Sukkot – Rosh Yeshiva Responds

6 10, 2020

Eating in the Sukkah on Simchat Torah

October 6th, 2020|Orach Chayim, Simchat Torah, Sukkot|

QUESTION

Maryland, USA

I’m curious on your thoughts on eating in the sukkah on Simchat Torah. The Shulkhan Aruch OC 666:1 seems to say you need to remove pots and pans or make some kind of hekeir. What will suffice? Can someone just say before the meal “this is not for the sake of a mitzvah” and would that be okay or does it need to be literal hekeir. Thank you!

ANSWER

No, that isn’t enough. It’s true that in terms of ba’al tosif, absence of kavanah lehosif […]

6 10, 2020

Hilkhot Lulav on Yom Tov Rishon vs. Yom Tov Sheini

October 6th, 2020|Orach Chayim, Sukkot|

QUESTION

Riverdale, NY

I’m wondering why we don’t treat Yom Tov Sheini like the first day for Hilkhot Lulav (hadar and lakhem). If it’s safeik Yom Tov Rishon, shouldn’t we have the same standards as Yom Tov Rishon?

ANSWER

It’s actually a machloket Rishonim. It seems that the lack of availability of kosher lulavim and etrogim played a role. See Ritva on Sukkah 29b,

וכל שאמרנו שפסולו ביום הראשון בלבד דעת גדולי רבותינו ז”ל שהוא נוהג בזמן הזה שני ימים שכשם שנוהגין בהם קדושה […]

2 10, 2020

Supporting Sekhakh with Plastic

October 2nd, 2020|Orach Chayim, Sukkot|

QUESTION

Brooklyn, NY

Do the problems of using a metal frame, upon which sekhakh is placed, apply to a plastic frame?

ANSWER

Yes. But if there is no good alternative or solution there then you can be somekh on the many many Rishonim and poskim who say that the concern of ma’amid is not an issue and certainly not relevant to the issue of putting sekhakh on metal/plastic.

2 10, 2020

Hiking During Sukkot

October 2nd, 2020|Orach Chayim, Sukkot|

QUESTION

New York, NY

If one is going on a hike on Chol HaMoed Sukkot, does one have to not bring mezonot or HaMotzi on the hike, or can one treat a future event as a situation where one doesn’t have access to a sukkah and bring sandwiches to eat?

ANSWER

Rav Lichtenstein has an article on this from about 30 years ago. His conclusion is that it is mutar me’ikar hadin based on הולכי דרכים. I would totally agree based also on תשבו כעין תדורו, and people […]

2 10, 2020

Preparing for Second Night Yom Tov Kiddush on the First Day

October 2nd, 2020|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim, Sukkot, Yom Tov|

QUESTION

New York, NY

Many who live in cities and only have access to communal sukkot, in order to avoid exposure, will say Kiddush and HaMotzi and then bentch in the shul’s communal sukkah, and then return home to continue their meal with meat, vegetables, etc. May someone bring bread and wine with them when they go to shul for Mincha on the afternoon of the first day of Sukkot in order to use it for Kiddush and HaMotzi that night in the shul‘s sukkah? Ordinarily this would be hachanah, but the Mishnah Berurah (667:5), […]

1 10, 2020

Hoshanot Without a Bimah

October 1st, 2020|Orach Chayim, Sukkot, Tefillah|

QUESTION

Baltimore, MD

Regarding hoshanot, the Shulchan Arukh OC 660:1 writes,

נוהגים להעלות ספר תורה על [הבימה] ולהקיפה פעם א’ בכל יום ובשביעי מקיפים אותה ז’ פעמים זכר למקדש: הגה ומוציאין שבעה ס”ת על הבימה ביום שביעי [מהרי”ל] ויש מקומות שמוציאים כל ס”ת שבהיכל [מנהגים] (והכי נוהגין במדינות אלו) שהיו מקיפים את המזבח וההקפות לצד ימין [ובשבת אין מקיפים [טור] ואין מוציאין ס”ת על הבימה

Is the ikar to encircle the bimah or the sefer Torah? What do you think about setting up a second table in the […]

30 09, 2020

Limited Access to a Sukkah During the COVID-19 Pandemic

September 30th, 2020|Orach Chayim, Sukkot|

QUESTION

Riverdale, NY

Under what circumstances can apartment dwellers or anyone unable to build a sukkah be considered exempt from the mitzvah (specifically, able to eat mezonot at home)? For example, they are hungry at times that their shul or apartment sukkah is closed, or the slots for that meal are all filled. Or, should they avoid mezonot/HaMotzi all week?

ANSWER

If someone’s only sukkah options are sukkot where they are concerned for COVID, then they are exempt because of mitzta’eir. It is no different than leaving a […]

27 09, 2020

Saying Kiddush Outside of a Sukkah

September 27th, 2020|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim, Sukkot|

QUESTION

New York, NY

Communal sukkot this year are by sign up only, and we’re likely booked for a late lunch. If shul ends around 10:30, and I want to eat something, and can’t do it in a sukkah, what’s the best procedure re: eating and kiddush?

ANSWER

Eat a kezayit of mezonot and no more. Which isn’t חייב בישיבת סוכה.

Alternatively, rely on Rav Moshe (Iggrot Moshe YD 2:163 and OC 4:63) that you don’t need מזונות to eat at kiddush. Just if you […]

Sukkahs in the Wind

18 10, 2019

Sukkahs in the Wind

October 18th, 2019|Sukkot|

Question:

Given the strong winds that we have been experiencing, is it permissible to take down the sukkah on Hol HaMoed to prevent it from being damaged or from causing injury? If I do take it down, am I exempt from eating in a sukkah, or do I have to find a sukkah that is still up?

Answer:

Thank you for your question. Let’s look at the two issues you raise in order.

Dismantling a Sukkah on Hol HaMoed

When it comes to taking precautions due to strong winds, the first thing to note is that if the wind is so bad that there is […]

May One Take Down a Sukkah on Chol HaMoed in Anticipation of Hurricane Joaquin?

26 07, 2016

May One Take Down a Sukkah on Chol HaMoed in Anticipation of Hurricane Joaquin?

July 26th, 2016|Sukkot|

Question:

לגרסה העברית לחצו כאן /Read this teshuva in Hebrew

Hurricane Joaquin is expected to hit the East Coast on Monday (Shmini Atzeret), and I am concerned that the sukkah will be destroyed and ruined. I am also worried that the schach will fly off and hit someone or become debris on the road or sidewalk. I have a couple of questions: (a) Can I take it down on Hoshana Rabbah? (b) Can I take it down already on Friday if I am invited out for our Shabbat meals and will be able to eat those meals in a sukkah? (c) I also normally eat in […]

QUESTION

Maryland, USA

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Riverdale, NY

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Brooklyn, NY

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New York, NY

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New York, NY

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Baltimore, MD

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Riverdale, NY

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New York, NY

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