...Continued from previous week
1) When pointing to something written in the Torah or another Sefer containing Divrei Torah, the index finger (also referred to as the pointer) of the right hand should be used, as that is the finger with which Hashem wrote the Luchos (K’Vayachol). (See Sefer Chasidim Siman 693 (in the new prints). Although, as we wrote previously, Rashi to Brachos 62a learns that this is referring to using the fingers to show the Ta’amei HaTorah (the Trup) to the Ba’al Korei reading from a Sefer Torah, the Poskim say that it refers as well anytime one is using his finger to point out Divrei Torah. See Sefer Yemin Moshe page 48 footnote 72)
2) Thus, there is no difference between left handed and right handed people, as they both should use the finger that Hashem used, which is the pointer of the right hand. (Ruling of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal. See also Mishna Berura Siman 282:1)
3) When giving Tzedaka, based on the Arizal and other kabalistic sources the money should be given with the right hand.
There is no difference between right handed and left handed people regarding this Halacha. (Ruling of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal)
4) Sifrei Torah, Tefilin and Mezuzos must be written with the right hand. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 32:5 and Yoreh Deah Siman 271:6 and Siman 288:12)
A left handed person should write Sifrei Torah, Tefilin and Mezuzos with his left hand, which is considered his “right hand”. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim ibid. and Shach Yoreh Deah 271:12. See also Ben Ish Chai in Shu”t Rav Pa’alim Vol. 2 Siman 9 and Shu”t Ohr L’Tzion Vol. 2 Siman 83:3 regarding Tefilin and Mezuzos written by a left handed person as there are some kabalistic reasons that may frown upon using them.)
5) When a woman nurses her son, she should begin on the left side, which is closer to the heart. (Tzava’ah of Rav Yehuda HaChasid, Tzava’ah 55. This is based on the Talmud Brachos 10a and Niddah 48b. See Shmiras HaGuf V’hanefesh Siman 146 that this applies only to nursing a male child and does not apply to a baby girl. Other Poskim, however, maintain that this applies to baby girls as well. See Likutei Halachos on Tzava’as Rav Yehuda HaChasid written by Rav Shabsi Vigder, page 169-170)
6) There is no difference in regard to this Halacha between left handed women and right handed women, as it is due to the fact that the heart is on the left side. (Ruling of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal)
7)The Mezuzah, besides for being a commandment in the Torah to place on the doorpost, is also a Shmira, protection for the home from harmful elements. (See Talmud Menachos 33b and Rashi there Dibur Hamaschil D’Tintarei. See also Rashi ibid. 32b Dibur Hamaschil Sakanah and Rashi to Pesachim 4a Dibur Hamaschil Chovas. See also Talmud Yerushalmi Peah Perek 1:1. ).
According to the Rambam (Hilchos Mezuzah Perek 6:13, based on Talmud Menachos 43b) it is also a protection to prevent from sinning.
The Talmud (Avoda Zarah 11a) relates the story of how the Roman Caesar sent his soldiers to capture Onkeles (Who was the nephew of the Roman Caesar who became a convert to Judaism and subsequently one of the greatest Jews who ever lived. His Targum (translation) of the Torah is printed in virtually every Chumash and each week all male Jews are required to read the Torah of the week twice with his translation once) and each time as they tried to take him out of his home he placed his hand on the Mezuzah upon leaving and upon explaining his actions to the guards that he trusts in Hashem who protects His people, they converted as well.
Every Mezuzah has the name Shin Daled Yud written on the outside, which besides being a name of Hashem is an acronym for “Shomer Diras Yisroel, protector of Jewish dwellings” (Darchei Moshe Yoreh Deah Siman 288:3 quoting the Kol Bo. Similarly, in the Siddur of the Arizal it is written that it stands for “Shomer Dalsos Yisroel, protector of Jewish doors”. See also Zohar Parshas V’Eschanan page 266b in the old prints)
The Rama (Yoreh Deah Siman 285:2, based on the Gemara above as well as on a Midrash Bereishis Rabbah end of Perek 35) writes that when one leaves their home or enters their home they should place their hand on the Mezuzah and say a certain Posuk for shmirah.
Some people have the Minhag, before going to bed, to go to the door of their room, place their hand on the Mezuzah and say certain Pesukim for Shemirah. (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 71:4)
Most Poskim do not write anything about “kissing” the mezuzah and simply write that it is a good thing to place one’s hand on it, as in the story of Onkelos it makes no mention of any kissing.
However, the Chida (in Birchei Yosef to Yoreh Deah 285) quotes the Arizal that “one should place a finger on the ‘Shin Daled Yud’ that is on the mezuzah and kiss the finger and daven to Hashem for protection and to be saved from the Yetzer Hara”, and seemingly many people have adopted this minhag (at least the kissing the finger part)
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Siman 11:24) also writes that the Mezuzah should be kissed when entering and leaving the home. However in Siman 71 that we referenced earlier regarding touching the Mezuzah before bed, he does not write anything about kissing it and only writes to place the hand on it so seemingly he holds that kissing is only necessary when entering or leaving the room.
8) A right handed person should touch [and kiss] the mezuzah with his/her right hand. (See Yesod V’Shoresh H’Avodah Sha’ar 2) . A left handed person should touch [and kiss] the Mezuzah with his/her left hand.
To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
