Community Magazine August 2006

 ”  Av 5766 August 2006 37 make a beracha on the talet gadol in shul which covers both talitot. • However one must have this in mind when making the beracha, therefore one should say the l’shem yichud (a prayer found in most siddurim) before the bera- cha, which stipulates that this beracha covers both talitot. (Ben ish hai yr 1, bereshit, 2) An additional benefit in saying this l’shem yichud is that many poskim hold that the misvah of the talet is one of a few commandments that one does not fulfill unless he has the proper intention. By reciting the l’shem yichud which states that he intends to wear sisit in order to remember the misvot, he satisfies this opinion. • One should not be doing anything while making the beracha. Therefore one should do any preparations such as bunching up the talet before the beracha. (Od Yosef Hai, Bereshit) • One who does not wrap the talet around ones head after the beracha does not fulfill his obligation of the beracha and it is a beracha in vain. This is regard- less of whether one has the custom of covering his head during tefilah. There is a difference of opinions as to whether one should wrap just his head following the beracha (Ben Ish Hai) or both his head and body (Shalmeh Sibur). • Maran writes that it is forbidden for one to walk while his sisit are dragging on the floor. However, it is not a problem if one were stationary or sitting in a chair. In fact the Masot Shemurim (one of the Arizal’s students) writes how some people run to pick up someone’s sisit that are on the ground – which is not a problem as long as they are not walking – yet when these people remove their tefilin, they allow the straps to touch the floor which is pro- hibited. Today there are several groups and individuals who each claim to have found the techelet (a blue dye that the Torah required to color one of the fringes on each corner of the sisit). However, there are opinions that hold that even if we knew for certain that the techelet was in fact authentic, it is not allowed to be worn until the temple is rebuilt. The custom of the Syrian community is not to wear techelet. If one would like to wear tech- elet anyway, he must discuss this with his Rabbi since there are opinions that forbid this. • The custom of the Syrian community is to wear the sisit of the talet kattan under his clothing. If one would like to wear them out for any particular reason, he must consult his Rabbi since there are many that hold that wearing them out is not the proper way to perform this misvah. • One is required to examine his sisit before wearing them each day to insure that they are kosher. If one checked them before putting them away the day before and is certain his talet was untouched since, then he may put it on the next day without checking. One who wears sisit which are pasul transgresses a torah com- mandment. Although there is no obligation to wear sisit unless you are wearing a four cor- nered garment, the Gemara in Menahot states that one who can wear sisit and does not do so is punished when Hashem brings judgment to the world. One who does put on sisit receives a misvah for every moment he is wearing it and receives special protection from harm. 9. Tefilin • One should not leave his koracha (tefilin bag) in a hot car or in the sun on a regular basis; this can eventually cause them to become pasul (invalid). • One should not wear tefilin right after a shower or after apply- ing gel unless he makes sure that the area where the she’l rosh will rest is dry. This too can cause a pasul in the tefilin. • When putting on the she’l yad, one should be careful that his sleeve is com- pletely up so that the yad rests solely on his arm not his sleeve • Similarly, one must make sure his she’l rosh is not resting on his kippa. • One must be careful that all his resuot (straps) are right side up. 10. Dressing Moderately • One should not wear very expensive clothing since it leads to haughtiness, nor should one wear clothes which are dirty, torn, or worn out so as to make him look disgraceful in the eyes of people. Rather one should dress moderately at all times. (Kaf Hahyim o”h 2,22). This is particu- larly true in the case of a talmid hacham who carries the honor of the Torah with him at all times. • If one were to see a talmid hacham who is truly needy, one has the obligation to see to it that he lives with dignity and his needs are provided for so that he may continue to study torah and preserve his honor. (Hacham Ovadia Yosef, Halichot Olam, vol, 8 pages 340 - 347) Prepared by: Rabbi Eliyahu Tobal & Rabbi Netan Levi Reviewed by: Harav Ezra Zafrani Shlit”a Hacham Ezra Zafrani is the Rabbi of Kehilat Etz Hayim, Rosh Kollel of Kerem Ezra Kollel Shel Shoshana and Menahel of Yeshivat Keter Torah in Lakewood, New Jersey. Rabbi Zafrani’s shiurim can be heard on www.limudnet.org The Halachot and customs listed here are not presented in any particular order. These summaries represent a very brief overview of the subject matter and are intended to pro- mote general awareness that these subjects are governed by Jewish law. As always, read- ers should consult a competent rabbi with their specific queries.