DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is For Refuah Shelemah for
 David Ben Margalit
"Please pray tehillim perek 6 in the merit of David Ben Margalit for a complete and speedy refuah shelemah."

Dedicated By
Anonymous

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 808 KB)
Moving Ovens or Stoves, Sealing Windows or Doors, and Blowing out Candles

Chacham Ovadia Yosef, in Halichot Olam (vol. 7, starting on p. 221), codifies the ruling of Rabbi Yehuda Ha'chasid (Germany, 1150-1217), in his famous Tzava'a (Last Will & Testament), that one should not move his oven or stove to use its space for some other purpose.  Once a person has an oven or stove in a given location in his home, he should not move away the appliance and put some other appliance or piece of furniture in that space.  Chacham Ovadia also mentions another ruling from Rabbi Yehuda Ha'chasid's Tzava'a, namely, that if one renovates his house he should not completely seal a window or door.  If he wants to make a window or door part of the wall, he should leave at least a small hole so that it is not sealed entirely.

Two pages later, Chacham Ovadia brings the ruling of the Ben Ish Chai (Rabbi Yosef Chayim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), based on a Midrash, that one should never extinguish a candle or match by blowing it out.  One should ensure to employ some other means to extinguish a flame, such as exposing it to the wind, rubbing it into the ground, or placing it in water.  This law becomes particularly relevant at birthday parties, where it is customary to place candles in the cake and have the child blow out the candles.  This practice is improper.  It should also be mentioned that Rabbi Avraham Blumenkrantz, in one of his Pesach digests, documents that the entire concept of "birthday candles" has its origins in ancient pagan customs, and therefore it should be avoided altogether.

Summary: One should not reposition the oven or stove in his home to use the space for something else.  A window or door should not be sealed completely; at least a small hole should be left unsealed.  One should never extinguish a candle or match by blowing it out with his mouth; some other means of extinguishing should be used.


 

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Liability of a “Shomer Hinam” – an Unpaid Guardian
Is it Permissible to Photocopy Pages From a Published Sefer?
Separating Halla from the Dough – When Does the Obligation Apply?
Omitting Lamenase’ah and Tefila Le’David on Days When Tahanunim Omitted
Reciting Yag Midot and Nefilat Apayim After Sunset
Fasting on Friday
Is it Proper to Sleep During the Day?
Wigs and Alternate Head Coverings for Ladies
Pressuring One’s Fellow to Sell His Possessions
Asking Forgiveness From Those Whom We Have Wronged
Rosh Hashanah – Proper Foods, and Avoiding Anger
Reciting Sheheheyanu When Purchasing a New Garment
The Communal Obligation of Bikur Holim
Hiring a Jew Who Has Not Recited Habdala Since the Previous Shabbat
Invitations Printed in “Ketab Ashurit” – The Writing Style of a Sefer Torah
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found