Today's Halachos are dedicated by daily reader, I.T., L'Ilui Nishmas his dear father
Yaacov ben Mazal HaCohen Z'L
who passed away on 16 Menachem Av 5765.
May his Neshama continue to climb higher and higher in Gan Eden and may he be a Meilitz Yosher for his entire family.
Current Topic:
Halachos of Hashavas Aveidah
1)
One who finds an object in a place that is only a semi "safe place"
(Hashamur K'Tzas), such as behind the fence of a row of homes, in the
corner of a playground, regardless if it looks like it was placed there
intentionally or not, and even if it has a Siman, it would depend on
what kind of item it is.
For
example, if it is an item of little value, such as a Yarmulka (Kipah), a
sock, a piece of a board game or similar item which generally will not
be claimed by the owner even if the find is announced, then there is no
obligation to pick it up and try and find the owner. (Ruling of
Maran HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal, quoted in Hashovas Aveida
K'Hhalacha page 27. He explained that the Torah wants the lost object to
find its way to its owner, thus in this case there is a bigger chance
that the owner will come back to that spot to find his item rather than
respond to any announcements about its being found, as due to its
insignificant value as soon as he doesn't see it where he left it he
will promptly forget about it and not pay any more attention to it
anymore.)
If, however, the item is valuable, and has a Siman, it should be picked up and efforts made to locate the owner. (Rama Siman 260:10 and Sm"a S"K 47)
If it does not have a Siman, despite its value there is no obligation to pick it up and expend efforts to locate its owner. (As is the Halacha for every lost item)
2)
If one picked it up despite not being obligated to do so, he may not
change his mind and put it back; if it has a Siman he must now try and
locate the owner. (Rama ibid.)
If
it has no Siman, some Poskim rule that he may keep the item while
others rule that he must now hold on to it until Eliyahu Hanavi arrives. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 260:9 and Rama and Sm"a ibid.)
QUESTION&ANSWER CORNER
Reader
Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we
covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
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
QUESTION:
I do not normally daven in a minyan, as I am a girl, but I never know how to approach Tachanun.
If I daven at home, which is clearly not in front of a Sefer Torah, am I obligated to put my head down for Nefilat Apayim?
Is
there a difference between Shacharis and Mincha? What about on days
where "V'hu Rachum" is said- should I say the entire Tachanun?
Also, if I happen to be in a shul, should I put my head down for Nefilat Apayim?
ANSWER:
When saying Tachnun in a place with no sefer Torah, the head is not put down.
When
you daven in Shul, although you don't have to say it all (as the
prevelant custom is for women not to recite Tachnun, as per the
Artscroll women's siddur quoting Maran HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv
Zatzal), you may put your head down and say it.
V'Hu Rachum may be said at home. The only thing in Tachnun that requires a Minyan is the "13 Midos HaRachamim".
***
After responding the above answer, a reader emailed me the following, written by Rabbi Daniel Travis atwww.Torah.org
It
is not customary for women to recite Tachanun. Some explain that the
reason for this is similar to the reason that women do not recite
Maariv. Since they were both originally optional prayers, women did not
accept them upon themselves (Tefillas Bas Yisrael 2,12).
Others
explain that Tachanun creates a situation where we pray in every
possible position. Pesukei D'zimra and Shema are recited mostly while
seated, Shemoneh Esrei while standing, and Tachanun in a bowed position.
Since many halachic authorities rule that women are not obligated to
say Pesukei D'zimra and Shema, they do not recite Tachanun either
(Machzeh Eliyahu 20).
We may add
that throwing oneself to the floor may be immodest for a woman. Since
Tachanun originally involved falling before Hashem, women did not say
this prayer.
Even today, when the custom is to recite Tachanun while leaning on one's arm, women still do not say this prayer.
CHIZUK CORNER
This
section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav
Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal , the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi
Finkel Zatzal and the Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Ohr, the great Posek
HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Zatzal.
May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they 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.
People
are strange. They beg and plead that Hashem should give them fear of
Heaven and Hashem, when this is something that is entirely in the
individual's control.
Yet when it comes to their livelihood, their business and their money, they image that they are in charge.
Rav Chanoch H. of Alexander Zatzal quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
