Another reason for additional light

Hi,

Yesterday we said that one should kindle an extra light with the Menorah, in order to demonstrate that the Menorah is not simply a candelabra providing illumination for the room.

Further, we are not permitted to use the light of the Menorah for personal purposes; the Menorah is dedicated for the ceremonial mitzvah. Therefore, we light an additional lamp (the shamash) to provide the actual light.

One need not light a shamash on the Menorah itself; leaving a light on in the room itself suffices.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 671:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Extra light, with the menorah

Hello,

We customarily provide extra illumination in the room, in addition to the menorah, in order to show that the menorah is not for light, but rather for the mitzvah.

(Code of Jewish Law, Orach Chaim 671:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The time to light the Menorah

Hi,

Traditionally, Jews lit the Menorah at the time of the stars' first visibility. The Menorah, publicizing the miracle of Chanukah for people in the streets, would be lit at the time of real street traffic. (Before street lights, few people travelled the roads later at night, with the small moon of Chanukah-time, in winter).

Since then, two things have changed:
1. For reasons of both persecution and climate, most Jews outside of Israel now light indoors, publicizing the miracle for their family members more than for the passersby, and
2. Street traffic lasts much later at night.

Therefore, one may light later at night.

However, one truly should still light when the stars emerge, if possible, because Mitzvot should be performed at their earliest eligible time. One may not engage in any sort of other activity that might distract him from lighting - eating, or studying Torah, for example - until he has lit.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 672:1-2; Mishneh Berurah 672:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Menorah: More than a candelabra

Hi,

One should make sure the Menorah is visibly ceremonial, and not just another light source.

One way to do this is to place the Menorah in a spot which would not be used for a lamp. Ideally, the Menorah is placed less than three feet from the floor (but high enough to be readily visible to people), as then it is clear that the Menorah is not meant for illumination. One should not do this if it will create a fire hazard, though.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 671:6-7; Mishneh Berurah 671:27)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Chanukah

Hi,

With the month of Kislev beginning on the Jewish calendar this Friday, it's time to start learning about Chanukah!

We begin with Menorah-lighting.

Minimally, one lights a single flame on the Menorah on each night of Chanukah. Our practice is to go beyond that, lighting a number of flames corresponding to the night of Chanukah - 2 for the 2nd night, 3 for the 3rd night, etc.

In a home in which multiple people light, each Menorah's flames must be clearly visible to onlookers, and must be distinct from the lights of any other Menorah, so that an observer will be able to look at the Menorah and know what night of Chanukah it is.

For the same reason, a Menorah should have all of the flames at approximately the same height and in a row. Having different flames at very different heights would prevent observers from being able to count the flames, and having a circle arrangement of flames would result in some of the flames obscuring the others.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 671:2, 4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Destroying and Building Synagogues

Hi,

A community may not destroy its old synagogue until it has built a new one, even if they wish to use materials from the old one for the sake of the new one. The concern is that the construction project might be delayed, or the funds needed for some other cause, so that they will end up without a synagogue.

This assumes that the old synagogue was still safe for prayer; if the old synagogue was in serious disrepair or a dangerous condition then it should be demolished immediately, and a new one should be built immediately.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 152:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Conditional synagogues

Hello,

Ordinarily, the sanctity of a space used for synagogue prayer remains even after that space is no longer used for this purpose, so that the activities forbidden in that space beforehand are still prohibited.

However, if:
a) The synagogue is outside of Israel, and
b) The builders declared it to be a temporary synagogue at the time of the construction,
then after its use is finished, one may use that space for non-prayer activities.

Even then, though, one may not use it for truly non-synagogue activities, like a business or a place to plant.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:10-11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Cleaning the synagogue

Hello,

One of the ways we show respect to the synagogue is by cleaning it.

However, if there is damage to the structure, and that damage is causing a lack of cleanliness, we do not clean it up - so that the mess will push people to act and repair the damage.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:9-10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Clean clothing for the synagogue

Hi,

We have been learning about respect for the place in which one prays.

One should make sure his shoes and clothing are clean of mud and dirt before entering the synagogue.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Weapons in a synagogue

Hi,

Some prohibit entering a synagogue with a weapon; a synagogue is meant to increase life, rather than to foreshorten it.

In practice, this is usually applied specifically to revealed weapons, rather than concealed ones.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:6; Mishneh Berurah 151:22)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Synagogue as shortcut

Hi,

One may not take a shortcut through a synagogue's room which is designated for prayer. However, one who entered primarily to pray may then exit through the other side, even though that is closer to his inteded destination.

In fact, some specifically enter through one door and exit through the other, mimicking the path of the kohanim in the Beit haMikdash as well as showing love for the synagogue by traversing more of its space.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:6; Mishneh Berurah 151:21)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sleeping in the synagogue

Hello,

One may not sleep in a synagogue, even for a brief doze.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 151:3)

[Note: Rabbis should time their speeches to ensure that they do not cause people to stumble in this area...]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Entering a synagogue for personal needs

Hi,

We have reviewed several laws which limit the activities to be conducted in a synagogue. Essentially, a synagogue is for prayer and not for other purposes.

One who needs to enter a synagogue for some other purpose, such as to find someone, should sit down for several seconds while in the synagogue and recite some Torah lesson, or at least a sentence from the Torah, so that his time in that room will not be entirely devoid of a synagogue-appropriate activity.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Funerals in a synagogue

Hi,

We have been learning about conduct in a synagogue.

Funerals should not be conducted in a synagogue, other than for community leaders and scholars, or their immediate family.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:1; Mishneh Berurah 151:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Synagogue business

Hi,

Continuing our discussion of respect for the synagogue: One may not handle financial accounting in the room dedicated for prayer.

However, one may do this for the sake of a mitzvah, such as tzedakah collection.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sheltering in a synagogue

Hi,

One may not enter a synagogue [meaning the room in which people actually pray] in order to escape the sun or to escape rain.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating in a synagogue

Hi,

One may not eat in a synagogue, by which we mean a room dedicated for prayer.

There is two exceptions to this rule:
1) Eating while remaining in the synagogue for the sake of the synagogue itself. An example: A guard who needs to remain in the synagogue itself in order to fulfill his duty.

2) Eating at a meal in honor of a mitzvah, such as a siyum (celebrating completion of a course of Torah study) if the meal will not involve intoxication.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:1,4; Mishneh Berurah 151:17,20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sanctity of the synagogue

Hi,

We now move from discussing synagogue construction to synagogue sanctity.

Because the synagogue is supposed to be a mini-Beit haMikdash [Jerusalem Temple], and there is a biblical obligation to feel and express awe for the Beit haMikdash, one must also treat the synagogue with the greatest respect.

Therefore, one may not engage in frivolous conversation, or even business conversation, in a synagogue - even outside of times of prayer.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 151:1; Mishneh Berurah 151:1-2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sitting in front of the Bimah

Hi,

A synagogue should not have any seats between the bimah and the Aron Kodesh [Ark], if that would cause people to sit facing the bimah and with their backs to the Aron Kodesh. On the other hand, people may sit with their backs to the bimah, facing the Aron Kodesh.

(Mishneh Berurah 150:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Position of the Chazan

Hi,

We have been looking at synagogue construction.

The chazan should not stand on the bimah when reciting the amidah. Rather, he should stand on the floor, in front of the Aron.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 150:5; Mishneh Berurah 150:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Voting

Hello,

Please note that I expect not to be able to send out these daily emails between today and next Sunday, as I will be on the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley's trip to Israel. The next daily email, Gd-willing, will be Sunday November 9.

I am reproducing here Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's 1984 endorsement of voting in American elections:

On reaching the shores of the United States, Jews found a safe haven. The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights have allowed us the freedom to practice our religion without interference and to live in this republic in safety.

A fundamental principle of Judaism is hakaras hatov -- recognizing benefits afforded us and giving expression to our appreciation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each Jewish citizen to participate in the democratic system which safeguards the freedoms we enjoy. The most fundamental responsibility incumbent on each individual is to register and to vote.

Therefore, I urge all members of the Jewish community to fulfill their obligations by registering as soon as possible, and by voting. By this, we can express our appreciation and contribute to the continued security of our community.

Have a great day and week,
Mordechai

v'Ten Tal UMatar

Hi,

This coming Tuesday night, the 7th of Cheshvan, Israelis begin to pray for rain by inserting "v'Ten Tal UMatar" into the daily Amidah. Outside of Israel, we wait until the beginning of December.

Israelis who are outside Israel, and non-Israelis who are in Israel, follow their home practices when reciting the silent Amidah, assuming they plan to return home in the short-term. Of course, opinions vary in defining "short-term"... the Mishneh Berurah defines it as that year.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 117; Mishneh Berurah 117:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai