Thursday, March 31, 2016

The Prohibition Against Owning Hametz on Pesah

The Prohibition Against Owning Hametz on Pesah
Day: Thursday
Date: March 31, 2016
Parshat: Shemini, Parah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 448


The Torah commands us rid our homes of all hametz on Pesah and separately it forbids us from owning hametz on Pesah. Therefore, the Hachamim decreed that any hametz owned by a Jew during Pesah is forbidden for benefit for anyone even after Pesah. Even if a person declared that he doesn't want any of the hametz in his posession, he still may not keep it in house over Pesah unless it has been sold to a non Jew. There are some poskim who hold that it is even forbidden to smell hametz if it was owned by a Jew on Pesah.


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


Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Medications on Pesah

Medications on Pesah
Day: Wednesday
Date: March 30, 2016
Parshat: Shemini, Parah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 447


Any cosmetics may be used on Pesah regardless of whether they contain hametz or not since the hametz is not edible. Likewise, medications that taste bad may be used on Pesah by a person who is ill even though they may contain hametz. Such a person may even buy medications on Pesah from a non Jewish pharmacy. A person who is more or less fine but has a small headache or other minor issue may not consume medications containing hametz. Cough drops and other pleasant tasting medications may not be used if they contain hametz. One who has to take specific medications that contain hametz should ask his Rabbi about how to go about taking them on Pesah. Even though technically dish soap does not need to be kosher for Pesah, nevertheless since nowadays it is easy to find soap with a Passover certification one should use such soap.


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

Monday, March 28, 2016

Pesah Food That was Cooked in a Hametz Pot

Pesah Food That was Cooked in a Hametz Pot
Day: Monday
Date: March 28, 2016
Parshat: Shemini, Parah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 447


One who cooked food in a hametz pot before Pesah may eat the food on Pesah as long as there was no actual hametz in the pot and the pot was not used for hametz within twenty four hours. Ashkenazim however are strict and do not eat such food on Pesah. A Sephardic person may be strict about this in his own house but he may not instruct other Sephardim to not eat such food.


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


Sunday, March 27, 2016

Hametz Particles That got Mixed Into Pesah Food

Hametz Particles That got Mixed Into Pesah Food
Day: Sunday
Date: March 27, 2016
Parshat: Shemini, Parah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 447


If on Pesah some hametz got mixed into food, the hametz is not nullified, even if there is more than a 60:1 ratio of Pesach food to the hametz. However if the mixture occurred before Pesah, and there was more than a 60:1 ratio of Pesah food to hametz the hametz is batel and the food may be eaten on Pesah. If one only found out about the mixture on Pesah or even if he intentionally mixed in the hametz before Pesah, the hametz is still batel and the food is okay for Pesah. However, if the hametz is the only base ingredient and it gives flavor to the food it is proper to be strict and to refrain from consuming it on Pesah.


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

Friday, March 25, 2016

The Reason We do Not Say Tachanun During Nisan

The Reason We do Not Say Tachanun During Nisan
Day: Friday
Date: March 25, 2016
Parshat: Tzav
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 429


During the entire month of Nisan we do not say viduy or tachanun because the entire month is, and will continue to be a happy month. On the first of Nisan the Mishkan was set up. For the next twelve days the Nesi'im brought their sacrifices as part of the inauguration of the mizbeiach, one Nasi per day. The day that each Nasi brought his sacrifice was considered a holiday for him. The thirteenth day was the day after they all finished and was semi holiday as well. The fourteenth of Nisan is Erev Pesah, and then there are seven (eight outside of Eretz Yisrael) days of Pesah and the day after which is a semi holiday as well. This brings us to the 22nd of Nisan. We have a tradition that Moshiach will come on Pesah. However, we do not mix celebrations, and therefore the Bet Hamikdash will be built after Pesah and it will be followed by a seven day inauguration. Thus, the entire month of Nisan is a month of happiness and celebration and therefore we do not say viduy or tachanun on any day of it.


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

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Drinking Alcohol on Purim

Drinking Alcohol on Purim
Day: Thursday
Date: March 24, 2016
Parshat: Tzav
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 695


Every person is required to have a meal during the daytime on Purim. If one had the meal at night he must have another one during the daytime. During the meal it is good to sing praises and zemirot to Hashem. It is good to wash and have bread as part of the Purim meal. One should also have meat as part of the seudah if he can afford it, otherwise he should at least have chicken.  Men are required to drink wine on Purim to get themselves to the point where they cannot differentiate between Baruch Mordechai and Arur Haman. To fulfill this one should drink a little more wine than usual and take a nap. It is forbidden to get drunk since that causes people to do aveirot and inappropriate things and is inexcusable. Instead, a person should drink a little more than usual just to the point that he starts to feel slightly tipsy. One who damages someone else's property out of drunkenness is required to pay just like any other day.  


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

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Brushing Teeth on a Fast Day

Brushing Teeth on a Fast Day
Day: Wednesday
Date: March 23, 2016
Parshat: Tzav
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 550


Ideally one should not wash out his mouth on a fast day. However, if necessary, on any of the minor fast days he can rinse his mouth out with less than a revi'it of water as long as he knows that he will not swallow any of it. Likewise if one needs to, it is also permissible for him to brush his teeth with toothpaste on a fast day with the same conditions. On Tish'a Be'av one should try to get by without brushing his teeth or rinsing his mouth unless it'll be extremely difficult for him not to. On the minor fasts it is permissible to wear leather shoes and shower in hot water as well as the other things that are forbidden on Tish'a Be'av.


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


Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Who is Required to Give Mishloach Manot

Who is Required to Give Mishloach Manot
Day: Tuesday
Date: March 22, 2016
Parshat: Tzav
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 695


Both, men and women, married or single, are required to give mishloach manot on Purim. Children over bar/bat mitzvah are required to give as well even if they are still fully supported by their parents. This means that even though a family is giving mishloach manot baskets to many people they have not necessarily all fulfilled the mitzvah until each person over bar/bat mitzvah has given at least one of the baskets. A couple does not fulfill the mitzvah by exchanging packages between themselves. Additionally, men and women should ideally not exchange packages either unless they are married to each other. There is no clear halacha regarding one who sends non Halav Yisrael items to a person who is careful to only eat Halav Yisrael, or non Bet Yosef meat to one who only eats Bet Yosef meat. Therefore one should be careful not to do so and if he does he should make sure to send at least one more package without any such issues.


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

Monday, March 21, 2016

Mishloach Manot

Mishloach Manot
Day: Monday
Date: March 21, 2016
Parshat: Tzav
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 695


The basic requirement of mishloach manot is to give two portions of food to one person. The foods do not need to have different berachot but they do need to be different kinds of food. Meaning, one may give a portion each of two different different kinds of meat but if he gave two portions of the same kind of meat he has not fulfilled the mitzvah. Likewise, he can even give two kinds of drinks, although it is better to give food rather than drinks. The purpose of the mitzvah is to promote love and brotherhood between all Jews since giving to others causes people to like each other. Another reason is because some people may be ashamed to accept financial help for the Purim meal. By everyone giving and receiving mishloach manot, those people will receive assistance without any shame. The mitzvah must be fulfilled during the day, not at night. One does not fulfill the mitzvah by sending cigarettes, clothing, or even Torah books, even if he knows that the one receiving them will enjoy them.


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

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Matanot Le'evyonim

Matanot Le'evyonim
Day: Sunday
Date: March 20, 2016
Parshat: Tzav
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 694


There is a special mitzvah on Purim day to give gifts to the needy. This mitzvah is called matanot le'evyonim. This mitzvah can be fulfilled by giving money, meals, or any food and is fulfilled by giving one gift each to two needy people. It cannot be fulfilled by giving clothing or linens. Technically one may give a cent to each and he will have done the mitzvah. However a Gd fearing person should give generously - at least enough for some bread and something to go with it - to each person. One may fulfill his obligation by giving to a needy couple food since they are two people. He may even fulfill his requirement by giving to needy children. On Purim one should not calculate the amount he gives or figure out whether to give each person who asks or not. Rather, anyone who asks should be given money. It is better for a person to spend more on matanot le'evyonim than on any other mitzvah of the day, including mishloach manot and the Purim meal. Very often people are focused on giving elaborate baskets for mishloach manot spending hundreds of dollars, yet they try to figure out the minimum amount they can get away with for matanot le'evyonim. One who does not do so, and instead gives generously is compared to the shechina about which it says: "who revives the spirit of the lowly, and who revives the heart of the fallen." (Isaiah 57: 15). The minimum amount should not be given from Maaser, however anything more than that may be.


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

Friday, March 18, 2016

Giving the Zecher Lemehatzit Hashekel From Maaser

Giving the Zecher Lemehatzit Hashekel From Maaser
Day: Friday
Date: March 18, 2016
Parshat: Vayikra, Zachor
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 692


The money for the zecher lemahatzit hashekel should be given to institutions of Torah and to Yeshivot. Since the time the Bet Hamikdash was destroyed Hashem's only "place" in this world is in places of Torah and Halacha. May we see the Bet Hamikdash rebuilt soon in our days and may we all have the merit to give the mahatzit hashekel itself, and not have to resort to only giving the zecher (remembrance) to the mahatzit hashekel. One who normally separates Maaser (tithes) from his income may not give the required amount of the zecher lemahatzit hashekel, or of the matanot le'evyonim, from Maaser money. If he wants he can give the minimum required amount from his own money and then add to it from Maaser money. If when he separates his Maaser he always says that he does not intend for this to become a neder or a requirement for him, then he may fund these mitzvot from Maaser money if he is undergoing financial hardship.


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