Yom Kippur: Difference between revisions

#It is a mitzvah to eat and drink on [[Erev Yom Kippur]] and one should even lessen one's learning and work in order to eat more on [[Erev Yom Kippur]].<ref>Tur and Shulchan Aruch 604:1 (based on gemara [[Berachot]] 8b and [[Rosh Hashana]] 9a), Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 604:1), Maamar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, English version pg 448, #21) , Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 230, Ketav Sofer 112, Sh"t Rivivot Ephraim 3:410:2<br />

#This mitzvah to eat on [[Erev Yom Kippur]] applies to women also. <ref>Minchat Chinuch 313:9, Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg. 74), Sh"t Yabia Omer 1:37, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 231, Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, English version pg 447, #15). Rabbi Akiva Eiger 16 raises a doubt whether women should be obligated because it could be that is a [[mitzvat aseh shehazman grama]]. The other possibility that he raises is that maybe it's connected to the mitzvah to fast which women are also obligated in. The Rashash (Sukkah 28a) writes according to the Rosh's reason that there is a mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur in order to make fasting the next day easier, clearly it should also apply to women. Additionally, Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daat 1:58) agrees and also cites the Sfat Emet's explanation that after a person eats he is in a better mood and it is easier to grant forgiveness and mend relationships; accordingly, it would seem that women also have the mitzvah to eat on Erev Yom Kippur.</ref>

#One should only eat light foods so that one shouldn't be stuffed and prideful during [[prayers]] of Yom Kippur. <ref>Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, English version pg 446, #11), Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg. 86, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 239, Orchot Chaim Hilchot Erev Yom Hakippurim:8, based on the gemara Yoma 18a </ref>

#Someone who can't fast on Yom Kippur (because of serious health issues) should still eat on [[Erev Yom Kippur]]. <ref>Maamar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, English version pg 447, #16)<br />

#Some say that one should endeavor to continue to eat all day on [[Erev Yom Kippur]], while others say that the mitzvah is to have a nice meal. <ref>[http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/782120/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Inyonei_Yom_Hakippurim Rav Hershel Schachter in a shiur on Inyonei Yom Kippur (min 34-6)] quotes Rav Salanter as having had the minhag of having a sucking candy on [[Erev Yom Kippur]] so as to continue eating on [[Erev Yom Kippur]], whereas Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik held that the primary mitzvah of the day was to have a nice meal.</ref>

#It is permissible to take a pill before Yom Kippur which will ease the difficulty of fasting.<ref>Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, English version pg 448, #20)</ref> However, others write that one should refrain from such pills except for a person who will be in great pain, have a headache, or the like from fasting on Yom Kippur.<ref>Yabia Omer 9:54. for more see [http://halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDefault.asp?HalachaID=2726 Halacha Yomit]. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Shalmei Moed pg. 494) calls one who is healthy and uses suppositories to ease the fast, a naval birshut hatorah, abonimable with permission of the Torah. For longer discussions see Sh"t Igrot Moshe OC 4:121, Sh"t Chelkat Yaakov 2:83 and Minchat Shlomo 1:17</ref>

#There's is no [[Tachanun]] on [[Erev Yom Kippur]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 604:2 writes that there is no [[Tachanun]] on [[Erev Yom Kippur]]. Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 229 agrees. Kaf HaChaim 604:18 points out that one does say [[Tachanun]] at [[Mincha]] before [[Erev Yom Kippur]]. </ref>

#Some communities have the custom not to recite Mizmor LeToda (Tehillin 100) in [[Pesukei deZimra]] on [[Erev Yom Kippur]].<ref>Rama 51:5 and 604:1, Maharshal 64. Mor Uketzia 604 questions this Rama </ref> However, aside for [[Moroccans]], the Sephardic custom is to recite it as on a regular weekday.<ref>Pri [[Chadash]] 604, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 604, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 229. Magen Avot (Lebhar, ad loc.) notes how Moroccans do not recite Mizmor leTodah on Erev Yom Kippur.</ref>

#The custom for sephardim is to recite Avinu Malkeinu in [[Shacharit]] and [[Mincha]] of [[Erev Yom Kippur]].<ref>Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 75, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 229.</ref> The custom is also to perform [[Hatarat Nedarim]] immediately following [[Selichot]] or [[Shacharit]] on Erev Yom Kippur<ref>Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 75, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 229. </ref>

#There is an old minhag (tradition) among Sephardim and Ashkenazim to do kapparot during aseret yimei [[teshuva]] (ten days of [[repentance]]) <ref>*The minhag to perform kaparot appears in many of the early and late rishonim: Sh"t Chemda Genuza Siman 93 in a teshuva to rav natronai gaon, the Machzor Vitri pg. 373, the Or Zarua 2:257, Shibolei Haleket 283, Meiri Chibur Hateshuva pg. 398, and Tur 605:1.

*see [http://www.koltorah.org/ravj/kapparot.htm Kol Torah by Rabbi Chaim Jachter] for a more detailed article. [http://www.torahmusings.com/2014/09/kaparot/ Rav Soloveitchik]  did not observe this practice.</ref> and preferably it should be done on [[Erev Yom Kippur]] in the morning. <ref>Rama 605:1 writes that it is an old minhag to do Kapparot on [[Erev Yom Kippur]]. Mishna Brurah 605:2 agrees but mentions, based on Pri Megadim AA 605:1, that if there's a concern that having everyone do Kapparot on [[Erev Yom Kippur]] in the morning won't give the Shochet enough time to do a proper slaughtering on all the chickens one should do Kapparot a day or two earlier because the entire period of Aseret Yamei Teshuva is a time of atonement. Moed Likol Chai 15:47 and Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 223 agree. see also Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 223 for a warning regarding the carelessness that sometimes occurs on Erev Yom Kippur when many people gather to do kapparot. </ref> If one didn't do it before Yom Kippur one may do it on [[Hoshana Rabba]]. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 10:7 </ref>

#One should take a male chicken for a male, female chicken for a female, and both a female and male chicken for a pregnant woman. Some take two female chickens and one male chicken for a pregnant woman. <ref>Rama 605:1 writes that one should take a male chicken for a male and a female chicken for a female. Rama 605:1 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 131:1 write that one should take a female and male chicken for a pregnant woman. Mishna Brurah 605:3 writes that some have the practice of taking two female chickens and one male chicken for a pregnant woman. Nitei Gavriel 10:2 agrees. The Magen Avraham 605:3 explains the Rama's minhag by saying that even if the mother and the fetus are considered two bodies they can have atonement with one act of kaparot and compares it to [[korbanot]]. However, the Biur HaGra 605 s.v. VeLokchin argues that we pasken Ubar Yerech Imo (a dispute in Gemara Yevamot 78a whether a fetus is considered as the same entity as the mother or not and the halacha, according to the Gra is that the fetus is part of the mother) and so it is sufficient to exempt the mother together with the fetus with one female chicken if the fetus is female.</ref> If one cannot afford additional chickens for the fetus, one is certainly enough. <ref>Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 226 </ref>