Friday, September 29, 2017

Havdala After Yom Kippur



Havdala After Yom Kippur

Day: Friday
Date: September 29, 2017
Parshat: Vizot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 624

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After Yom Kippur we say havdala on wine and fire only. No beracha is said on besamim. This is true even when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat as it does this year. The beracha on besamim is said in order to help console the special neshama that we receive on Shabbat. However, when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat we do not receive the special neshama so no besamim is necessary to console it. However, it is proper to say the beracha and smell besamim after havdala is finished.
The candle for the beracha on fire should be lit from a flame that was lit before Yom Kippur. Typically, if one doesn't have such a flame no beracha is said on a new flame. However, when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat, as it does this year, one may say a beracha on a new flame if he does not have access to a flame lit before Yom Kippur. However, even in such a year it is best to use a flame that was lit before.
We do not eat until after havdala. However, one who is thirsty may drink water after the fast has ended even if he hasn't yet prayed arvit.


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



Thursday, September 28, 2017

Eating and Minha on Erev Yom Kippur



Eating and Minha on Erev Yom Kippur

Day: Thursday
Date: September 28, 2017
Parshat: Vizot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 604

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On Erev Yom Kippur we have a special mitzvah to eat in preparation for Yom Kippur. Our Hachamim teach us that whoever eats on Erev Yom Kippur is considered to have fasted for both days, Erev Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur itself. The mitzvah to eat is so powerful that one should even take time off of his Torah studies if necessary in order to have time to eat. Ideally one should have at least one meal complete with bread. The custom is to do hatarat nedarim after shaharit or after selichot.
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 certain that he didn't do one of the sins mentioned he still needs to say it.


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



Tuesday, September 26, 2017

How to Take Advantage of the Aseret Yemei Teshuva



How to Take Advantage of the Aseret Yemei Teshuva

Day: Tuesday
Date: September 26, 2017
Parshat: Vizot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 581/602

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The Aseret Yemei Teshuva is a time for introspection and for repentance for our sins. It is especially important during these days for one to do extra mitzvot and to give extra charity. The Gemara tells us that a person should always view himself as having an equal amount of sins and good deeds. He should realize that every deed he does has the power to tip the scales in his favor or Gd forbid against him. It is even more important during these days when the scale is in Hashem's hands so to speak. Teshuva always helps a person but during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva it is even more helpful and is accepted by Hashem immediately. The seven days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur correspond to each day of the year. Therefore on Sunday one should do teshuva for any sins he may have done on any Sunday during the previous year. On Monday he should to teshuvah for all the Mondays, and so on all the days of the week.


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



Monday, September 25, 2017

Inserts to Amida During Aseret Yemei Teshuva



Inserts to Amida During Aseret Yemei Teshuva

Day: Monday
Date: September 25, 2017
Parshat: Vizot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 602

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During the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah there are four inserts added to the Amida. They are:
1. "Zochrenu lihayim..." At the end of the first beracha.
2. "Mi chamocha av harahaman..." At the end of the second beracha.
3. "Uchtov lihayim..." During Modim.
4. "Uvisefer hayim..." During Sim Shalom
If one forgot to say zochrenu lihayim (the first insert) and remembered before saying the name of Hashem at the end of the beracha he should go back and say the insert and continue from there. If he remembered only after saying Hashem's name he should not go back and he should not insert it at the point. Instead he may say it during Shema Kolenu, before the words "ki ata shome'a tefilat kol peh". If he forgot to say it at that point he can say it at the end of the amida. If he forgot to say the second insert he can not insert it later on since it is a praise of HaShem and not a request. If he forgot either of the last two inserts and remembered before saying HaShem's name at the end of the beracha he must go back to the insert and continue from there. However if he remembered after finishing the beracha he should add the insert at the end of Elokai Netzor.


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



Sunday, September 24, 2017

Hamelech Hakadosh and Hamelech Hamishpat



Hamelech Hakadosh and Hamelech Hamishpat

Day: Sunday
Date: September 24, 2017
Parshat: Vizot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 602

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When saying the amidot during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva we end off the blessing of Ata Kadosh by saying "hamelech hakadosh" instead of the usual "hakel hakadosh". We also amend the beracha of Hashiva by ending off with the words "hamelech hamishpat" instead of the usual "melech ohev tzedaka umishpat". If one accidentally said hakel hakadosh instead of hamelech hakadosh he must start the amida again. However if he realized his mistake immediately and right away corrected it by saying hamelech hakadosh he does not need to begin again. If he is not sure whether or not he said hamelech hakadosh he must start the amida again since he most probably did not say it.

If one forgot to say hamelech hamishpat at the end of Hashiva, as long as he hasn't finished the amida yet he must go back to the beginning of the beracha of Hashiva. Even if he already bowed for Modim and then he remembered or he was unsure whether or not he said hamelech hamishpat he stops where he is and goes back to Hashiva. If he only remembered after finishing he amida that he didn't say hamelech hamishpat he should say "if I am required to repeat the amida, this will be my repetition. If I am not required, this will be a nedava" and then he should repeat the amida. Outside of Eretz Yisrael the custom of most Ashkenazim is to not go back to Hashiva if they remember during the amida. If they remember afterward they follow the procedure above.


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



Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Eruv Tavshilin

Eruv Tavshilin
Day: Wednesday
Date: September 20, 2017
Parshat: Ha'azinu
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 527

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When Yom Tov falls on Friday or Thursday and Friday, one must make an eruv tavshilin in order to be able to cook food on Yom Tov for Shabbat. The eruv consists of a kezayit (27 grams) each of bread and a cooked food, such as a hard boiled egg. The idea behind the eruv is that one has already prepared his meal for Shabbat and everything that is cooked afterward is being made only to compliment these foods that are already ready. One should ideally understand the words he's saying, but if he doesn't understand them it still works. The text for the eruv can be found in most any Yom Tov siddur.


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

Friday, September 8, 2017

Sleeping on Rosh Hashana

Sleeping on Rosh Hashana
Day: Friday
Date: September 8, 2017
Parshat: Ki Tavo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 584

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Because it a day of judgement, it is inappropriate sleep during the day on Rosh Hashana. After midday one who is very tired may take a small nap so that he will have more energy to study Torah. After shaharit and the Yom Tov meal one should study Torah, or if that's not feasible he should read Tehillim. It is better for one to read a little bit and understand what he's reading than to read a lot without understanding


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

Thursday, September 7, 2017

The Mitzvah of Shofar

The Mitzvah of Shofar
Day: Thursday
Date: September 7, 2017
Parshat: Ki Tavo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 584

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All men are required to hear the shofar blowing on Rosh Hashana. Women are not required to hear it since this is a time bound mitzvah. It is customary for women to come to the synagogue anyways to hear the shofar blowing and answer amen to its berachot. A woman who has small children who will disturb the congregants is better off relying on the Halacha and not going to shul. Anyone who is not required to do a mitzvah may not fulfill another person's requirement for him. Therefore, a person who is completely deaf may not blow the shofar for others since he himself is not required to hear it. However, a person who wears hearing aids is required and therefore can blow for others as well. 


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

Monday, September 4, 2017

Crying on Rosh Hashana

Crying on Rosh Hashana
Day: Monday
Date: September 4, 2017
Parshat: Ki Tavo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 583

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Even though Rosh Hashana is our day of judgement, nevertheless it is holiday and should be treated as such. Therefore during the prayers one should not try to summon tears. Instead he should be happy and trust that Hashem in his infinite kindness has written him and his family in the book of life. One should try very hard to not let his anger get the better of him on Rosh Hashana, as it says in Pirkei Avot "better a calm person than a strong one, and better one who controls himself than one who conquers a city." If possible one should also study the mishnayot of masechet Rosh Hashana at the holiday meals. 


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