Dose of Halacha

Question: We were going out for Friday night Dinner so I lit candles and stayed with them for a while before leaving the house. I later found out that I lit them before plag hamincha . Did that count, or does it mean that I didn’t light Shabbos candles? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 23b) writes that one should not light the Shabbos candles too early or too late. Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 263:4) writes that one shouldn’t light the Shabbos candles before plag hamincha , one and a quarter halachic hours before nacht, as it wouldn’t be apparent that one is lighting them for Shabbos. The Rema adds that if the candles were lit too early, they need to be blown out and relit for Shabbos. R’ Akiva Eiger (OC 263:4) writes that the Rema only requires relighting the candles if they weren’t lit lekavod Shabbos . While lechatchila one shouldn’t light too early, if one lit early lekavod Shabbos, they have fulfilled their obligation. The Mishna Berura (263:20; Biur Halacha) argues that ...

Question: My neighbour has started a minyan for maariv in his house on Motzaei Shabbos. They begin 15 minutes before nacht . Is this ideal? Answer: The Gemara (Rosh Hashana 9a; Yuma 81b) teaches that there is a mitzva of tosefes Shabbos , to add on a little bit of time both at the beginning and at the end of Shabbos. One should therefore endeavour to bring Shabbos in a few minutes early and not end it until a few minutes after nacht (See Mishna Berura 261:19). Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 293:1) writes that one should delay davening maariv on motzaei Shabbos in order to add some time onto Shabbos. The Mishna Berura (293:1) writes that this is the universal practice. The Rema adds that there is even a minhag to say the opening words of maariv , vehu rachum, very slowly to add on a few extra seconds. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 293:3) writes that in extenuating circumstances, such as one had a pressing mitzva matter, they can daven maariv after pelag hamincha . Nonetheless,...

Question:  Should we stand up for a Rav or an elderly person who enters our shul while we are davening ? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (YD 244:1) writes that there is a mitzva mideoraisa to stand for a talmid chacham or anyone over seventy years old. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 3:70) writes that if one is uncertain whether the person is seventy, one should stand regardless, following the principle of safek deoraisa lechumra, that we are strict with regards to doubts of Torah laws. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 244:11) further writes that if a talmid chacham walks in while one is learning, one should interrupt their learning to stand. The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 244:7) clarifies that this is consistent with other mitzvos that require interrupting one’s learning. The Mishna (Berachos 2:1) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 66:1) discuss when one can interrupt during shema and its berachos for significant reasons. However, the Magen Avraham (66:1) and Mishna Berura (66:2) note that, in practi...

Question: I forgot that I was still meaty and accidentally said a beracha on a cup of tea. What should I have done? Answer: The Gemara (Chullin 105a) writes that after eating meat, Mar Ukva would wait until the next meal before eating milky food. There is a machlokes however, as to how long this wait is. Rambam ( Maachalos Asuros 9:28) and the Shulchan Aruch (YD 89:1) writes that one must wait six hours after eating meat before eating cheese while the Rema writes that one only has to wait one hour, wash their hands and rinse their mouth first. While the Dutch community typically waits one hour and many wait three, the Taz (YD 89:2) notes that the main minhag is to wait six hours. The Gemara (Berachos 33a) writes that we learn from a passuk not to say a beracha levatala. According to Rambam (Berachos 1:15) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 215:4), it is forbidden mideoraisa while Tosafos (Rosh Hashana 33a) holds that it is forbidden miderabanan (See Mishna Berura 215:20) . R’...