A 'minyan' for Hallel on Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

We have mentioned the preference for a minyan for Hallel on Rosh Chodesh.

In truth, the requirement is not for a minyan, per se; even having three people present, so that one leads "Hodu" and the others respond, may suffice.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 422:2; Mishneh Berurah 422:18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The berachah for Hallel on Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

We have noted that the practice of reciting Hallel on Rosh Chodesh is a minhag, rather than a requirement of the day. Therefore, there is some debate as to whether one recites a berachah for this recitation.

General Ashkenazi practice is to recite a berachah for Hallel on Rosh Chodesh, as we do for various other minhagim. However, one should make sure to do this with a minyan, or at least several other people, to satisfy the view that one only recites the berachah for a communal recitation of Hallel.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 422:2; Mishneh Berurah 422:15-16)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Half-Hallel for Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

Rosh Chodesh does not technically warrant recitation of Hallel; Hillel is reserved for days with special sanctity, when acts of melachah are prohibited.

Nonetheless, by custom we do recite Hallel. To distinguish between this customary Hallel and other, obligatory recitations, we omit two paragraphs from this Hallel, creating what we term חצי הלל, Half-Hallel.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 422:2; Mishneh Berurah 422:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

When does the amidah end?

Hi,

Yesterday, we noted that one who omits "Yaaleh v'Yavo" in the Rosh Chodesh amidah (at shacharit or minchah), and realizes his error before stepping out of the amidah, returns to "Retzeh" and continues from there.

The Mishneh Berurah clarifies that even if one has not physically stepped out of the amidah, he is deemed to have concluded the amidah once he has decided not to say anything further, even if he has not actually stepped away.

(Mishneh Berurah 422:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Remembering "Yaaleh v'Yavo" before the end of the amidah

Hi,

We have mentioned that one who omits “Yaaleh v’Yavo” at shacharit or minchah on Rosh Chodesh must repeat the amidah. However, one who remembers “Yaaleh v’Yavo” before stepping out of the amidah should return to the beginning of “Retzeh,” say “Yaaleh v’Yavo” and go from there.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 422:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Repeating shacharit if one forgot "Yaaleh v'Yavo"

Hi,

We have said that one must include “Yaaleh v’Yavo” in the amidah for Rosh Chodesh. One who forgets to recite “Yaaleh v’Yavo” at shacharit or minchah must repeat the amidah.

Some contend that one who missed “Yaaleh v’Yavo” at shacharit, but then recited musaf, need not repeat shacharit, because he has now mentioned the special status of Rosh Chodesh in an amidah. We do not follow this view, but one who repeats shacharit after having recited musaf should keep in mind that if this amidah is unnecessary, it should be counted as a voluntary amidah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 422:1; Mishneh Berurah 422:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forgetting Yaaleh v'Yavo

Hi,

We have said that one inserts the special "Yaaleh v'Yavo" paragraph in the amidah of Rosh Chodesh.

One who forgets to say "Yaaleh v'Yavo" in the maariv amidah, and remembers after saying "Baruch Atah HaShem" in the following "v'techezenah" paragraph, does not go back.

(Mishneh Berurah 422:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Announcing "Yaaleh v'Yavo"

Hi,

We insert a special paragraph, "Yaaleh v'Yavo," in the Rosh Chodesh amidah.

One may announce this in shul at maariv after the kaddish that precedes the amidah, and it is not considered a forbidden interruption, because the announcement is for the sake of the community's amidah.

(Mishneh Berurah 422:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A special insertion for shacharit on Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

On Rosh Chodesh mornings, we include the Torah's passage about the special korban (offering) of Rosh Chodesh (Bamidbar 28:11-15) in the "korbanot" section of shacharit.

This is meant to publicize the fact that it is Rosh Chodesh. Although people who come to shul will know this from the Torah reading, this is important for those who will not daven in shul.

(Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 281:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Funerals on Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

Because Rosh Chodesh is a day of celebration, funerals held that day are altered to remove the strongest elements of mourning. Specifically: tearful eulogies are removed, as well as the tzidduk hadin [acceptance of Divine judgment] normally recited before kaddish at the graveside.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 420:2; Mishneh Berurah 420:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A Rosh Chodesh Meal, Part II

Hi,

We have said that one should have a special feast for Rosh Chodesh. This may be as simple as eating one special food, but the ideal is to have a bread-based meal in honor of the day.

(Mishneh Berurah 419:1; Shaar haTziyyun 419:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Seudat Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

There is a practice of having a special meal in honor of Rosh Chodesh, for several reasons. These reasons include:

1. The special status of Rosh Chodesh as a מועד (holiday);
2. Recognition of the national atonement achieved with the special korbanot (Temple offerings) of the day;
3. A memorial for the special feasts created in Yerushalayim in the days of the Beit haMikdash, to publicize declaration of the new month.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 419:1; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 419:1-2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fasting on Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

Because Rosh Chodesh is a day of celebration, one may not fast on that day. Some even suggest this is biblical, based on the biblical label of Rosh Chodesh as a מועד.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 418:1; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 418:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Yom Kippur Katan

Hi,

Some fast on the day before Rosh Chodesh, and hold extended prayers for forgiveness as well; this is called Yom Kippur Katan, and the idea is that this fast atones for the sins of the preceding month.

(Mishneh Berurah 417:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Preparing for the new month (Shabbat Mevorchim)

Hi,

We recite a public blessing and prayer for the new month on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh; this is called Birkat haChodesh. [The general Ashkenazi custom is to do this for all but Rosh HaShanah.]

One reason to do this is to ensure that people will study the laws relevant to that month's special events, much as we begin studying about each Yom Tov in the weeks leading up to that Yom Tov.

(Mishneh Berurah 417:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

New Topic: Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

Today we begin a new topic: Rosh Chodesh.

Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the lunar month, is identified in the Torah as a special day; special korbanot were brought in the Beit haMikdash on that day, and there were celebratory gatherings as well (see Melachim II 4:23).

Despite this special status, one may perform melachah on Rosh Chodesh, although some women do have a custom of marking Rosh Chodesh by refraining from all or some kinds of melachah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 417:1; Mishneh Berurah 417:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Starting a Shabbat meal before nightfall

Hi,

Even though one is supposed to eat three meals on Shabbat itself, as is hinted in a biblical passage (Sh'mot 16:25), one may still accept Shabbat before nightfall on Friday and start his Shabbat meal at that point.

Ideally one should continue the meal into the night in order to eat three meals on the calendar day of Shabbat, but this is not an absolute requirement.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 267:2; Mishneh Berurah 267:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Pre-lighting the Shabbat candles

Hi,

Some people pre-light the wick for the Shabbat lights (for either candles or oil), so that the wick will catch well later, when it is lit for the mitzvah. In many homes this is done by the husband, as his participation in the mitzvah of Shabbat lights.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 264:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How to choose Shabbat candles

Hi,

For Shabbat candles, fuels are ineligible if they will not burn smoothly or will not cast good light. Those fuels would defeat the purpose of the Shabbat candles (honoring Shabbat and providing light for the household), and might even lead one to accidentally adjust the candle.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 264)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Interacting between Jews who are extending Shabbat and Jews who are not

Hi,

One who personally accepts Shabbat early may still ask another Jew, who has not yet accepted Shabbat, to perform work on his behalf.

The same is true for a Jew who keeps Shabbat even after Shabbat has ended - he may ask a Jew who has already performed Havdalah to perform work on his behalf.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 263:17; Mishneh Berurah 261:18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Using the light of the Shabbat candles

Hi,

The Shabbat candles are meant to be used - one who lights them in a space which he does not actually frequent on Shabbat (while they are lit) has not fulfilled the Mitzvah.

Therefore, one who is going out to a friend's house for dinner Friday night, and so will not have a chance to use the candles before they are extinguished, should either stay home first to use the candles, or light at the friend's house and accept Shabbat there.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 263:9; Mishneh Berurah 263:41)


Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah before or after lighting Shabbat candles?

Hi,

We recite a blessing when lighting Shabbat candles.

There is some debate as to whether one recites the blessing before or after lighting, because of a specific problem: Reciting the blessing qualifies as an act of accepting Shabbat, and so one should not light the candles after reciting the blessing. On the other hand, one who is performing a Mitzvah generally recites the blessing for the Mitzvah before performing the Mitzvah.

To address this problem, many women light the candles but don't look at them (often holding their hands before their eyes), and then recite the blessing, and then look at the candles. Since the essence of the Mitzvah is to benefit from the light of the candles, and they recite the blessing before they benefit, this qualifies as reciting the blessing before the Mitzvah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 263:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The earliest time for candle-lighting

Hi,

One may not accept Shabbat at just any time on Friday - it must be relatively close to evening, since Shabbat is supposed to be the 7th day of the week. The earliest time one may accept Shabbat is a time called "Plag haMinchah."

We calculate Plag haMinchah this way:
1. Take the time between sunrise and sunset and divide it by 12. Each 1/12 unit is called an "hour."
2. Subtract 1.25 of these hours from sunset. The resulting time is Plag haMinchah.

For example: One day there were 9 hours and 37 minutes between sunrise and sunset, so each "hour" was 48.08 minutes. 1.25 "hours" were then 60.1 minutes. Sunset was 5 PM, so Plag haMinchah was 4 PM.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 263:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forgetting to light Shabbat candles

Hi,

The Sages were very concerned that Jews should take their Shabbat preparations seriously. As such, they instituted a fine for someone who forgets to light Shabbat candles (as opposed to someone who simply isn't in a position to do it):

One who forgets to light on a given week is supposed to add one more candle each week for the rest of his/her life. In other words, one who used to light two candles would then light three each subsequent week.

A family which cannot afford the extra candles should instead use longer candles, so that they will add to the Mitzvah in that fashion.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 263:1; Mishneh Berurah 263:7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How many Shabbat candles?

Hi,

One should make sure to have beautiful light in the home for Shabbat.

Although the minimum is a single lamp in the room in which one will eat on Shabbat, many people use at least two, to commemorate "Zachor (Remember)" and "Shamor (Guard)," the two biblical instructions we are given regarding the way to honor Shabbat. One may add as many as one wishes.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 263:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Keeping the table set on Shabbat

Hi,

One should try to keep his table set all of Shabbat, in honor of the royal presence of the day.

Some have done this by arranging three layers of tablecloths before Shabbat, so that when a meal ended they removed the top cloth, and the cloth below was ready. Even if one does not do this, one can make sure that the dining area is nicely arranged even between meals.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 262:1; Aruch haShulchan)

Have a great day,
Mordechai