festival of booths ("tabernacles"), one of the three chagim.
2
votes
1answer
34 views
Bircas HaMazon when starting to eat on Hoshanah Rabbah and finishing on Shmini Etzeres
A person eating a seudah on Hoshanah Rabbah wanted to continue eating his seudah when Shmini Etzeres already started. He was "pores mappah", made kiddush and continued to eat. Now, after a meal eaten ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Why tie the Lulav?
Why do we tie the Lulav? Why not let the fronds spread out?
I know that there is symbolism derived from the binding, but is it actually required to bind the Lulav? What about binding the Hadasim and ...
2
votes
1answer
25 views
Which plants are most suitable for sukkah roofing?
In South Africa palm branches are very popular as schach because they stay green for long and cover a lot of space per branch. Many palm branch sellers advertise around sukkot time, and every year the ...
2
votes
3answers
69 views
Why does it say (negatively) in אום נצורה “She sits and waits for Shabbos to go out"?
The Hoshano for Shabbos which starts אום נצורה contains the phrase
יושבת וממתנת עד כלות שבת
Which I translate as “She (Khilas Yisroel) sits and waits for Shabbos to go out.”
I don’t find this very ...
2
votes
3answers
88 views
Bracha Lesheiv B'Suka when making Havdala
When one makes Havdala in the Succa, does one say the Bracha of Lesheiv Basuka?
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Making a tanai on Scach
It says in SA Siman 638 that one may make a tanai (condition) on the "noi sukkah" (sukkah decorations) in order he should be able to use it during the chag and that it won't become muktzeh l'mitzvaso ...
0
votes
0answers
54 views
Stuffed cabbage on Sukkoth
There is a well-known custom to eat stuffed cabbage on Simhath Torah. But many also eat it on Sukkoth. Is it an extension of the same reason? Are the reasons cited for Simhath Torah (in the answers to ...
4
votes
1answer
92 views
With what may we bind the aravos branches for Hoshano Rabboh?
With what may we bind the aravos branches for Hoshano Rabboh?
Kitzur Shulchan Oruch 138 (2) says one should use leaves of the lulav. Is that all? How about a rubber band?
3
votes
2answers
68 views
What is the right way to wave the lulav and esrog in the down direction?
We wave the lulav and esrog (4 minim) in six directions including “down”.
What is the right way to wave down?
I have seen two procedures.
1) The 4 minim are held lower (nearer to the ground) than ...
3
votes
3answers
61 views
Leishev Basukkah before Shehechiyanu or after?
According to my minhag: on the first night of Sukkos by Kiddush, Leishev Basukkah [לישב בסכה] is said before the bracha of Shehechiyanu [שהחינו]. On the second night, however, Shehechiyanu is said ...
8
votes
3answers
108 views
Washing for bread before Kiddush. Convenient for sukkos?
There is a custom followed by Jews of German extraction to wash for Hamotzi before making Kiddush. See OC 271 (12) MB{61}. This is very convenient for those who have an outside sukka and don’t want ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Din of Lachem by arba minim when saying Hallel
On the first day of sukkos there is a din of "lachem" by the arba minim that they must belong to you in order to fulfill the mitzvah. After someone has already made a bracha on his arba minim and ...
10
votes
2answers
118 views
Is there a way to tell if a Pitom of an Etrog has been broken, or was grown that way?
Is there a way to tell whether the Pitum of an Etrog has been broken off
or whether the Etrog had just grown that way (without a pitum)?
(I just seem to be a little worried about mine, so any advice ...
3
votes
2answers
61 views
Sitting under a tree in a valid Sukkah
If someone built a Sukkah large enough to enclose a tree, but not more than 20 Amoth tall, may someone sit under that tree on Sukkoth?
4
votes
1answer
101 views
Onah and Sukkos?
Does the Mitzvah of sleeping in the Sukkah supersede the mitzvah of Onah? (one would think not, as it is a chov to someone else.) If not, is one supposed to fulfill mitzvas Onah and then retire to the ...
1
vote
2answers
84 views
How cold is too cold?
Rema writes in his commentary to the Tur (OC 639):
והמרדכי בפרק הישן (סי' תשמא) כתב אבל העולם סמכו על דבר זה שיראים מן הצינה והוה כחולה שאין בו סכנה או כמצטער דפטורים מן הסוכה עכ"ל (עיין ב"י סימן ...
2
votes
3answers
102 views
3
votes
2answers
84 views
Is there a way to expand a canvas Sukkah?
After playing around with ideas for seating in my Sukkah, I began to wonder, what if I just expanded it? The problem is that it's made of canvas, which is wrapped around a metal frame. This does not ...
5
votes
1answer
104 views
Can we eat in a Sukkah standing?
I know we say "sit in a Sukkah", but still I have following question:
if we have guests during Sukkot and we want them to eat with us in a Sukkah, but a Sukkah is too small to fit everyone in ...
5
votes
1answer
111 views
Why do we sit in the sukkah in the autumn?
I remember hearing at some point that there's a disagreement between the Ashkenazi and Sefardi rishonim regarding why we sit in the sukkah in the autumn:
Ashkenaz - Because we love God, so we go out ...
7
votes
2answers
134 views
Why can't I use velcro to tie a Lulav?
Normally I use rings made out of lulavim to tie around the Lulav on Sukkos. Would rings made out of velcro be fine for this purpose?
5
votes
4answers
211 views
Why do we read Kohelet on Sukkos?
We read Kohelet either on the Shabbos Chol Hamoed of Sukkos or Shemini Atzeres.
Why do we specifically read this on Sukkos? What is the connection between Sukkos and Koheles?
9
votes
2answers
161 views
Eating outside of a Sukkah - Negative or Positive commandment?
On Sukkoth we are required to dwell in a Sukkah, which is generally minimally defined as at least eating our meals (which in turn is generally minimally defined as grain-based products) inside the ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Special haftara blessing on Shabbat Chol Hamo'ed Sukkot
At least as far as the instructions in the Artscroll Siddur go, the after-blessing for the haftara on Shabbat Chol Hamo'ed Sukkot makes reference to both Shabbat and the "Chag Hasukkot" ("the Festival ...
8
votes
1answer
70 views
Shehechiyanu on Lulav
Why is it that we make Shehechiyanu both nights of Sukkos at candle lighting and Kiddush due to Sefeika DeYoma yet we only make Shehechiyanu on the Lulav on the first day?
11
votes
3answers
216 views
Do we say a mitzvah bracha before reading Kohelet? What about other (non-Purim) megillot?
I had been under the impression that for all five of the megillot you say a bracha before the reading, and this is the practice I've observed. When preparing for Shabbat chol hamoed Sukkot this year ...
10
votes
2answers
215 views
If it rains on my sukkah and I put up a tarp, should I stay in the sukkah?
If it is raining on Succos is there any benefit in eating in a Succah covered with a (Schlack) tarp over eating in the house? (sources please)
7
votes
1answer
94 views
How many rafters invalidate the sukkah?
From my understanding, the roof of a sukkah might consist of two components: rafters and schach.
(Although it seems to me that often the rafters themselves are valid schach, I am under the ...
8
votes
4answers
213 views
How to keep Bees out of the Sukkah?
Many years (but not all), we have had bee problems in the Sukkah. This is probably caused by the fact that we continue to use honey for dipping the Challah throughout Sukkos.
What are some practical ...
7
votes
2answers
138 views
Can a Sukkah have all-glass walls?
Would a Sukkah that has walls that are completely transparent be kosher for use?
5
votes
1answer
133 views
Slant-roofed sukkah
This is the frame that I'm using for my sukkah. In the event that the bars forming the frame's roof cannot be removed, would they completely posul the flat sechach I might construct beneath them? If ...
5
votes
0answers
63 views
Sukkah decoration parameters [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can too many decorations render a sukkah invalid?
What are all the rules concerning decorations that are hung overhead in a sukkah? In other words, within what ...
7
votes
1answer
122 views
Eating in sukkah before or after sukkot
Is there anything problematic about eating in a sukkah after building it but before Sukkot starts? Or I guess likewise after Sukkot is over?
7
votes
2answers
745 views
Simple Sukkah plans using dimensional lumber from Home Depot?
I'm planning to build a sukkah using dimensional lumber from Home Depot for the frame and some tarp for the sides. It should be big enough to fit 2 adults and 2 small kids, but generally as small as ...
6
votes
2answers
246 views
Taking down Sukkah decorations before the end of holiday
I know that if I am going to be traveling during Chol Ha'Moed, I know that I can not halachically take down my Sukkah or the Schach early. Does the same prohibition apply to the decorations?
8
votes
2answers
213 views
Should women eat in the Sukkah?
Is there any inyan for a woman to eat in the sukkah. I know they're not required (after all, it's a mitzvas asei shehazeman grama [מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא]), but I still know many women who do.
Is this ...
4
votes
2answers
76 views
In which cases are you exempt from eating in the sukkah?
Are we required to eat every meal and every food/drink under the sukkah?
What if it is raining? Cold? What if there are too many people to all fit under the sukkah (we have lots of guests)?
Those ...
8
votes
3answers
335 views
Lubavitch not sleeping in a Sukka?
If Lubavitch is careful not to eat or drink anything outside of the sukka, why does Lubavitch not sleep in the Sukka?
8
votes
4answers
676 views
When can you build the sukkah?
My wife and I love the holiday of Sukkot, as do many of our friends. We build the sukkah every year and have friends over for an evening meal, preferably on shabbes - if someone else in our group of ...
6
votes
1answer
211 views
How big does a pentagonal Sukkah have to be?
What is the minimum length requirement for each of the walls of a 5-sided sukkah?
What about 6 sides?
What about 7?
...
What about ∞ sides (i.e. a circle)?
3
votes
1answer
45 views
What species of esrog do people use?
I know Lubavitchers are makpid to use only Esrogim from Genoa (if not grown there, at least that species).
What do other communities use?
Does anyone still use Korfu?
9
votes
2answers
419 views
How do Etrogs grow, pitom-up, or pitom-down?
I've done a bit of research here, but I still have some questions.
To start with, for anyone who isn't familiar with this, we can't say the brucha for lulav & etrog after completing the mitzvah, ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
The Ushpizin Esrog-Lemon Case
If you never saw Ushpizin, this video will give you a quick summary of what I'm talking about [especially starting at 3:55].
Basically, two non-frum Jews come over to Moshe's house for Sukkos. They ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Why do we read the same torah passage for shabbatot during Sukkot and Pesach?
All other shabbatot have unique torah readings (aside from the regular cycle, of course), but Shabbat during Sukkot and Shabbat during Pesach read the same passage from Ki Tisa (with varying maftir ...
1
vote
2answers
56 views
Simchas Bais HaShoaiva
On Succos we celebrate starting the second night Simchas Bais HaShoaiva. According to the Chachamim we can not start on the first night as we use musical instruments and it is not Doche Shabbos or Yom ...
0
votes
5answers
93 views
2
votes
1answer
131 views
Neilas HaChag on a Yom Tov that ends on Friday
This year Simchas Torah comes out on Friday. It can also happen that Pesach or Shavuos finishes on Friday in Eretz Yisroel. Is there a Neilas HaChag if Yom Tov ends on Friday?
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Hakafos on Shmini Atzeres
Out of Eretz Yisroel there are those that do Hakafos on Shmini Atzeres at night and some that even do it by day. Mostly I think it is by the Chasidim. Does anyone know of any Yeshivish or non ...
2
votes
2answers
134 views
Seuda Hoshanah Rabah
If I recall correctly the reason we eat a Seuda on Hoshanah Rabah is it is the last day we have a Chiuv to eat in the Succah. Suppose it is raining and you can not eat in the Succah do you still have ...
2
votes
3answers
127 views
All about Kreplach
Many people eat Kreplach on Purim, Erev Yom Kippur, and Hoshanah Rabah. These 3 days are considered like hidden Yomim Tovim, as work is technically allowed. They are also days that we Klap. On Purim ...
