1) Q. I have noticed many people who's wives are expecting, start doing pesicha (opening the aron) before krias Hatorah What is the source for this minhag and at what point in the pregnancy does the minhag dictate to start doing pesicha?
A. Chida (Avodas Hakodesh, 3: 90), Shivas Tzion (Shaar Tzion (8: 4, p. 124), Sidur R’ Y’ Emdin and other seforim mention that the time of pesichas ha’aron is a time of ratzon and good will from Hashem, and it is therefore appropriate to give the mitzvah of pesicha to the husband of an expectant woman, at the beginning of the ninth month of pregnancy.
Birchas Efraim (s. 60) maintains that the tradition remounts to the Rashbo; it begins at the seventh month of pregnancy, and the husband should say a tefila at that time. Osrei Lagefen (p. 536) asserts that the minhag is for the husband to open completely the aron (both doors).
Leket Hakemach Hechodosh (Tomer Devoro 78) mentions that honouring the husband of a pregnant woman, is the ikar or main part of the mitzva of pesicha.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that each congregation should maintain its own traditions.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
Important Numbers
