Wednesday, December 28, 2016

May Women Say Hallel With a Beracha During Hanukkah?



May Women Say Hallel With a Beracha During Hanukkah?

Day: Wednesday
Date: December 28, 2016
Parshat: Miketz
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 683

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Even though women are also required to light the hanukiah, they are not required to say hallel during Hanukkah just like they are not required to say hallel during any other Yom Tov. A woman who wants to say hallel regardless does not say a beracha. Generally Ashkenazi women say a beracha on mitzvot such as sukkah, lulav, and others even though they are not obligated. However, even they should not say a beracha on hallel since it only involves speaking and no real actions.


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



Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Saying Hallel During Hanukkah



Saying Hallel During Hanukkah

Day: Tuesday
Date: December 27, 2016
Parshat: Miketz
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 683

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During shaharit everyday of Hanukkah we say the complete hallel with the beracha including the parts normally left out on Rosh Hodesh. After hallel is finished another beracha is said to end it off. As usual when starting and ending with a beracha, amen is answered to one's own beracha at the end of hallel. One who forgot to say the beracha can say it at any point during hallel that he remembers and continue from where he is up to. If he remembered to say the beracha but after finishing hallel realized that he forgot to add the two extra paragraphs he goes back and says it all again from the beginning without a new beracha. If he is not sure whether or not he said everything, he does not go back and say it again.


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



Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Custom to Eat Cheese Products During Hanukkah



The Custom to Eat Cheese Products During Hanukkah

Day: Thursday
Date: December 22, 2016
Parshat: Vayeshev
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 670

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There is a wonderful custom that many people have to eat cheese products on Hanukkah in recognition of the miracle that happened to Yehudit. After a very long siege that brough the Jews to the verge of surrender the Greek general was invited to come and visit Yehudit the daughter of Yohanan the Kohen Gadol. She fed him cheese products to cause him to become thirsty. Once he was thirsty she gave him wine to make him tired. When he fell asleep she heroically cut off his head. When the Greek army saw that their general was dead they ran for their lives. To commemorate this great miracle the custom to eat cheese products was adopted.


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



Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Adding Al Hanisim to Birkat Hamazon during Hanukkah



Adding Al Hanisim to Birkat Hamazon during Hanukkah

Day: Wednesday
Date: December 21, 2016
Parshat: Vayeshev
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 682

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During Hanukkah, Al Hanisim is added to Birkat Hamazon. It is said just before "Al Hakol Amonai Elokeinu Anahanu Modim Lach." A person who forgot to say it at that point can go back and say it as long as he hasn't yet said Hashem's name at the end of that beracha. After that point, the proper procedure is to wait until the Harahamans and to say "Harahaman Hu Ya'Aseh Imanu Nisim Veniflaot Kemo She'asah La'Avoteinu Bayamim Hahem Baziman Hazeh, and then continue with "Bimey Matityah Ben Yohanan..."
When saying Al Hamihyah, no mention of Hanukkah is made. A person who added his own mention of Hanukkah however, does not need to say the beracha again


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



Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Adding Al Hanisim to the Amida on Hanukkah



Adding Al Hanisim to the Amida on Hanukkah

Day: Tuesday
Date: December 20, 2016
Parshat: Vayeshev
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 682

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Beginning with the first night of Hanukkah and continuing until the end of the holiday we add Al Hanisim to all of our amidot and Birkat Hamazon. A person who forgot to say "Al Hanisim" in its proper place in the amida but remembered before saying "Baruch ata HaShem" to end off Modim goes back and says "Modim anahnu lach, Al Hanisim etc." and continues from there. Once he says the words "Baruch ata HaShem" however, he does not go back to Al Hanisim. Instead, it Al Hanisim is said at the end of Elokai Netzor. There also he says "Modim anahnu lach Al Hanisim.." A person who accidentally said the insert for Purim instead of Hanukkah has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation and does not go back.


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



Sunday, December 18, 2016

When to Light the Menorah Before and After Shabbat



When to Light the Menorah Before and After Shabbat

Day: Sunday
Date: December 18, 2016
Parshat: Vayeshev
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 679/680

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On Erev Shabbat the menorah should ideally be lit before the Shabbat candles. If the Shabbat candles were lit first, Sepharadim may still light the menorah as long Shabbat hasn't yet started. Ashkenazi women, who consider Shabbat to start at the time the candles are lit, may not subsequently light the menorah. However, anyone in the Ashkenazi house who didn't light Shabbat candles may still light the menorah. The Hannuka candles on Erev Shabbat must remain lit until a half hour after tzet hakochavim just like on the other nights. One must make sure to put enough oil when lighting the menorah to last that long so the berachot are not said in vain. If one can easily find a minyan it is best to pray Minha early and light the candles after. If there is no minyan it is better to light before Minha and to wait and pray later with a minyan.
After Shabbat, when one is saying havadala at home, he should first say havadala and then light the menorah.


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



Friday, December 16, 2016

Using the Hanukkah Candles to Light other Candles



Using the Hanukkah Candles to Light other Candles

Day: Friday
Date: December 16, 2016
Parshat: Vayishlah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 674

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It is permissible to use the Hanukkah candles to light other "mitzvah candles." Meaning, one may use a Hanukkah candle that is already lit to light the rest of the candles since they are all part of the mitzvah. However, one may not use them to light a candle, such as the shamash, from which to light the other Hanukkah candles, since there is no real mitzvah to light that candle. Likewise the Hanukkah candles may not be used to light a cigarette. If one of the "mitzvah candles" went out one may not relight it directly from another of the candles, since the mitzvah has already been done. One may however light Shabbat candles directly from the Hannuka candles since the Shabbat candles are also being lit for a mitzvah. After the candles have been lit for a half hour it is permissible to light other candles from them.


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



Thursday, December 15, 2016

Using the Menorah's Light for Personal Benefit



Using the Menorah's Light for Personal Benefit

Day: Thursday
Date: December 15, 2016
Parshat: Vayishlah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 673

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It is forbidden to take advantage of the menorah's light for any personal use unless that use is for a mitzvah. Even for a mitzvah one may only use the light for a quick, momentary use but not for more. For example, one may not count coins with the menorah's light or use it to learn Torah, but he may use the light to find a match with which to light the rest of the candles or to look up a halacha. Therefore, the accepted practice is to light an extra candle, called a shamash, so that if one does use the light it'll be from that candle and not from the others. The shamash is lit after all the others and should be placed a little higher or lower than the others to differentiate it. If one cannot put it at a different height he should at least separate it a bit so it's obvious that it's not part of the candles being used for the mitzvah. The candles need to stay lit for a half hour. (See DSH from Dec 13, 2016). After a half hour has passed one may use the light for any reason. If there is a blackout one does not need to close his eyes so as not to benefit from the menorah's light, even if it is within the first half hour.


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



Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Eating Before Lighting the Menorah



Eating Before Lighting the Menorah

Day: Wednesday
Date: December 14, 2016
Parshat: Vayishlah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 672

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On Hanukkah, one may not start a meal until after the candles have been lit. This restriction begins from a half hour before the candle lighting time. In this case a meal refers to eating more than about two ounces of bread, cake, or cookies. Less than this amount, or any amount of other foods, may be eaten within that half hour. A person who is waiting for someone else to light on his behalf may eat if he needs to. One may also not start working or learning Torah before lighting the candles. However, with regards to learning Torah the prohibition starts from the time of candle lighting, not a half hour before.


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



Tuesday, December 13, 2016

The Proper Time to Light the Menorah



The Proper Time to Light the Menorah

Day: Tuesday
Date: December 13, 2016
Parshat: Vayishlah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 672

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The ideal time to light the menorah is at tzet hakochavim. The candles need to be big enough or contain enough oil to stay lit for the next half hour. If one did not light at that time he may still light all the way until amud hashahar at the end of that night. A person who lit less than a half hour before amud hashahar still says a beracha on the lighting, even though the candles will have been lit for less than a half hour before amud hashahar.


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