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For archives of the halachos of Bein HaMetzorim (The Three weeks and The Nine Days which begin TODAY, Shiva Asar B'tamuz) written last year, please click here.
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Today's Halachos are sponsored by a daily reader, K.F., in an expression of Hakarat HaTov for the event of the Washington DC Metro Train, where Aharon Herschel Ben Baruch took a different train that evening because it was Rosh Chodesh Tamuz and he went with a Chaver to dinner, and thus B'Chasdei Hashem was not on that fateful ride as he usually would have been. Hodu Lashem Ki Tov Ki L'Olam Chasdo!
1) The Halachos of "Kedima", precedence in Brachos, are L'Chatchilah. However, if one made a Bracha on the less prominent food, it is acceptable B'dieved and it even exempts the more prominent food of the same Bracha [if you had in mind to do so]. (Ram"a Siman 211:5. See also Mishna Berura ibid. 32 and 33. See also Aruch HaShulchan 211:16)
2) The Halachos of Kedima only apply if both foods are in front of you and you want to partake of both the foods. Moreover, even if the more prominent food is in front of you, but you don't have a desire to eat it just yet and want to save it for later, there is no requirement to eat it now in order to recite its Bracha first. (Mishna Berura Siman 211:1 and 31)
If the accepted custom of society (or even one's personal minhag) is to eat things in a certain order (e.g. Entrée of fish served before course of Mezonos dish of pasta or other Mezonos), the Halachos of Kedima do not apply as since this is the custom it is not considered that both foods are equally in front of you and ready to eat. (Kaf HaChaim Siman 211:5. See also Shu"t Oz Nidberu Vol. 8 Siman 53)
Wishing everyone an easy and meaningful fast day!
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.
Is there such thing as a gray area in life were its neither good or bad, but neutral? Or everything in life is either a mitvah or an aveira?
Answer:
Firstly, Hashem is good. Everything Hashem does is good. We may not always see it, but Hashem is good and only does good. Even "bad" things are done for our benefit! Thus, we may say that life is difficult or challenging, but we may never say that life is bad! The very difficulties and struggles and challenges that we experience are there to test us, and then once we pass our tests, we get eternal reward from Hashem in Olam Haba!
The Torah says(Devorim 30:19) "...HaChaim V'Hamaves Nasati L'fanecha, Habracha V'Haklala, Uvacharta BaChaim". Hashem says to us I have placed life and death before you, blessings and curses...Choose life!"
There is no such thing as standing still in Yiddishkeit (Judaism). We are always moving either up or down, we are either growing or falling, we are either doing what Hashem wants from us or we are doing what He doesnt want us to do. Everything in life is a choice. Will we follow the Yetzer Hara (Hamaves, death) or will we follow the Torah way (Hachaim, life)
Not everything is necessarily a Mitzva or an Aveira per se, but EVERY action we do or don't do, EVERY word we say or don't say, EVERY decision we make or don't make will either propel us closer to Hashem or drag us down away from Him Chas V'Shalom.
So, basically there arent really any grey areas in the life of a Jew. Obviously, this topic is deeper and more complicated than a few sentences, but that is the way the Chachamim view it in a nutshell.
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
