Search results for: ""aval""

Mourning: Who Must Mourn: After Burial/Avel
After burial, any of the seven close relatives are called avel (aveilim).
SheHecheyanu
A mourner (avel) is permitted to say she'hecheyanu for himself but should not say she'hecheyanu if required for the congregation.  An avel should say she'hecheyanu on:
  • Eating a “new” fruit.
  • Wearing a new garment.
  • Lighting Chanuka candles at home for the first time that year.
 An avel should not do the following, since he should not say she'hecheyanu unless it is necessary:
  • Light Chanuka candles in synagogue.
  • Read the megila.
  • Blow shofar on Rosh Hashana.
When To Say Havdala
B'di'avad, havdala after Shabbat may be said day or night until Tuesday at sunset.
Note From Sunday at daybreak on, use only the wine, not the candle or spices, and don't say the first paragraph (hinei El yeshu'ati...).
Business during Shiv'a
An avel may not work and may not own an operating business during shiv'a.  If a death is imminent, consult a rabbi immediately to arrange a sale of the business.
Bathing during Shiv'a
An avel should not bathe for pleasure and should only wash hands (to elbows), face (to collarbone), and feet (to the knees). If the avel is sweaty, smelly, or dirty, he or she may wash other body parts as needed.
Introduction: Shacharit: When To Begin
B'di'avad, you can say shema and amida as early as 72 minutes before sunrise (alot ha'shachar).  You can put on tefilin and tzitzit/talit even earlier, although you may not say the blessings over them until “mi'sheyakir”—which is later than you can say shema and amida!  (See above.)
Washing, Haircuts, Shaving during Shiv'a
An avel may not wash, shave, or get a haircut during shiv'a (for more details on haircuts, see Haircuts during Shloshim).
Cold Condiments Used for Dairy and Meat
B'di'avad, you may scoop out mayonnaise or mustard and spread it on meat and then scoop out more and then later use same condiment on dairy foods (and the same for dairy and later on meat) as long as any residual food is less than 1/60th of the total volume of food. But the preferred practice is to have two separate containers, one for dairy and one for meat foods.
 
Using a Non-Kosher Sink
A dish is still kosher b'di'avad if heated to 120° F (49° C) or more in a non-kosher sink that had remained below 120° F for the previous 24 hours.
Saying HaGomel within 30 Days
Say ha'gomel within three days of the event; b'di'avad, it is OK to say it within 30 days.
 
Earliest Time for Shema (and Amida)
Earliest time to say shema and amida is 72 minutes before sunrise, b'di'avad, since the guideline is halachic “day.”
Note L'chatchila, you should say shema anytime from 3 minutes before sunrise until the end of the third halachic hour of the day.
Lulav: Hallel at Home or in Synagogue
Ideally, take your lulav and etrog to synagogue and say hallel with the minyan.  B'di'avad, it is OK to say hallel and the blessings and wave the lulav at home.
 
Accidental or Intentional
The ideal and preferred means of observing or fulfilling a halacha is called l'chatchila. Sometimes the halacha's requirements may be fulfilled b'di'avad (after the fact) under less-than-ideal circumstances. 
You may not intentionally do an action at the b'diavad level if you are able to do it at the l'chatchila level.
Stovetop Surfaces: Clean, Cold Utensil
Situation A dry, clean, cold utensil is put on a dry, clean, hot stovetop.
Status The utensil is kosher b'di'avad.
Correct After-Blessing after Incorrect Fore-Blessing
Situation You said an incorrect or too-general fore-blessing over food (even she'hakol--which does, b'di'avad, cover all foods, including bread, wine, the Five Special Fruits, and mezonot). Or you forgot to say the fore-blessing.
What To Do You must still say the more-specific, correct after-blessing, including birkat ha'mazon when appropriate.
Reason You must still say the correct after-blessing even though you said the incorrect fore-blessing.