Sunday
August 22 2010
12 Elul 5770; 18 Days to Rosh Hashana 5771
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1) On Rosh Hashana, when blowing the Shofar, the Ba'al Tokea should place the Shofar on the right side of his mouth, if possible. (Rama Siman 585:2)
The reason for this is that the Satan, who is looking to accuse the Jewish nation, stands on the right side, and thus the Shofar which is a tool to combat the harmful intentions of the Satan is blown "in his face". (See Mishna Berura 585:7. This is based on kabalistic sources quoted in the Shl"a HaKadosh.)
Another reason cited is that Tefilin is laid on the left hand and thus protects the left side of a person, so the Shofar should be blown from the unprotected right side and thus we will be fully protected. (See Sha'ar HaTziyun Os 18)
2)According to the second reason a left handed person (wears Tefilin on his right arm) should place the Shofar at the left side of his mouth.(Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal ruled this way in Halichos Shlomo Vol. 2 Perek2:5 See also Mogen Avraham 585:4)
However, due to the first reason, and due to the fact that it may not mean that each individual's Tefilin protects him, rather the collective Mitzvah of Tefilin protects Klal Yisroel from the Midas Hadin (which is represented by the "left side"), many Poskim rule that all people blow with the Shofar on the right side of their mouth. (Sha'ar HaTziyun ibid. See also Shu"t Be'er Moshe Vol. 2 Siman 3:21)
No matter which side of the mouth the Shofar is placed, it is the prevalent custom to hold the Shofar with both hands when blowing it.
For Halacha L'ma'aseh, as always, each individual must consult their Rav.
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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:
You mentioned the other day that when one makes hamotzi, all their fingers need to be touching the bread.
Is that just for on Shabbos with Lechem Mishna, or is it during the week as well, when eating any bread?
Answer:
This applies anytime bread is eaten, weekday and Shabbos alike.
The reason for this is that there are 10 Mitzvos that are associated with the process of making bread (During the plowing of the field: 1) an ox and a donkey may not be used together, during the planting phase: 2)one may not plant 2 different species together, During the reaping phase: 3) Leket, 4)Shikcha and 5)Peah,6) the ox that is used may not be muzzled while working, After the baking phase:7)Teruma to the Kohen, 8) Ma'aser Rishon to the Levi, 9) Ma'aser Sheini and 10) Challah to the Kohen)
It is for this reason that there are 10 words in the Bracha of Hamotzi and 10 words in each of the Pesukim that refer to the bread of mankind (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 167:4 and Mishna Berura 167:23 ad 24. The verses are: 1) V'Yiten lecha H'Elokim... (Bereishis 27:28) 2) Eretz Chita U'Seora... (Devarim 8:8) 3) Matzmiach chatzir L'Behaima... (Tehillim 104) 4) Einei Kol Ailecha yesabeiru...(Tehillim 145, better known as the psalm of Ashrei)
Some people have a Minhag on Shabbos not to place their fingers directly on the Chalos, rather to place their hands on the Challah cover. However, the prevalent minhag according to most Poskim is to place all 10 fingers on the Chalos, even on Shabbos. (See Mishna Berura 271:41, Shu"t Be'er Moshe Vol. 6 Siman 134 and Sefer Minhag Yisroel Torah Siman 271).
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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:
As we stated in the last email, There are 3 main Yesodos (foundations) necessary to accomplish true Teshuva, and the 3 are broken down (by Rabeinu Yonah in Sefer Shaarei Teshuva) into 20 Ikarim (more detailed), different aspects to achieve a proper and everlasting Teshuva.
The 3 main Yesodos are 1)Charata (regret), 2)Vidui (verbally enumerating one's sins), and 3) Azivas HaChet (Letting go of the sin and resolving to never repeat it).
The next 5 of the 20 Ikarim are as follows:
#6) Be tremendously embarrassed and immensely shamed before the king of kings, Hashem, and be afraid to lift your eyes to appear before Him.
#7) Humble your heart and be self-effacing in the knowledge that one who rebels against the great king [Hashem], surely will lose some of his status and will be ridiculed in his own eyes and in the eyes of others and unless you repent you will be relegated to being treated like a leper, despised and detested by society.
#8) Act humbly by always keeping your eyes focused downwards, speaking in low tones, and not speaking harsh words.
#9) Break your material Ta'vos (lusts and material desires). Lessen your enjoyments of pleasures and don't stuff yourself with food more than is necessary for satiation and to sustain your life, and avoid [excessive] marital relations with your spouse (besides what is necessary to fulfill the Mitzvah of Pru U'Revu, or other spousal obligations)
#10) Rectify the particular areas in which you have sinned with their good alternatives. Some examples: If you gazed at immodest images, train your eyes to always avoid inappropriate sights, and let your eyes gaze at the light of the Torah (by reading Torah texts or gazing into the Sefer Torah by Hagbah etc.). If you used your feet to run to sin, train them now to always run to do Mitzvos. If your tongue was accustomed to uttering falsehoods and/or foul language, train your mouth to only speak good and wise things. If you used your hands to spill blood, or for stealing which is tantamount to spilling blood, train your hands to provide for poor people, orphans and widows, as well as saving people from being taken advantage of financially by unscrupulous people. If your heart was always filled with heretical thoughts, train and purify your heart to understand the greatness of our Creator [Hashem]. If you were involved in spreading Machlokes (disputes) between friends, train yourself to seek peaceful resolutions and pursue peace always.
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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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