*** Urgent Petition Request from Rabbi Eli Mansour – A Letter from Rabbi Mansour (Daily Halacha follows below) ***
Dear Community Members,
Few issues have upset and disturbed so many of our people as the plans for a demonstration & parade for gay pride in Jerusalem this coming Friday.
This planned march in the holiest of holy cities, Jerusalem, is an outrage and travesty, which desecrates and shames the Jewish people, the Nation of Israel, its government officials, and its history.
These devious plans, and the unwisely granted permits to carry them out by the Jerusalem city officials, constitutes a previously unparalleled glorification of sin in the city that is considered Hashem's living room.
All of us need to be deeply concerned about the inevitable and untold future consequences of this mockery and provocation, and stand in unity with the 250,000 Orthodox religious residents of Jerusalem in demanding a complete and immediate retraction, revocation, and cancellation of the licenses and permits that the demonstrators have been issued.
Please join our effort to petition 39 local Jerusalem City Officials and the Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert, and other key government figures, in an urgent and immediate demand to end this abomination and atrocity before it starts.
Time is of the essence, please sign the petition immediately at www.SyMall.com/NO
Thank you for your continued confidence, loyalty, and support in helping to preserve safety and decency in our lives and our children's lives.
Yours Truly,
Rabbi Eli J. Mansour
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Today’s Halacha:
Ben Ish Chai (Rabbi Yosef Chayim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in his work “Rav Pe’alim” (2:12), addresses the custom observed by many not to place any food or beverages underneath the table during a meal, such as if there is no room on the table for all the serving platters. He writes that this custom is mentioned already by Rabbi Chayim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1868), in his work “Chayim La’Rosh.” Rabbi Palachi explained that “Chitzonim,” impure spiritual forces, may be present under the table during a meal, and one should ensure not to expose food or beverages to these forces. Accordingly, the Ben Ish Chai ruled that this practice should, indeed, be followed.
It should be noted that this Halacha applies only to meals that include bread, and only during the meal. If one eats a meal that does not include bread, or sits at the table after the meal has concluded, he may place food or beverages under the table. Furthermore, Chacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Halichot Olam (vol. 7, p. 217), writes that if one did place a food or beverage under the table during a meal, it remains permissible for consumption.
Summary: One should not place food or beverages under the table during a meal in which bread is eaten. Nevertheless, if one did place a food or beverage under the table during such a meal, it is permissible for consumption.
