Fri. Aug. 13, 2010 Parshat Shoftim
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Rosh Hashanah
Rabanim or Yeshiva students who are studying torah until late at night are not required to do the Selihot if they'll be tired during their learning. They should try however to do it at least on Mondays and Thursdays and for sure during the aseret yemei teshuva. The same thing applies to hired workers or teachers if they also wouldn't be able to do their job well.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Mon. Aug. 16, 2010 Parshat Ki-Tetze
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Rosh Hashanah
(Continued from Friday) If one who can't say the Selihot in the morning is going to sleep after hatzot he should try at least to say some of the Selihot before he goes to sleep. This should be done after tikun hatzot since really the tikun hatzot is more important. Hatzot of the night is exactly twelve hours after midday.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Tues. Aug. 17, 2010 Parshat Ki-Tetze
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Selihot: 4
Anyone who gets up early to say the Selihot should try very hard not sleep or doze off during the morning prayers (Shema/Amida etc.), especially if the person is wearing Tefilin which require constant awareness. If he can’t do this he loses all the benefit of the Selihot and its better that he doesn't say Selihot early, rather he should pray at a normal hour properly.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Selihot: 6
The 13 midot must be said with a minyan since they are considered to be a "davar shebikedusha". However, since they are from a pasuk in the torah one is allowed to say them without a minyan as long as he reads them with the proper cantilation (trop). One does not have to say the entire pasuk to say them; he can say just this part and no more.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Thurs. Aug. 19, 2010 Parshat Ki-Tetze
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Selihot: 7
The Selihot that are written in Aramaic should not be said by a yahid since the angels carry the prayers to Hashem, and they don't understand Aramaic so they leave it. When there is a minyan however, our prayers and supplications go straight to Hashem without any angelic intervention (because the shechina is in the minyan) so there is no worry that Hashem won't hear them.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Fri. Aug. 20, 2010 Parshat Ki-Tetze
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Selihot: 13
It is permissible for one to listen to a recording or a broadcast of Selihot and the 13 midot before hatzot in order to learn them better, even though he can't actually say them. After hatzot he may sing along and if it's a live broadcast he must answer amen and the 13 midot! Kaddish may also be answered over the radio if it's live!
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Sun. Aug. 22, 2010 Parshat Ki-Tavo
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Selihot: 15
One who gets up early to say the Selihot and wants to eat something may do so but he must be careful not to eat after amud hashahar, after which he can have a drink (even with sugar) but no food.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Mon. Aug. 23, 2010 Parshat Ki-Tavo
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Selihot:
Before one a says the Selihot in the morning he must say the morning blessings with the bircat hatorah if he hasn't yet done so that day, no matter what time it is, even if it's directly after hatzot laila. The reason is because there are pesukim involved and even though we are not saying them to learn, we are noheg not to say any pesukim without first saying the bircat hatorah.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Erev Rosh Hashanah: 3
Some people are noheg to fast on Erev Rosh Hashanah. One who plans on fasting and wants to eat beforehand may not do so even before alote hashahar if he slept at all that night and Hacham Ovadia says its better not to fast than to eat then. However, one who stayed up all night may eat before alot hashahar.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Wed. Aug. 25, 2010 Parshat Ki Tavo
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Erev Rosh Hashanah: 4
If a person always fasts on Erev Rosh Hashanah and one year he decides that he doesn't want to anymore, he needs to do hatarat nedarim. If he just doesn't want to fast this year than he does not require a hatarat nedarim. One who is fasting and chances upon, or is invited to a brit or any such occasion may eat there.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Thurs. Aug. 26, 2010 Parshat Ki-Tavo
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Erev Rosh Hashanah:
We do not say any form of viduy on Rosh Hashanah and we definitely don't arouse ourselves to cry, since there is no crying etc. on Yom tov. However, one can think thoughts of teshuva and of bettering oneself. The tefilot should be said with happiness and if a person is moved to cry through the tefilah, then he may cry as much as he needs.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Fri. Aug. 27, 2010 Parshat Ki Tavo
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Erev Rosh Hashanah: 11
We have a kabalistic tradition not to raise our voice during the (quiet) Amida. However, like always one must hear the words that he is saying albeit in a whisper. Some like to pray the Rosh Hashanah/Y"K Amidot while slightly bent over, which is fine but at the end of each blessing they must straighten out and after they start the next one they can go back to how they were.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Sun. Aug.29, 2010 Parshat Netzavim-Vayelech
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Erev Rosh Hashanah:
One who errs on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur and says the regular "ata kadosh" instead of the special one for that day ("uvechein yitkadash etc.") and ends off with "Hamelech Hakadosh" should NOT go back and say the correct one, even if he remembered during the beracha he should end with "Hamelech Hakadosh". If he wants he can make it up at "Elokai Netzor".
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Mon. Aug.30, 2010 Parshat Netzavim-Vayelech
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Rosh Hashanah: 22
After the Hazan's repetition of the Amida on Rosh Hashanah morning, we say Avinu Malkenu. If Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbat most Sephardic congregations still say this prayer albeit without any mention of sins or of sinning in general. However if one is in a Shul and their minhag is not to say it, one should not say it. (Yehave Da'at 1:54) If Y"K falls out on Shabbat everything is still said like normal.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Tues. Aug.31, 2010 Parshat Netzavim-Vayelech
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Rosh Hashanah:
It is imperative for one to be very careful at the time they sell the aliyot (or any other "break time") not to engage in idle chatter. If one can learn during this time it's very commendable. There is no problem with selling the aliyot on Shabbat and Yom Tov or even to prolong the process because it's for a mitzvah.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Wed. Sept.1, 2010 Parshat Netzavim-Vayelech
There is a Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Rosh Hashanah:
There is a very nice minhag that many people have, to eat simanim on the night of Rosh Hashanah (leeks, pomegranates, dates etc.). This can be done at any time: before, during or after the meal, as long as it's done after Kiddush. One who does the simanim during the meal proper, as opposed to before washing or after Bircat Hamazon, should not say a blessing of Ha'adamah on any of the cooked vegetables even if they are eaten without bread.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Thurs. Sept.2, 2010 Parshat Netzavim-Vayelech
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Rosh Hashanah: 5
Some people are noheg to eat fish on Rosh Hashanah as a sort of prayer to multiply like fish and they especially should try to have some when Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbat. Some specifically refrain from having fish on Rosh Hashanah. Some have a custom to eat gourds during the meal and for those that do, they should not make a blessing on the gourd especially if it's eaten with bread.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Fri. Sept.3, 2010 Parshat Netzavim-Vayelech
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Rosh Hashanah prayers: 1
We do not say Hallel on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur because even though these particular days are holidays, they are still serious and frightful days which are given over to the pursuit of complete forgiveness, and not really days of extreme simha. However arousing one's self to cry (on Rosh Hashanah) is also forbidden, since after all it's still a holiday (see DSH Thurs. Aug. 26). If one is reading Tehillim he need not skip the chapters from Hallel.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Sun. Sept.5, 2010 Parshat Ha'azinu
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Shofar: 1
Every male over 13 is required to hear the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah. The rule is that whoever is not hayav to do something cannot release others from their obligation (by doing it for them). Therefore, a woman who knows how to blow the Shofar cannot blow it in order to release men from their obligation to hear it. Likewise, a man who can speak but cannot hear would be unable to blow the Shofar for others since he can't fulfill the mitzvah himself.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Mon. Sept.6, 2010 Parshat Ha'azinu
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Shofar: 8
A woman who has gone to hear the Shofar (or any time related mitzvah) for a couple years in a row and now she's not able to do it anymore, if she doesn't want to have to go anymore (even in future years) she must do hatarat nedarim and she must express regret for not doing it "bli neder". However if just this year she doesn't want to go, then she is not required to go and she doesn't need the hatara. It's a good idea for a man to have his wife in mind when he does the hatarat nedarim.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Tues. Sept.7, 2010 Parshat Ha'azinu
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Shofar: 9/10
One is allowed to blow the Shofar for women even if he has already fulfilled his own obligation and there is no reason not to do so. A woman who knows how to blow the Shofar technically may do so for other women (albeit without a blessing). However it is more proper that a man blow for women than for a woman to blow for other women or even for herself.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Wed. Sept.8, 2010 Parshat Ha'azinu
Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Rosh Hashanah Kiddush etc.: 5
Our minhag according to the Shulhan Aruch is to say shehehiyanu during Kiddush on the second night of Rosh Hashanah. It is a good idea to have a new fruit on the table or wear a new garment, but if one doesn't have one of these he may still say the shehehiyanu blessing. On behalf of the DSH I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy sweet new year. May we see the Mashiah this year, Amen.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com