REVIEW OF RELEVANT HALACHOS FOR ROSH HASHANA & YOM KIPPUR. Compiled by Rabbi Sariel Malitzky. Reviewed by Rabbi Yaakov Luban

Transcription

1 REVIEW OF RELEVANT HALACHOS FOR ROSH HASHANA & YOM KIPPUR Compiled by Rabbi Sariel Malitzky Reviewed by Rabbi Yaakov Luban Congregation Ohr Torah 5779 Sponsored by: Shelley Schoenfeld and Matt Holland In loving memory of David J. Schoenfeld Z l לעילוי נשמת יואל דוד בן יהודה הלוי ז"ל 1

2 1) Erev Rosh Hashana a. Nullifying Vows (Hataras Nedarim) i. When to perform it? 1. It is customary to nullify all vows (Hataras Nedarim) prior to Rosh Hashana. 2. One who does not perform Hataras Nedarim prior to Rosh Hashana may perform it in between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. 2) First Night of Rosh Hashana (Sunday night) a. Kiddush and Hamotzi i. The blessing of Shehecheyanu is recited as part of Kiddush in honor of Yom Tov. The Shehecheyanu recited for Yom Tov is said whether or not someone is eating a new fruit. One does not need to have a new fruit on the first night. ii. One who eats a new fruit as part of the Simanim should recite a separate Shehecheyanu for the new fruit and not have it in mind during Kiddush. iii. It is customary to have honey with the Challah. There are different customs regarding salt. Some dip the Challah in salt in addition to honey. Others just have salt on the table but do not dip the Challah into the salt. b. Eating of the Simanim i. It is customary to eat different foods known as the Simanim on the first night of Rosh Hashana. 1. Order of foods to eat a. There are two customs regarding the correct order of the Simanim. Generally speaking, one recites a Beracha and eats foods from the Shivat HaMinim (seven species) before other fruits. According to this, one would first recite a blessing and eat the date or pomegranate prior to eating the apple and honey. However, some prefer to start with the apple and honey before consuming the other Simanim. One who wishes to do so should ideally leave the date or pomegranate in the kitchen when bringing the apple to the table. 2. Saying the Yehi Ratzon prayer a. When a blessing is being recited on the fruit (i.e. the first fruit one eats) one should say the Yehi Ratzon after eating the fruit. However, when one does not recite a blessing on the Siman, then the Yehi Ratzon can be said prior to eating that particular Siman. c. Nuts i. It is customary to refrain from eating nuts on Rosh Hashana. 1. There are different customs regarding ground nuts used as part of recipes. 3) First Day of Rosh Hashana (Monday) a. Shofar i. Blessing on the Shofar 1. Since the blessing recited on Shofar is effective for all of the Shofar blasts, one must not speak from the time of the blessing until after the last blasts, which are in Kaddish after Mussaf. Additionally, one must make sure they hear the entire sound of the Shofar. 2

3 2. One who goes to the bathroom can recite the Asher Yatzar blessing. 3. One who missed the initial blessing on the Shofar and only arrived at shul to hear the Shofar blowing as part of Mussaf should recite the blessing on their own (but should wait until that particular set of blasts is finished) b. Aleinu i. It is customary to prostrate oneself on the ground during Aleinu in the Chazan s repetition of Shemona Esrei. One should make sure to place a towel (or paper) on the floor to separate between the floor and their knees. c. Tashlich i. It is customary to recite Tashlich by water after Mincha on the first day of Rosh Hashana. 1. One can say it prior to Mincha as well. ii. One who is unable to do so on Rosh Hashana can still say it on any day prior to Shemini Atzeres. iii. While some have the custom of throwing bread into the water, the majority of Poskim advise that one should not throw bread (or other foods) into the water. There is a prohibition to feed animals that do not belong to you on Shabbos and Yom Tov. 4) Second Night of Rosh Hashana (Monday night) a. Preparations for Yom Tov i. Canldle lighting for the second day of Yom Tov is at 8:05pm. No preparations for Yom Tov [which includes lighting candles, heating up food, setting the table, etc.] should be done before that time. b. Shehecheyanu during Kiddush and candle lighting i. Since there is a dispute as to the nature of the second day of Rosh Hashana, which has ramifications regarding whether or not we should recite Shehecheyanu, we avoid taking sides in this dispute by eating a new fruit or wearing a new garment and saying Shehecheyanu during Kiddush with the new fruit or garment in mind. 1. Ideally, the fruit should be on the table during Kiddush. 2. Only the one who recites Kiddush needs to eat the new fruit. However, it is customary for everyone to partake in the new fruit. 3. If one does not have a new fruit or garment, Shehecheyanu should still be recited. ii. Women 1. Women should have in mind the new fruit (or wear a new garment) when they say Shehecheyanu during candle lighting. 2. Women can still recite Amen after hearing the Shehecheyanu blessing from the one reciting Kiddush. c. Simanim i. Some have the custom to eat the simanim foods on the second night while others do not. 5) Second day of Rosh Hashana (Tuesday) a. Havdalla i. Havdalla only consists of the blessing on wine (Borei Pri Hagefen) followed by the blessing of Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh Lichol. 1. No fire or besamim are taken. 3

4 6) Aseres Yemei Teshuva a. Avinu Malkeinu i. One can recite Avinu Malkeinu even if they are davening without a minyan. b. Pas Akum i. The Shulchan Aruch writes that one should refrain from eating Pas Akum (products baked by a gentile) during these ten days. 1. This includes most factory baked breads purchased in most stores. Kosher Grocery stores and Kosher bakeries usually carry Pas Yisrael bread. 2. This also includes pretzels, cookies, and crackers. Most of the Jewish brands are Pas Yisrael (and are labeled accordingly). 7) Erev Yom Kippur (Tuesday) a. Repentance i. Yom Kippur itself does not atone for sins committed by one individual to another. The atonement will only be achieved if one first asks for and is granted forgiveness from the individual that they wronged. It is for this reason that many individuals reach out to people they have hurt to apologize and ask for forgiveness. b. Eating i. There is a Mitzvah to eat and drink on Erev Yom Kippur. This Mitzvah applies to both men and women. ii. This Mitzvah is applicable even for those who will not be fasting due to health concerns. iii. It is customary to eat a Seudah HaMafsekes on Tuesday. This should be completed before sunset which is at 6:59. c. Mikvah i. There is a custom (quoted in Shulchan Aruch) that men immerse in the Mikvah on Erev Yom Kippur. ii. Ideally one should wait until midday (12:51) to go. One can immerse in the morning if they will be unable to do so later in the day. d. Blessing children i. There is a custom for parents to give a special blessing (found in the standard Machzor) to their children before going to Shul on Yom Kippur night. ii. This blessing can be given on the phone if one s child is not at home. e. Lighting of Yom Kippur candles i. Women should light candles before Yom Kippur as they do before Shabbos. ii. Two berachos should be recited. First, the beracha of LeHadlik Ner Shel Yom HaKippurim is recited. The Beracha of Shehechiyanu should follow. iii. Women Driving to Shul 1. Normally when women light Shabbos candles, it signifies the start of Shabbos and all Melachah is prohibited. Women who would like to drive to shul for Kol 4

5 f. Lighting other candles g. Kittel i. Yahrtzeit candles Nidrei after they already lit candles should make the following statement before lighting candles: "I am not accepting Yom Tov when I light candles." Yom Tov will then begin at sunset. Women who do this should recite Shehechiyanu with the congregation during Kol Nidrei. 1. One should light a Yahrtzeit candle for a deceased parent. Some have the custom of lighting a separate candle for a deceased mother and father. ii. Other candles 1. It is customary to keep a Yahrtzeit candle lit in the house for the duration of Yom Kippur. One candle should be lit for every married man in the house. i. Many have the custom of wearing a Kittel on Yom Kippur at night and during the day. 1. There are different opinions regarding whether an Avel (an individual who is in the year of mourning) should wear a Kittlel on Yom Kippur. One who does not know his custom should wear the Kittel. ii. Ideally, one should take off the Kittel before entering the bathroom. h. Mitzvah of adding on to Yom Kippur i. There is a special Mitzvah from the Torah to add on to Yom Kippur (called Tosefes Yom HaKippurim). One should accept upon themselves the sanctity of the day at least a few minutes before Kol Nidrei begins. At that point, all of the Yom Kippur restrictions begin. 8) Yom Kippur a. Kol Nidrei i. Kol Nidrei is only said with a congregation. One who is unable to attend shul for Kol Nidrei should not say it. ii. Men should wear a Tallis and recite the regular Beracha before putting the Tallis on. b. The Five Afflictions i. Eating 1. This Beracha should be recited before sunset (6:59). One who did not say the Beracha by that time can still recite it until (7:08pm). 1. Children a. Children do not need to fast until they reach Bar or Bat Mitzvah 5

6 ii. Washing 2. One who needs to eat 1. Prohibition 2. Exceptions a. One who is really sick or needs to take medication should consult with Rabbi Luban. b. One who is having bread should wash their hands for Netilas Yadaim. One should use the washing cup and only wash up to the second knuckles of the hand. c. One who bentches should recite the addition paragraph of Ya aleh VeYavo in Bentching. a. One is not allowed to wash any part of one s body including one s hands. It is forbidden to wash with either hot or cold water on Yom Kippur. Even putting one's finger in water is prohibited. a. Negel Vasser is done on Yom Kippur morning. One should use the regular washing cup and only wash up to the second knuckles. b. The entire hands of the Kohanim should be washed in the normal method before they duchen. c. One is permitted to wash away dirt, but only the unclean area may be cleansed. d. One is permitted to wash one s hands after going to the bathroom. iii. Anointing 1. Prohibition 2. Exceptions a. It is forbidden to apply any lotions. b. Cosmetics are customarily not used on Yom Kippur (even those which are permitted on Shabbos). a. One can use spray deodorant. iv. Wearing leather shoes 1. Prohibition a. It is prohibited to wear leather shoes, even those made partially from leather. b. Wearing of leather shoes is prohibited outside of the home as well as at home. 6

7 2. Exceptions c. A child should also not wear leather shoes. a. One who is ill, a woman who is within the 30-day period after childbirth, one who is extremely sensitive to cold, or one with a wound on their foot may wear leather shoes. v. Marital relations 1. Prohibition a. Marital relations are prohibited on Yom Kippur. c. Taking the Tallis off During the Break i. Generally speaking, when there is a pause in a Mitzvah (Hefsek), one is required to recite a new Beracha when they restart the mitzvah. There is a dispute regarding how long a person can have his Tzitzis or Tallis off without being required to recite a new Beracha when he puts it back on. If the break is less than three hours, then one does not need to recite a new Beracha when they put the Tallis back on. (One can have in mind when they recite the Beracha in the morning that the Beracha should only count until they take it off for the break. If one does have that in mind, they can certainly make a new Beracha when they put the Tallis back on). 9) Motzei Yom Kippur a. Havdallah i. The regular Havdallah of a typical Motzai Shabbos is recited. ii. Fire b. Besamim 1. One should not use the lit Yahrtzeit candle for Havdallah. 2. The Havdalla candle should be lit from a candle that burned all Yom Tov (and not with a match) i. There is no Besamim during Havdalla. c. Women i. A woman who finds it difficult to wait to eat until her husband comes home can either recite HaMavdil Bein Kodesh LeChol and only drink water but may not eat, or can recite Havdallah herself and both eat and drink. 7

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