Friday, October 31, 2014

Separating on Shabbat for Others

Separating on Shabbat for Others
Day: Friday
Date: October 31, 2014
Parshat: Lech Lecha
Yalkut Yosef: 319


One may separate on Shabbat for others even if he does not plan on partaking in any of the food separated. For example if guests come to visit on Shabbat and one has already eaten and does not plan to eat anymore, he may still separate food for the guests. Of course, the three conditions must be followed. (He must take the good from the bad, it must be to eat right away, and it must be done by hand). When separating for others (or even for himself) one may not separate more than he anticipates will really be needed. Even though it is nice to offer the guests a full platter of food, one may not separate in order to do so if he doesn't think they'll eat it all.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Separating From Liquid on Shabbat

Separating From Liquid on Shabbat
Day: Thursday
Date: October 30, 2014
Parshat: Lech Lecha
Yalkut Yosef: 319


Hard boiled eggs that are sitting at the top of a pot of food may be removed on Shabbat since that is not considered a mixture. For the same reason one may remove a tea bag from a cup of tea on Shabbat. A fly that fell into a cup may be removed on Shabbat by hand or with a spoon. However, it is good to remove some of the drink with it at the same time. At the end of most faucets there is a small filter. One does not need to remove the filter before Shabbat even though it is there to separate the impurities from the water. Since the water is already clean and ready to drink and the strainer is just there to add to its purity it is not considered to be Borer.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Separating Different Sized Pieces of the Same Food

Separating Different Sized Pieces of the Same Food
Day: Wednesday
Date: October 29, 2014
Parshat: Lech Lecha
Yalkut Yosef: 319


A mixture containing only one ingredient of which there are different sizes, is not considered a mixture for the purposes of Borer. Therefore if a person has a bowl with peach slices of different sizes, and he only wants the small or only the big slices, he may take out the ones he doesn't want and put them aside for some other time. This is true only if other than the size there is no difference between the items in the mixture. However if the items are different from each other one would need take out of the mixture only what he wants, only to eat right away, and only remove it by hand or with a fork or spoon. For example, if there is a tray with different kinds of fish, or the same kind of fish cooked different ways, one may take only the piece he desires. He may not remove the ones he doesn't like and leave what he does like. However, as we have said, if there are others present who want the other kind then he may separate those pieces for them.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Separating Two Kinds of Food on Shabbat

Separating Two Kinds of Good Food
Day: Tuesday
Date: October 28, 2014
Parshat: Lech Lecha
Yalkut Yosef: 319


If one has in front of him a mixture of two different kinds of food, one that he wants and one that he doesn't, even though they are both edible, for our purposes the one that he doesn't want is considered to be bad food. As we have said earlier, (see DSH from October 26, 2014) one should take the item that he does want out of the mixture and not the other way around. Therefore, one who is eating salad that has an ingredient he doesn't like may not remove that ingredient. Even though he is eating the salad right away and the separation is being done by hand, since he doesn't want that ingredient it would be considered Borer if he were to remove that ingredient.
If there are others present who want the part that he doesn't want, he may separate it for them. For example if at a meal one is served bread with olives he may take out the olives to give someone else even though he doesn't like them. However, if no one else wants the olives then he may not remove them.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, October 27, 2014

Separating on Shabbat to Eat Right Away

Separating on Shabbat to Eat Right Away
Day: Monday
Date: October 27, 2014
Parshat: Lech Lecha
Yalkut Yosef: 319


One of the conditions necessary to allow one to separate on Shabbat is that the food be eaten right away. One may separate a mixture in the beginning of the meal for later on during the meal even if the food will only be eaten after a long time. However, one should not separate during the meal to eat after Birkat Hamazon even though it's part of the same meal. One may also separate directly before the meal as part of the preparations since the meal preparations are done to be able to eat right away. The Poskim are divided as to whether one who separated for right away and then decided to eat later has transgressed the issur of Borer. After all, at the time of the separation everything he did was permissible. Therefore one should be careful to only separate if he will for sure eat the food right away. Of course, even if it's to eat right away, one may only separate by hand and by taking the good from the bad.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Borer

Borer
Day: Sunday
Date: October 26, 2014
Parshat: Lech Lecha
Yalkut Yosef: 319


One of the 39 Melachot is Borer, Separating. One who has in front of him a mixture of edible and non edible food may not separate it by removing any of the non edible food from the mixture on Shabbat. He also may not separate if he doesn't intend to eat the food immediately or by using any instruments, like a sieve or a strainer. The only permissible way to separate on Shabbat is by meeting the following three conditions:
1. One must remove the good from the bad, not the bad from the good.
2. His intention must be to eat it right away and not separate in the morning to eat in the afternoon etc.
3. He must remove the good items by hand, not by using any instruments made for separating. A fork is not made to separate items. It is considered to be an extension of ones hand and therefore one may separate with a fork on Shabbat when the other conditions are fulfilled as well.

An example of this would be one who wants to eat cherries on Shabbat afternoon. Very often in the bag there are some bad cherries as well. In that situation one may eat the cherries by selecting the good ones and leaving the bad ones inside. The reason it is okay is because the other two condition have been met as well. He is separating by hand and the purpose is to eat right away.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, October 24, 2014

Kavush Kemevushal

Kavush Kemevushal
Day: Friday
Date: October 24, 2014
Parshat: Noah
Yalkut Yosef: 318


Our Hachamim teach us that "kavush kemevushal" that in many respects pickling foods is like cooking them. Therefore, on Shabbat one should not dip more than four or five cucumbers or radishes in saltwater at the same time since it looks like pickling. However less than that is okay. One may return pickles back to their container if the pickling process is completed. However ideally one should not return them if they are not finished. This is mostly relevant to one who made homemade pickles and wants to sample them on Shabbat. Almost any pickles that can be bought at the store are already finished.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Moving a Pot to a New Heat Source on Shabbat

Moving a Pot to a New Heat Source on Shabbat
Day: Thursday
Date: October 23, 2014
Parshat: Noah
Yalkut Yosef: 318


If the fire under a pot that contains liquid went out on Shabbat one may move the pot to another heat source, including to an open flame that is hotter than the previous one. However if the food in the pot cooled down and is now below yad soledet bo it may not be placed on another heat source. In general a ladle of hot food scooped from the pot is considered to be a kli sheni. However, if the ladle stayed in the pot long enough that it got very hot it is considered to be a kli rishon and all the laws of kli rishon apply to it. (See DSH from June 15 and June 16, 2014 for more information on kli rishon, and from June 25 and June 29, 2014 for kli sheni.) It is best however to treat the ladle as kli rishon in all cases.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

How to Warm Water on Shabbat

How to Warm Water on Shabbat
Day: Wednesday
Date: October 22, 2014
Parshat: Noah
Yalkut Yosef: 318


A pot containing food that is not fully cooked may not be moved closer to a heat source on Shabbat since doing so quickens the cooking process. This is true even if the food is already extremely hot and does not contain any liquid. If it is moved anyways the food may not be eaten on Shabbat. One may put cold water into a pot or other vessel that is hot in order to warm the water somewhat. However, if it is possible for the water to reach yad soledet bo then it is forbidden.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Replacing the Lid on a Pot that is on the Plata on Shabbat

Replacing the Lid on a Pot that is on the Plata on Shabbat
Day: Tuesday
Date: October 21, 2014
Parshat: Noah
Yalkut Yosef: 318


Sugar is heated during its processing and is considered to be cooked. Therefore, one may pour hot water onto sugar on Shabbat directly from a kli rishon. However since it is very easy to refrain, and one can just as easily put the sugar into a kli sheni instead it is better to do so and satisfy the various considerations that wouldn't allow pouring water from a kli rishon onto it. One who removed the lid of a pot that is on the plata may replace the lid only if the food is fully cooked. The reason is since if the food were not fully cooked he would be speeding up the cooking process. If one replaced the lid anyway and the food is cooked enough to eat if necessary then the food may still be eaten. However, if the food is not edible yet, it may not be eaten on Shabbat just like any other food cooked on Shabbat (see DSH from May 12 and May 13, 2014). If the food was fully cooked it is permissible to replace the lid even though that will make the food even better.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, October 20, 2014

Making Instant Coffee on Shabbat

Making Instant Coffee on Shabbat
Day: Monday
Date: October 20, 2014
Parshat: Noah
Yalkut Yosef: 318


On Shabbat one may pour hot water from an urn directly onto instant coffee since it has already been cooked at the time of production. However it is better to first pour the hot water into the cup and then to put the coffee in. If when removing the lid of a pot that is on the plata on Shabbat some drops of water drip onto the plata, it is not considered to be a sin. There are several reasons for this. Among them is the fact that the intention is not to cook those drops of water, and also there are poskim that maintain the principle of "en bishul ahar bishul" applies to liquid as well.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Masheev Haruah Umoreed Hageshem

Masheev Haruah Umoreed Hageshem
Day: Sunday
Date: October 19, 2014
Parshat: Noah
Yalkut Yosef: 114


On Shemini Atzeret we began saying Masheev Haruah Umoreed Hageshem instead of Moreed Hatal. With Gd's help we will continue until we switch back on Pesah. If one forgot to say Masheev Haruah and instead said Moreed Hatal, he should go back and say it again if he hasn't said HaShem's name yet. Once he said HaShem's name at the end of the beracha he may not go back. This is true only for those who for the rest of the year say Moreed Hatal. However, those who normally don't say Moreed Hatal must go back and say Masheev Haruah. If one said Baruch Ata HaShem at the end of the beracha and remembered at that point, he should say "Lamdeni Hukecha" and go back to Masheev Haruah. If he finished the beracha but did not start the next beracha he should say Masheev Haruah at that point and continue on with Ata Kadosh. Once he started the blessing of Ata Kadosh even if he only said the word "Ata" he must go back to the beginning of the Amida.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Shemini Atzeret

Shemini Atzeret
Day: Tuesday
Date: October 15, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 668


Outside of Eretz Yisrael the holiday of Shemini Atzeret is treated as a safek since it may possibly be the last day of Succot. Therefore on Shemini Atzeret we eat in the Succah as we do on Succot however we do not say the beracha of Lishev BaSuccah. On the eighth day we read parshat Vezot Haberacha and we celebrate Simchat Torah with the hakafot, dancing, singing, and clapping. Musical instruments however should not be used since it is Yom Tov. After Succot is over we do not say Viduy or Nefilat Apayim (Tachanum) until after Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Haircuts During Hol Hamoed

Haircuts During Hol Hamoed
Day: Tuesday
Date: October 14, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 531/2


It is forbidden for men and women over Bar/Bat Mitzvah to get haircuts during Hol Hamoed. Men may not shave or trim their beards either. However, one may trim his mustache even if it doesn't get into his food. One may brush or comb his hair even though some hairs will fall out by doing so. Likewise, one may also cut his nails during Hol Hamoed. Ashkenazim are more strict and do not cut their nails during Hol Hamoed.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, October 13, 2014

One Who Prayed the Wrong Amida During Hol Hamoed

One Who Prayed the Wrong Amida During Hol Hamoed
Day: Monday
Date: October 13, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: Laws of Hol Hamoed


If after finishing any of the Hol Hamoed amidot one realizes that he accidentally said the amida for the Holiday instead of the weekday one, he must say the proper weekday amida and add Ya'aleh Veyavo. One who forgot to say Ya'aleh Veyavo during Birkat Hamazon should not repeat it. Instead, if he remembered before he finished the Birkat Hamazon he should say it during the Harahamans. Our custom is to not wear Tefillin during Hol Hamoed. A person who's family's custom is to wear Tefillin during Hol Hamoed should nevertheless not wear them if he's in Eretz Yisrael. One who has this custom should also not say a beracha when putting them on.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Laundry on Hol Hamoed

Laundry on Hol Hamoed
Day: Sunday
Date: October 12, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 534


Our Hachamim forbade us from doing laundry on Hol Hamoed in order to discourage us from not doing it before the holiday. However a person who has only one shirt may wash it on Hol Hamoed even if he had the opportunity wash it on Erev Yom Tov but didn't. Towels, little children's clothes, and other such things that are constantly used and get dirty quickly may be washed. Undergarments may also be washed during Hol Hamoed if one has no clean ones left. One who is washing any of the aforementioned items might think that since the washing machine is running anyways, and it doesn't require extra effort, it may be okay to add other items that are not needed for the holiday. In reality however, one may not add anything other than the items previously mentioned. Spot cleaning and ironing are both not considered laundry and are allowed on Hol Hamoed.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The Blessing of Leshev BaSuccah

The Blessing of Leshev BaSuccah
Day: Wednesday
Date: October 8, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 639


It is a mitzvah to light the Yom Tov candles in the Succah so that one can eat by their light. However if there is any likelihood of them blowing over and causing a fire Gd forbid, one should not light them in the Succah. Instead, he should light wherever the food will be prepared or in a window that looks into the Succah. When lighting the candles, women should not say shehehyanu. Instead, they should listen and say amen when the beracha is said during kiddush. A woman who did say the beracha during candle lighting should not answer amen to the shehehyanu that is said during kiddush. Anytime during the holiday that there is kiddush, the beracha of Leshev BaSuccah should be recited at the end of the kiddush. If one is not saying kiddush before a meal, he should still say Leshev BaSuccah. The beracha of Leshev BaSuccah is a beracha on a mitzvah and should therefore be said while standing.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

If One Put Invalid Scach on the Succah

If One Put Invalid Scach on the Succah
Day: Tuesday
Date: October 7, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 632


Schach that is unfit to be used as schach invalidates the Succah if it is four tefachim (approximately 12 inches) wide. If it is less than four tefachim wide the Succah is kosher but one should not eat or sleep under that area. If the invalid schach is less than three tefachim wide it is even permissible to eat and sleep under it. If the invalid schach is all the way to the side, against the wall, it does not invalidate the Succah unless the area it covers is wider than four amot (approximately 6 feet). A gap in scach wider than three tefachim will also invalidate the Succah if it runs from one side of the Succah all the way to the other. If it doesn't run all the way down it poses no problems at all.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, October 6, 2014

The Minimum Amount of Walls Needed for the Succah

The Minimum Amount of Walls Needed for the Succah
Day: Monday
Date: October 6, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 629-630


Ideally the schach should not rest on anything that can not itself be used for schach. However if one built his Succah in that way and only realized after it's too late to fix it, the Succah may still be used. Therefore a person who has a Succah with a metal frame may not put the schach directly on the frame since metal cannot be used as schach. Instead he should put a board on the frame and the scach on the board. One who is nervous that the schach might blow away may tie it down using vines or reeds. A Succah that was made under telephone wires or clotheslines may be used.

In order for a Succah to be usable it needs to have at least two complete walls and at least a partial third wall. The walls can be made out of anything rigid enough to withstand a normal wind without moving. A wall that will move in the event of a wind invalidates the Succah and eating inside of such a Succah is akin to outside of a Succah. Likewise, one may not say a beracha on such a Succah. Therefore, one should not use a Succah with cloth walls or tarps as walls unless they are secured extremely well and the Succah is in a place where there will be not wind, like a yard.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, October 5, 2014

May One Build a Succah on a Pickup Truck?

May One Build a Succah on a Pickup Truck?
Day: Sunday
Date: October 5, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 626-629


In order for an item to be able to be used as schach on a Succah it must fulfill three conditions.
1. It must have grown from the ground, to the exclusion of any metal, leather, or synthetic materials.
2. It has to be unable to contract tum'ah, to the exclusion of any vessel or furniture -even wooden furniture.
3. It cannot be connected to the ground. A Succah that has a tree growing over it is invalid regardless how high the tree is.
One may sleep under a bed in the Succah is long as the bed is within 10 tefachim (30 inches) of the ground. If one spread a tarp or a sheet over the Succah to protect from the elements, the Succah is invalid regardless whether the sheet is over or under the schach. However, one may hang a sheet under the schach as a decoration provided it is within 4 tefachim (12 inches) of the schach. A Succah constructed in the back of pickup truck or on a boat may be used like any other Succah provided all the laws of a regular Succah are followed.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, October 3, 2014

The Reason Succot is in Tishre and not Nissan

The Reason Succot is in Tishre and not Nissan
Day: Friday
Date: October 3, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 625


HaShem gave us the mitzvah of Succah to commemorate the anane kavod, the protective clouds that surrounded us in the Midbar after we left Egypt. The Tur (Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher, apprx. 1269-1343) explains the reason why we fulfill this mitzvah during the month of Tishre and not during Nissan when we actually left Mitzrayim. He points out that during Nissan, in the springtime, the weather starts becoming warmer and more pleasant. It is very normal during that time for people to spend more time outside their homes. If we were to celebrate Succot in the spring, it wouldn't be obvious that we are in the Succah because HaShem commanded us to be. It would seem that we are there to enjoy the beautiful whether. However, Tishre is usually much colder and most people prefer to stay indoors during this time of year. Therefore it is obvious that we are in the Succah only because that is what we were commanded to do. Many people start building the Succah immediately after Yom Kippur in order to go directly from one mitzvah to another.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, October 2, 2014

The Seuda Hamafseket

The Seuda Hamafseket
Day: Thursday
Date: October 2, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: 608


The Torah commands us to add time to the fast of Yom Kippur. Therefore one should end the seuda hamfseket at least a few minutes before shekia. The mitzvah of adding onto the fast applies not just to eating, but to all aspects of the fast. Wearing leather shoes, washing, and so on should all be stopped earlier than the time the fast actually starts. If one stopped eating early he can continue to eat until he verbally accepts the fast. One should not eat to the point that he is overly fully since doing so can cause haughtiness which is a grave sin.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Mincha on Erev Yom Kippur

Mincha on Erev Yom Kippur
Day: Wednesday
Date: October 1, 2014
Parshat: Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef:


One should try to go to the mikvah on Erev Yom Kippur. One who is not able to go should pour water over himself instead. (See DSH from Sept. 3, 2014 for the correct measurements and procedure.) We pray Mincha before eating the seuda hamafseket. Toward the end of the Amida we say Viduy as well the Al Chet service just like during the Amida on Yom Kippur itself. The reason is so that in case Gd forbid before Yom Kippur something terrible happens to the person, he will have already repented and will not have lost the opportunity. Even if one knows for a fact that he didn't do one of the sins mentioned he still needs to say it.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org