Special Features ASK THE REBBE The Ask the Rabbi project is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah... Question: When davening with a minyan, how many people must be finished with their amidah before the chazan may begin the repetition? (And is it the same for Maariv even without a repetition, or is the rule different?) The Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 55:6, in discussing the requirements for a minyan, says that one person who is davening or sleeping counts towards the minyan. The Taz (Orach Chayim 55:4) wonders how a sleeping person can count, but, nonetheless, that is the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch. The Mishna Berurah (55:32) suggests that according to the Shulchan Aruch’s approach, that presence without participation is sufficient, one could count even more than one person who is preoccupied. However, his conclusion is to be lenient only with one person. The distinction between one and more emanates from Haghot Maimoniot, Tefilla 8:9. The gemara in Berachot brings opinions that a minor counts for the tenth man. Haghot Maimoniot claims that even those who are stringent agree that an adult, who can count for a minyan, provides the necessary level of kedushah for devarim sheb’kedushah (matters which require a minyan), even if he is sleeping or davening. However, this is only for the tenth man. Tzitz Eliezer (XII, 9) says that one can rely on this opinion and start chazarat hashatz when eight (plus the chazan) have finished the amidah, when there is need to do so. (In telephone conversations with the Vebbe Rebbe rabbis and other rabbis as well, the consensus was that the rules are the same for Maariv. The Kaddish after the Amida for Maariv is no less a DAVAR SHE'B'K'DUSHA than the repetition of the Amida. at Shacharit and Mincha.) “Ask the Rabbi” Q&A is part of this week’s Hemdat Yamim, the parsha sheet published by Eretz Hemdah. You can read this section or the entire Hemdat Yamim at
www.ou.org or www.eretzhemdah.org. If you would like to receive Hemdat Yamim by e-mail, on a weekly basis, please send an e-mail to
lists@eretzhemdah.org with the message Join Hemdatya Please leave the subject blank. A nail hanging on a wall will not disturb a thing. But a needle left in a shirt will prick you! Ed note - I'm not sure I follow the analogy to the nail and the needle, but I felt that the statement itself was important to repeat. People without Torah and Mitzvot almost have an excuse - their ignorance usually explains why they don't behave the right way. But an educated, shomeir Torah u'Mitzvot - what's his excuse for behaving in such a way that delays the Mashi'ach? "Some day I will do it" – is self-deceptive. "I want to do it" – is weak. "I am doing it" – that is the right way. A [1] The main purpose in lighting candles is to provide light during the meal. (For Shabbat, there is no possibility of lighting right before the meal, but since it is possible for a weekday Yom Tov, some people do it. In such a case, the flame must be transfered from a pre-existing flame and not struck from a match. Also, you may not extinguish the fire you are using to light the candles, but rather, you can place it down on a safe surface and let it go out by itself.) [2] On the second day of Yom Tov (Rosh HaShana and outside of Eretz Yisrael, the other Yamim Tovim as well), it is prohibited to kindle lights before nightfall, because one is forbidden to prepare from on Tom Tov to the next. Hence, it became customary to also light the candles on the first night of Yom Tov after the onset of the Festival so there should be no error on the second day of Yom Tov. (Ed. note: This coming Yom Tov, with candle lighting on Motza'ei Shabbat, everyone - of course - lights "late". Sh'vi'i shel Pesach is Shabbat, and everyone - of course - must light "early", regardless of their "regular" Yom Tov lighting practice. Lighting after dark should always be done by saying the bracha and then lighting. Lighting for Shabbat or Shabbat Yom Tov should be done by the familiar light, cover eyes, say brachot, uncover eyes sequence. Lighting for Yom Tov "early" may be done as for Shabbat candles, but there is a preference for the bracha first method. If this is unclear, check with your LOR or call Phil at the Center, 566-7787 ext. 207 for details.) RITE and REASON is available at local Sfarim stores, in the original Hebrew as well as in English translation. It makes a great gift... even for yourself! Think of the flowers of a fruit tree being a special gift to us from G-d. The tree will bear fruit. That's its main purpose for existing (so to speak). And when we pick the fruit of the tree to eat, we acknowledge G-d with the HA'EITZ bracha. When we see the beautiful, fragrant flowers that precede the fruit, we pause and reflect on the extra measure of beauty that G-d gave us in this world. Beautiful flowers or flowering non-fruit trees are also a pleasure to behold, but, you can say, that is their purpose in the world. But flowering fruit trees — what a special bonus. That's this bracha. It is said only once a year. The practice is to say it on at least two trees (if possible). You must be sure that the tree is really a fruit tree. There are some beautiful flowering trees that do not qualify for the bracha. When in doubt, the bracha should not be said. If you are unfamiliar with the trees in your neighborhood, ask around. Someone will know what trees qualify for the bracha. You can say this bracha alone, but it's nicer to make it a family outing (or even with a Minyan). Say the bracha with joy and a feeling of thanks to HaShem. Although the bracha itself is sufficient, some say the "lead in" to the bracha, and add the two chapters of T'hilim. The bracha is [The Vayaqhel-P'kudei Homepage]
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