Sunday
7 Adar II, 5771; Moshe Rabbeinu's Yahrtzeit; 1 week to Purim
March 13, 2011
1) It is the accepted Minhag amongst all of Klal Yisroel, when reading the Megilah, that the Megilah scroll of the Ba'al Koreh is unfurled and folded like a letter before commencing the reading. The reason for this Minhag is that the Megilah is referred to in the Posuk as an "Igeres- a letter".
The congregation need not unfurl their personal Megilahs (for those who follow along in a Kosher Megilah), though they may do so if they wish. (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 141:10)
2) There are four Pesukim in the Megilah, which are referred to as "Pesukim Shel Geulah- Pesukim of redemption", and these Pesukim are customarily said aloud by the entire congregation, and afterwards read by the Ba'al Koreh. (The Mateh Moshe quotes the Ba'al HaTania that this is only if children are present, as it is done to keep them interested, thus if one is reading the Megilah for adults only, it needn't be done. According to the Gaon of Vilna though, it is done even if no children are present)
The four Pesukim are:
1) Ish Yehudi Haya B'Shushan HaBirah... (Perek 2 Posuk 5)
4) Ki Mordechai HaYehudi...(The last Posuk of the Megilah)
If one does not have a kosher Megilah, he/she should have in mind not to be Yotzei the aforementioned Pesukim when saying them aloud, rather to be Yotzei with the Ba'al Koreh's reading like the rest of the Megilah. (Mishna Berura Siman 690:58)
When the Ba'al Koreh reads the words "B'Laila HaHu Nadedah Shnas HaMelech (Perek 6 Posuk 1) he raises his voice, as that is the beginning of the miracle. (MaHaril quoted in Mishna Berura Siman 690: 52)
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:
Are you allowed to clap on shabbos? and furthermore, are you allowed to make a beat on shabbos to sing to (like bang and clap) as many shabbaton activities do?
Answer:
The Shulchan Aruch Siman 339:3 rules that it is forbidden to clap ones hands together or ones hand against their thigh on Shabbos and it is also forbidden to dance on Shabbos . This ruling is based on the Mishna in Beitza 36b where Chazal forbade these activities, which are usually done in the presence of musical instruments, lest one come to fix an instrument that breaks.
The Rama, ibid. (based on Tosefos Beitza 30a Dibur Hamaschil T'nan) in his second opinion, rules that today's day's it is permitted to clap and dance as most people don't know how to fix broken instruments.
The Mishna Berura S"K 10 maintains that even today it is only acceptable if the clapping/dancing is done for purposes of a Mitzvah. See also Shu"t Minchas Elazar Orach Chaim Vol. 1 Siman 29 where he defends the Minahag of many holy Tzadikim who danced and clapped on Shabbos
Bottom line, when dancing and clapping for a Mitzvah, such as during Zemiros on Shabbos, we are lenient and allow it, otherwise, it is best to avoid it. The same applies for banging on a table to a beat etc.
Regarding applauding on Shabbos, see Shu"t Az Nidberu Vol. 13 Siman 14:2, where he allows it as this has nothing to do with singing.
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 inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME. THANK YOU AND TIZKEH L'MITZVOS!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk For Today:
"In the Blessing of the New Month, we petition Hashem for a "life of sustenance".
What robs us of our daily bread are the books of faithless heretics filled with mockery and indecency.
When we bring those into our home, not only does it poison the home, but it is the main cause for our sustenance being withheld!"
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Hakohen Kagan Zatzal , the Chofetz Chaim quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
