Q: What are some halachos relevant to the month of Nissan? A: there are a few different customs during the month of nissan which will be discussed. Preparation for Pesach Thirty days before Pesach one should start learning the halachot of Pesach. The 30 days begin from Purim itself. All the more so, on the holiday itself one should learn the halachot of Pesach. In Gemara Pesachim 6a, Rabbanan hold that one should begin to learn Hilchos Pesach thirty days in advance of Pesach, whereas Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel holds only 2 weeks. Rabbanan learn this idea from Moshe who taught the laws of Pesach Sheni thirty days in advance which was Pesach in Nissan. Shulchan Aruch 429:1 rules like the opinion of the Rabbanan. Mishna Brurah 429:2 writes that it begins on Purim and it is an obligation upon each individual to learn the Halachot of Pesach in this time. This doesn’t mean that a talmid chochom should stop his regular learning to learn halacha of the upcoming holiday, but rather it means that a question about hilchos pesach is given precedence to questions not about pesach. Also it is very important for the (local) Rabbi to give shiurim informing people of the halachot of Pesach. Mishna Brurah in Shaar HaTziyun 429:5 points out that the primary teaching on the holiday itself should be halacha and not just the idea of the day. Tachanun, Fasting, and Eulogies Shulchan Aruch 429:2 writes that there is no Tachanun for the entire month of Nissan. Mishan Brurah 429:7 explains that since the Nesiyim (in Bamidbar 7) brought the Korbanot for the first 12 days of Nissan, the days were considered a Yom Tov for them. Then Erev Pesach, Pesach, and Issru Chag are connected to Pesach. Altogether since most of the month is related to Kedusha it’s all considered Kodesh. There is also an opinion that the celebration of the building of the third Beis Hamikdash, which will occur in Nissan and in particular on Pesach, will extend for another week after Pesach. This is also brought down in Shu”t Chasam Sofer 103. According to Ashkenazim, one shouldn’t fast during Nissan; even an individual who has Yehrzheit shouldn’t fast during Nissan. Rama 429:2 However, according to Sephardim, one shouldn’t establish a communal fast during Nissan. However, an individual is permitted to fast, such as for a Yehrzheit during Nissan, except on Pesach and Rosh Chodesh. There is not supposed to be communal fasts or eulogies during the month of Nissan S”A 429:2. Mishna Brurah 429:9 adds that the minhag Ashkenaz was for even individuals not to fast during Nissan. The Mishna Brurah 429:10 brings that a bride and groom the day of their wedding may fast during Nissan even on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. It is permissible to fast a Taanis Chalom, a fast made to rectify a bad dream, during Nissan ( Rama 429:10). Parshas HaNesiyim During the first 13 days of Nissan, there is a nice minhag, for the first 12 days to read the Parsha of the Nesiyim for that day (found in Bamidbar 7), and on the 13th day to read the first four pesukim of Parshat Bahaloscha. The minhag is to read it from a chumash since, the Perisha YD 270:7 writes that since nowadays writing down Torah SheBaal Peh is treated as though it’s permitted and that we don’t learn from nuances in the text, one shouldn’t degrade the holiness of a Sefer Torah to learn from it, but rather one should learn from a sefer. Maos Chitim It is proper to give Maos Chitim, charity to the poor in order that they have money for Matzah on Pesach. It is permissible to give Maos Chitim from money of Maaser Kesafim, a tith of one’s money. Halichot Shlomo (Moadim vol 1, 2:2), since there is no set amount that must be given and it isn’t considered a total obligation. |
Pesach
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