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Starting today, we will begin discussing different aspects of Halachos pertaining to the many different brachos that we make throughout our day. By no means will we cover this topic exhaustively, as doing so would take many months. I will endeavor to present the most relevant Halachos as best as I can, and if there is anything that is left unclear or any questions remain, please do not hesitate to ask.
1) Our holy sages, the Chazal, instituted the text for the many Brachos that we say. This is referred to as "Matbea SheTavu Chachamim, the coins that Chazal minted" and anyone that changes the text of the "coined phrase" of any Bracha has not properly satisfied their obligation of making a Bracha, and in many cases the Bracha needs to be repeated. (See Talmud Brachos 40b, Rambam beginning of Hilchos Brachos and Rambam beginning of Hilchos Krias Shma, and Mishna Berura 68:1 who discusses the discrepancies in the 2 Rambams. See also Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 68:1 that this applies only to the beginnings and ends of the Brachos, and not to the middle section.)
2) Also, it is forbidden to invent any new Brachos, or add any words to any existing Brachos, beyond what Chazal have established. (See Halichos Shlomo, Tefilah, Perek 1 footnote 10 for more about this.)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Could you tell me if it is permissible for a man to dye his hair?
Answer:
A man may not dye his hair if doing so for beauty or to hide white hair etc. as this is a biblical transgression of "Lo Tilbash", not to wear (or otherwise imitate) the ways of the opposite gender.
This includes dying hair, plucking out even one white hair for a man, wearing clothing of the opposite gender, men shaving areas of the body that are shaved generally by women, etc.
These are very severe prohibitions and a Rav should be consulted to determine what does and does not fall into the prohibition of Lo Tilbash.
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
