definitely don’t want to start our day with a sin!
2) even if no one else is sleeping, the obligation to wash is from
when you get out of bed, so if you can shut alarm before getting out of the
laying position, that is probably OK.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי
אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם
לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who
studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the
world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
