Today's Halachos are dedicated by a daily reader, as a zechus for a Refuah Shelaima, Yeshua, Zivug Hagun and Parnassah B'Revach for Yosef ben Rivka Raizel
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF HADLOKAS NEIROS SHEL SHABBOS; SHABBOS CANDLES
1) As we discussed earlier, most women of Ashkenazi descent, and even many of Sephardic lineage as well, light the Shabbos candles and only then recite the Bracha, as their recitation of the Bracha is considered for them as accepting Shabbos and thus they may not kindle the lights or do any other prohibited Melachos after the Bracha was recited.
2) As long as the Bracha was not yet recited, even though the candles were all lit, according to many Poskim it is not yet considered Shabbos for her, and thus she may extinguish the match with which she kindled the candles, or do any other Melacha for that matter. (See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 263:14 and Biur Halacha Siman 263:1 end of Dibur Hamaschil Shtei Pesilos.)
Other Poskim, however, maintain that immediately upon lighting the candles, it is considered for her an acceptance of Shabbos, and she may not do any Melachos, even though she did not yet recite the Bracha.
Thus, many women have the custom to not extinguish the match with which they lit the candles, rather they place it carefully on the tray and let it go out by itself, or in some households, the husband or another member of the household takes the lit match from her and extinguishes it. (See Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchaso Perek43 footnote 179. See also Ben Ish Chai; year 2 Parashas Noach Siman 8 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 263:62)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) Once a woman kindles [and recites the Bracha over] the Shabbos candles it is Shabbos for her even if it is still before sunset on Friday afternoon. (See Shulchan Aruch and Rama Siman 263:10. In cases of great necessity she may sometimes light candles and stipulate that she is not accepting Shabbos with this lighting, and then she would be allowed to do Melachos after lighting. However, a Rav must be consulted as to how early before sunset she may light in such a case and also to determine if this stipulation works for her in the first place in her particular situation. See Shulchan Aruch Siman 263:4)
A woman who regularly davens Mincha, must make sure to do so before she lights the Shabbos candles.
If she did not daven before lighting, she may not daven afterwards, as it is already Shabbos for her and she can no longer say the Mincha of Friday. (See Mishna Berura Siman 263:43)
2) If a man is going to be lighting the Shabbos candles, and he wants to still do Melacha afterwards, it is best for him to stipulate (in his mind or verbally) that he does not intend to accept Shabbos yet by lighting the candles. (See Mishna Berura Siman 263:42 and Siman 261:21)
If, however, he did not make the stipulation, and he wants to do Melacha after lighting the candles, he may do so B'Dieved (ibid. and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman75:7).
Furthermore, a man may daven Mincha for Friday after he lights the Shabbos candles, even L'Chatchila, as his lighting is not yet an indication of accepting the sanctity of Shabbos as it is by a woman. (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch ibid.)
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:
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
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
Being able to walk is a great miracle that deserves study. Just being able to stand is a blessing, which not everyone has been granted. The act of standing is achieved by a continuous balancing of leg and foot muscles. A human being is tall and narrow and yet he is able to stand up and to stay upright even when he is pushed.
All the while that he is standing, he is actively using his muscles to adjust his balance so that he will not fall over to one side. So standing alone is a great achievement.
When he wants to start walking, his thighs have to swing from their hip sockets and his knees have to bend back and forth. His ankles, feet and toes, all have to work together to give him a push forward by pressing against the ground.
All the body parts involved in a simple step must cooperate in a series of complex motions like a choir with a thousand members who cooperate in singing a complex melody. There are large bones, small bones, major muscles, minor muscles, and the network of nerves that transmit signals to activate the muscles, all at the right time and with the right amount of force.
When you see somebody hopping on one leg with crutches, you have to think how lucky you are to have two legs, and you have to thank Hashem for both of them. This is something you should do all the days of your life, not just once in a while.
Each morning when you say the blessing, "Who establishes a person's footsteps," you are talking briefly about this great miracle. It is important that you know what you're saying every morning when you thank Hashem for the great gift of walking.
Many people can only sit in a wheelchair; they can't get up and walk around. When they see you walking, they realize what a great gift they once possessed. They think back to the good old days, when they had the happiness and joy of walking.
They lost that now and some have lost it forever. Therefore as long as you are able to walk you have to appreciate it and thank Hashem. That is the very least you can do to show your appreciation for this great gift that He has bestowed upon you.
HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal in Ohr Avigdor Shaar Habechinah