Think Before You Speak: The Hidden Power of Our Words

Two daily halachot from Bahalacha U’Veaggadah, based on the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

What Is the Requirement for Cooking on Yom Tov?

Note: This year, the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, when cooking is prohibited. Beginning on the second night of Rosh Hashanah, after Shabbat ends, cooking is permitted according to the conditions described below.

Our Sages prohibited creating a new flame on Yom Tov, such as by using a lighter or matches. However, it is permitted to transfer fire from a flame that was already burning before Yom Tov. Therefore, before the holiday begins, one should prepare a lit yahrzeit candle or another long burning flame. This flame can then be used to light a fire for cooking, illumination, and other permitted Yom Tov needs.

What Should a Sick Person Do If He Cannot Attend Synagogue on Rosh Hashanah?

If a person is ill and unable to attend synagogue on Rosh Hashanah, the baal toke’a, the person who blows the shofar, may go to the sick person’s home after the prayers and blow the shofar for him so that he can fulfill the mitzvah. Ideally, the sick person should stand while hearing the shofar blasts.

Regarding the blessing, if the sick person is able to recite it himself, it is preferable for him to make the blessing and for the baal toke’a to blow the shofar. If he is unable to recite the blessing, the baal toke’a may recite it and then blow the shofar for him.

It is not necessary to blow all 101 shofar blasts that are customarily sounded in the synagogue. Thirty blasts are sufficient for the sick person to fulfill his obligation.

Daily Insight

While riding together on a bus, Michal and Merav were discussing the surprising news that Ronen and Shirel had gotten engaged.

“Why would Ronen want to marry a girl like her?” Michal asked Merav. “She’s so quiet and serious, always so stern, and she’s not particularly intelligent either. He’s young, educated, and full of life!”

“I think so too,” Merav agreed. “I always thought Ronen Berkowitz would find someone better suited to him.”

“Exactly,” Michal added. “She’s completely beneath him.”

The woman sitting behind the two friends could no longer remain silent. She stood up, approached the surprised Michal, and shook her hand.

“Thank you very much,” the woman said. “I’m Edna Berkowitz, Ronen’s mother. I didn’t know all these things about Shirel. You’ve certainly given me something to think about. Perhaps this marriage is a mistake. We’ll have to see what we can do to prevent it.”

Michal and Merav turned red with embarrassment. “Maybe we exaggerated a little,” Michal stammered. “She’s not really that terrible. She can even be funny sometimes.”

“Yes,” Merav quickly added. “And when you think about it, they actually looked perfect together.”

“Perhaps you did exaggerate a little,” the woman replied. “These two people have chosen to get married, and they probably have very good reasons for doing so.”

“We certainly didn’t mean to cause any harm,” Michal told Edna as the woman signaled to the bus driver to let her off. “Please send Ronen our regards from Michal and Merav.”

“I can’t,” the woman replied as she stepped off the bus, “because I’m not his mother. But I certainly could have been.”

This could happen to any of us. We do not always know who may be listening, or when and how deeply our words might hurt someone or cause real damage.