** A Special Appeal for the Zion Orphanage in Jerusalem**
A] Due to the exceptional success of the opening of last year’s three Mishpachtonim, the Zion Orphanage has just completed construction of two more family living quarters at their facility in Jerusalem. Each living quarter houses a husband and wife with their own young children together with twelve Zion Orphanage boys ranging from 7 to 13 years of age. This unique arrangement is meant to provide each child with a greater sense of being part of a real family. While the two new facilities have been completed, they lack sufficient funds. There is no funding for beds, closets, tables, refrigerators, ovens, washing machines, dryers, curtains and playrooms full of all sorts of toys and sports equipment. They need your help!
B] The Orphanage provides an opportunity for you to become a Partner by adopting/sponsoring one of the boys. By contributing $150 a month, The Sponsorer would learn about the boy, receive regular updates on him, communicate directly with him and be able to meet him in person during a visit.
To participate in any capacity, contact the office of Rabbi Baruch Rakovsky in Israel at 011-972-2-537-6091, or send an email to Jerusalem@Zionorphanage.com. You can also visit their web site www.zionorphanage.com.
Today's Halacha:
Halacha requires reciting the full Hallel, with the introductory Beracha, on each of the eight days of Chanukah. Chacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Chazon Ovadia (Laws of Chanukah, p. 213), rules that women are exempt from the obligation to recite Hallel during Chanukah. A woman who nevertheless wishes to recite Hallel during Chanukah certainly may do so, but she may not recite the Beracha.
The full Hallel is recited with a Beracha during Chanukah even in a house of mourning, Heaven forbid; both the mourner and those praying in his home recite the full Hallel with the Beracha on each of the eight days of Chanukah (Chazon Ovadia, Laws of Chanukah, p. 217).
It is forbidden to speak during the Hallel recitation, with the exception of answering "Amen" upon hearing a Beracha, or responding to Kaddish, Kedusha or Barechu (Chazon Ovadia, p. 221).
The congregation should preferably listen to the Chazan's recitation of the introductory Beracha, answer "Amen," and then begin the Hallel. If a person recited the introductory Beracha himself, he must then begin the Hallel immediately and not make any interruption in between the Beracha and the actual Hallel. If after reciting the Beracha he hears the Chazan or the person standing next to him recite the Beracha, he should not answer "Amen" unless he had begun reciting the Hallel.
