Current Topic:
Review of Halachos of Elul & Yamim Nora'im
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1) In anticipation of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, special prayers, known as Selichos, are recited in the early hours of the morning (Preferably at the end of the night, before Alos HaShachar, daybreak, although many Shuls say it a half hour or so before the regular time for Shacharis) to beg Hashem for forgiveness for our sins of the past year, and to beseech Him to inscribe us all for life in the book of the Tzaddikim Gemurim, righteous individuals.
Some communities (including the Sephardim) have the custom to begin to reciting Selichos from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 581:1)
Some communities used to begin saying Selichos from the 15th of Elul until Yom Kippur. This custom is not in practice today. (See Mateh Ephraim Siman 581:11 quoting the Abudreham)
2) The prevalent Minhag amongst Ashkenazic Jewry is to begin reciting Selichos from the Sunday morning (or Motzaei Shabbos, as is customary in many communities) before Rosh Hashana, unless Rosh Hashana falls out on a Monday or a Tuesday, in which case Selichos begins a week earlier, as we require at least four days of Selichos before Rosh Hashana.(Rama Siman 581:1. This year Rosh Hashan is on Monday and Tuesday. September 17 and 18, thus Selichos begins on Sunday September 9)
The reason for this requirement: Since a Korban (sacrifice) in the Bais Hamikdash required four days of examinations to ensure it was blemish free and acceptable for the Mizbeach (altar), so too each Jew should consider themselves as a Korban Olah on Rosh Hashana and be ready to sacrifice themselves in atonement before Hashem, and thus utilize these four days (or more) to examine their deeds and do Teshuva for their sins (blemishes) and thus be pure when approaching Hashem on Rosh Hashana. (See Mishna Berura ibid. S"K 6 for this and another reason as well)
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
QUESTION:
What is the general rule regarding brushing ones teeth on shabbos?
ANSWER:
If the teeth need to be brushed, it may only be done softly, with a dry brush which is designated for shabbos use. (according to some authorities, it has to even look different than the regular weekday toothbrush. (See Shu"t Minchas Yitzchok Vol. 3 Siman 50 ), in a way that will not cause bleeding.
Toothpaste may not be used according to Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal ( Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 1 Siman 112) and most contemporary Poskim.
They do have some sort of new Shabbos Toothbrush and tooth wash on the market which is ok, if necessary.
Mouthwash is ok to use.
The brush may not be rinsed off after use, as doing so is preparing it for the next use, which will be after Shabbos.
CHIZUK CORNER
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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.
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זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
QUESTION:
Why should we ask Hashem in our tefilos every day for the same thing? Doesn't Hashem know what we should have? Doesn't He know what we need?
ANSWER BY HARAV AVIGDOR MILLER ZATZAL:
Our tefilos are not to tell Hashem what we need, but l'hispallel, which comes from the word pe'lillim, which means to think, to make us think. We should know that Hashem is the giver of all that we get. That's the importance of tefila. And therefore we go to Him in order to demonstrate that we know He is the giver.
Now why every day? The answer is: auf'rious ha'chumrous ga'as, the Mesilos Yesharim says. The materialism is a very heavy thing in this world, and little by little it enters the minds even of tzadikim, - gashmius. And they must constantly reiterate and remind themselves, v'yodata ha'yom va'hasheivoso el le'vovecha, again and again, ki Hashem hu Ho'elokim. We have to remind ourselves constantly, and davening is not enough! Not that we daven too much, we don't daven enough.
All day long we have to say, baruch ato Hashem, only You, in order to remind ourselves constantly. Otherwise in between there's darkness; the choshech of olam hazeh comes into our mind. Therefore it's never enough to remind ourselves, baruch ato Hashem gomel chasadim tovim le'amo Yisroel. As much as possible a person is mechuyov.
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