SPECIAL QUADRUPLE PORTION L'KAVOD SUKKOS & L'KAVOD SHABBOS
Halachos for Wednesday, Erev 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)
2) 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", 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. The holy Sefarim point out that the holiness in a Jew's Sukkah is greater than the holiness in Gan Eden! Hence, these great souls agree to leave Gan Eden to bask in the light of the Sukkah!)
Halachos for Thursday, First Day of Sukkos
1) 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.
2) 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)
The reason for this is that the Neshama is likened to a candle, as it says in the posuk (Mishlei Perek 20:27) "Ner Hashem Nishmas Adam, the candle of Hashem is the soul of man", thus in honor of the presence of these exalted Neshamos, we add candles.
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh, 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 Siman 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. and Kaf HaChaim ibid.)
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)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh, First Day Chol HaMoed Sukkos
1) It is a huge Mitzvah to invite poor, less fortunate people to partake of the meals in the Sukkah.
If one is unable to do so, efforts should be made to send food to the poor people in their own homes. (See Rambam Hilchos Yom Tov Perek 6:18 that at times when we are rejoicing with our families, it is a specific time to help the downtrodden rejoice as well. See also Kaf HaChaim Siman 625:17 and 639:10. See also Mishna Berura Siman 529:17 and Be'er Heitev 529:2 what they quote from the Zohar regarding one who does not help poor people on Yom Tov.)
2) If one cannot send food to poor people in their homes, one should at least give money to the poor people, or to organizations that feed poor people.
It is best if the money/food will reach the poor people on Yom Tov and not afterwards. Thus, it is best to give it to local charities/Gabai Tzedaka rather than mail it to a larger organization that will probably not receive it or distribute it until much after Sukkos. (See Sefer Pele Yoetz Chapters of "Sukkah" and "Yomim Tovim" for more on this.)
Important Numbers
