HALACHA OF THE WEEK:17th of Tammuz On the 17th of Tammuz five major tragedies befell the Jewish people: 1) Moshe broke the tablets of the Ten Commandments; 2) the Daily Sacrifices (Korban Tamid) were suspended; 3) the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem - leading up to the destruction of the second Temple; 4) Apostomus (a Roman general) burned the Torah; and 5) an idol was erected in the Temple.
As a result, the 17th day of Tammuz was designated as a fast day, and for Ashkenazim, it is also the beginning of the three-week period of national mourning for the destruction of the Temples. (Interestingly, there is a dispute whether or not the “three weeks” begins the night of the 17th of Tammuz [Tzitz Eliezer 10:27] or in the morning [Iggrot Moshe Orech Chaim vol. 1:168]. However, unless there is a pressing need to be lenient, the consensus is to consider the night of the 17th as the beginning of the three weeks.)
Some Laws of this Fast Day: The fast begins 72 minutes before sunrise (4:05 am) and continues until the end of the day (9:04 pm). Food and drink may be consumed any time during the night, if one has not gone to sleep "for the night".
Although it is permitted to bathe on a fast day, it has become customary not to take a hot shower or bath [Aruch haShulchan 550:3].
The rabbis differ as to whether it is permitted to rinse one's mouth with water on the fast days such as this [Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chayim 567:3]. Some permit rinsing the front part of the mouth and even brushing one's teeth, taking care that no water enters the throat [Aruch haShulchan 567:3], while others allow this only when in distress [Mishna Berurah 567:11].
Prescribed medications may be taken on this fast day. If one has difficulty swallowing pills without water s/he may drink a small amount of water required to swallow the medicine [Nishmat Avraham, vol. 5, pg. 46 in the name of Rabbi S.Z. Auerbach].
There is a debate among authorities whether pregnant or nursing woman should fast on the 17th of Tammuz (and the other minor fast days). Some maintain that they should, unless they are in significant discomfort [Chayyei Adam 133:6] or feeling weak [Mishna Berurah 550 note 5]. While the Aruch HaShulchan (among others) exempted them from fasting on these days [Aruch HaShulchan 554:8, Halichot Beitah 25 note 3]. (When the 17th of Tammuz is on Shabbat, and the fast is being observed a day later Sunday, one may be more lenient both in terms of pregnant and nursing women and for those who are ill [Shvut Yaakov 3:37 and Nitei Gavriel 6:9].
If by accident, a healthy person ate some food, the fast should be resumed and completed as normal [Mishna Berurah 549:3].”
DVAR TORAH The Apter Rav, Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heschel (1748-1825) was known by the title of his magnum opus ‘Ohev Yisrael’ because, like the title of the book, he was very meticulous in the mitzvah of loving a fellow Jew. In fact, he even claimed that in every parsha in the Torah, there is a reference to the mitzvah of "ahavat Yisrael."
Once the Apter Rav was asked where this mitzvah is hinted at in parshat Balak - the only parsha in the Torah that occurs after the Jewish people came on the scene, but which views them from the outside - from the perspective of Balak and Bilaam.
His answer was that parshat Balak is the easiest of all parshiyot to find a reference for "ahavat Yisrael," since it is alluded at in the word Balak - which is an acronym for the commandment v’Ahavta l’Reacha Kamocha!
As soon as he said this, his chassidim challenged him. They noted that the “v’Ahavta” begins with the letter "vav" while Balak begins with the letter "bet." And while middle letter is a "lamed" with which the word "l'Reacha" begins, "Kamocha "begins with a "chaf" and Balak ends with a "kuf!"
Said the Apter Rav, “If you are going to be so particular about every little detail, you'll never be able to attain the level of loving your fellow Jews.”
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MAZAL TOV * to Mrs. Bernice Novick on the birth of a great grandson, Ashi Rosen. The proud parents are Jenny and Eliyahu Rosen. REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Etai Rimel – Etai Yaakov ben Tzipporah, who is recovering in rehab. * to Gitelle Rapoport who is recuperating from surgery. * to Emily Morris who is recuperating from surgery.
CONDOLENCES * to Malkie (Elon) Kohn on the loss of her father Rabbi Moshe Friedman z’l. Shiva was in Far Rockaway and ends Friday afternoon. Malkie can be reached at 773-410-0661.
* to Naomi Samber on the loss of her brother Edward Shoenig z’l. Naomi will be sitting shiva in Brooklyn until motzaei Shabbat. She can be reached on her cell phone 773-724-0236. Naomi will return home late Sunday morning and will sit shiva at her home 6641 N. Talman through Monday night. Please not make shiva calls between 12:00 pm –1:00 pm and 5:30-7:00 pm.
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