Sunday
13 Nisan, 5771; 2 Days until Pesach
April 17 , 2011
Today's Halachos dedicated by daily reader, Y.B., L'Zecher Nishmas her dear father,Shmuel ben Gavriel Z"L, whose Yahrtzeit is today, 13 Nisan. May his Neshama climb higher and higher in Gan Eden and may he be a Meilitz Yosher for his entire Mishpacha. Please have in mind when learning today's halachos that they be in his eternal merit.
1) Yachatz: The middle of the three Matzos is broken in half; the bigger half is put away and will be eaten later on for Afikoman.
One reason for this broken Matzah is to signify "Lechem Oni, poor man's bread" which is usually a piece rather than a whole loaf, as Matzah is referred to in the Posuk (Devarim 16:3), to commemorate the Jews' slavery in Mitzrayim. (Mishna Berura Siman 473:57 based on Talmud Pesachim 115b)
Another reason cited for this "splitting" of the middle Matzah is to commemorate the "splitting" of the Yam Suf (the Red sea, which is probably an inaccurate translation, as it should properly be translated as "the Reed sea" or "The sea of Reeds"; see Rashi to Shmos 13:18) and the Yarden which took place on Pesach. (See Da'as Zekeinim L'Ba'alei Tosefos Shmos 12:8)
2) Some people have the custom to take the half of the Matzah that was broken off for Afikoman and place it on their shoulders or on their backs [and walk around the table] to commemorate the Bnei Yisroel leaving Mitzrayim carrying [what turned into] Matzah, [as well as other packages] on their backs. (Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 473:35 says "their backs" and Mishna Berura Siman 473:59 says "their shoulders")
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:
What's the halacha regarding Shaimos (texts that have Torah writing on them)?
When do u need to bury things and when is it sufficient to just put into a bag and then place bag into garbage? This always comes up with notes in class, work sheets, handouts etc.
Answer:
Unless they have the name of Hashem written out, worksheets, notes, invitations, newspapers , Tzedaka letters etc. with Torah content written on them can be wrapped in a plastic bag and either discarded directly, according to many Poskim or left out at the curb for the trash collectors to discard so it will be done indirectly, according to the more stringent Poskim.
Seforim, Tefilin, or anything that has any of the the actual holy names of Hashem written out properly, require proper burial.
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 תזכו למצות!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk Corner
All of us, at some point or another have what is termed by some as " a faith crisis". For some it's stronger than others but for all it amounts to the same thing: The Yetzer Hara trying to ruin us.
This is nothing new and nothing unique to any one individual, this is how Hashem created His world. This is how He wants us to struggle. This is His way of giving us opportunities to "earn" our share in Olam Haba.
The Yetzer Hara in his cunning way usually springs on us right when we are davening, learning or otherwise doing something positive. We have to learn how to ignore him and be indifferent to his stupidity and remember that Chazal teach us that the Yetzer Hara, Satan and Malach Hamaves, are ONE AND THE SAME! HE causes us to sin, then HE goes and tells Hashem that we sinned and deserve punishment then HE gets to kill us for our sins. Quite a backstabber if there ever was one!
He is our enemy. We must internalize that and ignore his advances at all costs.
Do we fall? Yes. we all do.
Do we fail? Yes we all do.
Do we sin? Yes, we all do.
But the main thing is to get right back up again and continue with our Avodas Hashem. We grow not DESPITE our falls, rather we grow BECAUSE of our falls. Sheva Yipol Tzadik V'Kam (Mishlei Perek 24:16). A Tzadik USES his falls to his advantage. See Siddur HaGra, Pirush Siach Yitzchok on the Posuk (that we say daily in Pesukei D'Zimrah, fromTehilim 147) "Harofei Lishvurei Lev U'Mechabesh L'Atzvosam".
You must always believe in yoursef, as Rav Tzadok teaches us that just as one is obligated to believe in Hashem, so too one is obligated to believe in themself! (Tzidkas HaTzadik 154)
The more you grow and the closer you get to Hashem, the more pressure the lousy yetzer Hara will put on you to try to bring you down.
Just close your eyes for a few minutes a day and make a mental list of all the good that Hashem gives you on a daily basis. Do you deserve any of it? Have you really earned it? NO! It is only Hashem's endless kindness and love for us that causes Him to give, give, give and give us always.
He is our loving Father and if He ever gives us trials and tribulations, think of them as opportunities, not as punishments.
As the great Tzaddik Rav Avigdor Miller Zatzal used to say, There is no such thing as a bad situation; rather it's a difficult situation. Everything Hashem does is for our ultimate good. Everything. No exceptions.
The best way to try and get rid of "faith crisis" thoughts is to NOT THINK ABOUT THEM. Of course, adding Torah, Tefilah, Mussar etc. to your day is always a good thing to try and control the Yetzer Hara.
Of course, whenever any negative activity is overcome, it leaves in its place a void, which should be filled immediately with something positive , as the Yetzer Hara thrives in a vaccum.
And finally, keep your Simcha intact, as the #1 tool of the Yetzer Hara is making people sad, down andepressed. Avoid that at ALL costs.
Simcha Shel Mitzvah!
Always.
Excerpt from a recent response I emailed to a dear reader who was struggling with a temporary "faith crisis", which I felt perhaps others can benefit from reading.
Important Numbers
