DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 888 KB)
The Special Month of Adar

***Rabbi Eli Mansour can fulfill your obligation of Matanot Laevyonim and or Mahasit Ha'Shekel on your behalf. Simply go to www.dailyhalacha.com and click the banner on the top of the home page. Fill in the form, click submit, and you will have fulfilled these misvot.**


Today's Halacha:

The Talmud teaches, "Mi'she'nichnas Adar Marbim Be'simcha," meaning, when the month of Adar arrives, we should be more joyous and festive than we are throughout the year. Rashi, in his commentary to this passage, explains that we increase our joy when Adar arrives in celebration of the miracles of Purim and Pesach. This would indicate that the joy required in Adar should extend also into the next month, Nissan, as we now enter the most joyous period on the Jewish calendar.

There is a basic principle that says, "Ein Mazal Le'Yisrael," meaning, the Jewish people's fate is not determined by the various forces of the stars and constellations. Nevertheless, Halacha says that one should try to schedule litigation that he has against a gentile specifically during the month of Adar. Days on which G-d acted favorably towards the Jewish people in the past, and that are earmarked for happy occasions, have a likelihood of seeing similar occasions in the present, as well. Therefore, if one has a pending trial against a gentile or is set to close a transaction, he should try to schedule the proceedings specifically during the month of Adar.

It is told that when Haman sought to draw lots to determine the date on which to exterminate the Jewish people, he threw three dice, which landed on the numbers 1, 3, and 3. The corresponding Hebrew letters to these numbers are "Alef," "Gimal" and "Gimal," which spell the word "Aggag," the name of the Amalekite king from whom Haman descended. Haman saw this result as foretelling his success in defeating the Jewish people. However, as the Megila tells us (9:1), "Ve'na'hafoch Hu," Haman's plan was reversed. G-d transformed the results of the crapshoot – 1,3,3 – to the numbers underneath those numbers on the dice – 6,4,4 – the corresponding letters of which are "Vav," "Dalet" and "Dalet," which spell the name "David." Thus, this is the month of transformation and reversal, when potential misfortune is transformed into good fortune.

Therefore, a person should try to schedule litigation or closings for the month of Adar, which is designated for good fortune.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Beracha When Eating Fish on a Cracker
The Obligation to Eat Bread on Shabbat, and the Guidelines for One Who Forgot to Add “Reseh” in Birkat Hamazon on Shabbat
Mentioning the Altar in the Beracha “Me’en Shalosh”
The Procedure for Netilat Yadayim; If One Forgot to Recite the Beracha Before Drying His Hands
Does One Recite a Beracha When Walking Near a Cemetery?
Which Beracha Does One Recite Before Smelling a Lemon?
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Music?
Does One Recite a Beracha When Smelling Synthetic Perfume?
Ensuring Proper Attire for the Recitation of Birkat Ha’mazon
Must a Guest Recite the Prayer for the Host if He Pays for His Meal?
When Must One Wash Mayim Aharonim, and How Much of the Hand Must be Washed?
Must One Wash His Hands Before Eating Cereal in Milk, or Cake Dipped in Coffee?
Why Does One Recite "She'hakol" Over Beer, Coffee and Tea?
Determining the Minimum Amount of Food Requiring a Beracha Aharona
Must One Repeat the Beracha Recited Over a Food or Beverage if He Changes Locations?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found