festival of booths ("tabernacles"), one of the three chagim.
11
votes
3answers
217 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
4answers
194 views
How do you maximize your aravot's period of freshness?
Every Sukkot any aravot that I start the holiday with tend to get dried up by the end of the holiday, if not to the point of being unfit for service, at least enough to be ugly. What do you do to ...
10
votes
2answers
216 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)
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 ...
9
votes
2answers
162 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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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
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 ...
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?
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 ...
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?
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?
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 ...
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
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 ...
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?
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)?
6
votes
2answers
522 views
How do you build an eruv from your house to your sukkah?
I know people do this (if there's no eruv in town, or if you're afraid the eruv will be down at the end of a 3-day yomtov); I think it involves a string from the sukkah to the house? Please explain.
...
6
votes
1answer
265 views
How do I do the car-door-sukkah trick?
I know in theory, people on the road don't need to eat in a sukkah; at the same time, you're not supposed to go put yourself in that situation on purpose. ("Let's go take a chol hamoed trip -- oops ...
6
votes
1answer
311 views
Can too many decorations render a sukkah invalid?
I've seen some sukkahs (especially ones where they've had big "make sukkah decorations" kids' projects) where there are tons and tons and tons of decorations hanging down from the schach. At what ...
6
votes
0answers
222 views
How do you illuminate your sukkah? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Advice for Lighting in a Sukkah
How do you keep your sukkah well-lit?
5
votes
3answers
208 views
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?
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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
210 views
Differences of Opinion in the Order of the Ushpizin
The order of the Ushpizin according to the Zohar (Thank you Mekubal!) corresponds to the order of the Sefiros each one represents. Why does the Shelah disagree and place Yosef before Moshe, Aharon, ...
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
78 views
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 ...
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 ...
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
3answers
807 views
Can you use plastic cable-ties to hold down your schach in your sukkah?
I've seen people use plastic cable-ties to hold down the schach in their sukkah (as they're not "makabel tuma"), but others who don't like it, I think because they're not plant matter? Can anyone ...
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 ...
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?
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Is there a source for inverting the lulav while shaking it in different directions?
I was always told that when shaking the lulav towards the north, for instance, you keep the lulav oriented as usual (pointing towards the ceiling), just turn your body northwards first, and then ...
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
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?
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 ...
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?
2
votes
3answers
102 views
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 ...
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 ...
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?
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 ...
