As discussed in a previous edition of Daily Halacha, it is forbidden to eat or drink anything from the time Shabbat begins on Friday afternoon until one recites (or hears) Kiddush. Even water is forbidden. This prohibition begins when a person accepts the onset of Shabbat, or at sundown, whichever comes first. We noted there the lenient ruling of H…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

Rabbi Akiva Eger (1761-1837), in one of his responsa (7), addresses the question of whether a woman can fulfill her obligation of Kiddush by hearing the recitation from a boy who has just become a Bar Misva. A boy becomes obligated in Misvot as an adult once he reaches physical maturity, and with many thirteen-year-old boys, it is uncertain whether…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

The Halacha of "Kiddush Bi'mkom Se'uda" establishes that one does not fulfill the obligation of Kiddush unless he has a "meal" after Kiddush. As we've discussed in earlier editions of Daily Halacha, one fulfills this requirement with a Ke'zayit of bread, or, as the Hid"a (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806) notes in Birkeh Yosef, a Ke'zayit of …

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 267:2) rules that one may pray Arbit before sundown on Friday afternoon, as long as it is past the point of Plag Ha'minha, and then immediately recite Kiddush. Since one has already accepted Shabbat, he may recite Kiddush at that point, even though the sun has not yet set. By the same token, many Aharonim (later Halachi…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A person does not fulfill the obligation of Kiddush on Shabbat unless he either eats a Kezayit of bread or Mezonot food, or drinks a Rebi'it of wine, after reciting or hearing Kiddush. One is required to partake of the food or wine immediately after Kiddush, without any delay. It is improper to delay eating after hearing Kiddush, since the Kiddush …

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

There is a custom that should be observed on the night of Shabbat and Yom Tob to first look at the Shabbat or Yom Tob candles before beginning Kiddush. Many different Segulot ("charms") are associated with this practice. The Gemara, for example, comments that viewing the candles is beneficial for the eyes and brings healing. Furthermore, the two Sh…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

People attending a Kiddush on Shabbat morning generally hear or recite the Beracha of Kiddush and then take a small sip of wine. The question arises as to whether they must recite a Beracha over other beverages that they drink during the Kiddush, such as Arak, whiskey, soft drinks or coffee. Must they recite "She'hakol" over these drinks, or are th…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

It is forbidden to speak after the recitation of Kiddush until one partakes from the wine. This applies both to the person reciting Kiddush, as well as to the others at the table who fulfill their requirement by listening to his recitation. If they intend to drink from the wine, they may not speak until they drink. This applies to the Beracha of Ha…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

Both men and women are obligated to recite (or hear) Kiddush on Friday night. If a person, for whatever reason, did not recite Kiddush on Friday night, then he must recite it on Shabbat morning. This means that instead of reciting the brief Shabbat morning Kiddush, he must recite the Kiddush text that is normally recited on Friday night. Thus, if a…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

The Ge'onim (Babylonian scholars in the post-Talmudic era) were of the opinion that when a person recites Kiddush on Shabbat, he does not fulfill the obligation unless he personally drinks the minimum required Shiur (quantity) of wine from the Kiddush cup. Even if somebody else at the table heard the Kiddush and then drank the Shiur, nobody fulfill…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

The obligation of Kiddush on Shabbat applies equally to men and women. On Friday night, both men and women are required by Torah law to recite or hear Kiddush. The Misva of Kiddush is exceptional in this regard, as women are generally exempt from "Misvot Aseh She'ha'zman Gerama" – affirmative Biblical commands that apply only at certain times. Kidd…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

The Shulhan Aruch (siman 242) discusses the importance of the Misva of Oneg Shabbat (Pleasure on Shabbat). This Misva is already mentioned by the Navi Yeshaya, "And you shall call the Shabbat enjoyable." Oneg Shabbat is fulfilled by enjoying fine foods and beverages. The Rambam cites the custom to partake of "basar shamen"- choice cuts of fat meats…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

There is a time-honored custom to remain awake throughout the night of Shabuot to recite the "Tikkun" and study Torah. Synagogues commonly provide refreshments and drinks, particularly tea, coffee and soft drinks, throughout the night, and people often drink several times over the course of the night. The question arises, must such a person recite …

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

There is a time-honored tradition to remain awake throughout the night of Shabuot and read the special "Tikkun Lel Shabuot" text that is printed in the Mahzorim. Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1924-1998), in his work Or Le'siyon (vol. 3, 18:11), discusses the importance of this custom and presents numerous laws and guidelines relevant to the p…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

Rav Haim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1869), amid his discussion of the month of Sivan in his Mo'ed Le'chol Hai (listen to audio recording for precise citation), writes that it is proper to allocate money for charity on Ereb Shabuot. He says that one should designate 91 coins for charity, and then add 13 additional coins, one coin at a time, for a total o…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

Rav Haim Palachi (Izmir, Turkey, 1788-1869) composed a work entitled Mo'ed Le'chol Hai, in which he discusses the unique qualities of every Hebrew month and the significant days in each month. In his discussion of the month of Sivan – the month in which we received the Torah, as we celebrate on Shabuot – he writes that this month is especially suit…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

The holiday of Shabuot is one of the three "Regalim," and, as such, the Misva of "Ve'samahta Be'hagecha" (rejoicing on the holidays) applies. In fact, the Gemara in Masechet Pesahim (68b) comments that with regard to the holiday of Shabuot, all opinions agree that the observance must include an element of "Lachem" – physical enjoyment – because thi…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

What is the status of a rented home vis-à-vis the obligation of Mezuza? If one rents the residence for no specified period of time, then he is not required to affix Mezuzot until he has lived in the residence for thirty days. At that point, he must affix the Mezuzot with a Beracha. If he chooses to place Mezuzot within the first thirty days of livi…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

The obligation of Mezuza requires a person to affix Mezuzot on the residence in which he lives. The Gemara describes this obligation as "Hobat Ha'dar" (literally, "an obligation of the resident"), which means that the Misva applies only to the resident. If a person purchases a property but it remains vacant for a period of time, it does not require…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat (48) addresses the question of whether it is permissible to fill a pillow with feathers or other material on Shabbat. If the pillow had not been previously filled, the Gemara establishes, then filling it on Shabbat would constitute "Makke Ba'patish" – completing the process of making a functional item, one of the thir…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

One of the thirty-nine Melachot (categories of forbidden activity) that apply on Shabbat is "Koser" ("harvesting"). It is forbidden on Shabbat to detach something from the ground, such as stalks of wheat, or fruits from trees, such as grapes, olives dates and figs. It makes no difference whether the item that is picked is used as food for people or…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily Gemaraبقلم Rabbi Eli J. Mansour