1) It is a good custom to give Tzedakah (charity) to a poor
person [or put some money in a Pushka/ Tzedakah box] prior to
davening [Shemona Esrei]. This applies to before Shacharis and Mincha, according
to everyone. Before Maariv, the Arizal and the Yaavetz would not give Tzedaka as
they maintained that it was a time of Din (judgement) and not an opportune time
to give Tzedakah. The Chasam Sofer’s custom was to give Tzedakah before Maariv
as well.
In the morning by Shacharis, some people have the minhag to
give the Tzedakah precisely as they reach the Pasuk in Pesukei D’Zimrah in the
chapter of Vayevarech Dovid: "V’HaOsher V’Hakavod L’Fanecha, V’Atah Moshel
Bakol- The wealth and the glory [belongs] to you [Hashem], and you are the
ruler of all things"
This was the Minhag of the Arizal, who gave three
coins [for Kabalistic reasons] to Tzedakah at this point in davening. Many
people also follow this minhag to specifically give 3 coins. The Chasam Sofer’s
Minhag was to give one coin before each Tefilah.
2) It is not a correct
custom to collect Tzedakah during Chazaras Hashatz- the Chazzan’s repetition of
Shemona Esrei (Pri Megadim- Eshel Avraham Siman
132:1) Similarly, the Mishna Berura rules that it is not
a proper custom to collect funds during the reading of the Torah.
Rav
Chaim Kanievsky shlita postulates that during Tefilah [Shemona Esrei and
Chazaras HaShatz] and Krias Shema there may not even be an obligation to give
Tzedakah to one that is collecting, due to the halachic concept of "HaOsek
b’Mitzvah Patur Min HaMitzvah- One who is engrossed in doing a Mitzvah is
exempt from doing another Mitzvah at that time" (See
Derech Emunah Chapter 10 of Hilchos Matnas Aniyim for a lengthier discussion)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
(Reader Submitted
Questions of interest and my Answers taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Today website. For
study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. )
Reader's Question:
1) ...so
halachically if a kiddush after davening is in a simcha room in the shul
basement and all that is separating the women and men is a center table with the
food, what's the halacha, you should not partake in the kiddush and/or does it
go further and you should not daven at all in the shul? (please note that the
actual shul does have a proper mechitza)
2. secondly you mention simchas Torah so to clarify for myself if in
my shul the women come downstairs to the mens section separated only by a table
does that mean it is assur to daven in the shul altogethe or just for simchas
torah?
My Answer:
1) This Halacha is regarding a gathering in the
Shul itself. If the Kiddush is in the Shul basement, or other room inthe
building, besides the actual room of the Shul, then not having a Mechitza is not
grounds for prohibiting being there or davening in the Shul.
Of course, no matter where there is a
gathering that includes men and women, care must be taken that the men and women
do not mingle. But the stringent Halachos of Mechitza are only in a shul itself.
2) Although it is the minhag in many shuls for
the women to come down to the main shul for Simchas Torah, still, there
definitely must be separation between the men and the women. If a table suffices
in this case (or, as many shuls do, put a table on top of a table to get the
height of 3 Amos) is not clear, and the Rov in the Shul must be consulted.
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
