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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 later 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", the mandate 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, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitzik Zatzal, the Chazon Ish, Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky and Rav Elchonon Wasserman Zichronam L'Vracha (See Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. 2 page 221 and Vol. 5 page 117)
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
Reader's Question:
When I was a small boy, I was taught to never fold my hands by interlacing the fingers of the two hands. Rather, we were told have one hand should surround and cover the other. I always thought that this was to avoid imitating non-Jewish prayer poses, but I recently saw that it has a source in the Zohar.
What is the source for this custom?
Answer:
According to Kabballah (Zohar Parshas Vayikra 24), it is never good to interlace the fingers into each other as doing so can bring bad Mazel as well as harsh heavenly judgement. (See Piskei Teshuvos Siman 95:5 for more details)
Halachically, in times of peace and calm it should not be done, but in difficult times (I am not sure exactly how to determine what is considered difficult times) it is an acceptable, and perhaps even an adviseable, way to hold the hands during Tefilah. (See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 91:7 and Be'er Heitev Siman 95:3)
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
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.
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THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
"Kindness and consideration for others is an inborn trait of human maturity.
Someone who is utterly selfish works to suppress this natural quality.
That is one reason why selfishness is a sin: it is against the law of nature."
Rav Yerucham Levovitz Zatzal , Mashgiach of Mir, quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
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