Today's Halachos dedicated by a daily reader, Gershon M., in memory of his father Yerachmiel Lazar ben Shlomo A" H , whose Yahrtzeit is today 21 Adar. May his Neshama continue to climb higher in Gan Eden and may he be a Meilitz Yosher for his entire family. Please have in mind when learning the halachos today that they be L'Ilui Nishmaso.
1) One who sees fruit trees that are beginning to bloom, in the [beginning of the] month of Nissan, or at any other time when it's the season for the trees to bloom, recites the following Bracha: Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Shelo Chisar B'Olamo Klum U'Vara Vo Beriyos Tovos V'Ilanos Tovos (or "Tovim"; See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 60:1) Lehanos Bahem Bnei Adam- Blessed are You Hashem, Our G-d, Master of the Universe, who ensured that nothing is lacking in His world and Created in it good creations and good trees in order to pleasure mankind with them. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 226:1 and Mishna Berura S"K 1. See also Aishel Avraham Butshatsh that only in Nissan may the Bracha be recited with Shem U'Malchus. However, the prevalent Minhag is to say the regular Bracha as long as the tree is still in the blooming stage, even if this is past Nissan. See Chayei Adam Klal 63:2 and Aruch HaShulchan 226:1 regarding climates where the blooming season is not in Nissan (e.g. Australia or South Africa). See also Shu"t Har Tzvi Orach Chaim Vol. 1 Siman 118 and Shu"t L'Horos Nosson Vol. 5 Siman 7)
2) Preferably this Bracha should be said on two or more trees [in a field]and not on a solitary tree. However, if it was recited on a solitary tree it is acceptable. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 226:2 and Shu"t Teshuvos V'Hanhagos Vol. 1 Siman 191. The prevalent Minhag is indeed to say it on a single tree)
Women are obligated in this Bracha just as men are. ( See Shu"t Har Tzvi Orach Chaim Vol. 1 Siman 118 and Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 12 Siman 25 for the reasoning behind this and why it isn't considered a Mitzvah She'Hazman Grama, as it is seemingly a time-bound Mitzvah)
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 Maos Chitim be given with Ma'aser money or is there a minimum amount that cannot be taken from Ma'aser money?
Answer:
Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal (in Halichos Shlomo, Pesach perek 2:2) rules that today's days one may give Maos Chitim from Ma'aser, as since there is no set amount that must be given and there is no organized system for enforcing that each person give, it isn't considered a "Chov Gamur, a total obligation".
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 Corner
Question:
There has developed a tendency among the Yeshivas to take only the best type of boys, who are sharp minds and successful in learning, because the credit goes to the Yeshiva and it acquires a better name. However, there is a certain public, a Frum public, good sincere boys who are not sharp minded and they are therefore neglected.
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
Now the truth is, there still are institutions that take them in, I don't want to mention their names, but there are places that take them in, even today. However, I want to tell you something about my experience. Boys that seem to be poor grade boys when they were little, when they were young, many times surprised us later in life. I can tell you a number of stories about boys who seemed to be failures when I knew them at the age of eighteen! Eighteen is an advanced age already, and I met them later in life, and it's remarkable what a change took place in them.
Some of them became great men in the world of Torah, and even if they didn't excel in Torah they became great as examples of outstanding good Jews. I know one fellow who was a failure in everything in learning, and he became one of the most important supporters of a certain Yeshiva, very active and outstanding supporter of the Yeshiva and he's an example of a patron of Torah.
And therefore it's very important for us to know we cannot afford to neglect any Yeshiva man. And even though he seems at the moment to be of inferior quality, he might turn out later in life to be one of the best.
Important Numbers
