Chanukah!

Hello,

With Chanukah beginning this Friday night, here are links to past posts on different laws of Chanukah:

Menorah Lighting

Menorah Lighting on Friday and on Motzaei Shabbat

Recitation of "Al haNisim"

Recitation of Hallel

The Torah Reading for Chanukah

Please note that any lighting-times mentioned in those emails were for Allentown and for a different year.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Yaaleh v'Yavo in Birkat haMazon on Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

Although, as we have noted, we try to have a special meal on Rosh Chodesh, there is no technical obligation to do so.

Therefore: A meal I eat on Rosh Chodesh is not truly a "Rosh Chodesh meal," and one who forgets to insert "Yaaleh v'Yavo" in birkat hamazon on Rosh Chodesh does not repeat birkat hamazon.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 424:1; Mishneh Berurah 424:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Removing Tefillin on Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

We remove our tefillin before the Musaf amidah on Rosh Chodesh. That amidah focusses on the korbanot which make Rosh Chodesh a yom tov (holiday), and we don't wear tefillin on yom tov.

There is some debate as to when, precisely, to remove tefillin; some suggest during UVa l'Tzion, others suggest after the kaddish that precedes Musaf. The prevalent Ashkenazi practice is to remove tefillin after that kaddish, because of a view that one should answer a certain number of kaddish-recitations while wearing tefillin.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 423:4; Magen Avraham 423:6; Mishneh Berurah 423:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Barchi Nafshi for Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

As part of shacharit on Rosh Chodesh, we recite the 104th chapter of Tehillim, ברכי נפשי. This chapter is linked to Rosh Chodesh, the day of the new moon, through 104:19, which states, "Gd created the moon, by which the holidays are set."

(Tur Orach Chaim 423)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kaddish at Shacharit on Rosh Chodesh

Hi,

Yesterday we explained why there is a Kaddish after Hallel. In addition, we recite a half-Kaddish after Kriat haTorah to end that section, and then we recite another half-Kaddish after Ashrei/Uva l’Tzion to end that section.

(Mishneh Berurah 423:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The role of Kaddish

Hi,

After Hallel on Rosh Chodesh, the chazan recites a full Kaddish.

This Kaddish, like certain others in davening, serves as a terminator - it indicates that Hallel is part of Shacharit, and that we have now concluded Shacharit.

Therefore, a shul which does not achieve a minyan until after Hallel does not recite this Kaddish.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 423:1; Mishneh Berurah 423:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Late to shul on Rosh Chodesh?

Hi,

We have said that Hallel is meant to be recited on Rosh Chodesh with a minyan, to the point that some question whether one who recites Hallel alone should recite a berachah upon Hallel or not.

Therefore, one who comes to shul on Rosh Chodesh just before Hallel should recite Hallel with the minyan before reciting the rest of davening. Further, one who is in the middle of psukei d’zimra when Hallel begins should recite Hallel, without a berachah, before continuing psukei d’zimra.

(Mishneh Berurah 422:16, Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 422:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai