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SPECIAL TRIPLE PORTION L’KAVOD SHABBOS KODESH & L’KAVOD CHAG HASUKKOS
Halachos for Erev Shabbos, Erev Sukkos
1) It is customary to decorate the Sukkah with nice fruits- especially of the Shivas HaMinim variety-, nuts, olive oil, grape leaves and wines. (See Rashi to Sukkah 10a Dibur Hamaschil Yaynos U’shmanim. Some have the custom to use the olive oil that hung in the Sukkah for the Chanukah Menorah as to use something that was used for a Mitzvah and use it for an additional Mitzvah. See Mishna Berura Siman 673:27. )
It is also a proper custom to hang beautiful curtains, decorations and other nice things in the Sukkah.
The purpose of hanging all these things is to bring those sitting in the Sukkah to a state of happiness. (See Mishna Berura Siman 638:11, Elef HaMagen Siman 625:38 and Sefer Seder HaYom Seder Mitzvas Sukkah, page 171. See also Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 5 Siman 39:6 and 40:4 for more on the topic of decorating the Sukkah)
2) Many have the custom to hang pictures of Gedolei Yisroel, Torah leaders, past and present, to adorn their Sukkah. (Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld Zatzal, the Rav of Yerushalayim maintained that this is due to "Teishvu K’Ein Taduru, to make your Sukkah feel like your home" and most people have portraits of Gedolim hanging in their home. The Steipler Zatzal had many Gedolim pictures hanging in his Sukkah (including portraits of Rav Chaim Brisker, his son the Brisker Rav, the Chazon Ish, Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky and Rav Elchonon Wasserman Zichronam L’Vracha (As is documented in Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. 2 page 221 and Vol. 5 page 117) as does YBL"CT Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlita in his Sukkah.)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh, First day of Sukkos
1) It is proper to keep the tables in the Sukkah covered with a nice tablecloth for the duration of the Yom Tov and Chol HaMoed. (Kaf HaChaim Siman 639:11)
Each night of Sukkos, every Jewish household merits having one of the seven pillars of Klal Yisroel, the seven shepherds of Israel, visit their Sukkah.
They are referred to as the "Ushpizin" or guests, and are [the souls of] Avraham Avinu , Yitzchak Avinu, Yaakov Avinu, Moshe Rabbeinu, Aharon HaKohen, Dovid Hamelech and Yosef Hatzaddik.
These seven spiritual giants leave their eternal resting places in Gan Eden and pay a visit to the Sukkos of each and every Jew to partake of the intense spirituality that is present in each and every Sukkah (Based on the Zohar Hakadosh Parshas Emor)
2) Some people have a custom to light a special candle each night in honor of that night’s Ushpizin (besides for Shabbos and Yom Tov, where the regular candles suffice).
Some even have the custom, while lighting this candle, to say "I am lighting this candle in honor of Avraham Avinu" on the first night, "in honor of Yitzchak Avinu" on the second night and so on for each night of Sukkos.
Some have the custom to light seven candles each night. (Kaf HaChaim 639:9 and 625:16. See also Yesod V’Shoresh H’Avodah Sha’ar 11:14) Halachos for Sunday, Second Day of Sukkos
1) Some have the custom to place a special chair covered with a nice piece of material in the Sukkah in honor of the Ushpizin. (Similar to the chair set up at every Bris in honor of Eliyahu Hanavi). Some even have the custom to put holy Sefarim on this chair. (See Chida in Sefer Moreh Etzba Siman 9:289 where he brings this custom, and quotes the Zohar that if this chair isn’t set up, the Ushpizin will not come. See also Kaf HaChaim 639:8) 2) It is customary to "invite" the Ushpizin into the Sukkah each night, reciting a special text which is printed in most siddurim.
Some people stand near the door to the Sukkah when reciting it, however the prevalent minhag is to say it while sitting at the table. (See Chida ibid., Kaf HaChaim 639:8 and Ben Ish Chai Parsha Ha’azinu Siman 7)
Some people only say this "invitation" text on the first night and it suffices for the entire Yom Tov. (This was the custom of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal, quoted in Sefer Shalmei Moed Perek 28)
GOOD SHABBOS & CHAG SAMEACH!
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Todaywebsite.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren’t my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
What would be the proper brocho on shnitzel (breaded chicken cutlets)?
Answer:
For breaded chicken or fish, if the coating is thick, and there for its taste, it is definitely Mezonos.
If, however, it is a very thin coating which isn’t there for itself, rather to lend taste to the chicken or fish, then it isn’t considered to have its own Chashivus and is shehakol.
This was the psak of Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky Zichronam Livracha and this is also the Psak of Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg shlita. (quoted in Sefer V’Sein Bracha by Rabbi Yisroel P. Bodner)
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
