Today's Halachos dedicated by daily reader, A.G., in loving memory and L'iluiy Nishmas his dear mother,
Chaya Golda bas Boruch A"H
whose Yahrtzeit is today, 11 Teves. May her Neshama continue to climb higher and higher in Gan Eden.
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF HADLOKAS NEIROS SHEL SHABBOS; SHABBOS CANDLES
1) M'Ikar Hadin, according to the letter of the law, only one candle needs to be lit to fulfill the obligation to light Shabbos lights.
However, the custom is to light a minimum of two candles.
The two candles represent the two words the Torah uses to describe Shabbos observance (one in the first Luchos, the Ten Commandments, in Parashas Yisro and the other in the second Luchos in Parashas V'Eschanan):
a) "Zachor" Es Yom HaShabbos, remember the Shabbos day
b) "Shamor" Es Yom HaShabbos, Guard the Shabbos day.
(See Shulchan Aruch Siman 263:1)
2) It is a Mitzvah to have a lot of candles.
Some people light ten candles, representing the Aseres Hadibros, the Ten Commandments. Others light seven candles, representing the days of the week. (See Mishna Berura Siman 263 S"K 6. Those who light seven candles should not do so using a candelabra with seven branches, regardless of its shape, as it is prohibited to replicate the Menorah that was in the Bais Hamikdash which had seven branches. See Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 141:8 and Shach there Os 35 and Pischei teshuva Os 14 )
The prevalent Minhag is to start off lighting two candles, and to add an additional candle for each subsequent child that is born to the family, e.g. a family with four children lights six candles.
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) According to some Poskim, even when adding additional candles, the main two candles representing "Zachor" and "Shamor" should be placed away from the others so they are recognizable as the "main" candles. (See Darchei Moshe Siman 263:1 and Ra'avyah Siman 199. However, from the language of the Rama in Siman 263:1 it doesn't seem like he ruled this way.)
2) Even those that light additional candles each Erev Shabbos when they are lighting at home (be it one for each child, seven, ten or any other amount) need only light two candles when lighting as a guest in someone else's home.
However, whenever lighting at home the amount that is usually lit must be adhered to, and may not be lessened. (See Rama ibid. and Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil SheShakcha.)
Even if the woman of the house is not present and the husband or another family member is lighting, they must light the same amount of candles that the woman usually lights every week in that home. (Ruling of Rav Nisim Karelitz Shlita quoted in Ohr Haner Perek 1:5 footnote 31)
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@Gmail.com
Reader's Question:
Is a person allowed to be motzei (exempt) someone else in the bracha acharona of borei nefashos?
Answer:
Although its best for each person to recite Borei Nefashos themselves, in cases of necessity (e.g. they don't know how to say it themselves or they are not well and thus unable to say it themselves) as long as the one reciting it has in mind to exempt the one listening and the one listening has in mind to be exempted, it woks.
Ideally, if possible for the one listening to say along with the one saying it that would be best. (See Mishna Berura Siman 213:9. See also Sha'ar hatziyun there Os 7 that this will only work if they both sat and ate together)
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal and the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi Finkel Zatzal. May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they both be Melitzei Yosher for all of Klal 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 HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
When one commits a sin, the rejoicing comes before the act.
When one performs a good deed, the rejoicing comes after the act.
- Rabbi Moshe Yitzchak of Pshevorsk -
Submitted by daily reader, SM
Important Numbers
