Rosh Hashana: Difference between revisions

From Halachipedia
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 6: Line 6:
# After the meal a person should go to the shul to learn according to his ability. Some have the practice of reading Tehillim twice over Rosh Hashana. A person who usually studies halachot should learn halachot rather than say Tehillim. In any event, one shouldn't waste time on this holy day of Rosh Hashana and wasting one's time on Rosh Hashana is like sleeping.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 33)</ref>
# After the meal a person should go to the shul to learn according to his ability. Some have the practice of reading Tehillim twice over Rosh Hashana. A person who usually studies halachot should learn halachot rather than say Tehillim. In any event, one shouldn't waste time on this holy day of Rosh Hashana and wasting one's time on Rosh Hashana is like sleeping.<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 33)</ref>
==Minhag of Tashlich==
==Minhag of Tashlich==
# The minhag is to say Tashlich near a ocean or river on the first day of Rosh Hashana after mincha.<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 186) </ref>
# The minhag is to say Tashlich near an ocean or river on the first day of Rosh Hashana. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 186). The name of this ritual comes from a verse in Michah 7:19 which says  וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצֻלוֹת יָם, כָּל חַטֹּאותָם. This minhag is mentioned by the Rama 583:2. Mishna Berura 583:8 says that this is in remembrance of the akedat yitzchak, because the midrash says that on his way, Avraham had to cross a river, and when the water level was up to his neck he called out to Hashem and Hashem saved him. Rama in Torat HaOlah 3:56 explains that when one goes to an ocean or rivers and sees the greatness of Hashem's creations, he will immediately regret his sins and will be forgiven. The Kaf Hachayim 583:30 calls this an Ashkenazic minhag but adds that the custom in his times in Jerusalem was to say it. </ref> The minhag is to say it after mincha <ref> Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 186. Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Teshuvot Vihanhagot 1:346 agrees but says that mincha should be said earlier in the day so tashlich could be said immediately afterwards because he doesn't think it is so simple that it's permissible to carry the siddur. Also see Moadim U'Zmanim 1:34 where he discusses this issue. </ref>
# It is preferable for there to be living fish in the body of water. <ref> Mishna Berura 583:8. Mishna Berura elaborates that this is symbolic of our wish to be immune to the ayin hara and that we want to be as fruitful as the fish of the sea. Mateh Ephraim 598:4-5 also says it should be done with fish, but criticizes the minhag that some have of feeding the fish crumbs of bread. The Machatzit Hashekel 583:5 also says it is forbidden to throw food into the water. </ref>  
 
==Fasting on Rosh Hashana==
==Fasting on Rosh Hashana==
# It's forbidden to fast on Rosh Hashana. <ref>S"A 597:1, Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 180) </ref> Nonetheless, it's permissible to allow prayers to extend past chatzot (halachic midday) and fast until the afternoon. <ref>Mishna Brurah 597:2 writes that even though usually on [[Shabbat]] and [[Yom Tov]] one shouldn't fast until after chatzot on rosh hashana it's permissible to allow the davening to extend past chatzot.  [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/764351/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Inyanei_Rosh_Hashanah Rav Hershel Schachter on yutorah.org (min 40-42)] explains that this leniency is based on the fact that there are opinions in the Geonim who even permit fasting completely on Rosh Hashana. </ref>
# It's forbidden to fast on Rosh Hashana. <ref>S"A 597:1, Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 180) </ref> Nonetheless, it's permissible to allow prayers to extend past chatzot (halachic midday) and fast until the afternoon. <ref>Mishna Brurah 597:2 writes that even though usually on [[Shabbat]] and [[Yom Tov]] one shouldn't fast until after chatzot on rosh hashana it's permissible to allow the davening to extend past chatzot.  [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/764351/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Inyanei_Rosh_Hashanah Rav Hershel Schachter on yutorah.org (min 40-42)] explains that this leniency is based on the fact that there are opinions in the Geonim who even permit fasting completely on Rosh Hashana. </ref>

Revision as of 18:11, 2 September 2012

Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year which is both a holiday as well as a day of Judgement. Following Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur, there is a period called Aseret Yemei Teshuva, the Ten Days of Repentance. The laws and customs for Rosh Hashana and Aseret Yemei Teshuva are outlined below:

Simanim

  1. There is a custom to eat certain fruits, called Simanim, as a good sign for the new year. [1]

Sleeping on Rosh Hashana

  1. It's a proper minhag not to sleep on Rosh Hashana. For someone who has a headache should sleep a little after midday in order to perform the mitzvot and prayers better. [2]
  2. After the meal a person should go to the shul to learn according to his ability. Some have the practice of reading Tehillim twice over Rosh Hashana. A person who usually studies halachot should learn halachot rather than say Tehillim. In any event, one shouldn't waste time on this holy day of Rosh Hashana and wasting one's time on Rosh Hashana is like sleeping.[3]

Minhag of Tashlich

  1. The minhag is to say Tashlich near an ocean or river on the first day of Rosh Hashana. [4] The minhag is to say it after mincha [5]
  2. It is preferable for there to be living fish in the body of water. [6]

Fasting on Rosh Hashana

  1. It's forbidden to fast on Rosh Hashana. [7] Nonetheless, it's permissible to allow prayers to extend past chatzot (halachic midday) and fast until the afternoon. [8]

Prayers of Rosh Hashanah

  1. If one forgot to switch from Atta Kadosh to HaMelech HaKadosh the first night of Rosh Hashana one doesn't have to repeat Shemoneh Esrei as long as one said the Yom Tov Shemoneh Esrei, however, if one said the weekday Shemoneh Esrei or on the day of Rosh Hashana or the second night of Rosh Hashana one should repeat Shemoneh Esrei. [9]

Yaaleh Veyavo

  1. If one forgot Yaaleh VeYavo in Benching on Rosh Hashana during the day one does not have to repeat benching, but during the nighttime one must repeat benching. [10]

Customs of Erev Rosh Hashana

  1. There are five main customs observed on Erev Rosh Hashana: 1) Laundering one's clothing. 2) Cutting one's hair. 3) Dipping in the mikveh. 4) Visiting the cemetary. 5) Giving tzedaka. [11]

Aseret Yemei Teshuva

Changes in Shemona Esreh

  1. During the Aseret Yemei Teshuva, the conclusion of the Bracha HaEl HaKadosh is switched to HaMelech HaKadosh. [12] If one forgot to say HaMelech HaKadosh and remembered within Toch Kedi Dibbur (2-3 seconds), then one should say HaMelech HaKadosh right then. [13] If one remembered only afterwards one must start from the beginning of Shemoneh Esrei. If one is unsure, it is assumed that one forgot. [14]
  2. The conclusion of the Bracha Melech Ohev Tzedaka UMishpat is changed to HaMelech HaMishpat. According to Ashkenazim, if one forgot, one doesn’t go back to the beginning of Shemona Esreh. [15] According to Sephardim, if one forgot and remembered within Toch Kedi Dibbur (2-3 seconds) then one should say HaMelech HaKadosh right then. If one remembered afterwards, some say that one should return to the Bracha of Hashiva, however, if one finished Shemoneh Esrei one must start from the beginning of Shemoneh Esrei. If one is unsure, it’s the same as if one forgot. [16]However, some say that if one remembered after Toch Kedi Dibbur one need not repeat anything. [17]
  3. Three other additions to Shemoneh Esrei are the lines of Zachrenu LeChaim, Mi Kamocha, Ketov BeSefer Chaim, and UveSefer Chaim. One may not skip UveSefer Chaim in order to catch Kedusha with the congregation. [18]
  4. On Friday night, the words HaEl HaKadosh are changed to HaMelech HaKadosh in the Bracha Mein Sheva that the Sheliach Tzibbur says. [19]If he forgets and remembers before the end of the Bracha he goes back to HaEl HaKadosh, if he remembers after concluding the Bracha, he doesn't repeat it. [20]

Changes in Kaddish

  1. The Ashkenazic minhag during the ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (Aseret Yemei Teshuva) is to say LeElah UleElah MeKol Birchata (in Kaddish) instead of LeElah Min Kol Birchata. [21]

Other practices during Prayers

  1. Some have the minhag to stand bent slightly (hunched over slightly) during the Tefillot of Rosh HaShana and if one does so, one should make sure to stand straight for the end and beginning of each Bracha. [22] Some say it’s preferable to stand straight for the Tefillot. [23]
  2. Some have the minhag to daven slightly out loud during Tefillot of Rosh Hashana. [24] However, many authorities discourage this practice. [25]

References

  1. Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 180)
  2. Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 183-4), Kaf HaChaim 584:38,39
  3. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 33)
  4. Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 186). The name of this ritual comes from a verse in Michah 7:19 which says וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצֻלוֹת יָם, כָּל חַטֹּאותָם. This minhag is mentioned by the Rama 583:2. Mishna Berura 583:8 says that this is in remembrance of the akedat yitzchak, because the midrash says that on his way, Avraham had to cross a river, and when the water level was up to his neck he called out to Hashem and Hashem saved him. Rama in Torat HaOlah 3:56 explains that when one goes to an ocean or rivers and sees the greatness of Hashem's creations, he will immediately regret his sins and will be forgiven. The Kaf Hachayim 583:30 calls this an Ashkenazic minhag but adds that the custom in his times in Jerusalem was to say it.
  5. Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 186. Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Teshuvot Vihanhagot 1:346 agrees but says that mincha should be said earlier in the day so tashlich could be said immediately afterwards because he doesn't think it is so simple that it's permissible to carry the siddur. Also see Moadim U'Zmanim 1:34 where he discusses this issue.
  6. Mishna Berura 583:8. Mishna Berura elaborates that this is symbolic of our wish to be immune to the ayin hara and that we want to be as fruitful as the fish of the sea. Mateh Ephraim 598:4-5 also says it should be done with fish, but criticizes the minhag that some have of feeding the fish crumbs of bread. The Machatzit Hashekel 583:5 also says it is forbidden to throw food into the water.
  7. S"A 597:1, Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 180)
  8. Mishna Brurah 597:2 writes that even though usually on Shabbat and Yom Tov one shouldn't fast until after chatzot on rosh hashana it's permissible to allow the davening to extend past chatzot. Rav Hershel Schachter on yutorah.org (min 40-42) explains that this leniency is based on the fact that there are opinions in the Geonim who even permit fasting completely on Rosh Hashana.
  9. Chaye Adam 24:10, Sh"t Igrot Moshe 1:170, Rabbi Hershel Schachter in a shuir (min 43-45:30)
  10. Mishna Brurah 188:19 quotes the Magan Avraham 188:7 who says one doesn't repeat Birkat HaMazon and the Eliyah Rabba who argues and the Mishna Brurah leaves it unresolved. Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 57:7(4) quotes both opinions and in note 25 he concludes that one doesn't have to repeat benching because it's a Safek Brachot LeHakel. Similarly, Rabbi Hershel Schachter in a shuir (min 41-43) mentions that some achronim hold that one doesn't have to repeat benching because there is an opinion that one is allowed to fast on Rosh Hashana. When asked whether this would be considered Safek Deoritta Lechumra he explained that even if one forgot Yaaleh VeYavo one fulfills the Deoritta obligation of benching it just that one didn't fulfill the din derabbanan to have a meal for Yom Tov.
  11. Shulchan Aruch, Siman 581:4
  12. S”A 582:1, Kitzur S”A 129:3
  13. S”A 582:2, Kitzur S”A 129:3
  14. S”A 582:1, Kitzur S”A 129:3
  15. Rama 118:1, Mishna Brurah 582:9
  16. S”A 582:2. Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim pg 193) writes that this is the halacha and we don't say Safek Brachot LeHakel however it is more correct to stipulate: if I'm obligated to repeat Shemoneh Esrei then I'm praying for my obligation, and if the halacha is that I don't have to repeat my prayer should be considered a voluntary prayer.
  17. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu in Maamer Mordechai (Aseret Yami Teshuva #19) based on Ben Ish Chai (Nitsavim #19).
  18. Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim pg 205)
  19. S”A 582:3
  20. Mishna Brurah 582:11 writes that if he remembers before the end of the Bracha he goes back, however, after he finishes the Bracha, there’s a dispute in the achronim. However, the Kitzur S”A 129:4 writes that unless he remembers within Toch Kedi Dibbur he doesn’t go back.
  21. Kitzur S”A 129:1 writes to say LeElah LeElah MeKol Birchata. Mishna Brurah 56:2, 582:16 agrees but adds a vav as follows LeElah ULeElah. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu’s footnote on Kitzur S”A 129:1 writes that the Sephardic minhag is not to change this for Aseret Yemei Teshuva.
  22. S”A 582:4 writes that those who have the minhag to stand bent over for Tefillot on Rosh Hashanah should stand straight at the end of the Bracha. Mishna Brurah 582:14 writes that starting from Baruch Atta Hashem through the beginning of the next Bracha one should stand erect so that it doesn’t appear like one is adding the established bows of Chazal.
  23. Kitzur S”A 129:2
  24. S”A 582:9 writes that one may daven out loud during Tefillot of Rosh Hashana and not worry about bothering others Davening since everyone has a machzor. Mishna Brurah 582:24 writes not to raise one’s voice too much.
  25. Kitzur S”A 129:2, Chaye Adam 139:2, Kaf HaChaim 582:17, and Rav Mordechai Eliyahu’s footnote on Kitzur S”A 129:2. Kaf HaChaim 582:17 adds that if one doesn’t have kavana another way one may raise one’s voice slightly.