Friday, July 29, 2016

Playing Music for a Living During the Three Weeks

Playing Music for a Living During the Three Weeks
Day: Friday
Date: July 29, 2016
Parshat: Pinhas
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551


One who makes a living playing musical instruments may continue playing them during the three weeks for people who are allowed listen to music during that time as long as he's not doing it just because he wants to listen to music.
It is not acceptable to play music in front of people who are not religious even if they want it. One who does play music in front of people who are not allowed to hear it during the three weeks has transgressed the negative commandment of "do not place a stumbling block before a blind person."
One may not engage in lightheadedness and other wastes of time ever, since they empower one's evil inclination. This has nothing to with the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.


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

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Situations Where Shehyanu May be Said During the Three Weeks

Situations Where Sheheyanu May be Said During the Three Weeks
Day: Thursday
Date: July 28, 2016
Parshat: Pinhas
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551


A new fruit that may not be available to say shehehyanu after Tisha Be'av may be eaten during the three weeks with a shehehyanu. If possible it should be saved and the beracha should be made on Shabbat. More exceptions to the rule against saying shehehyanu during the three weeks include a sick person, a pregnant woman who craves such a fruit, and a child who is too young to understand the significance of the three weeks. If a person accidentally started eating a new fruit without saying shehehyanu he should stop eating and save the rest until after Tisha Be'av and say the shehehyanu then.


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

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Haircuts During the Three Weeks

Haircuts During the Three Weeks
Day: Wednesday
Date: July 27, 2016
Parshat: Pinhas
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551


The Ashkenazi custom is for men to refrain from getting haircuts or shaving during the three weeks. Sephardim are lenient in this regard and may get haircuts and shave up until the the week of Tisha Be'av. Children are also included in this prohibition. Even if the Sephardic person is around Ashkenazim most of the time it is still permissible for him to cut his hair before the Shevua Shehal Bo. If such a person decides not to cut his hair in order to not differentiate himself from the people around him, that is commendable. However he should say that he's doing it without accepting this custom upon himself. It is permissible for a person during this time to trim his mustache if it interferes with his eating.


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

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Saying Shehehyanu During the Three Weeks

Saying Shehehyanu During the Three Weeks
Day: Tuesday
Date: July 26, 2016
Parshat: Pinhas
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551


It is proper to not say the beracha of shehehyanu on new fruits or new clothes during the three weeks. If a person wishes to eat a new fruit or wear a new garment that would require him to say shehehyanu, he should wait until Shabbat and eat the fruit or wear the garment then. During the nine days however one should not wear the new garment even on Shabbat. If a person said a beracha on a fruit not realizing that it was a new fruit and then remembered before biting into it, he should say shehehyanu and then eat from the fruit. One should refrain from saying shehehyanu on the tenth of Av as well. If the fruit will not be available after Tish'a Be'av or it won't be good anymore he may say shehehyanu during the three weeks. If possible he should wait and say it on Shabbat.


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

Monday, July 25, 2016

Listening to Music During the Three Weeks

Listening to Music During the Three Weeks
Day: Monday
Date: July 25, 2016
Parshat: Pinhas
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551


During the three weeks we do not listen to music, whether live or recorded. However one may listen to music at a celebration that falls out during that time, like a Brit or a Bar Mitzvah that is being celebrated on the day of the birthday itself. It is also permissible to listen to music at a celebration being made for finishing a masechet. Ashkenazim do not listen to music at all during the three weeks, even at a celebration. A Hazan may sing the prayers and one may sing his Torah learning. However aside from these one should refrain from singing songs that will cause him to become overly happy.


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

Sunday, July 24, 2016

The Seventeenth of Tammuz

The Seventeenth of Tammuz
Day: Sunday
Date: July 24, 2016
Parshat: Pinhas
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 549


Yesterday was the seventeenth of Tammuz, which marks the beginning of the "three weeks." Since it was Shabbat the fast was pushed off to today instead. The fast commemorates five tragedies that occurred on this day. The five tragedies are:
1. The first Luhot were broken when Moshe Rabenu saw the sin of the golden calf taking place.
2. The Korban Tamid, an offering that was brought twice daily, was discontinued when it became impossible to obtain the animals necessary due to the siege.
3. A siege was set in place around Yerushalayim (during the time period of the second temple) and the walls were breached on this day.
4. A Roman general named Apostomos, may his memory be erased, set a precedent for the rest of history by burning a Sefer Torah.
5. An idol was erected inside of our Holy Temple in direct defiance of all that is precious to us as Jews.
The prophet Zacharia tells us that this day as well as the four other fast days will one day be turned into a day of celebration. May we see that day soon, amen.


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


Friday, July 22, 2016

Besamim That Came From Orlah Trees

Besamim That Came From Orlah Trees
Day: Friday
Date: July 22, 2016
Parshat: Balak
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 216


For the first three years of a tree's existence, the fruits that are produced are called "orlah." These fruits are forbidden to eat and therefore it is also forbidden to make a beracha and smell the fruits or their branches for besamim. This is true only regarding trees that produce fruit. However, trees that don't produce fruit, such as hadasim, or myrtle, may be used for besamim even during the first three years. If one is unsure whether or not the besamim he has came from a tree that is older than three years, he may say the beracha and smell them since most besamim does not come from plants still in their period of orlah.


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

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Using a Lemon for Besamim

Using a Lemon for Besamim
Day: Thursday
Date: July 21, 2016
Parshat: Balak
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 216


Our custom is to say the beracha and smell a lemon even if it is too sour to eat on its own, since after all it is an edible fruit. Even if the lemon was purchased for eating and not for smelling, as long as when it was lifted before saying the beracha the intention was to smell and not to eat it, a beracha is said. One who accidentally said boreh minei besamim or even shehakol before smelling a fruit has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation to say a beracha and may smell it without saying a new, more specific, beracha


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

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Beracha of Hanoten Reah Tov Bapeirot

The Beracha of Hanoten Reah Tov Bapeirot
Day: Wednesday
Date: July 20, 2016
Parshat: Balak
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 216


One who enjoys the smell of an edible fruit, such as an etrog or an orange says the beracha of "hanoten reah tov bapeirot" before smelling it. This is true even if after saying the beracha and smelling the fruit he will then say another beracha and eat it. However, if one picked up the fruit and only intended to eat it he may not change his mind and decide to say a beracha and smell it instead. There are some people who refrain from saying this beracha since there is a disagreement over the exact wording of the beracha. However out custom is to say the text mentioned above.


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

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Smelling on Shabbat Besamim That are Still Attached to the Ground

Smelling on Shabbat Besamim That are Still Attached to the Ground
Day: Tuesday
Date: July 19, 2016
Parshat: Balak
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 216


The proper beracha before smelling mint leaves, is boreh isbei besamim. This is true even if the mint leaves are ready to be consumed. It is a good idea on Shabbat to say berachot on besamim in order to reach the goal of one hundred berachot. One who is walking through a garden on Shabbat and enjoys the smell of the plants or flowers may say a beracha and smell the plants without concern that he might pick them.


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