1) It is a Mitzvah for each Jew to personally take part in the building of their Sukkah, rather than have someone else build the entire thing for them. (See Talmud Kidushin 41a for the concept of Mitzvah Bo Yoser M'Beshelucho.)
One who does it himself receives more reward than simply asking or hiring someone else to do it. (Rashi ibid.)
This applies to all people, even respectable people, Talmidei Chachamim and dignitaries who usually should not be involved in menial tasks and physical labor. (See Machzik Bracha Siman 625:3. See also Talmud Shabbos 119a that Talmidei Chachamim toiling for a Mitzvah is their biggest honor. See also Mishna Berura Siman 250:4 and Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil Yishtadel.
The Steipler Zatzal was known to schlep the S'chach and place them on his Sukkah and refused to allow anyone to help him. This was also the custom of many other Gedolim.
2) If one is unable to build a Sukkah on their own and has someone else do it for them, it is proper to have the one building it to at least leave off a small amount of S'chach for the owner of the Sukkah to put up by himself. (Kaf HaChaim Siman 625:11)
Likewise, it is good to be personally involved in the set up and decorating of the Sukkah. (See Sefer Elef Hamagen Siman 626-644:4)
When one appoints someone else to build their Sukkah, it is proper to say to them " You are my Shaliach Mitzvah, my messenger to do this Mitzvah of putting up my Sukkah and S'chach L'Shem Mitzvah, for the purpose and intent of performing the Mitzvah of sitting in the Sukkah" (Kaf HaChaim ibid.)
One should ideally not have his Sukkah built by a non-Jew, especially the laying of the S'chach. (Chida in Sefer Kaf Achas Siman 24:2. See also Elef Hamagen ibid.)
The Mitzvah of building a Sukkah is in it of itself a [part of the] Mitzvah and not only a means by which to be able to sit in the Sukkah.
Rav Reuven Margolis Zatzal in his Sefer Nefesh Chaya (Siman 625:1) writes that even one who cannot sit in the Sukkah (due to illness or other valid Halachic reason) and has no male family members that are required to sit in the Sukkah, still should have a Sukkah built to at least perform the mitzvah of "Building" a Sukkah! (As a proof to this ruling he cites the Talmud in Makos 8a and Shavuos 29a and also a Talmud Yerushalmi Brachos Perek 9:3 where the Talmud says to recite a blessing on the "Building of a Sukkah".)
He goes so far as to say that this person would recite a "Shehechiyanu" when assisting in the building of this Sukkah as he won't be reciting it when sitting in it!
Although we do not rule like the Nefesh Chaya in this matter, it still helps us understand the importance of being involved in the building of a Sukkah. (See Taz to Siman 641)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
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.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
Question:
Is one allowed to take a shower on Yom Tov ?
Answer:
Showering on Yom Tov is only permitted when extremely necessary (very hot and sweaty etc.), and even then not in the normal manner of showering during the weekdays.
Hot water may not be used. Only one part of the body may be washed at a time, and not a full body shower. Bar soap may not be used, nor a washcloth.
Liquid soap and shampoo, according to some Poskim may be used, only if they are watered down enough.
Drying the hair afterwards with a towel is prohibited. There are other issues that may arise as well. It is important to discuss all the details of this with a Rav to determine the need to shower and the methods acceptable according to Halacha.
Unfortunately many people abuse this Halacha and take showers, or even go swimming, on Yom Tov, and they should be urged to seek Rabbinic guidance before engaging in these oftentimes prohibited activities on Yom Tov.
CHIZUK CORNER
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This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal , the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi Finkel Zatzal and the Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Ohr, the great Posek HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Zatzal.
May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they be Melitzei Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.
We will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
There is a perfect analogy to describe the kind of Teshuva we do on Yom Kippur.
Imagine for yourself, a Father who is strolling through the busy 'Shuk' (Marketplace) for Arba Minim in Yerushalayim on Erev Sukkos, on the hunt for that 'perfect' Lulav and Esrog. He takes along his precious little toddler, 'Yankele'. He instructs Yankele to stay close and not to leave go of his hand and stray from him in this commotion. However, in the process and tumult of inspecting various Lulavim etc. Yankele becomes dis-attached from his father and wanders off on his own.
Soon, Yankele's Tatty realizes that his son is no longer with him and he begins to search frantically for his lost son! He hurries to the Police station to inquire whether they have received a lost child. To his relief, they answer in the affirmative and ask him to prove that the boy is truly his own son. All of a sudden, a shrieking child is heard in the background.....
TATTY!!!
Yankele makes a beeline straight for his Tatty and grabs him and hugs him tight...WHERE DID YOU GO, TATTY!!!! Why did you leave me! In this instant, there are no questions as to this Father/Son relationship, Yankele holds his father tight and vows to never let go again!
This is the definition of Teshuva - Repentance! This moment in time facilitates the most powerful type of connection to Borei Olam; through the power of a true Teshuva!
We are all children of Hashem. We love our Tatty in heaven and he loves us unconditionally in return. Hashem provides for all of our needs. We try to stay close and keep a connection with Hashem. However, we are all human and at times we stray far away by virtue of our sins which act as a barrier to distance ourselves from Hashem Yisborach.
However, there comes a moment in time - when we fall so low, we stumble so severely AND THEN WE SUDDENLY FIND HASHEM (Yom Kippur is such a day)!
In this instant, we cry out to Hashem with the force of all of our mishaps, of our trials, tribulations and failures - and we scream; TATTY, WHERE ARE YOU?? WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME!! I NEED YOU!!!
We proceed to grab Hashems hand with such a fierce love and longing and with a deep and unswerving desire to never let go again!
This situation of love is the distinguishing characteristic between our situation before and after Yom Kippur.
It is this overwhelming feeling of love, generated by our finding Hashem during the awesome days of Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur, which leads us into the days of Sukkos - which are precisely defined as days of love and devotion to Hashem!
In fact, everything we do on Sukkos (from our move into the Sukkah - to our shaking of our Arba Minim) is replete with the overtones and demonstration of love for Hashem Yisborach!
Heard From Harav Shimshon Pincus Z'L; www.OhrShimshon.com
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