[Shut She’eilat Shlomo 1:235]
1. Lighting Candles
We recite
the blessing of Shehechiyanu on both nights of Rosh Hashanah, even if one does
not have a new piece of clothing or a new fruit (which he did not yet eat this
season) before him. It is preferable, however, that there be a new piece of
clothing or a new fruit (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 600:2).
Question: Is it permissible to attach the candles in the candlesticks on Rosh Hashanah?
Answer: Attaching
the candles to the candlesticks for the second night is forbidden on account of
[the prohibition of] "leveling" (Shemirat Shabbat Ke-Hilchata p. 76
#18), and this prohibition is no less important than the actual commandment of
lighting the candles. One should therefore prepare two additional candlesticks
before Rosh Hashanah or stick them into the candlesticks without attaching them
on the holiday.
On the
second day of Rosh Hashanah, one may not prepare the candlesticks before the
stars come out (definite nightfall), since we may not prepare on the first day
of Rosh Hashanah for the second day. But it is permissible to light the candles
before sunset, since one benefits from their light on the first day itself.
Addition to the revised edition
Question: I
saw in the book "Am Ke-Lavi" (the original name of this volume of She’eilat
Shlomo) that it is permissible to light on the first day of Rosh Hashanah
before sunset (for the second day) because it is not considered preparation for
the next day, since we benefit from the lights on the first day as well. What
is the source for this law, since it does not follow the opinion of the Mateh
Ephraim (599:9-11)?
Answer: The
Be’er Heitev writes: "The Levush (503:4) wrote: We customarily light the candles
when it gets dark even before [reciting the prayer] "Barechu." And
the Or Zarua wrote that there are women who recite the blessing before they go
to Shul (for Maariv of the second day). And it is also written in the Shelah
that it is a greater Mitzvah to do this than to light upon returning to their
house since they would return to a dark house. And in Shul it is customary to
light even when it is still day time since in a Shul it is always a Mitzvah to
light candles, even in the day." And this is the ruling in the Shulchan Aruch
(Orach Chaim 514:5): "It is forbidden to light an idle light which one
does not need, but [a light] of a Shul is not considered idle. It is
permissible to light one even on the second day after Minchah and this is not considered
preparing for a weekday, since in lighting it there is a Mitzvah for that time."
And the Mishnah Berurah (#33) wrote: "There is a Mitzvah...that is to say,
even if one does not need the light while it is still day, even so there is a Mitzvah
to light it because of the honor of the Shul, and if it is already close to
dark it is even permissible in one’s house since he needs it at that time."
2. Annulment of Vows
It is
customary to release ones vows on Erev Rosh Hashanah or Erev Yom Kippur, but it
is also possible to do this during the entire Ten Days of Repentance. One who
is unable to do this should be released before three individuals when the
opportunity arises (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:10).
3. Eating before the Shofar Blasts
Question: Is
our custom of eating before the Shofar blasts in consonance with Jewish Law?
Answer:
1) In general, when it is incumbent upon a Jew to fulfill a Mitzvah he should first fulfill the Mitzvah and then eat afterwards. Nevertheless the basic law is that only an actual meal is forbidden before the fulfillment of a Mitzvah, and a small snack is permissible. But in the generations of the Achronim, they were very strict regarding eating a snack, and they only permitted it for someone who was extremely feeble (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:9. Sha’arei Teshuvah 584 #3).
1) In general, when it is incumbent upon a Jew to fulfill a Mitzvah he should first fulfill the Mitzvah and then eat afterwards. Nevertheless the basic law is that only an actual meal is forbidden before the fulfillment of a Mitzvah, and a small snack is permissible. But in the generations of the Achronim, they were very strict regarding eating a snack, and they only permitted it for someone who was extremely feeble (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:9. Sha’arei Teshuvah 584 #3).
2) It is
now customary in all places, even amongst the pious, to permit eating a small
amount. They support this on the basis of the law that a small snack is
permissible. There is therefore no basis to prohibit it. See the comprehensive
article of Rabbi Y. Segal in Noam vol. 14, which states that someone who has
difficulty with not eating, and whose Davening continues until after midday – is
permitted to eat something small.
Summary: It
is certainly preferable not to eat, in particular on the first day of Rosh
Hashanah, since these Shofar blasts are a Torah Mitzvah, but for one who has difficulty
waiting until the end, and whose ability to pray with proper concentration will
be disturbed, it is permissible to eat something light. And one should
obviously do so with awe and fear, and not for an inappropriate reason (In Shut
Bnei Banim #14, Rav Yehudah Herzl Henkin disagrees with the above, but one can counter
his argument).
4.
Question: Is one required to recite another blessing over a Talit after the
break between Shacharit and Musaf?
Answer:
Yes, since this is a significant interruption and the person’s mind will be
distracted from the Mitzvah of Talit (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 8, Mishnah
Berurah #37).
