10
votes
Accepted
Mazikim on Shabbos?
Perishah to Tur Orach Chaim 267 (answering a slightly different question) explains that there are in fact mazikim on shabbat, which would be consistent with the explanation you give for the recital of ...
- 41.7k
7
votes
Can we offer Mishloah manot the night of Purim
The Rema quotes the Rosh as saying to do it during the day. The Mishnah Berurah also says this, as does Rav Ovadia.
- 6,966
6
votes
Can we offer Mishloah manot the night of Purim
The time for the mitzvah is tied to the se'udah which is held during the day.
The Ran (Megilla 3b in the pages of the Rif) addresses the issue. Despite the fact that megilla reading varies, the se’...
- 37.8k
6
votes
Accepted
Why is kedusha only said during the day?
tl;dr - it's kabbalah (likely), or it's to reject karaites (highly unlikely), it's coincidental because the evening prayer is optional (very likely).
To me, the most likely option is that this is ...
- 20.9k
6
votes
Are there any sources that talk about deeper thoughts at night?
Not sure if this quite what you’re looking for, but Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah 3:13) writes:
אף על פי שמצוה ללמוד ביום ובלילה אין אדם למד רוב חכמתו אלא בלילה לפיכך מי שרצה לזכות ...
- 49.1k
5
votes
Accepted
Does one fulfill the mitzvah of tefillin if he wears it at night time?
SA OC 30:2 rules that
One is prohibited to put Tefillin on at night since he may forget
[that he has them on] and sleep in them. But if he puts them on before
the sun sets and it happens to get ...
- 47.8k
5
votes
Can / should one praying alone recite Hallel after Arvit on the first night of Pesach?
R. H. Schachter rules, in a responsum found here, that this Hallel is only to be recited in a synagogue setting, as a way of publicizing the miracle of the Exodus.
As such, even if ten men pray ...
- 41.7k
4
votes
Accepted
Practicing Binding Tefillin at Night
This is an interesting but difficult question. It is not addressed explicitly anywhere I looked and I assume it is because it is quite theoretical. Someone learning can wait to practice by day. But ...
- 47.8k
4
votes
knife under pillow after mikveh?
This is sourced in the Sefer Tahara K'halacha which brings that if a a woman is waiting for her husband who is out of town but does not know when he will return should be tovel so she will be mutar to ...
- 41k
4
votes
Accepted
Is there a mitzvah of Sippur Yetzias Mitzraim all night long?
Shulchan Aruch in siman 481 writes:
A person is required to involve themselves in the laws of Pesach and Yetzias Mitzraim and discuss the signs and wonders that Hashem did for our forefathers until ...
- 33.4k
4
votes
Why learn late Thursday night?
The sefer חמדת ימים (שב"ק פ"א) writes very great things (kabbalistic) about learning ליל ששי (Thursday night), the יסוד ושורש העבודה (ח"ב ש"ח פרק א') brings from kisvei ari"...
- 544
3
votes
Is a nocturnal emission (Keri) a sin?
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (151:5) calls it a sin indeed, but an involuntary one.
If, God forbid, you had a seminal emission at night, upon waking up
from your sleep you should wash your hands and ...
- 47.8k
3
votes
Accepted
Going to men's mikva at night
I'm unaware of any halacha that prohibits men from going to the mikvah at night (other than Yom Kippur and Tisha B'av.) I've occasionally seen men do this in my neighborhood.
However, practically, in ...
- 70k
3
votes
Accepted
What is the meaning of "Midnight Guard - First Watch" and "Morning Guard - Third Watch" in the Zmanim
It might be referring to when the angels in heaven switch guard posts, which is a time when heaven is very open to accept tefilos on the chorban beis hamikdash and the galus. This happens at every ...
- 1,344
3
votes
Staying up shivi shel pesach?
Otzar Minhagei Chabad says that the Sefer "Minhag Israel Torah" says that there was an old Chassidic custom to stay up on the seventh night of Pesach and say over miracle stories. However, some aren't ...
- 40.3k
3
votes
Minimal requirements for bedtime shema
You asked if hamapil and Shema is good enough, see in SA OC 239, 1, this is exactly what he says:
קורא על מטתו פרשה ראשונה של שמע ומברך המפיל חבלי שינה על עיני וכו'.ואומר יושב בסתר עליון. ואומר ה' ...
- 22.7k
3
votes
What is said about wearing a Tallit Katan night?
Mishna Berura 21:15
שלא לשכב - ובכתבי האר"י ז"ל כתוב ע"פ הסוד שיש לשכב בלילה בטלית קטן
To not sleep - And in the writings of the Arizal it is written based on the mystical teaching [...
- 10.6k
2
votes
Practicing Binding Tefillin at Night
The Shevet Hakehasi 6:15 writes that one may try on teffilin for practice if one is not having in mind to fulfill the mitzvah . He brings a proof from the gemara in Menachos that the only issue is ...
- 41k
2
votes
Evolution of Simchas Torah Night reading
Strictly speaking the Torah should be read only in the daytime. But since the scrolls have already been removed from the Ark for the processions, some argue that there ought to be a reading so that ...
- 4,303
2
votes
Shaving or getting a haircut at night
Kaf Hachaim (493:28) presents a discussion in the context of cutting hair on Lag Baomer. He does present a stringent opinion which forbids it all year round, and certainly during the days of Sefirah. ...
- 479
2
votes
Why don't we (or when do we) use a lenient definition of nightfall on seder nights?
The Mishna Brura Orach Chaim Siman 472,1 say that one should wait till definite nightfall, not Shekia-sunset (doubtfull nightfall), which means only when 3 stars emerge at night.
According to ...
- 11.4k
2
votes
Why don't we (or when do we) use a lenient definition of nightfall on seder nights?
R. Yitzchak Abadi does indeed record a lenient definition. In Ohr Yitzchak Vol. II (Kuntres Acharon Hilchot Pesach) he writes:
מיד כששקעה חמה יכול להתחיל בסדר אך לא יאכל המצות קודם צאת הכוכבים
...
- 49.1k
2
votes
Going to men's mikva at night
As stated by others -- primarily it's about giving the women their own space and time.
But furthermore -- the primary halachic grounding for men going to mikva today is the enactment of Ezra against ...
- 131k
2
votes
Accepted
Problem giving Tzedokoh at night?
There are some mystical sources from the last few centuries that are concerned with giving charity at night for superstitious reasons based on Shekalim (5:4).
However, R. Yishak Yosef rules that it ...
- 35.4k
2
votes
Are there any sources that talk about deeper thoughts at night?
Following on from @Alex's train of thought, there are other sources that point specifically to the merits of learning at night and the clarity of thought during this period.
The Gemara in Tamid 32b ...
- 30.1k
2
votes
Did Rash"i hold like the Gr"a or like Rabbeinu Tam?
This is not an issue just of the Gra. The time of the Gra and the Alter Rebbe is called zman haGeonim because is based on the shitta of the Middle East Geonim.
Rabbeinu Tam is based in the great gaon ...
- 323
1
vote
Why remove tallis before maariv on motzei Tisha B'av?
I've learned that wearing a tallis at night should not be done and the Mishna Berura discusses it (I think around Mishna Berura 18:4, although I cannot confirm off hand). There are some exceptions to ...
- 276
1
vote
Is a nocturnal emission (Keri) a sin?
Our Sages teach us that these emissions come from thinking impure thoughts during the day. Based on that, you should have to repent
- 27
1
vote
Three small stars - How do you know they are small?
In reality, the way R' Shneur Zalman from Liadi understands the Shu"t Maharam MiRottenberg, already in the Maharam's times the average person wouldn't know what's a small star and what's a large star.
...
- 40.3k
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