There is a famous story about Rav Chanina ben Dosa and his daughter that one time she mistakenly bought vinegar instead of oil to light the Shabbat candles. When her father came home he found her crying becuse they would not have candles for Shabbat. He comforted her with these famous words, that  “He who told the oil to light shall tell the vineger to light as well.” This is to say that the reason that oil lights is because Hashem decreed that it is so, and then as a result the molecules and atoms function in a certain manner. Just the same, He may decree the same of vineger, and in fact that is what happened that Shabbat; the lights lit for 24 hours.

The point is clear. Nature is merely a way that Hashem hides Himself. The scene of Chanuka takes place at a time that the Jewish People were going to embark on a long and trying exile. They had to engrain within themselves this concept, that even though the Almighty might seem hidden, He is in fact right here behind the guise of nature. Chanuka became the holiday that teaches us this; a small group of warriors winning a decisive battle and the miracle with the oil all occurred in a “normal” fashion, without any fancy seas splitting or ten plagues.

Our job on this holiday is to prepare ourselves for this messsage, that the light of the Almighty is with us everywhere, even in times of darkness.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Chaim Levy

GoSephardic Goes Hollywood!!!
If you haven’t already heard, Hollywood is preparing itself its newest star sensation. Join us on this unforgettable road trip, Shabbaton and special “Red Carpet Event.” We are almost sold out! Here are you Road Trip options:
$995 – Join us for the entire Road Trip, including the Shabbaton, meals and the Red Carpet Event. Includes accommodations. Must provide your own flight.
$195 – Join us for the entire Shabbat and the special “Red Carpet Event” on Saturday night with hundreds of other young adults from all over. Must provide your own flight and accommodations.
There are limited spots and scholarships available. Please click here for more info and to apply.

Get your business promoted at the event! Sponsorship and Advertisement opportunities available. Please contact tshaer@gmail.com.

Click Here To Visit Their Site

WHO

• Only the man of the house should light the menorah. He is the representative of the household doing it for the mother and children.
• Children who insist on lighting can light the shamash (the big candle) or the extra candles, however not the new candle that was added that night.
• No one except the man of the house should light the first candle.
• A man that is out on a business trip should have his wife light for him in his household.
• A student that is studying abroad does not light a menorah. If they wish to, they may do so without a blessing.

WHEN

• Our custom is to light at nightfall (tset hakochavim), except on Shabbat.
• If one did not light at nightfall, they may do so until 30 minutes before sunrise.

WHERE

• The menorah should be placed where it will be seen by the most amount of people.
• Usually, that means in the front window of one’s house facing the street.
• If one can, the ideal place for the menorah is outside one’s house door, opposite the mezuzah. (Looking at the door, the mezuzah is on the right, the menorah is on the left). The menorah should be at least 12 inches from the floor.
• If one lives in a building, on a floor higher than 10 meters/30 feet, they may place the menorah anywhere they wish in the house. Some opinions recommend placing it outside one’s apartment door (for the other neighbours to see).
• Once the menorah is lit, it should not be moved. If you really must move it, it’s permitted to do so.

HOW

• First light the shamash (the biggest candle), then say the blessing (see the below), then say HANEROT HALALOO and MIZMOR SHIR CHANUKAT HABAYIT…
• We add a candle for each additional night (1st night: 1 candle + shamash, 2nd night: 2 candles + shamash…)
• The menorah should stay lit for at least 30 minutes.
• If the wind blew a candle(s)out, one does not have to relight it (unless it was in an obviously windy area)

The blessings are the following:

1. BAROUCH ATA ADO-NAI ELO-HEINU MELECH HA OLAM, ASHER KIDEH-SHANU B’MITSVOTAV, V’TSIVANU L’HADLIK NER CHANUKAH.
2. BAROUCH ATA ADO-NAI ELO-HEINU MELECH HA OLAM, SHEH ASA NISSIM L’AVOTEINU BAYAMEEM HAHEM, BAZEHMAN HAZEH.
3. BAROUCH ATA ADO-NAI ELO-HEINU MELECH HA OLAM, SHEH HECHE-YANOO, V’KIYEMANOO V’HEEGUEEYANOO LA-ZEMAN HAZEH.

The 1st night (on Shabbat): Say blessing #1, #2 & #3, then light.

The 2nd night: Do havadalah and then blessing #1, then #2, then light.

The 3rd-8th nights: Say blessing #1, then #2, then light.

• On the 1st night, put the candle to the right-most position in the menorah.
• On the 2nd  night, put the two candles to the right-most position in the menorah, however light the left-most candle first (the newest one).
• On the 3rd night, put the three candles to the right-most position in the menorah, however light the left-most candle first (the newest one).
• On the 4th night…
• It is good to stay for 30 minutes by the candles, sing some songs, eat some donuts and enjoy the light of Chanukah. Remember, this light is, amongst other things, the symbol of Hashem helping us in all our life’s endeavors. Even though we were few, He helped us win a war against the Greeks who were trying to destroy all things Jewish. Think about what He has done for you lately. Happy Holy day!

SHABBAT

• The man of the house first lights the Chanukah candles and then woman of the house lights the Shabbat candles.

In the following post, we will cover the laws and customs of:

• Preparing for Rosh Hashana
• Candle Lighting
• Kiddush
• Simanim (the special foods)
• Shofar

The Day Before Rosh Hashana (RH)

• We do not say vidduy nor tachanun the day preceding RH (this Friday). Not at Shacharit nor at Mincha.
• We do not say Lamnatseach Mizmor L’David nor Tefila L’David at Shacharit.
• The last time one can do Selichot before RH is before Shacharit. (However one does continue to recite them during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva, the week after RH).
• One should not blow a shofar the day preceding RH. (If one wishes to practice blowing it, he must be in a room where no one can hear him).

Customs for the day preceding RH

• It is a good custom to cut one’s hair and clean one’s clothes the day preceding RH.
• It is also a custom to go to the Mikveh the day preceding RH.
• There is a custom to visit the graves of holy people the day preceding RH and beseech them to pray on ones behalf in order to have a meritorious and successful year.
• Some have a custom of reciting Hatarat Nedarim (The Annulment of Vows) the day preceding RH. Men should ask their wives to appoint them to be messengers in order to annul their vows, however even without this they can proceed to annul them. A competent halachik authority should be consulted to asses which vows can be annulled and which can not.

The Night of RH – Candle Lighting

When RH falls out on Friday night, women should light two candles for RH (that includes the Shabbat candles).
On Saturday night, ONLY light from a LIT candle (make sure to light a 24-hour candle on Friday night).

The blessing for Friday night is:

BAROUCH ATA ADO-NAI, ELO-HEINU MELECH HA-OLAM, ASHER KIDESHANU B’MITSVOTAV, V’TSIVANU L’HADLEEK NER SHEL SHABBAT V’YOM TOV

The blessing for Saturday night is:

BAROUCH ATA ADO-NAI, ELO-HEINU MELECH HA-OLAM, ASHER KIDESHANU B’MITSVOTAV, V’TSIVANU L’HADLEEK NER SHEL YOM TOV

(On a regular year, when RH does not fall on Shabbat, the blessing is:)

BAROUCH ATA ADO-NAI, ELO-HEINU MELECH HA-OLAM, ASHER KIDESHANU B’MITSVOTAV, V’TSIVANU L’HADLEEK NER SHEL YOM TOV

Kiddush

The text of the Kiddush is found in most Siddurim and Machzorim. It begins ELEH MOADEH ADO-NAI MIKRAEH KODESH…

On the FIRST NIGHT (Friday) one first says the first paragraph of the Shabbat Kiddush (VAYCHULU), and then the holy day blessings (ELEH MOADEH…), then BOREH PERI HAGEFEN, followed by SHEH HECHEYANU.

On the SECOND NIGHT (Saturday) one starts with the holy day blessings (ELEH MOADEH…), then BOREH PERI HAGEFEN, followed by HAVDALA (bless on the lit candle BOREH MEOREH HA-ESH, then HAMAVDIL BEN KODESH L’KODSEH), and finally SHEH HECHEYANU.

1^st Night (FRIDAY NIGHT)

ELEH MOADEH
VAYCHULU
BOREH PERI HAGEFEN
MEKADESH ISRAEL V’HAZEMANIM
SHEH HECHEYANU

2^nd Night (SATURDAY NIGHT)

ELEH MOADEH
BOREH PERI HAGEFEN
MEKADESH ISRAEL V’HAZEMANIM
BOREH MEOREH HA-ESH
HAMAVDIL BEN KODESH L’KODESH
SHEH HECHEYANU * the blessing of Sheh Hecheyanu is said on both nights. It is best to have a new fruit on the table or new clothing when reciting this blessing.

The Simanim

In order to lay the spiritual groundwork for a meritorious and good year, the custom is to recite a prayer upon certain foods.

There are two ways of proceeding with this:

In regard to the order of washing/eating Hamotsi and eating the special foods, there are two ways of proceeding. R’Ovadia Yosef is of the opinion that both procedures are correct, however the first one is preferable:

1. After Kiddush but after washing for bread & HaMotsi, then one proceeds to the special foods
2. After Kiddush but before washing for bread & HaMotsi, eat the special foods with the blessings

In regards to the YEHI RATSON and the blessing, once again there are two ways of proceeding (either way is correct, but R Ovadia Yosef is of the opinion that the first is better to do):

1. One can recite the blessing first, taste from the food and then the YEHI RATSON
2. One can say the YEHI RATSON and then recite the appropriate blessing on the food

Here are the foods that one should eat:

Tmar – Dates (bless BOREH PERI HA’ETS, then eat, then say YEHI RATSON)
Roubia – Beans
Karti – Leeks
Silka – Beets
Kra – Gourd/Pumpkin/Squash
Rimon – Pomegranate
Tapouah – Apple Dipped in Sugar/Honey
Rosh – Lamb’s Head (one can substitute with a chicken’s head)

• The custom is also to eat sweet things and avoid sour, bitter and spicy foods.
• Some have a custom to eat fish and some do not. One should follow their own custom.
• Some people avoid eating nuts on RH.

The Day of RH

• If possible, one should avoid sleeping in on RH, as well as taking any naps. If this is too difficult, one can take a nap after chatsot (about 1pm check your local Jewish Calendar).
• One should make extra efforts not to get angry at all on RH (not even in their hearts, let alone externally).
• Some have a custom of finishing the book of Tehilim twice over. Since there are 150 Psalms, reading them twice would amount to 300, gematria C-P-R (Kaper=Atone). Others read Idra Rabba/Zuta. And those who are versed in Talmud may continue their studies.

Shofar

• One may sit or stand while hearing the Shofar.
• One must be quiet while the Shofar is being blown.
• Men over the age of 13 are obligated to hear the Shofar on RH.
• Women are not obligated to hear the Shofar, however those who have a custom to go every year should try their hardest to maintain their tradition or at least hear it in the comfort of their own home.

Hair, Beards & Music

• One should refrain from listening to music, live or recorded, from the last day of Pesach until the 33rd day of ShO. (Y”Y, 493:4)
• In a celebration of a mitsvah such as brit mila or pidyon haben, one is allowed to hear songs dealing with holy topics even played with a live band.   At any time during ShO, one is also allowed to sing during prayer or when learning. In addition, any singing done to praise HaShem is permitted during all these days. (Y”Y, 493:5)
• Our minhag is not to cut one’s hair all the days of ShO until the 34th day in the morning.  Those who are extra stringent even refrain from shaving from the 1st until the 34th day of the Omer. (Y”Y, 493:6)
• One should make every effort not shave their beard duiring ShO. However, if not shaving ones beard during the ShO is causing one a major discomfort then one can:
  • can shave on the day before Rosh Chodesh Iyar
  • can shave once a week on Fridays in honor of the Shabbat (Y”Y, 493:8)
• If a brit mila celebration takes place during ShO, the father of the son, sandak and mohel may cut their hair and shave that same day and do so the day before the brit mila. (Y”Y, 493:10)

New Clothes

• It is praisworthy to refrain from wearing brand new clothing which requires a beracha of Shehecheyanu (a new suit, elegant dress etc.) during ShO.  They even refrain from sewing and making alterations on brand new clothing during ShO.  It is good practice to follow this stringency. If one must wear new clothing, one may do so on Shabbat and say the blessing of Shehecheyanu. (Y”Y, 493:12)
• For one getting married from the 34th day on, he may buy or make new clothes as well as make alterations. (Y”Y, 493:14)

Various Laws

• One is permitted to eat a new fruit that is obligated in the blessing of Shehecheyanu during ShO . (Y”Y, 493:13)
• One is permitted to move into a new home or apartment during ShO. It is also permitted to paint the walls and put up wallpaper.  The minhag of Sepharadim is not to say Shecheyanu upon moving into a new house, however one may take a new fruit and/or clothing and recite the blessing on them while having in mind the house. (Y”Y, 493:15)
• Some women refrain from doing work during ShO from shekia (sunset) and on. (Y”Y, 493:11)
• There are those that refrain from leaving their city during ShO unless it is necessary. (Y”Y, 493:16)

Getting Married/Engaged During ShO

• The minhag of the Sefaradim is not to get married during the omer (from Pesach until the 34th day of the omer in the morning).  On the 34th day of the omer and onwards including the morning, one CAN get married.  From the 34th day on, it is permissible to begin marriage preparations.  If it is absolutly necessary, one may get married on the night of the 33rd day of the omer after checking with your Orthodox Rabbi. (Y”Y, 493:1)
• A chatan (man getting married) may cut his hair on the day of his wedding during the ShO. (Y”Y, 493:3)
• One is permitted to get engaged during the ShO, however the party should not have dancing, music or a band, since these are not allowed during ShO.  One should note that mixed dancing is never permitted. (Y”Y, 493:5)