Tuesday
August 24 2010
14 Elul 5770; 16 Days to Rosh Hashana 5771
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Today's halachos are dedicated by a daily reader, C.S., L'zechus Refuah Shelaima of Sima bas Chaya Rochel. Please daven and learn on her behalf B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel.
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1)When saying Vidui (Admitting our sins before Hashem, Ashamnu, Bagadnu, Gazalnu etc.), when saying "Al Cheit" on Erev Yom Kippur and on Yom Kippur, and also during the Bracha of Selach Lanu each weekday in Shemona Esrei it is customary to lightly pound the heart with the fist of the right hand. (Based on the writings of the Arizal; as if to say that the heart led us astray and caused us to sin)
A left handed person also pounds his heart with his right hand.(ruling of Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita)
It is brought in the Sefarim not to pound the heart by Selach Lanu on days that Tachanun is not recited. (MeKor Chaim and Siddur Ya'avetz in the name of the Shl"a HaKadosh)
2) Parenthetically, one of the reason that the classic Vidui of Ashamnu, Bagadnu, Gazalnu etc. follows the order of the Aleph Bais is to imply that when we sin we cause destruction to the world which Hashem created utilizing the 22 Hebrew letters, thus we say Vidui utilizing the order of those same holy letters and thus help repair the world that we damaged with our sins. (Based on the teachings of MaRa MiPano and other kabalistic sources; based on the Sefer Yetzirah's discussion of Hashem creating the world and its contents with the Aleph Beis. See also Talmud Shabbos 104a and Rashi to Bereishis 2:4)
Similarly, along the same lines, over the course of Yom Kippur we say Vidui ten times to rectify the sins we did which caused destruction to Hashem's world which He created with ten utterances. (See Pirkei Avos Perek 5 Mishna 1)
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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:
In regard to the halachos about pregnant women not stepping on nails, I'm curious if a pregnant woman would be allowed to get a manicure/pedicure in a nail salon where there are probably nails on the floor.
Is the halacha that one should be careful to dispose of one's nails properly? Or is the halacha that a pregnant woman should be careful not to step on nails?
Answer:
The halacha is for both the person cutting the nails to be careful, but also for the woman to avoid walking there and endangering her unborn child.
I received the following email from a reader: "A point about nails: R' Shmuel Felder [Shlita, Dayan of Bais Medrash Govoha] told me that a pregnant women should not go into a nail salon (where they give manicures, etc.)."
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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 previous emails, 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 final 5 of the 20 Ikarim are as follows:
#16) Repair your wrongs. Return the stolen items if you stole, or beseech your friend for forgiveness if you spoke Lashon Hara (evil gossip) about them or embarrassed them or other similar sins against your fellow man, as there can be no atonement from Hashem until you secure forgiveness from your friend.
#17) Seek and do acts of kindness (e.g. Tzedaka and Gemilas Chasodim) and give support to people who advance truth such as Talmidei Chachamim and Torah scholars, and stay away and shun falsehood.
#18) The [details of your] sin should remain in your mind always until the day you die (as to remember not to repeat them)
#19) Let go of the Sin. If the opportunity arises again to do the identical sin, conquer your Yetzer Hara and run away from the [place of] sin, as you would run away from a sword that was pursuing you, because of your fear of Hashem. And even if the same opportunity of sin does not present itself again, have in mind during Krias Shma, when saying the words "B'Chol NafShecha" that you are willing and ready to give up your life in order not to transgress the 3 cardinal sins (murder, idolatry and sexual immorality), and it will be considered as if the opportunity arose, and you withstood the test and didn't transgress.
#20) Facilitate the repentance of others. Causing others to sin is one of the worst things to do, and on the other hand, causing others to do good deeds and/or repent is one of the most worthy things a Jew can do, and is also very vital to his/her own Teshuva.
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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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