Today's Halachos dedicated by daily reader, M.Z., in loving memory of her dear father Ephraim ben Yaakov A"H , Niftar 14 Tishrei 5762. May his Neshama continue to climb higher in Gan Eden.
LECHEM MISHNEH: QUADRUPLE PORTION L'KAVOD YOM TOV AND SHABBOS KODESH
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)
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 Siman 639:9 and 625:16. See also Yesod V'Shoresh H'Avodah Sha'ar 11:14)
Halachos for Thursday, First 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 Siman 639:8 and Ben Ish Chai ; Year one; Parsha Ha'azinu Siman 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)
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh, second day of 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 or before 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 ;"Sukkah" and "Yomim Tovim" for more on this.)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh, First day Day Chol HaMoed Sukkos
1) Even though women and children are not obligated to sit in a Sukkah , it is still a Mitzvah for each Jew to have his wife and children sit in the Sukkah as by sitting in a Sukkah they earn eternal heavenly reward. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 640:1 and Ran to Rosh Hashana 33a)
Women and children who sit in a Sukkah merit having their souls cleansed and merit receiving heavenly goodwill. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 640:5)
2) All components of the Sukkah have extreme holiness, including the wood of the walls. (Shla HaKadosh quoted in the Kaf HaChaim Siman 639:6)
Many G-d fearing, spiritually elevated Jews had the custom to kiss the Sukkah upon entering and exiting each time, to show their love and affection for this exalted Mitzvah. (Shla Hakadosh. See also Elef Hamagen Siman 644:22 )
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:
If a Sefer Torah falls, how many days must the person who dropped it fast for?
How many days must the people who saw the fallen Torah fast for?
Answer:
Fasting for a Sefer Torah that fell R"L is not a halacha brought in the Talmud, and is only a proper minhag that is brought in the later Poskim. (See Mogen Avraham Siman 44:5)
Some require only the one from whose hands it fell to fast, while others mandate all who saw it fall to fast.
Some Poskim say to fast for one day, while others say to fast three days (Monday, Thursday, Monday) (See Shiyurei Bracha Yoreh Deah Siman 282:1 and Aruch HaShulchan Siman 282:8)
Some Poskim say not to fast and instead give charity and do teshuvah.
Every community should decide for themselves the right method to employ when such a thing happens R"L.
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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זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
Gossip and witty character assassination are not twentieth century phenomena; human tongues have always been loose and hard to control.
The Talmud says, "Most people are guilty of dishonesty, few of vice, but all of lashon hara"(Bava Basra 165).
Important Numbers
