Sun. Sept. 19, 2010 Parshat Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef, Sukkah Decor: 1-4, 8
It is a mitzvah to decorate the Sukkah and make it look nice. Whoever increases is praiseworthy. Decorations that are used for secular holidays (x-mass etc.) may be used for the Sukkah. The hanging decorations must be entirely within 32cm/12.59in of the schach. The paper chains that are commonly used in many Sukkot as decoration ideally should also be within the same space but if not it's still kosher and one may eat/sleep under that spot.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Mon. Sept. 20, 2010 Parshat Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef, Sukkah Decor: 11-13
During the whole eight days of the holiday one may not have enjoyment from the Sukkah (walls, schach, and ornaments). Edible things that are hung as ornaments and subsequently fall may not be eaten during the holiday as well. If the person stipulated that he wants to have enjoyment from/eat these neither things whenever he wants, then they are neither forbidden nor muktzah.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Tues. Sept. 21, 2010 Parshat Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef, Sukkah residence:
Woman are exempt from the mitzvah of Sukkah, however they may still eat/sleep in it but without a beracha. Men are required to sleep in the Sukkah all seven days. The requirement to sleep in the Sukkah is stronger than that of eating in the Sukkah. For we see that only "set eating" must be done in the Sukkah, while any sleep at all must be done in the Sukkah even not "set". One who gets cold easily is absolved of the mitzvah of Sukkah, but he should still try to do it (heaters ET cetera.).
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Wed. Sept. 22, 2010 Parshat Vezot Haberacha
Yalkut Yosef, Sukkah residence:
Even though women are not hayav to shake the Lulav, it's still not muktzah for them (ordinarily things with no "Shabbat purpose" are muktzah). It is a good idea to keep the Lulav in a vase of water, or some such thing, to keep it fresh. It is mutar to take the Lulav out and even to return it to the water on Yom Tov. One can even add water to the vase but one cannot switch the water. On hol-hamoed it's a mitzvah to switch the water to preserve the freshness of the Lulav.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Sun. Sept. 26, 2010 Hol-Hamoed
Hilchot Laundry: 1-3
The Hachamim instituted a prohibition against washing clothes on Yom tov, because of the likelihood of people not washing their clothing before the holiday and entering the holiday with soiled clothes. The prohibition applies even if one did in fact wash his clothing before the holiday. It is permissible to wash hand/ bath towels as well as handkerchiefs, but some are mahmir about the towels if they are normally only changed once a week.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Mon. Sept. 27, 2010 Hol Hamoed
[Professional] writing is prohibited on Hol Hamoed (for example a Sofer). Writing and typing personal letters or hidushim/notes on torah is permitted (as would be printing them out). Calculating one's personal finances and paying bills is also permitted especially if they are urgent and there are deadlines. Taking pictures is mutar but they should be developed only after the holiday. Recording sounds and video is also permitted.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Tues. Sept. 28, 2010 Hol Hamoed
All of the melachot that one may not do on Hol Hamoed may not done even through a goy. If one went ahead anyways (or he wasn't aware) and had a goy do a melachah for him, he may benefit from it. A melachah that involves a mitzvah, for example building a mikva, may be done through a goy (if there is no mikva in the city yet, then it can even be built by a Jew because it's needed by the public). Any melachah may done if the public needs it for the holiday.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com
Wed. Sept. 29, 2010 Hol Hamoed
In the Amidot for Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah we say "Shemini hag atzeret hazeh" if one accidentally said "hag hasukkot" instead (in any of the tefilot), he is not yatza and the procedure is as follows: if he remembers during the actual amida he returns to "ata bahartanu." If he remembers after the entire amida, he must start again. The same thing applies if one says the wrong holiday (Sukkot instead of Shemini Atzeret) in the Kiddush; it must be said again with the right holiday mentioned.
Today's DSH has been sponsored in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions or sponsorship opportunities, call; 708-DSH-TORA (374-8672) or e-mail donate@613dsh.com