Tuesday
17 Tamuz 5771; Fast Day of Shiva Asar B'Tamuz; The start of the "Three Weeks" of mourning for the Bais Hamikdash.
July 19, 2011
Today's halachos are dedicated by daily reader, M.B., as a zechus Refuah Shelaima for her dear daughter, Chaya Mushka bas Matti B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel. She is having a heart surgery today, Tuesday 17 Tamuz. Please daven and learn with all your heart that she merits a successful surgery and a complete Refuah Shelaima.
To help perpetuate the eternal memory of Leiby Kletzky A"H, the pure Neshama that was brutally snuffed out to facilitate a Kapara for all of Klal Yisroel, please undertake some Torah study and/or Mitzvah performance. Visit the new website www.LearnForLeiby.com
1) The Talmud (Brachos 61b) teaches that a male should not walk behind a female, even if she is dressed modestly, and should quicker walk behind a lion! (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 21:1)
The reason for this was that he will come to gaze at her and lead him to improper thoughts and Chas V'Shalom to improper actions.
There is a debate amongst contemporary Poskim if this applies today when it is much more prevalent for females to be in public, and only in the times of Chazal when it was rare to see a female in public would it perhaps lead to sin.
The Leket Yosher, disciple of the Terumas HaDeshen (Siman 376) rules that this prohibition is not in force today [in regard to females that are dressed appropriately].
Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal (Shu"t Minchas Shlomo Vol. 1 Siman 91:23) rules that nowadays when females are commonly in public, it is virtually impossible not to be walking behind one female or another and thus [if walking to do a Mitzvah or another necessary reason] it doesn't apply today as stringently as it did in the times of Chazal.
However, even if walking behind her, a distance of at least four Amos (around 8 feet) must be maintained. ( Be'er Heitev Even HaEzer Siman 21:2)
Other Poskim (Shu"t Mishne Halachos Vol.5 Siman 226 and 227 and Vol.12 Siman 305, the Sha'ar HaTziyun quoting the Radvaz Siman 770 as well as other Poskim) maintain that the halacha remains in full force today.
2) Obviously, all agree that if one knows themselves and their being behind a female will lead to impure thoughts or worse, the halacha applies to him 100% even today.
Most Poskim agree as well that if the female in question is dressed immodestly, it is best to follow the stringent opinions.
Also, all seem to agree that if one is on a bus, for example, and he has the choice to either sit directly behind a female or in a different seat, that he must choose the different seat. As even if we rule to be lenient today, that is only in cases of necessity and when it is impossible or impractical to be stringent.
Thus, when riding in a car, it is best to try and arrange the seating in such a way that no male is sitting directly behind a female, but if this is impossible, we have on whom to rely, as long as nobody knows themselves that they will Chas V'Shalom come to sinful thoughts or actions by not following this Halacha.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are 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:
If I bought a new garment now [before the three weeks], can I wear it for the first time during the three weeks?
Answer:
The problem of new clothes in the three weeks is wearing them, not buying them. (See Halichos Shlomo Chapter 14:1)
If they are the kind of clothing that require a Shehechiyanu they should not be worn during the 3 weeks. If they are less important clothing (socks, underwear etc.) they may be worn.
Nowadays, when new clothing are more common and many people do not make Shehechiyanu on new suits, dresses etc., some Poskim are lenient until Rosh Chodesh Av, but according to a majority of Poskim it is best to be stringent and not wear them for the first time during the three weeks, even if no Shehechiyanu will be recited..
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CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
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.
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THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
Dr. Howard A. Kelly (1858-1943)
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when, at the next home he knocked at, the woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said..... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in G-d and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly (!) was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words..... "Paid in full with one glass of milk"
Signed Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, G-d, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."
Important Numbers
