When the month of Adar enters we increase in joy. ● If a Jew has a dispute with a gentile he should have the trial in the month of Adar because the mazal of the Jewish people is healthy and strong in this month. ● The seventh of Adar is the date of the birth and passing of Moshe Rabbeinu. One should infuse this day with a feeling of holiness, with an increase in learning Torah and doing mitzvot with happiness. ● The Sages established that congregations will read four parshiot, in addition to the reading of the weekly parshiot, on four Shabbatot that are connected to the month of Adar. If it is a leap year, they are read in the second month of Adar. ● The first parsha is Parsha Shekalim, in remembrance of the mitzvah of the half shekel that each Jewish person would give each year in order to buy the continual offerings (korban hatamid) and other communal offerings. On the first of Adar the obligation to give the half shekel would be announced. Therefore we read each year Parsha Shekalim on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar, after the reading of the weekly parsha. If Rosh Chodesh Adar falls out on Shabbat, this section is read on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh. ● The second parsha is Parshat Zachor, to remember what Amalek did and to wipe him out. We read this parsha on the Shabbat before Purim, after the reading of the weekly parsha, in order to have the wiping out of Amalek next to the fall of Haman who was a descendant of Amalek. ● The third parsha is Parshat Parah. We read this on the Shabbat before Parshat HaChodesh (in Parshat HaChodesh the Jewish people are commanded regarding the Korban Pesach), because the burning of the red hefer in the desert was close to the month of Nissan, in order that the Jewish people would be pure and able to make the Pesach offering in purity. ● The fourth parsha is Parshat HaChodesh. We read this parsha on the Shabbos before Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the month in which the festival of Pesach occurs. If Rosh Chodesh Nissan falls out on Shabbat, this section is read on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh. (translated from Shmirat HaMoadim, HaRav Shimon Gadasi)
Archive for the ‘Halacha Corner’ Category
Tu B’Shevat and Shabbos Shira
Saturday, January 28th, 2012This coming Wednesday, the 15th of Shevat (Feb. 1st), is Rosh HaShonah L’Ilonos (New Year for the Trees). Tachnun is omitted from the Shacharis and Mincha prayers as well as from the Mincha prayer of Tuesday afternoon. ● It is customary to increase in the amount of fruits one eats on the 15th of Shevat, in order to praise Hashem who created all these species of fruits. ● The Arizal was accustomed to eat 15 varieties of fruits on the 15th of Shevat. ● Amongst the fruits one eats, one should include species of which Eretz Yisroel is praised for: Grapes, Olives, Dates, Figs, Pomegranates. ● Many people attempt to eat on Tu Beshevat at least one fruit which requires a Shehecheyanu. When eating such a fruit, the Shehecheyanu should be said prior to reciting the Ho’eitz bracha. If he has already partaken of other fruits (at that particular sitting) than he only needs to say the Shehecheyanu upon eating the new fruit. ● It is customary to eat during Shabbos Shira (Parshas Beshalach) “shvartze kasha” (black buckwheat). ● When Az Yashir is read during Kriyas HaTorah it is customary to stand. (Luach Kollel Chabad) ● There is much discussion amongst the Torah greats regarding the custom of feeding the birds on Shabbos Shira. Many Poskim, including the Magen Avraham and Yaavetz say that it may not be done on the actual day of Shabbos, since one may not feed on Shabbos and Yom Tov animals and birds that do not rely on the person for their sustenance. Others, such as the Nimukei Orach Chaim, Rabbi Meir Premishlaner and Rabbi Mendel Riminover defended this practice. To avoid problems many people have the custom of putting out the food for the birds right before Shabbos starts. (by Rabbi Eliezer Wenger OB”M, reprinted from www.shmais.com)
Recitation of Kriat Shema – HaRav Michael Shlomo Avishid, Bet Shemesh
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012(1) One must be careful to read kriat shema with the proper kavana (intention), and with fear and awe. If one did not have kavana he still fulfilled his obligation. (2) However, he must have kavana for the first sentence, shema, including baruch shem kavod, etc. If he did not have kavana when reciting these sentences (namely, to accept the yoke of heaven), he did not fulfill his obligation and he must repeat them quietly in a manner that others around him will not hear him. If he remembers while in the first paragraph, veahavta, that he did not have kavana, he should return and repeat shema and
also say the first paragraph, (3) so that it will be in order. If he remembers while in the other paragraphs, for example in the middle of the second paragraph (vehaya im shamoah), he should finish that paragraph, then say shema along with the first paragraph, and then go to the third paragraph. In that the order of the paragraphs “lo meakev” (does not prevent the fulfillment of the mitzvah) (4) The leading halachic authorities have written that every woman should at least recite the sentence shema with baruch shem kavod, etc, in order to accept the yoke of heaven each day, (5) but the recital does not have to be at the time of kriat shema. 1. Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Orach Chayim, siman 61, sif alef; 2. ibid, siman 63, sif 5; 3.
ibid, look in siman 64; 4. Haramah and HaLevush siman 70; 5. Eshel Avraham, Butshatsh Shem
