Sukkah Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

12 03, 2024

Mechitza Construction with Bima in Between the Men’s and Women’s Sections

March 12th, 2024|Keriat HaTorah, Mechitza, Minyan, Orach Chayim, Synagogue, Tefillah, Women|

QUESTION

Washington, DC

Question regarding the construction of a new mechitza:

We have a chapel that seats 115 people. It opens from the back, straight into the middle aisle. The seats are distributed equally on both sides of the aisle, and the bimah is at the front of the room in the center. Our old mechitza for the space was 3 panels; two down the middle aisle, and a third to angle around the bimah so that there was a physical separation between the shaliach

5 03, 2023

Guidance Regarding Gaps in a Mechitza – Defining the Purpose of a Mechitza

March 5th, 2023|Mechitza, Orach Chayim, Synagogue, Tefillah|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

Kevod HaRav, do concepts like gud asik mechitztah¹ and lavud² work for mechitzot in shul? It appears that there will be a six inch gap between a section of our new mechitza and the next section. It is not in an area that is highly visible—only a few people sitting in one spot would notice it. Is this a problem?

ANSWER

If one follows the position that a mechitza functions as a

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

1 10, 2020

Simchat Torah Hakafot Before Tzeit HaKokhavim

October 1st, 2020|Orach Chayim, Simchat Torah, Yom Tov|

QUESTION

Baltimore, MD

We have been davening Shabbat afternoon with the Plag HaMinchah split (Mincha before Plag and Ma’ariv after Plag), as we are davening outside in an unlit backyard. Scheduling hakafot for that early feels wrong — when davening Ma’ariv for the next day (whether it’s Yom Tov or chol), everyone then walks home and continues to act like Shabbat until Tzeit HaKokhavim. But to dance hakafot and publicly celebrate the next day of Yom Tov while it is still Shabbat feels different. Am I right in thinking that there might be halakhic issues

25 09, 2020

Using Text of the Chumash for Blackout Poetry

September 25th, 2020|Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Riverdale, NY

Can I assign blackout poetry assignment for my chumash students to use the Torah text for their blackout poems — issues of blacking out God’s name. Do I just ensure the initial document is not sheimot? It would be black marker over printed paper so כתב על גבי כתב. I assume with English “God” vs. “G-d” is not nearly as big a deal as having אלהים.

ANSWER

Independent of the status of sheimot, the actual act of blacking our Gods name is deeply problematic religiously

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

Solar Eclipse: To Bless or Not to Bless

18 08, 2017

Solar Eclipse: To Bless or Not to Bless

August 18th, 2017|Berakhot|

This coming Monday, August 21, there will be a full solar eclipse visible to everyone in North America, the first of its kind in the last 26 years. For those of us in the New York area, it will appear as a partial eclipse, covering approximately 70% of the sun, and can be seen at its height between 2:30-3:00 PM. For those directly in its path – a line cutting from Lincoln Beach, OR to Charleston, SC – the eclipse will be total. Regardless of where one is, it is sure to be an exciting and, for many, awe-inspiring experience.

Tzniut, Halakha and the Male Gaze: Lecture and Sources

10 08, 2016

Tzniut, Halakha and the Male Gaze: Lecture and Sources

August 10th, 2016|Tzeniut, Women|

This lecture was composed in the context of this op-ed in the New York Times. These sources also accompany the Season 2 Episode 7 episode of the Joy of Text podcast.

Introduction

There is a general sense in the frum community that tzniut is a concept that applies almost exclusively to women and to how they dress. In some more Haredi communities, young girls are taught that tzniut is there special mitzvah – that they must dress modestly at all times so that men will not look at them and

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

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