Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas V'Eschanan; Shabbos Nachamu
July 23 2010
12 Menachem Av 5770
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Today's Halachos are dedicated by a daily reader, C.S., L'Zecher Nishmas her mother's mother, Mirle bas Nachman A"H. May her Neshama continue to have an aliya in Olam Haba and may her grandchildren continue to be a source of Nachas to her.
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DOUBLE PORTION L'KAVOD SHABBOS KODESH
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh
1) When putting on an article of clothing, it is proper to hold both sides of the garment in the right hand and then put on the right side and then the left side. (Mishna Berura Siman 2:4. See Sha'ar HaTziyun Os 10 that this is based on kabalistic teachings which tell us that the "right" is the side of Rachamim, heavenly compassion and the "left" is the side of din, heavenly Judgment, and thus when we initially place the entire garment in the right hand, we bring compassion to the entire garment, even the left side. See also Kaf HaChaim Siman 2:7)
2) There is no differentiation between righties and lefties regarding this Halacha, as it has nothing to do with any hand, rather with a "side" of heavenly compassion which is the same for all people.
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) Some people (common in Chasidic circles) are stringent, based on the kabalistic reasons cited above, when buttoning their shirts, jackets or coats to make sure the buttons are on the left side and the button holes on the right side to ensure that the right side of the garment lays on top of the left side.
Women's clothing are usually manufactured this way, while men's clothing are usually manufactured the opposite way, and need to be custom made [or bought in Chasidic clothing stores] in order to adhere to this kabalistic custom. (See Shu"t Teshuvos V'Hanhagos Vol. 1 Siman 453. See also Orchos Rabbeinu page 227 that the Chazon Ish Zatzal and the Steipler Zatzal were very makpid on this.)
2)Here too, there is no difference between righties and lefties, and if one is stringent with this he should have the buttons on the left side even if he is a lefty.
question
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 pages on the Halacha For Today website.
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.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
Can one make the brocha for Shabbos lights over an electric light or lamp ?
Answer:
This is a huge Machlokes HaPoskim ranging back to when electricity was discovered!
Many Poskim (Shu"t Bais Yitzchok Yoreh Deah Siman 120, Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank in Shu"t Har Tzvi Orach Chaim Siman 143, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Ovadia Yoseph and others),permit using an electric lamp in place of candles for Hadlokas Neiros on Shabbos, based on the fact that electric lights satisfy the 2 reasons that we light Shabbos candles in the first place: (1) Shalom Bayis (a house without lights isn't harmonious) and (2) Oneg Shabbos (a dark home isn't conducive to an enjoyable Shabbos).
Many Poskim even allow a Bracha on electric lights for Shabbos, while others say you may light it L'Kavod Shabbos but not make a Bracha on such a lighting.
Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal differentiated between a lamp that runs on electricity from the main power plant (which he held not to make a Bracha on) and a flashlight or lamp that runs on batteries (in which case he held you may make a Bracha, as the battery is like the "oil" of a candle, whereas by regular electricity it is being added by the city every second, and isn't really here when you make the Bracha)
Obviously this should only be relied upon in emergency situations when candles or oil isn't available, or in special situations where they cannot be kindled (in hospitals, hotels etc.)
Also, when relying on this, one must have in mind when turning on the electric light that it is for the sake of Neiros Shabbos.
Of course, A Rav should be consulted for Halacha L'Ma'aseh.
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rAV sHACH SPEAKING
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short Chizuk thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
קוה אל ד', חזק ויאמץ לבך, וקוה אל ד'
Chizuk For Today:
Reaching The Heavens!
By Rav Shimshon Dovid Pincus Zatzal
In our modern generation, we are consumed with a desire to hold the entire World in the palm of our hand! In a flash, we know what is doing in China and what styles they are wearing in Paris. We pick up a phone and we are connected in an instant to a relative on the other side of the globe!
'De'iah' - knowledge is a form of control. When we learn something new, when we visit a new place, travel great distances, we feel as though we have conquered and achieved a certain measure of control.
Why are we conditioned this way?
There is a concept in physics, that no matter how many times a certain element is manipulated and re-formed into new creations, it can always be reversed back to its original state.
Chazal teach us that Adam Harishon, the first human being was as tall as the entire World! - "Misof Ha'olam ad Sofo"! His feet were on the ground and his head literally and figuratively, reached the heavens! He dabbled in lofty pursuits and lived with Hashem! However, after he sinned, Hashem cut him down to size and "minimized" him.
Subsequently and for all time, the Human race was destined to become smaller and weaker in physical and spiritual stature! However, our intrinsic characteristic which is part of our genetic makeup, is to reach from the Earth up to the Heavens above! This internal quality, is the reason that we feel so restricted when we are confined to a small space (Jail, etc.)
A chicken never feels restless in his small chicken coop! However, a Human being feels like he needs to 'see the World' and experience the entire World in the palm of his hand! We are merely exchanging the dimension of our already internal makeup! Instead of striving to reach the Heavens with lofty pursuits (and recognizing that in so doing, we are experiencing quite literally - the beauty of the entire World - Hashem!), we have simply fallen flat on our faces and have re-invented our intrinsic quality of "Misof Ha'olam ad Sofo", to reach from one side of the world to another - horizontally!
Take Shabbos as an example. For those who lack an appreciation of what Shabbos means and how it nourishes and enriches our lives, it is like a day spent in Jail! So many restrictions and limitations!! Like death itself! We want to 'travel', to turn on the radio, the tv, ......we wish to see "what's doing in the world"
But alas, we cannot!
This frustration stems from the fact that we are living our misof ha'olam ad sofo in the horizontal position! We have fallen on our faces!
Get up and reach the Heavens!! Live a Shabbos in the embrace of Hashem! Throw away the newspapers and televisions for a day (at least) and see how you can conquer the entire universe by living with the Creator of the Universe!!
Submitted by Y.L.; Taken from www.ohrshimshon.com
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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. (Talmud Niddah 73a)
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