Sukkot & Simchat Torah
TT #537 - 15-22 Tishrei 5763 - September 20-28, '02
To the Israel Center family,TT readers, and all of Klal Yisrael Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach

Halachic Times for Jerusalem Israel Summer Time - a.k.a. Daylight Savings Time
Correct for TT #537
Ranges are for THU-THU, 13 - 27 Tishrei, September 19 - October 3 - Remember that this is a two-week span of time
Candle lighting Friday, Erev Shabbat & Sukkot (SEP. 20) - 6:03pm
Havdala for Shabbat-Yom Tov, SEP 21 - 7:16pm
Rabbeinu Tam - 7:50pm
Candle Lighting for Shabbat and Simchat Torah, SEP. 27 - 5:54pm
Havdala for Shabbat -Yom Toc, SEP. 28 -7:22 PM
Rabbeinu Tam - 7:40pm
Earliest Shacharit 5:35-5:44am
Sunrise - 6:25-6:34am
Sof Z'man Kri'at Sh'ma 9:29-9:31am (8:43-8:46am)
Sof Z'man Shacharit - 10:30-10:28am (10:00-10:00am)
Chatzot (halachic noon) • 12:33-12:28pm
Mincha Gedola (earliest Mincha) 1:04-1:00pm
Plag Mincha 5:24-5:08pm
Sunset 6:45 - 6:26 (6:40-6:22pm)

Explanation of the Z'manim
Sunrise for Jerusalem does not take into account elevation, since the eastern horizon (where the sun rises) consists of the Hills of Moav across the Jordan River, which are approx. at the same elevation as Jerusalem
Sunset, on the other hand, is given for an elevation of 825m and, in parentheses, as if at sea level. There are different opinions as to which sunset time should be used for halachic purposes. We present both times.
The deadlines for the SH'MA and the Shacharit Amida can be calculated in two ways. Either considering the day to be from sunrise to sunset or from dawn to stars out. The first way of reckoning is known as the opinion of the GR"A, and is the first time given in each case. The second method is known as the Magen Avraham, and is presented in parentheses.
Aside from candle lighting and havdala, the times are presented as a range, from the current Thursday of the issue of Torah Tidbits until the coming Thursday, a span of 8 days. Days between the two Thursdays can be determined by interpolation (which means: a method by which to estimate a value of between two known values - this is something that people above a certain age might remember from high school trigonometry and logarithms, but younger people who went to school during the calculator era might not be familiar with).
It is usually wise to "pad" the times with a minute or two in the "play it safe" direction. E.g. Plag Mincha. Better to finish Mincha a minute or two before the given time. But, better to not light candles until a minute or two after the given time.

WORD OF THE MONTH
A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem...

HAZON SHAMAYIM, computer program, has been supplying Torah Tidbits readers with Candle lighting and Havdala times, and daily Halachic Z’manim, for several years. The program has also answered questions for many people who rely on the Israel Center and Torah Tidbits for off-beat information. A reporter covering the Olympics and a religious musician playing with the IPO called US to find out havdala times for Australia and Anchorage, Alaska, respectively. People have found out (from US) the earliest time to daven in various places around the world. This is/was our secret source. Their number is 08-994-5621

Internalizing SIMCHA
Sukkot comes with the mitzvot (and requirements) of dwelling in the Sukka and taking the Arba’at HaMinim for 7 and 6 days respectively. Sukka also comes with another mitzva: as one of the three REGALIM, we are commanded/obligated to be JOYOUS. SIMCHA is one of the 613 mitzvot, just like Sukka and Lulav are. In fact, as we all know well, Sukkot is called ZMAN SIMCHATEINU, the time our joy.

But what about our moods? Our individual moods and our collective, national mood. Bombings, the MATZAV, road accidents, shootings... if it isn’t one thing, it’s another. How can we be so joyous, when...?

Simcha comes in two forms: the easy kind that enters us effortlessly when things are going well, when the whole world is smiling, and you cannot help but feel happy. And the other kind is the kind you have to work at. Work hard to achieve. Because you might not be in the mood to be joyous. This is the kind of joy that does not come easy. But not everything in life does come easy. And when it comes to mitzvot, we should be well-experienced at working hard in order to fulfill some of them. It isn’t always easy to fast on Yom Kippur. But we make the effort and usually succeed. Keeping Shabbat is sometimes hard for some people, but a commitment to Torah means that we make the effort to do what we are commanded to do. Simcha is no less of a command than the others. It’s just harder to achieve sometimes than most mitzvot. Emotions work like that.

But here’s something to help. The command of SIMCHA is not something external to us. Eat matza, don’t steal, say Birkat HaMazon, don’t eat non- kosher, put a Mezuza on your doorpost, don’t violate Shabbat — these are things to do and not to do. SIMCHA is not something to do; it is something to be. And we mention the reason to be joyous in the davening. “You chose us from all of the nations, You love us, You want us, You sanctified us with Your mitzvot... and You gave us - with love - joyous holidays...”

It isn’t a matter of mood. Mood can determine whether you’ll do something or not. It cannot change what we ARE. Part of being a Jew is being happy. Even when we’re sad. Work on it.

Sedra Stats
V'zot HaBracha take up only 70 lines in a Sefer Torah (shortest sedra). It has 10 Parshiyot;2 open, 8 closed. 41 p'sukim - ranks 52nd;512 words, 1969 letters - ranks 54th

Torah Readings
KOHELET is usually read on Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot. We don’t have one of those this year, so instead we read Kohelet on the first day of Yom Tov, which is Shabbat. (In Chutz LaAretz, Kohelet is read on Shabbat-Shmini Atzeret.) It is read before the reading of the Torah. When Kohelet is read from a parchment megila (common in Jerusalem), brachot are recited on the reading. No brachot are said if it is read from a printed book. The megila by Shlomo HaMelech in his later years takes a serious look at the Life we all live, and his conclusions boil down to there being nothing of real value in this World. Except to be G-d fearing. Kohelet provides a sobering balance to the potential levity of the Chag and hopefully focuses our joy in the proper direction.

On the first day of Sukkot we read from Parshat Emor, Vayikra 23, the portion of the Festivals. We actually start the reading several p'sukim earlier with the mitzvot of not taking an animal from its mother to use it as a korban before it is 8 days old. And the prohibition of slaughtering an animal and its offspring on the same day. This second mitzva applies to korbanot and to "secular" use of animals for food. The first mitzva is specifically for korbanot (but its spirit belongs to profane animals too).

Next the Torah teaches us the mitzvot of Kiddush HaShem and its opposite.

Then we come to the Festivals portion. The Torah begins with Shabbat, followed by Pesach, the Omer, Shavuot, Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. This 52-pasuk portion is read for 7 people this year, because it is Shabbat.

The Maftir is read from a second Torah, from Parshat Pinchas. It is a 5-pasuk presentation of the Korban Musaf of the first day of Sukkot.

The Haftara comes from Zechariya and contains the famous prophesy of the time in the future when other nations will recognize the One G-d and those nations that persecuted Israel will be severely punished. There is a universal message of Sukkot in that people from other nations will also be challenged with the mitzva of Sukka. The universal nature of Sukkot can also be seen by the 70 bulls of the Musafs of the seven days. So too, the fact that the world is judged for rainfall on Sukkot gives the holiday a universal flavor.

At Mincha on Shabbat-Yom Tov afternoon, we read the first parts of V’ZOT HABRACHA, which is the upcoming “weekly” sedra for the second Shabbat in a row.
The Torah reading for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, is the "same". One Torah is taken out (as opposed to Chol HaMoed Pesach when two Torahs are used each day). 4 people are called to the Torah and the same set of p'sukim is read for each of the Aliyot. Each Aliya consists of three p'sukim (the minimum length), comes from Parshat Pinchas and deals with the Musaf offering of each day. Unlike Pesach, whose days have the same Musaf, those of the days of Sukkot differ in the number of bulls offered.

Simchat Torah
On the night of Simchat Torah, we read the beginning of VZOT HABRACHA. This is the only night of the year that we read from the Torah, after joyously dancing with the Torahs and making Hakafot around the Bima. It reflects the joy and love we feel towards the Torah on this day of its celebration. The Old Minhag Yerushalayim (GR"A) is not to read the Torah on Simchat Torah night. And, just for your knowledge, Shulchan Aruch does mention Torah reading on Leil Simchat Torah, but not from V'zot HaBracha. Rather different Parshiyot are read for each Aliya.

On Simchat Torah morning, after Hakafot, we read the sedra of V'Zot HaBracha. Because it is Shabbat this year, there are 7 official Aliyot, rather than the 5 as on Yom Tov days. The sedra is not completed with these 7 Aliyot, but the reading goes a bit further than in years when Simchat Torah is on a weekday.

These seven (customs vary) portions are reread over and over again, many times with several Torahs being read simultaneously at different locations in shul. This allows everyone to receive an Aliya on Simchat Torah. Following this, the Chatan Torah is called for the last Aliya in the Torah. A chupa is often made over the Bima by four tall guys with a talit, as the Torah is completed. There is a custom that the last Aliya before Chatan Torah is given to one of the oldest men in shul, and with him, all young boys (who cannot take their own Aliya) are invited to share this KOL HA'NE'ARIM Aliya.

After V'zot HaBracha (and the Book of D'varim, and the whole Torah) is completed, the Torah is lifted, closed, and "dressed" and a second Torah is read from. This time, the honor of the Aliya goes to the Chatan B'reishit, for whom will be read the beginning of the Torah. We never finish with the Torah. We begin it as soon as we get to the end. This is the “real” reason for our great joy. School children are joyful when the school year ends. We celebrate, not the conclusion of the Torah, but the wonderful feeling of beginning again and of being the people to whom the Torah was given and for whom the Torah is our way of life. Again a Chupa is made for this Aliya (customs might vary from shul to shul).

The whole first chapter of B'reishit is read, plus the first four p'sukim of the 2nd chapter, which describes the first Shabbat.

Then Maftir is read from a third Sefer Torah. It comes from Parshat Pinchar and presents the Musaf of Shmini Atzeret.

Finally, the Haftara of Simchat Torah picks up where the Torah left off - with the beginning of the Book of Yehosha. Aside from it being the natural choice for Haftara of V'zot HaBracha because it is its continuation, it also contains G-d's encouragement to Yehoshua to cling to the Torah and immerse himself in it day and night. This portion is particularly suited for Simchat Torah.

THE JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JEWISH LAW
Rabbi Emanuel Quint, Dean

Lesson # 154 (part one) • Sales - Not by Mere Words
The most common business transaction in the world is "the sale". Everyone has bought a loaf of bread or a newspaper. Many people have bought a house or an automobile. Actually there are a myriad of things that people buy in their lifetime.

With this lesson we start a long series of lessons regarding the Laws of Sales in halachah. These laws take up many, many chapters in Shulhan Aruch, Hoshen haMishpat, fifty-one altogether.

First, in all of these lessons we will be discussing sales, NOT CONTRACTS TO SELL. (Contracts were discussed in lessons 50, 51 and 52; TT 432, 433 and 434.) In the case of a contract for sale, Reuven and Shimon enter into the contract for the future transfer of ownership of an object, whether real estate or personal property.

The contract states that Reuven will sell his painting to Shimon for $10,000, and Shimon will buy the painting for $10,000. The sale will be completed, let’s say, thirty hence. At that time (30 days hence) at the agreed upon time and place, Shimon pays to Reuven the $10,000 and Reuven hands over the painting to Shimon. When Shimon takes the painting into his hands, he becomes the owner of the painting. In halachah a contract to sell can sometimes be completed with mere words (see the aforesaid lessons). However, a sale in halachah, ordinarily, does not take place with mere words. A sale is generally the contemporaneous transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer; it takes place now. For example, On January 1, Reuven and Shimon discuss Shimon buying Reuven's painting for $60,000. Right there and then Shimon writes a check to Reuven for $60,000 and Shimon picks up the painting and the painting belongs to Shimon. There must be a moment in time when ownership of the object leaves the seller and enters into the buyer. The sale takes place at that moment. There are two requisites for the sale to take place: (1) the intent by the parties to transfer ownership from the seller to the buyer, and (2) an act of acquisition by the buyer that concludes the transfer. One of the requisites without the other does not effect a change in ownership of the object being sold. Both must be present. For example, if (1) the intent is missing, there is no transfer of ownership. The buyer picking up the object without the instructions from the seller does not acquire ownership of the object. There has not been a transfer of ownership to him. He must return the object or he will be a thief. Conversely, if (2) is missing there is no sale of the object. For example, Shimon paid $100 to Reuven for Reuven's book and the parties intended that Shimon should own the book. Reuven states, "The book is yours" and Shimon states "The book is now mine". The book is still not Shimon's since Shimon did not do an act of acquisition to acquire the book. An act of acquisition would have been Shimon picking up the book. The payment of money for an object of personal property is ordinarily NOT an act of acquisition. Both (1) and (2) must be present. When Shimon, pursuant to Reuven's instructions, picks up the book, it belongs to Shimon. Without these two requisites, ownership remains with the seller. Thus, no matter how much each wishes ownership to be transferred, unless there is an act of acquisition, ownership will remain with the seller. And no matter that the buyer performed an act of acquisition to transfer ownership, the object will remain with owned by the seller if there was lacking the intent by the seller to sell and the buyer to buy.

I have called the moment when ownership is passed from seller to buyer the "moment of transfer of ownership". Transfer of ownership takes but a moment. I have called the act by which ownership passes from seller to buyer, "the act of acquisition".

As the title to the chapter indicates, words by themselves cannot effect an act of acquisition. There must be a physical act.

The balance of these lessons discuss the methods of acquisition of each type of object, real estate of personal property.

As stated in many of these lessons, very often, the law of the land and local laws, customs, and local court precedents will govern the rights, duties, liabilities, and obligations of the parties in halachik civil law. However, there are many situations where the local laws do not contemplate solutions to the transactions of the parties or more and more, the parties may agree that they want to be bound by the terms of the halachah in their dealings, or the local laws themselves provide that the parties to a transaction may agree to be bound by other laws. Also there are many situations where the laws of several systems can be applied simultaneously, since this may have been the intent of the parties. Beth Din must ascertain the facts in each case in determining the intent of the parties as to which system or systems of law to be bound by.

In conclusion, mere words by themselves usually cannot effect an act of acquisition. Thus if the seller states that he wishes the item to be sold to buyer and that ownership should pass to him and the buyer states that he wishes to acquire ownership and that the item should belong to him, the ownership to the thing has not passed from the seller to the buyer. Ownership is still with the seller, even though all of the terms of the sale have been agreed upon, such as the price, the terms of payment, and the warranties and other terms that parties generally agree to when a sale takes place. The fact that witnesses were present when the words were spoken does not change the situation. Witnesses are never required in commercial matters. They act as persons who can testify to the facts of the case if there is a difference of opinion between the parties as to what took place, and Beth Din has to make a determination of what took place. The witnesses will testify as to what happened so that Beth Din can decide the case.

If there has not been an act of acquisition there is no transfer of ownership. The sale is not completed.

Once a sale has taken place, the transfer of ownership cannot be undone by the agreement of the parties. If the seller wishes to reacquire the thing he sold and the buyer wishes to have the seller take back the thing that the buyer acquired, there must be another transfer of ownership from the buyer to the seller. They cannot undo the sale even if there were no witnesses present when the sale took place. Their agreement to undo the sale and that each relinquishes and waives the rights that each acquired when the sale took place is not sufficient; there must be a reacquiring of the item by the seller in the same manner that such a thing is acquired.

If the sale is made by mere words of agreement as to the terms, the buyer may still then perform an act of acquisition and the sale will be complete. If either of the parties decides not to have the act of acquisition completed after he agreed to the sale or purchase, he is known as a person who is lacking in trust. Or if money has passed hands, the person who does not fulfill the agreed upon sale may subject himself to a curse. Ordinarily, a seller cannot tell a buyer to now perform an act of acquisition and the transfer of ownership will take place at a future time, whether one second thereafter or a long period of time thereafter. When the act of acquisition is completed the transfer of ownership is completed. If the intent of the parties is not to then transfer ownership to the thing being sold the act of acquisition is usually a nullity.

To summarize, to complete a sale there must be two things present: (1) the intent to effect a transfer from the seller to the buyer, and (2) an act of acquisition performed by the buyer. What the act of acquisition consist of will IYH be discussed in many of the forthcoming lessons. I have intentionally repeated the rules of acquiring an object. The concept is new to most readers. Their life experience has been when you pay for the object it belongs to you. In halachah, in most instances, payment is not an act of acquisition of an object of personal property, such as a loaf of bread.

The subject matter of this lesson is more fully presented in Volume VI Chapter 189 of"A Restatement of Rabbinic Civil Law" byE. Quint, published by Jason Aronson, Inc. and on sale at local Judaica bookstores.

Questions to quint@inter.net.il

MEANING IN MITZVOT by Rabbi Asher Meir
Each week we discuss one familiar halakhic practice and try to show its beauty and meaning. The columns are based on Rabbi Meir's Meaning in Mitzvot on Kitzur Shulchan Arukh.
A Stolen Sukkah
The Torah commands, "The festival of Sukkot shall you make yourself seven days" (Devarim 16:13). The additional expression "yourself" often comes to tell us that a mitzva object has to belong to us personally; for example, since the Torah tells us to take the four species "for yourselves" (Vayikra 23:40), we learn that on the first day the lulav and etrog must belong to the person doing the mitzva (SA OC 649:1).

However, the gemara concludes that this can't be the meaning of the word "yourself" regarding sukkah. The reason is that the Torah explicitly states, "Every freeman in Israel shall sit in sukkot" (Vayikra 23:42).

"This teaches that all Israel are fitting to sit in a single sukkah" (Sukkah 27b). Instead, the word "yourself" comes to disqualify a stolen sukkah (SA OC 637:3).
Since the gemara states that sitting together in one sukkah is "fitting" and not merely permissible, it seems that it is actually desirable for the sukkah to have a public character. This insight can help explain a famous puzzle from the book of Nechemia.

When Nechemia and his company returned to Yerushalaim from the Babylonian exile, "All of the congrega- tion returning from exilt made sukkot, and they sat in sukkot, for they had not done so from the time of Yehoshua bin Nun, all the children of Israel, until that day; and there was very great rejoicing" (Nechemia 8:17).
The commentators try and explain how the Scripture can seem to imply that the mitzva of sukkah had been neglected for so many generations. The Metzudat David, for examle, explains that they had not in the past made such permanent and fine sukkot.

The Malbim gives a somewhat different explanation. He write that what the people had not done since the time of Yehoshua was to sit in public sukkot, as the previous verse relates: "And they made sukkot, each one on his roof, and in their courtyards, in the courtyards of G-d's house, and in the street before the Water Gate, and in the street before the Gate of Efraim". He goes on to suggest that at the time of the return from exile there was a special regulation permitting sukkot on public property.

These sources demonstrating the special advantage of a public sukkah may imply further that every sukkah has something of a public character. The house we live in all year symbolizes privacy and separateness, but at Sukkot we leave this edifice and dwell in a temporary booth which provides much less privacy and partition between us.

We are accustomed to say that on Sukkot each individual leaves his permanent dwelling and enters a temporary one; to a lesser extent, we may say that each person leaves his private dwelling and enters a communal one.

Rabbi Meir has completed writing a monumental companion to Kitzur Shulchan Aruch which beautifully presents the meanings in our mitzvot and halacha. It will hopefully be published in the near future.

Rabbi Meir authors a popular weekly on-line Q&A column, "The Jewish Ethicist", which gives Jewish guidance on everyday ethical dilemmas in the workplace. The column is a joint project of the JCT Center for Business Ethics, Jerusalem College of Technology - Machon Lev; and Aish HaTorah. You can see the Jewish Ethicist, and submit your own Qs — www.jewishethicist.com or www. aish.com

From the virtual desk of the OU VEBBE REBBE
The Orthodox Union – via its website – fields questions of all types in areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of them are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli, zt"l to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious communityin Israel and abroad. Ask the Rabbi is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah...

Q I am a resident of Israel and will be traveling abroad during Sukkot. On Yom Tov, I will be in a city with a Jewish community, but in a different neighbor- hood. Can I do Melacha (work) publicly outside the Jewish community on the second day (Yom Tov Sheni)? (I assume that privately (b'tzina), there is no problem.)
A A person who lives in Eretz Yisrael cannot do melacha in chutz la'aretz on the second day of Yom Tov because Chazal feared that such activity could cause machloket [dissension, confusion, ed.] (Pesachim 51b). This is not a local halacha of Yom Tov alone, but a general rule when visitors have different practices than their host community (ibid.). We understand many people's impression that there is no problem to "violate" Yom Tov b'tzina (privately). This is, in fact, the opinion and rationale of the Taz (Orach Chayim 496:2).

However, the great majority of rishonim and acharonim forbid melacha even b'tzina (Tosafot, Pesachim 52a; Magen Avraham, ibid.:4; Mishna Berura, ibid.:9, to name a few). Sometimes we allow a person to privately follow his minhag against the local minhag, but not by melacha on Yom Tov Sheni, for two possible reasons. 1) It is more difficult to do melacha unnoticed (Tosafot, ibid.). 2) The prohibition of melacha on Yom Tov Sheni is a major institution, about which we are very strict (Ba'al Hamaor, Pesachim ibid.). We urge visitors to Jewish communities to follow the majority opinion and not do melacha even b'tzina. (We are aware of cases where bnei Eretz Yisrael did melacha "privately," and the matter became known and did cause a fight).

In a few situations, one can be lenient. One is a situation where even one who sees what his friend is doing cannot tell that the action is forbidden for a local Jew. For example, one can cook without an eiruv tavshilin, because one who sees him cook does not see that he doesn't have an eiruv (Radvaz, cited by Mishna Berura 596:13). Also, if there is a machloket whether a given action is permitted on Yom Tov, then even a ben Eretz Yisrael who is strict on the matter can do it on the Yom Tov Sheni. This shouldn't cause a dispute since even many locals are lenient. One example is smoking (which we feel is a melacha on Yom Tov and strictly forbidden all year, but, unfortunately, not all agree).

Where does the prohibition of Yom Tov Sheni apply? The Shulchan Aruch (OC 596:3) says that it applies everywhere within the techum Shabbat (the confines of the city, where one is permitted to walk on Shabbat) of the Jewish community. While it is difficult to rule on a city which we do not know firsthand (ask the local rabbi), in most major cities one can go from place to place within the city without leaving techum Shabbat. If in your case it is not so, how will you get to the beit k'nesset on the first day of Yom Tov?

Hasidic Wisdom from the book by Simcha Raz (Elkins/Elkins)
G-d hides so that we will seek. — Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav
When people grow tall [in spirit], they do no harm to their fellows. But when they grow wide [with ego] – they butt up against their neighbors.

Rite and Reason by Shmuel Pinchas Gelbard
It is customary to read Megilat Koheles on Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot, or when the first day is Shabbat, on that day. (In Chutz LaAretz, Kohelet will be read on Shmini Atzeret this year.)
Reason: Because these are joyous days, and it is written in Kohelet (2:2): “And of joy, what does it accomplish?” (Magen Avraham)
Reason: We find an illusion to the Sukkot festival in Kohelet in the pasuk (11:2): “Distribute portions to the seven, or even to the eight.” Our Sages expounded (Eruvin 40b): “Distribute portions to the seven” — this refers to the seven days of Sukkot. “Or even to eight” — this refers to Shmini Atzeret.
Reason: The pasuk (Melachim Alef 8:2) says: “And all of the men of Yisrael gathered to Shlomo HaMelech in the month of the mighty ones, the seventh month.”
The hadasim are bound to the lulav’s right side and are placed higher than the aravot (Rema).
Reason: Since in the Torah myrtle precedes the willow: “And you shall take to you... myrtle branches and boughs of willow (Vayikra 23:40).
Reason: The leaves of the hadasim are smaller than those of the aravot. So it is proper to place them higher so that everyone sees them, “so people do not say he is reciting a bracha [on a lulav] without hadasim”.
Reason: Because the myrtle is more important than the willow since it has a pleasing fragrance.
It is customary to recite the bracha over the lulav in shul after the Amida of Shacharit, before saying Hallel.
Reason: The ideal time for davening Shacharit is to say the Shma before sunrise (too early for lulav) and begin the Amida as the sun rises. As soon as the Amida is over, the next mitzva to per- form is Lulav & Etrog. (And L&E are used in Hallel)
More...
It is customary to wave the Lulav & Etrog during Hallel while reciting HODU LASHEM... and ANA HASHEM HOSHI’A NA (but not during ANA HASHEM HATZLICHA NA, nor does the SHA”TZ do NA’ANU’IM for the two YOMRU NAs).
Reason: The pasuk in Divrei HaYamim Alef (16:33) says: “Then the trees of the forest shall sing before HaShem... HODU LASHEM KI TOV... V’IMRU HOSHI’EINU ELOKEI YISHEINU – “And say give us salvation, O G-d of our salvation”. This is explained: The trees of the forest shall sing when reciting HODU and HOSHI’EINU. (Tosefot Sukka 37b)
The reason we do not wave the lulav for ANA HASHEM HATZLICHA NA is that ANA HASHEM HOSHI’A and HATZLICHA are part of the same pasuk, and we do not shake the lulav twice in one pasuk (Avudraham).
During Hallel, the CHAZAN waves for HODU as does the congregation in response. He would then say (without NA’ANU’IM) the other three phrases, to which the congregation responds with HODU (and waving). Because YOMAR NA YISRAEL can be seen as the CHAZAN’s reminder or instruction to the congregation to say KI L’OLAM CHASDO, he waves during YOMAR NA. But the two YOMRUs do not address the congregation, so the CHAZAN does not wave for them. [Based on this, we can guess that some communities wave in response the the CHAZAN’s two wavings and not the other two, although it is proper to wave for all HODUs.]

ArtScroll Series • Mesorah Publications Ltd.
WORDS OF WISDOM WORDS OF WIT by Shmuel Himelstein
Once, on Simchat Torah, when all were dancing joyfully with the Torah, the students of R’ Yisrael Salanter noticed that he looked sad and asked him why. “Imagine”, said R’ Yisrael, “that a man is sad about one event and happy about another. In such a case, the joy may overcome the sadness. What happens, however, if the joy and sadness come from the same source.

“Imagine, for example, if a man has a son whom he loves very dearly, and that son becomes extremely ill. Can the joy of having such a son outweigh the sadness of the fact that he is sick? Of course not. On the contrary, the more the father loves his son, the more he will feel sad over his son’s illness.
“It is the same with me. On the one hand, I rejoice greatly in the fact that we have the precious Torah. On the other hand, I am terribly saddened that there are so many Jews who violate the Torah daily. Thus, the more joy there is on Simchat Torah, the more keenly I feel pain over the level to which we have sunk in our observance.”

We have matured when we are able to distinguish our limitations from our shortcomings.
The mind must be mined.
Some carry moderation to extremes. From A Candle by Day by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein

From the Desk of the Director
As we approach Sukkot we are filled with anticipation. For it is written (Psalm 27): "Hashem is my light [on Rosh Hashana] and my salvation [on Yom Kippur]… [and] he will hide me in his shelter [on Sukkot]." On Yom Hadin, Hashem helps us to see the error of our ways; on Yom Kippur He forgives us our sins; and now during Sukkot we can seek the mantel of His protection.

When we sit joyfully in our Sukka, we symbolically invite the seven "Faithful shepherds" - the Ushpizin - to join us. It is as if they celebrate Sukkot together with us. Perhaps, now that we are free of guilt and oppression, we can forge ahead on the spiritual path they paved for us.

The Ushpizin, we know, portrayed unwavering Emunah under the most difficult circumstances: Avraham left his birthplace, Yitzhak dwelt in Gerar (exile) because of a famine, and Ya'akov answered the call to go to Padan Aram where he benefited neither from his birthright nor his father's blessing. The other Ushpizin - Yosef, Moshe, Aharon, and David - were equally faithful in the face of over- whelming adversity.

Sefer Hatoda'ah explains that in their wanderings the Ushpizin brought the message of Hashem's light, goodness and blessings to the world. And during Sukkot, we, their children, are reminded that we offer 70 sacrifices on behalf of the other nations before we bring our own (on Shmini Atzeret). It seems that, having restored our faith in Hashem - and in ourselves - on Sukkot we are to exercise our national potential as a light unto these nations. We, too, can be the shepherds that lead the way.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Samei’ach, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center

What happened on the 15th?
Pesach is on the 15th of Nissan because on that day we left Egypt. Shavuot is 50 days later because on that day we received the Torah. Rosh HaShana corresponds to the sixth day of Creation, the day human beings were created. On Yom Kippur, Moshe brought G-d's message of forgiveness for the Sin of the Golden Calf. On the 25th of Kislev, we rested from our fight against the Greek enemy. Hence, we celebrate Chanuka from that date. Purim is the 14th of Adar because something happened on that day. The same can be said for Tish'a b'Av and the other fast days related to the destruction of the Temples. Our modern dates of Yom HaAtzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim are on the dates that something momentous happened.

What happened on the 15th of Tishrei? And if there is nothing specific, then what is Sukkot doing specifically at this time of the year and on that date?

The Vilna Gaon gives a significance to the date. Later. Most others explain the time of the year, but not for the specific date.

Tur says that had the mitzva of Sukka been commanded at Pesach-time, it would not be noticeable that we are performing a mitzva; it would seem that we are merely seeking the comfortable environment of the Sukka in the warming springtime. On the other hand, when we leave our homes as others are returning to theirs in anticipation of cooler and wetter weather, the mitzva aspect of Sukka is manifest.

Rambam seems to take an opposite view, namely that the timing of Sukkot is a kind gesture by G-d - we dwell in the Sukka when it is neither too hot nor to cold to do so in an enjoyable manner. (A lot depends upon where you live - Eretz Yisrael is highly recommended.)

Ramban says that Sukkot is set at the other side of the year from Pesach to emphasize that we must appreciate G-d's having taken us out of Egypt and protecting us in the Wilderness - ALL YEAR ROUND. Pesach and Sukkot are each a 7-day commemoration of the Exodus, each begins on the 15th day of the first month of the year (both Nissan and Tishrei are first months).

Does the Sukka commemorate the Heavenly Clouds of Glory that protected Bnei Yisrael, or does it represent actual Sukkot in which the people dwelt...
If you say ACTUAL SUKKOT, then this is the season that the people would have begun to need them. Hence, Sukkot in the fall.

If you say CLOUDS OF GLORY, then, according to the Vilna Gaon, after Sin of the Golden Calf, the Clouds left the people. Only after the command to build the Mishkan, and after the materials were collected and the construction was about to begin, did the Clouds return. The GR"A says that this corresponded to the 15th of Tishrei, hence that date for Sukkot.

Menorat HaMaor suggests that the timing of Sukkot carries an important message for the (agrarian) Jew, who has just brought in the harvest and is about to tuck himself comfortably into his home for the winter. He would usually burst with pride at what he has accomplished. The mitzva of Sukka is perfect to bring the Jew out of his complacency and remind him - in the frail Sukka - of G-d's dominion over nature.

Chidushei HaRim explains the timing of Sukkot is "necessitated" by the reason given for the mitzva of Sukka - L'MAAN YEI'D'U DOROTEICHEM... In order that your generations shall KNOW... The level of KNOWLEDGE can be achieved best (or only) in an atmosphere that is sin-free, only immediately following the Yamim Nora'im. Our sources say that a person does not sin unless he is overcome by foolishness. Thus, we are capable of fulfilling the mitzva of Sukka best during the days following Yom Kippur.

One way or the other, we have the wonderful merit of celebrating Sukkot and fulfilling the mitzvot of Sukka the 4 species, and rejoicing on Yom Tov. May we celebrate the holiday with joy, may we fulfill the mitzvot of the Chag with proper kavana and motivations, and may we be privileged to rejoice in the rebuilding of Sukkat David HaNofelet.

What & Where
The Vilna Gaon points out that there are two mitzvot that a person fulfills with his whole self - Sukka and Eretz Yisrael. Both of these mitzvot are performed by "living", not just doing a specific act. One enters his Sukka and fulfills the mitzva. He makes Kiddush and HaMotzi and enjoys a sumptuous Yom Tov meal, and he continues to "get the mitzva". After Birkat HaMazon, he opens a sefer and learns in the Sukka and adds to the performance of the mitzva of Sukka. After learning for a while, he plays a game of chess with his child in the Sukka and is still performing the mitzva. Then he sits back in a comfortable chair and reads (a permitted) magazine article - and continues to fulfill the mitzva. And when he doses off and falls asleep, the person is still "getting" the mitzva. There is no other mitzva like this one. Except the mitzva of living in Eretz Yisrael. The Vilna Gaon cites the pasuk in T'hilim (76:3) as a "hint" to these two special, all-encompassing mitzvot. VAYEHI B'SHALEM" - What mitzvot are performed with "completeness"?, SUKO - the mitzva of Sukka, U'M'ONATO B'TZION - and when a person's place of residence is Eretz Yisrael. ASHREINU - happy and fortunate are we who are privileged to perform the mitzvot of Sukka and Yishuv Eretz Yisrael.

Simchat Beit Hasho'evah and Nisuch Hamayim by Catriel Sugarman
The popular celebrations of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah - the Festival of the Water Drawing - were the most joyous times in the entire Temple calendar. The Talmud says, "He who has not seen the joy of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah has never seen rejoicing in his life." These public celebrations were held during Chol Hamo'ed Sukkot in conjunction with Nisuch Hamayim (the water libation ritual). Nisuch Hamayim accompanied the Tamid (the morning daily sacrifice) and its obligatory Nisuch Hayayin (wine libation) every morning on Sukkot.

However, the festivities of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah "override neither Shabbat nor Yom Tov"; they took place only during Chol Hamo'ed - the intermediate days of the festival. Therefore "on the eve of Shabbat, they used to fill a gold flagon… with water drawn from the Shiloach" (the spring south of Jerusalem) to use on Shabbat for Nisuch Hamayim without the usual festivities.

The validity of these two rites was a major point of contention between the Pharisaic Sages and the Sadducees who negated the authenticity of the Oral Tradition. During the course of the morning Tamid sacrifice, the Nisuch Hamayim was poured into one of two silver cups on the southwest corner of the top of the Altar. The Sages maintained that Nisuch Hamayim, even though it had no specific Biblical source, was an integral part of the Sukkot service and been orally revealed to Moses on Sinai. The Sadducees denied this. The Sadducees also opposed the accompanying celebrations of Simchat Beit Hasho'evah.

Nisuch Hamayim - coming right before the beginning of the rainy season - was seen as a silent entreaty for bountiful rain. The great Tanna R. Akiva, who lived after the Destruction of the Temple, conceived the water libation as a supplication. He pictured G-d saying, "Pour out water before Me on Sukkot, so your rains this year will be blessed." It is believed that the amount of rainfall for the coming year was determined on Sukkot.

Nisuch Hamayim - the Water Libation - was poured into one of two silver cups located on top of the southwest corner the Altar.

The celebrations of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah started after the conclusion of the late afternoon daily Tamid - the last sacrifice of the day. Four colossal golden oil candelabra were positioned in the Temple Court; at night they shed enormous amounts of light. all over Jerusalem. The Mishna remarks that "There was not a courtyard in Jerusalem which was not illuminated by the light of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah. The Gemara adds, "A woman could sift wheat" by the light of these candelabra.

The focus of the celebration was the fifteen semi-circular stairs and the open area immediately in front of them located on the western side of the Court of the Women. The Mishna in Midot describes these stairs, "Fifteen stairs led up from (The Court of the Women) to the Court of the Israelites, corresponding to the fifteen Songs of Ascents [Psalms 120-134] in T’hilim and upon them the Levites used to sing."

On either side of the stairs were rooms where the musical instruments were stored. (see picture)

While huge crowds watched the proceedings, only the spiritual leaders of the people - "men of piety and good deeds" were permitted to actually dance. They danced "with burning torches in their hands singing songs and praises" and were accompanied by "countless Levites with harps, lyres, cymbals, trumpets, and other musical instruments" who stood behind them on the stairs.

"They said of R. Simeon ben Gamliel that when he rejoiced at the time of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah, he used to take eight lit torches (and throw them into the air) and catch one and throw one and they did not touch."

And what did these great sages say? "Some of them used to say, 'Happy is our youth which did not disgrace our old age." These were the men of piety and good deeds. Others used to say, "Happy is our old age which has atoned for (the sins of) our youth." These were the Ba'alei Teshuvah - the penitents. And all of them said, "Happy is he who has not sinned but let him who has sinned repent and He will forgive them."

Very early - at "cock-crow", kohanim opened the Nicanor Gates and sounded the trumpets (chatzotzrot); this signaled the conclusion of that night's celebrations. The kohanim descended the stairs and sounded the trumpet when they reached the tenth step and once again when they reached the level of the Court of the Women. As they continued eastward, the enormous crowd followed them.

"When they reached the Gate (of the Women's Court) which leads to the east, they turned their faces to the west (facing the Temple) and said, 'Our fathers when they were in this place stood with their backs towards the Temple of the Lord and their faces towards the east, and they worshiped the sun towards the east (Ez. 8: 16), but as for us, our eyes are turned towards the Lord."

When the procession reached the Shiloach, the kohanim sounded the trumpets and drew water into a golden flagon. When they returned to the Temple, they did not enter through the Court of the Women; instead they entered through the Sha'ar Hamayim - the Water Gate. Sha'ar Hamayim, usually closed, was located in close proximity to the Altar and was opened especially for these occasions to facilitate the entrance of the kohanim.

During the course of the morning Tamid sacrifice, to the accompaniment of trumpets, the kohein gadol (though it was not a requirement that he personally perform the rite) ceremoniously poured the water into the western of the two silver cups on the southwestern corner of the Altar. At the same, another kohein poured the daily Nisuch Hayayin (the wine libation) into the eastern cup.

The kohein gadol was required to hold the pitcher of water high above his head so the gathered assemblage could see that the libation was done properly. The people called out to the ministering kohein, "Raise your hand high!" This was necessary because once a Sadducee kohein gadol, who wanted to show his disdain for the Oral Traditions, beloved by the people, spilled the water on his feet instead of pouring it into the silver cup on the Altar. Both the Gemara and Josephus describe how the angry crowd pelted the contemptuous kohein gadol with their etrogim causing a riot! One may assume that afterwards Sadducean kohanim were more respectful!

May we be found worthy to participate in the celebrations of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah and witness the Nisuch Hamayim in the rebuilt Beit Hamikdash. Amen.
Catriel gives illustrated lectures on the Beit Hamikdash and related topics. Call him at (02) 652-7531 or acatriel@netvision.net.il

Parsha Pix
This week’s ParshaPix is straightforward and simple. Still, it can be used effectively with your family and guests .
The three animals at the top are the ones mentioned in the beginning of the Torah reading for the first day of Sukkot (second day also in Chutz LaAretz, and the second day of Pesach for us all).
The rest of the Pix is made up of symbols of the cycle of Chagim - the subject of the bulk of the Torah reading.

TTRIDDLES...
are Torah Tidbits-style riddles on Parshat HaShavua (sometimes on the calendar). They are found in the hard-copy of TT scattered throughout, usually at the bottom of different columns. In the electronic versions of TT, they are found all together at the end of the ParshaPix-TTriddles section. Some TTriddles are also presentedfor call-in solution on Torah Tidbits Audio (Arutz-7, Thursday night). The best solution set submitted each week (there isnt always a best) wins a double prize a CD from Noam Productions and/or a gift (game, puzzle, book, etc.) from Big Deal

Last week’s (Haazinu-Shuva & YK) TTriddles:
[1] The paradox between what its called and how long it seems to take
[2] His name on Friday night, Chanuka, and in Ha'azinu
[3] On Yom Kippur, we daven one and the other is forbidden

And the envelope please...
[1] Interesting pair of wrong (well, not wrong, just not what was intended) answers — one taking the TTriddle seriously (which is not the best way to take TTriddles) and the other flippantly in line with many (but not all) TTriddles. DM suggested the answer was T’SHUVA, which can be accomplished in the twinkling of an eye, yet is a lifelong “project” of each of us. True. Nice. But not this TTriddle. DM’s brother, MM/Bklyn, suggested a more typical TTriddle solution, but a groaner, if you know what I mean. His answer was DRUSHA, as in Shabbat Shuva Drasha, which seems to take a very long time despite the word RUSH between the opening and closing letters of the word. Too cute. And wrong. But nice try, both of you. Another solver tried MACHZOR KATAN which sounds small but is really 19 years long. The “correct” solution was submitted by veteran TTriddler YYW. FAST, sounds like it should be fast, but when you are fasting, it seems to paradoxically take a long time. (This year, more than an hour longer than last year, daytime portion, of course).
[2] Many people got this one. Didn’t seem to give anyone a hard time. (sort of hurts the TTriddle reputation to have an easy one, but...) One of G-d’s many KINUYIM (nicknames) is TZUR, Rock. We are familiar with that name from the well-known Friday night TZUR MISHELO. So too from MA’OZ TZUR on Chanuka. The reason for this TTriddle was the use of that name in Parshat Haazinu (and nowhere else in the Torah).
[3] Here too there were some other answers that fit, besides the originally intended one. For example, AVODA. Two solvers submitted this answer. AVODA is one of the central themes of Yom Kippur, referring to the service of the Kohein Gadol in the Mikdash. Yet AVODA in the sense of MELACHA is forbidden on YK. Good answer. MM/Bklyn hit the solution with NE’ILA. We daven Ne’ila, but the other Ne’ila - NE’ILAT HA-SANDAL is one of the prohibitions of YK.

This week's TTriddles:
[1] Backward chloride just hanging around
[2] Not for 7; yes for 7
[3] Let us like a very energetic, true reality of goodness here and down anywhere someone is milling around. Really all very obvious though.
[4] The lawyer was wearing his ligation parka
[5] 11 Buckeyes, 12 Mourning Cloaks, 12 Monarchs

NESTO - Native English Speaking Teen Olim
This past week in NESTO we focused on defining and debating the finer points of Judasim. On Tuesday night, we were shipwrecked for a year. We knew we wanted to survive as Jews, but we were allowed only three Jewish concepts or objects to help and protect us for the year ahead. In a number of small groups, we discussed for over an hour what it is that the Jewish people need to survive as a nation. The results differed from group to group, and some of the big questions were: Is it enough to have a Torah without the Torah Sheba'al Peh? Is Eretz Yisrael the funda- mental symbol that holds Jews together? Is belief alone ever enough?
The following night, Junior NESTO turned up in droves. This was our first event of the year, but due to it falling out in the Aseret Yemi Teshuva and on 9/11, Junior NESTO was a little more subdued than usual (a little!). Chaim began recounting the memories of the previous year, and the lessons that we should learn from the American nation. Chaim challenged the kids to walk around with an "In G-d we trust" T-shirt, the famous phrase borrowed from the American dollar.
After mapping out our Jewish identity with the help of a Magen David, then hearing a rather spooky story on the power of Lashan hara from Raphi, we were officially introduced to Mimi - finally! With the help of some seriously funny and wacky acting impersonations, Mimi helped us get to know each other better. For some, this was their first event in Junior NESTO - we hope we didn't scare you, and that y'all come back next week!!
As Sukkot approaches, we will be decorating the Sukkah in the Israel Center. We are also looking forward to our upcoming Tiyulim.
Grades 10-12 have a fun-packed Tiyul on the Tuesday the 24th. We'll trek all the way to Ceasaria (by bus) and the day will be highlighted by horseback riding and boating. Places are very limited and will be reserved by first-come-first-served basis, so call now!
Junior NESTO is taking a Tiyul to the Jerusalem Zoo on Wednesday the 25th. Afterwards, we will come back to the Israel Center for dinner and a peula in the Sukkah.
To register for either Tiyul call Chave at 050 444 401 or at 566 7787 ext. 250, or Mimi on 058 358 842
Chag Sameach, The NESTO staff
The Israel Center's youth program for Anglo-Israelis, tel. 566-7787 ext. 250 • fax: 561-7432chaveabrahams@hotmail.com • Chaim Pelzner, Director; Chave Herschberg, Coordinator; Mimi Edel, Bat Sherut • NESTO is partially funded by the Jewish Agency for Israel

Israel Center Notes: -
Re: The Israel Center and Torah Tidbits
NOTICE: The OU Israel Center and Torah Tidbits do not necessarily endorse the political or halachic opinions of its advertisers, nor to we guarantee their quality of service.

The Israel Center's Beth Din to adjudicate and arbitrate monetary disputes, according to Jewish law There is a registration fee of 200nis per case No other charges for this service Please call 566-7787 ext. 204 for further information We have forms for two types of cases: Those where both parties agree to submit their disputeto the Beth Din, and those where a complainant wants the Beth Din to summon the second party. The first batch of cases have been processed and "invitations" have been issued. The Beth Din is now in full swing.. Yitzhak Fund, Esq. • Rabbi Emanuel Quint Chairpersons , Ita Rochel, Administrator

Kashrut Questions
If you find a discrepancy between the Hebrew labeling and the original packaging... or if you have any other OU kashrut questions, call this toll-free number (from Israel to NY) 1-800-949-0123 From 4:00pm - midnight, you get a human; other times, leave a voice- message OU Kashrut in Israel office at the Center: 5667787

Israel Center Cafe
After nourishing the soul, come nourish the body serving coffee, sandwiches, toasts, pizza, french fries, salads, eggs, stuffed potatoes, lasagna, soups... and more Located on the lower level of the Israel Center Hours: Sun.-Thu. - 10:00am - 3:00pm Ask about our catering services on or off the Center premises

Thirsty? We now have a hot drinks machine with coffee, tea, & hot chocolate located on the ground floor, anda cold drinks (cans) machine on the first floor near the library.

TIYULIM and SHABBATONIM
Call the TIYUL HOTLINE Dial the Israel Center's number 5-66-77-87, then press 211. You'll hear "thank you, one moment please", and then the phone system's music for 15 seconds. Then the Tiyul Hotline message begins. You can listen to the whole message and then press 2 to leave your message, or you can interrupt by pressing2 right away and then leaving your message.
THE TRAVEL DESK The TRAVEL DESK of the Israel Center exists... to make registration and detail-receiving for Israel Center tiyulim more efficient and less head- achy for you. To help you - whether you live in Israel or are visiting - plan private tiyulim and make in-Israel travel arrangements Sarah will be happy to assistyou on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Call Sarah at the Center, 566-7787 ext. 249.
Note: When a tiyul says "Bring your own lunch", you can do that... or this: Call the TRAVEL DESK or the TIYUL HOTLINE up to the day before the TIYUL and order a box lunch from the Israel Center Cafe. 18 shekel will get you a delicious sandwich, a refreshing drink (specify regular or diet) and a dessert. Your box lunch willbe ready for you when you board the bus.

KASHRUT POLICY: Food for Israel Center In-House programs is supervised by OU-in-Israel - Mehadrin. Israel Center sponsored trips and programs are under Mehadrin Hashgacha. Hotels, restaurants, and tiyulim advertised by the Travel Desk or by outside parties are not necessarily Mehadrin and are not endorsed by the OU orthe Israel Center.

Wednesday, September 25th, Chol HaMoed Sukkot • Start the sweet new year with us on tour in the Land of Milk & Honey; • Visitors’ Center of the Lin Bee Farm, Learn all about bees and the secrets of their 1000 beehives; Tour the T’nuva dairies in Rehovot; Take part in a unique multi-media presentation and simulation and witness the amazing modern milk production process; Festive lunch in Chafetz Chaim sukka; See the (model of the) Mishkan & its vessels, We’ll enhance our knowledge of the Mishkan, which existed for the 479 years before the Beit HaMikdash was built. • 180NIS per person (non-mem 200NIS) • Leaving at 9:30am to accommodate the Chol HaMoed davening schedule • Returning approx. 6:00pm; Shulamit’s tiyulim are always treats; come! you’ll surely enjoy her delicious sweets

Day Trip to Shomron – Chol HaMoed - Wednesday, SEP 25 • in Cooperation with the Shomron Tourist Authority; Guide: Menachem Brody • 9:00am - Depart the Israel Center • Derech Binyamin - Inheritances of the Tribes, Bypass Roads, Shaul HaMelech, HaAi, Wadi Haramiya SHILO - Emek haBanot, Shul/Mishkan model, overlook site of the Mishkan, ITAMAR - water tower overlook - story of the yishuv; meet with Zimmerman family, tour of Organic homestead, taste homemade products, ELON MOREH - overlook on Shechem from Mt. Kabir, visit at Tsel Harim vineyard and tea farm, Mincha, lunch at Succah of Yeshivat Birkat Yosef, Gilad Highway [story of Gilad Zar z”l and his family], KEDUMIM - first Shomron settlement - visit at Museum [archeological finds from the area], Nahal Kana, Ariel [drive through], RECHALIM [regional celebration] • Return to Jerusalem • $45 (205š) including full-day tour, bulletproof bus,; English-speaking guide, lunch by Schocketino, entrance fees

Kever Rachel & Jewish Eastern Jerusalem in cooperation with Yeshivat Beit Orot; Monday, September 23 - depart Israel Center at 1:30pm or Thursday, September 26 - Depart Israel Center at 9:30am; Tour (approximately 4 hours in bullet proof bus) includes: Kever Rachel • Har Homa • Sur BacherRas Al Amud • Mt. of OlivesYeshivat Beit Orot • Kever Shimon Hatzadik Price - $30 or 140NIS per person (adult or child)

Join us for a most unusual 3 days, 2 nights at Keshet in the Golan Heights • SUN-MON-TUEOctober 13-15; SUNDAY (October 13) Sapir Site, where Israel’s largest generator on the Kineret pumps water to the entire country; Boat ride on the Kineret; Amiad Liquor Production Center; unusual evening program
MONDAY (October 14) Perot HaGolan - largest apple juice producer in the Golan; Golan Winery, winner of coveted international gold medal; Mei Eden Springs, the Visitors Center; Gamla, famous second Temple period site, wonderous birds of prey in Gamla reserve; Meitzag HaGolan, giant multi-screen video presentation about the importance of the Golan to Israel; Katzrin, ancient Talmudic village, capital of the Golan, enjoy a gourmet mehadrin meal from a 2000 year old menu, served by waiters dressed in ancient costume
TUESDAY (October 15) Kiryat Shmone tour; Ride Israel’s newest cable car at Manara; learn more about Metula, the moshav that’s over 100 years old; see how the world-famous Neot Teva sandals are made
Our guide will be RENANA, from the Keshet Yehonatan Field School
Even if you came with us to Keshet last time, know that this program is entirely different and exciting; each of these places is special; you will hopefully have an unusual experience; lots of samplings and tastings; bring your camera
Great for individuals, couples, and families • Cost, including transportation, professional guides, escort, entrance fees, and delicious mehadrin meals on H/B basis: 650NIS pp dbl. occ., Single supplement 150NIS • Third (and more) person in same room: 500NIS for child 2-12 • 550NIS teen or adult [Non-mem. add 50NIS pp]
Shulamit’s tiyulim are always treats; come! you’ll surely enjoy her delicious sweets

Announcing our next In-House Israel Center Shabbaton • Shabbat Parshat Lech Lecha, Friday-Shabbat, October 18-19 • Reserve NOW and don’t be closed out • Details to follow

Travel Desk Specials For reservations at the hotels listed below or any other Israeli hotels, please call Sarah directly at the Travel Desk 566 7787, ext. 249. She'll be happy to accomodate you with any of your requests.
Renaissance, Tel Aviv, Sukkot - 510NIS per couple per night, H/B (min. 2 nights)
The hotel is on the beach, has an indoor pool, gym.Shabbat elevator • Rabbanut kashrut
Carlton, Nahariya, valid September 19-29; Sukkot, 630NIS per couple H/B per night
Sheraton-Moriah, Tiberias, valid September 19-29; 2-night package, 1500NIS per couple H/B
Sheraton-Moriah, Dead Sea, valid September 22-26; 3-night package, 2850NIS per couple H/B includes free entrance to SPA
Paradise Negev (Mehadrin), valid for Sukkot; 550NIS per couple per night H/B. 1 or 2 children in room, 95NIS per child; Shiurim by noted Rabbanim, Simchat Beit HaSho’eiva, magic shows, children’s activities, separate swimming hours, local tours
Carlton, Tel Aviv, valid thru September (incl. Chagim), 2-night package, 949NIS per couple B/B - deluxe sea view
Sheraton Four Points, J’lem, valid Sukkot; 2 nights of Sukkot, 1165NIS per couple H/B
Princess, Eilat , valid thru OCT 30, Mid-week, two-night package, 1140š per couple B/B
RUTH RIMON INN, TSFAT. Double room H/B, valid Sep. 26-29, 670NIS per night (min. 2 nights)
B/B = Bed & Breakfast • H/B = Half Board (breakfast + one meal) • F/B (3 meals a day)
Midweek = SUN, MON, TUE, WED nights • Weekends = THU, FRI, Motza"sh nights

Attention Students from Abroad: Are your parents planning on visiting you this year? If so, you want to speak to us (02-566-7787 ext. 249).We have many attractive deals for them... and you. Let us turn an ordinary “been there, did it” visit into an unforgettable, special one!

The Back Page of TT537
"Regular" Israel Center classes & lectures - 20NIS for members, 25NISfor non-mem. Life members, 5NIS (except for programs of/with other organizations). No one will be turned away for lack of ability to pay. (Membership is 225NIS per year)
Many Israel Center programs are partially funded by the Jewish Agency for Israel

Friday
Candle lighting for Shabbat & Chag (combined) is 6:03pm • Mincha - abridged Kabbalat Shabbat - Maariv at 6:23pm

Shabbat Yom Tov
Shabbat-Yom Tov morning davening - 8:00am • Shabbat (and Yom Tov) afternoon shiur at 4:30pm by David Markowitz, Mincha at 5:30pm
Note: the davenings over Shabbat are for people who live in Israel and those visiting from abroad. No difference. Not so for Maariv on Motza’ei Shabbat There will be a
Maariv for the Second night of Sukkot(Yom Tov Sheni) at 7:15pm

Sunday
8:00am - Yom Tov Sheni davening for students and visitors from Chutz LaAretz who are holding two days
10:30am - Shiur in the Sukka on “Timely Topics” by Phil Chernofsky
5:45pm - Mincha for “two day people”
7:15pm - Maariv
September 22nd, 8:30pm • “She who has not been to a Tofa’ah Simchat Beit HaShoeiva
has not seen JOY in her life” • music by women, for women, 25NIS students & members; others 30NIS

Monday
8:00am - Shacharit, etc. for Chol HaMoed(only slight differences between one-day and two day people; all invited)
10:30am - Shiur in the Sukka on “Timely Topics” with Phil Chernofsky
8:00pm - Curing the Jewish Heart • AM SEGULA Lecture series on Lessons from History & Zionism, Speaker: Eli Yosef

Tuesday
The Israel Center and the Old City Free Loan Association (14th year • over 3000 loans given ) Gemach - Free Loan Society to provide interest-free loans for people in financial distress. Interviews at the Center on Tuesdays from 10:00-12:00 • Please bring ID
10:30am - Shiur in the Sukka on “Timely Topics” with Phil Chernofsky
Tuesday Chol Hamoed, September 24, 9:30am - 9:00pm • A Sukkot Colloquium on Spirituality Today featuring speakers: Mrs. Shira Smiles; Rabbi Avraham Sutton' Rabbi Yosef Wolicki; Prof. Nathan Aviezer; Rabbi Zvi Blobstein; Rabbi Zev Leff and Rabbi David Aaron. Call 5667787 x 261 for further details

Wednesday
10:30am - Shiur in the Sukka with Dr. Joel Luber
Chol Hamoed Succot, Wednesday, September 25th, 8:00pm • The David Cardozo Academy Machon Ohr Aaronin conjunction with the OU Israel Center • Sigmund Freud and the Lubavitcher Rebbe: Between January and April, 1903, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe,Rabbi Shalom Dov-Ber Schneersohn came to consult Sigmund Freudfor treatment of lowness of spirit. What happened between these two great minds who were worlds apart in their outlook on life? What made a deep religious Chassidic leader see a secular Jew for help? What does this say about the relationship between religious and secular Jews? Join us for a fascinating talk byDr. Joseph Berke and Professor Stanley Schneiderinternational known religious psychotherapists, Moderator: Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Wednesday, Chol HaMoed, 8:00-10:00pm • Visiting for the Chagim? Visit our Aliya counselor, Miriam Bass -

Thursday
10:30am - Shiur in the Sukka on “Timely Topics” with Phil Chernofsky
Leil Hoshana Rabba • Thursday, Chol HaMoed, September 26th
6:00pm Festive Reception in the Sukka-on-the-Roof
7:10pm Maariv
Leil Hoshana Rabba Shiurim
7:30pm The Last Eight P’sukim of the Torah, Rabbi Reuven Aberman
8:30pm Rabbi Sholom Gold
9:30pm How Jewish is Capital Punishment? A Shiur with sources, Rabbi Nachum Amsel
10:30pm Feminism: The Tent of Meeting and a Women’s Minyan, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo
11:30pm Why the U.N. will Celebrate Sukkot when Mashiach Comes, Rabbi Efraim Sprecher

Friday, Hoshana Rabba
Candle lighting for Shabbat & Chag (combined) is 5:54pm • Mincha - abridged Kabbalat Shabbat - Maariv for people holding two days at 6:14pm

Shabbat Yom Tov
Shabbat-Yom Tov morning davening - 8:30am for people holding two days • Shabbat (and Yom Tov) afternoon shiur at 4:30pm (men & women, locals & visitors - all invited) with Rabbi Max N. Schreier, Mincha at 5:30pm

Motza'ei Shabbat
Read carefully to avoid confusion! 7:00pm - Maariv for Simchat Torah (Yom Tov Sheni)with Hakafot, Students and visitors who are holding two daysare invited to join

Sunday
8:00am - Shacharit etc.for students & visitors holding two days • 5:30pm - Mincha • 7:00pm - Maariv (almost the same for all)
10:30am - Shiur with Phil Chernofsky on CHAGIM ARE OVER - NOW WHAT?
11:30am • Parshat HaShavua with Shprintzee Herskovits
Sunday, Sep. 29, 9:00pm • Mercaz Menucha Serenity Center in conjuction with Young Olim United and the Israel Center proudly presents: “Problem Solving Theater”Improv with a twist, starring the Mother & Son TeamChana Cohen & Yosef Simcha: Next theme: GETTING HIGH IN JERUSALEM • Our holiday gift to you - FREE ADMISSION (this time only!); "I brought my shiduch date and we had a blast!" - Yoel; "They helped me see my problem in a whole new light." - Netanya; "It's always so original and clever, I've been back three times!" - Jaime; For more information contact women613@aol.com
Sunday, September 29, 2002, 8:30pm • Shearim College of Jewish Studies for Women and the Israel Center cordially invite you to participate in INSPIRING OURSELVES, EMPOWERING OUR SOULS; An Interactive Dating and Relationshop Building Workshopfor single and married women developed and conducted by: Shaya Ostrov, Author of "The Inner Circle: 7 Gates to Marriage"• 30NISCall about this program and/or our full or part-time programs (02) 651-4240

Men who are looking to do some serious learning...
Shiur in Minchat Chinuch by Rabbi David Zitter, 10:00am, SUN-THU
Daf Yomi in English with Rabbi Shmuel Halpern, 3:00pm, SUN-THU
Shiur in Makot 3rd perek by Rabbi Hillel Ruvel, 4:30pm, SUN-THU
All shiurim take place in the Israel Center's Ganchrow Beit Midrash one flight up

Monday
9:15am • (men & women) • Excursions into the world of Nevi'im with Mrs. Pearl Borow
N'SHEI LIBRARY 10:00-12:30
10:30am • (men &women) • Rambam’s 13 Principles of Faith with Rabbi Zev Leff
11:36am, SEP 30 • (men & women) • Jewish History - Bayit Sheni period; The 30's C.E. On the Way to Agrippa I with Dr. Henry Goldblum
Mondays (and Wednesdays) 3:00-5:00pm • Women’s Beit Midrash; Acquire study skills and knowledge crucial to your life as a Jew - join us! Guided Chavruta study with Pearl Borow; NEW TOPIC: Shiur on “The Life of Avraham”In-Depth study of Chumash B’reishit... with Rashi with Rabbi David Derovan • Fees for the Shiurim only! 20NIS members/25NIS non-members
Monday, SEP 30, 4:00-10:00pm (Part Two -- Monday, October 7, 2002, 4:00-10:00pm) • Fifth Root & Branch Association Jerusalem Conference onthe Noahide Covenant and Laws (Part 1 of 2)
4:00-5:15pm "Can B'nai Noach Perform Mitzvot in Which They Are not Commanded?", by Rabbi Yehoshua Friedman, Yeshivat Ma'alei Efraim; Chairman, Noahide Fellowship
5:15-6:30pm "Israel, Light to the Nations, Must First Become a Light to Itself" by Rabbi Yechiel Sitzman, Yeshivat Dvar Yerushaliyim
6:30-7:45pm "Jewish Nationalism and Noahide Universalism Go Hand in Hand" by Eliezer Wasserman, Yeshivat Nahalat Zvi
7:45pm "Establishing the Noahide Nations Organization", (Replacing Today's "United Nations" which worships a Pagan Trinity of Oil, Drugs and Weapons with a Noahide Nations Organization based on Fear of G-d and Observance of His Noahide Covenant and Laws) by Mr. Aryeh Gallin, Founder & President, Root & Branch
8:00pm "Jews Who Influenced World Economic Thinking" by Rabbi Aharon Shapiro, PhD., St. John's University; Pulpit Rabbi for 43 years • nis25 per person • Information: rb@rb.org.il
Mondays at 7:30pm • New at the Center: Parshat HaShavua with Dr. Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg
Mondays and Thursdays • 8:00pm, Curing the Jewish Heart; AM SEGULA Lecture series on Lessons from History & Zionism, Speaker: Eli Yosef
Monday, SEP 30th - 8:00-9:30pm • MASK - Mothers & Fathers Aligned Saving Kids, J'lem Chapter at the OU Israel Center • Dr. Judy Belsky, PhD - Group Facilitator; Are you troubled by your child's behavior? Join us at our next bi-weekly meeting

Tuesday
Dr. Hayim Abramson’s classes will resume IY”H on Tuesday, OCT 8th
10:50am • Parshat HaShavua with Rabbi Mordechai Spiegelman
Watch for announcement of resumption of Raizel Zisk’s class
Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults • 9:00am - Rabbi Aaron Adler on The World of Mishnah: Halacha, Hashkafa and History • 10:15am - Rabbi Sholom Gold on Parshat HaShavua
Oct. 1, 8:00pm • Coping Better with the In-Laws with Leah Shifrin Averick, AM ACSW, Author of How In-Laws Relate - It's all Relative

Wednesday
Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults • 9:00am - Rabbi Macy Gordon on The Messianic Era and the World to Come in the thought of Maimonides • 10:30am - Dr. Avivah Gottliev Zornberg on Parshat Hashavua
9:30am • Towards More Meaningful Davening with Dr. Joel Luber
10:30am • Break the Fear Habit... and LIVE! with Alan Romm
Women’s Beit Midrash • Wednesdays (and Mondays) 3:00-5:00pm
Women in Tanach , Guided Chavruta study with Pearl Borow, Fees for the Shiurim only! 20NIS members/25NIS non-members
7:30pm • alternating topics, Jewish Philosophy; Road map to the Prophets - Rambam's Guide for the Perplexed; Now studying: Ordering the Mitzvot and their "reasons"
Ramban's Commentary on the Torah and its Wellsprings; Now studying: "The Tree of Knowing Good and Evil and the Yetzer HaRa" with Rabbi Chaim Eisen
8-10pm • Aliya Counseling with Miriam Bass

Thursday
Shiurim while you fold, Parshat HaShavua and/or the Calendar
10:15am SLIM FOR LIFE Group weight-loss program for women • No obligation for the first sessionQualified nutritional advisor on hand • Elisheva 999-6479
Watch for announcement of resumption of The Men's & Boys' Choir led by Yisrael Shwarzstein
8:00pm Reb Yosef Schreiber • Stories from the Gemara
Thursdays 8:00pm (see Monday 8:00pm) • Curing the Jewish Heart

Friday
9:00am • In-Depth Pirkei Avot with Rabbi Chaim Eisen

The Yad Yaakov Center for Jewish Education classesat the Israel Center will resume IY”H Tuesday, October 8th; The Unfolding Redemptive History of Israel in Biblical Texts; Rav Yosef Leibowitz's new weekly course will take placeon Tuesday mornings, 9:00-10:30am Call (02) 652-4601 for further information

Upcoming at the Israel Center
Sun. OCT 6, 8:30pm • Talking to your teenager with Rachel Frumin MSW, Director, Meor Aynayim Therapy Center
Starting after Sukkot - 8 sessions Tuesdays at the Israel Center, Writing Your Personal Memoirs Call 566-7787 ext. 204 for details
Rosh Chodesh Luncheon, MON, Oct. 7, 1:00pm • Sarah Shapiro, author, A Gift Passed Along, A Woman looks at the World around her, daughter of Norman Cousins, will speak on Health and Happiness. Reserve ASAP

Interested in buying or renting an apartment in Ramat Beit Shemesh or Beit Shemesh? Beautiful 4-6 room apartments available.Call Lemkin Realty at 02-9995727

EXTRA MATERIAL

Note to e-readers of TT: The hard copy of Torah Tidbits contains a collection of popular pull-outs for Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Most of the content is Hebrew texts from davening and the like, but there is explanation material in English. To show you what you are missing by not having access to the hard copy, I am including here some of the English explainations.

A “few” words about our PULL-OUT SECTION

In the immortal words of world’s most lovable ogre, Shrek, “Think of an onion”. That’s what this Pull-Out section is. Each of its 8 sheets (including this one that you are reading at the moment) can be peeled off and stands alone.

Let’s start with this sheet. In addition to two pages of explanations about the many goodies contained in this Pull-Out section, you will find on page 3 a complete AFTER-BRACHA for everything but meals, for use in your Sukka. (Don’t worry; there is also a SUKKA BIRKON - further into the onion.) And on page 4, you will find the introductory passage, brachot, and instructions for waving/shaking the Lulav & Etrog (and Hadasim & Aravot).

Next comes the collection of various Sukka “needs”, including candle lighting instructions, brachot, and passages; blessing for children (it is special to bless your children in the Sukka); Kiddush for the night and daytime of the combined Shabbat and Yom Tov; and Havdala for Shabbat-Yom Tov. In many cases throughout this Pull-Out Onion Section, you will find reminders of certain things, and even a new point or two.

Upon Entering the Sukka provides you with different passages that some people say on one side of the sheet, and a redone USHPIZIN suitable for lamination or framing for your Sukka wall.

Next layer is our SUKKA-BENCHER. This is one of our popular items, that obviates the necessity of taking regular benchers or Siddurim out to the Sukka. It also is convenient not to have Al HaNissim to skip over, and the choice of SUKKOT pre-made for you in the Yaaleh V'Yavo and Harachaman sections. This year, we have added to the Birkon the various brachot to say in lieu of an omitted R’TZEI and/or YAALEH V’YAVO, but only if one remembers the omission at a specific point in the benching.

Let’s focus on this for a few minutes. There are many people who when they bench, might inadvertently skip R’tzei, Yaaleh V’Yavo, and/or Al HaNisim, as the case may be. Then, after they finish benching, they realize they left something out. If they don’t know all the rules, or they don’t have a bencher with good instructions, they may make a spur-of-the-moment decision - which might be wrong. They will decide to repeat the benching. Or they will decide that they don’t have to. Without knowing the rules, a guess might be right anyway... or it might be wrong. Let’s say that someone forgot to say Al HaNisim at the Purim Seuda. He might think that the benching for the Purim Seuda is “fatally flawed” without Al HaNisim, and he will opt for repeating the benching. Wrong. Several Brachot L’vatala, wasted, in vain brachot. Or a person might opt not to repeat the benching on a Friday night, having omitted R’tzei. Also wrong. You have to say the benching over. If you don’t, it is like eating without benching. The point is, you’ve got to learn the rules to avoid one kind of error, or the other. That’s why we recommend reading the last column of the Birkon — even if you don’t forget R’tzei or Yaaleh V’Yavo.

If you do not need the Sukka Bencher, please pass it on to someone else - even a Hebrew-speaking non-reader of TT in shul of your acquaintance.

HOSHANOT is another popular Pull-Out layer that spares you the flipping through the pages of Machzor or Siddur and the consulting of the confusing chart of the order of Hoshanot based on the day of the week that Sukkot begins. The Hoshanot page works for the first six days of Sukkot as well as for the first part of the Hoshanot of Hoshana Rabba. The Hoshanot are in their proper order for Hoshana Rabba. For the rest of the days, just find the day of the week, e.g. SUN Chol HaMoed. The days are correct for this year and all years that begin on Shabbat (like next year, IY”H). Because the first day of Sukkot is Shabbat this year, the first page of the Hoshanot sheet has the complete text for the special Shabbat Hoshanot.

Next comes the Shir Shel HaYom based on Minhag Yerushalayim. Full explanation can be found on that sheet. The chapters of T'hilim are printed in larger print than in past years. We hope that this will make reciting these T'hilim easier. L'DAVID is also included, for your convenience.

This brings us to our Simchat Torah Hakafot sheet. This sheet is more convenient that carrying a bulky Machzor around, and does not have the dangerous flag pole stick that the flags with the pre-Hakafot p’sukim have. In addition to the pre-Hakafot p’sukim, you will find the extra p’sukim said during each Hakafa, as the Torahs are making their (first) circuit around the shul. Then, just fold the sheet, tuck it in your pocket until the next Hakafa, and you are ready to dance up a storm in honor and celebration of the Torah. And, you will find candle lighting for Simchat Torah (which is also Shabbat this year) and Kiddush for your after-Hakafot meal.

We hope that the performance of all the mitzvot of this joyous festival will be enhanced by some or all of the Pull-Out sheets. Once again, may we suggest that you pass on to others any of the sheets that you will not be using.

Oh, yes. Almost forgot. The final layer of this Pull-Out section is the Tiyul & Shabbaton section of Torah Tidbits. We are including it here, rather than in the main body of TT, for technical and practical reasons.

Even if you know every detail and tidbit found in these pages, we hope that at least we made things more convenient for you. But we really hope that you will find yourself saying, “I didn’t know that!” at least a couple of times during your perusal of these sheets.

Note that the sheets that form a 4-page “booklet” are printed in the “Hebrew direction”. Page numbers at the bottom of each page will help.

The mitzva of the Four Species (hereafter L&E) is performed while STANDING.
Following is an optional introductory passage to say before performing the mitzva of L&E. This can be said before taking L&E in hand, or while holding the Lulav- Hadasim-Aravot “bundle” in your right hand and the Etrog in your left, but not yet joining them. Or by holding the Etrog pitma pointing down until after the brachot.

Y'HI RATZON...
The mitzva of L&E is to take the four species in hand together. Therefore, one gets ready to do the mitzva by taking the Lulav “bundle” in the right hand and the Etrog in the left, but does not hold them together, and preferably has specifically in mind NOT to fulfill the mitzva YET; then says the bracha (AND ubhhjva the first time as well), and THEN holds the L&E TOGETHER and UPRIGHT with the intention of fulfilling the mitzva.

BRACHA
This bracha is said at the first fulfillment of the mitzva only.

SHEHECHEYANU
After the bracha/brachot and the joining of the L&E, the mitzva is done, but the custom is to wave the L&E in six directions. Keep the L&E upright; hold them close to the chest and then extend your hands forward. With the L&E in front of you, gently shake them. Bring your hands back to your chest. Repeat in the same direction two more times. Now do the same thing three times to the right. Then three times behind you. Try not to turn too much in the direction of the NA’ANU’IM (waving); face front as best as possible and move the L&E in the different directions. Then to the left three times. Then up. Then down. Extend, shake, retract. Extend, shake, retract. Three times in each of the six directions. There are different customs as to the order of these NA'ANU'IM. Another custom is SOUTH, NORTH, EAST, UP, DOWN, WEST

Hoshanot for Shabbat
No Hakafa is made on Shabbat nor is a Torah taken
from the Aron and brought to the Bima, as is done
during the week. The Aron is opened and we say...

At this point on Hoshana Rabba, the Hakafot are done and the rest is said at your place - and with your own Machzor or Siddur.
We decided to put the Hoshanot in order for the 7 Hakafot of Hoshana Rabba. That caused them to be out of order for the first 6 days of Sukkot.
You will note that some of the Hoshanot are said both on one of the first 6 days of Sukkot, as well as on Hoshana Rabba, while others are said either on one of the first 6 days or on Hoshana Rabba, but not both.
The ones that are said on the first 6 days are so labeled, and should be easy to find.
For your information...
Because of the LO AD”U ROSH rule of our fixed Calendar, neither the first day of Rosh Hashana nor the first day of Sukkot (nor Simchat Torah) can fall on a Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday. Hence, there are four possible days of the week on which Sukkot can begin.
Each possibility produces a slightly different order and arrangement of Hoshanot. This sheet is made for 5763 and other years like it - namely, when Rosh HaShana is Shabbat-Sunday.
Here and on the top of the next page are the Hoshanot for the other two days of Chol HaMoed, not found in the Hoshana Rabba set.

Hoshanot are commemorative of the Hakafot around the Mizbei'ach in the Beit HaMikdash on the days of Sukkot. Therefore, it might be suggested that our Hoshanot combine a Korban-like practice with prayer, as expressed in the pasuk in Hallel (T'hilim 116:17)
To You I will sacrifice a Thanksgiving Offering, and in G-d's name I will call.
The G'matriya of this pauk is 1176 - the same as:
HOSHANA L'MAANCHA ELOKEINU HOSHANA

According to MINHAG YERUSHALAYIM, which is largely based on the opinions of the Vilna Gaon, the regular Psalms of the Day are not said during Sukkot (and other Holidays), but rather there are special Psalms for each day of the CHAG. Although the Psalm for the Chag replaces the regular Psalm of the day, the Psalm for Shabbat supersedes that of Chag.
FYI: The GR"A's minhagim were brought to Israel by students and followers who became a significant Ashkenazi presence in a predominantly S'fardi community. Many, but by no means all, Ashkenazi shuls in Jerusalem follow Minhag Yerushalayim, and some communities outside of Jerusalem have accepted Minhag Yerushalayim. Also, there are many shuls that follow some, but not all, of the minhagim of the GR"A, so don't be confused by inconsistencies.
Here is the set of T'hilim chapters for Sukkot this year. Even if you (and/or your shul) say the regular SHIR SHEL HAYOM, you might want to add the special Psalms of the day.

Ideally, candles should be lit in the Sukka - if it is safe to leave them there. It is not proper to light in the Sukka and then move the candles into the house. If the candles cannot be left in the Sukka, they should be lit in the house.

Candle lighting for Yom Tov which is also Shabbat follows the standard procedure for Shabbat candles – namely, light first, cover eyes, say brachot, open eyes and enjoy the light.

Because of a question as to whether Havdala alone warrants a Sukka-bracha, it is suggested that one follows Havdala (reasonably soon thereafter) with a significant mezonot-snack or a meal. Say the Sukka bracha following Havdala, with the subsequent meal or snack (or, at least the sleeping in the Sukka later that night) in mind.

BRACHA
If you had only the Havdala wine, or you also had mezonot, say the AFTER-BRACHA (conveniently found on another page of the Pull-Out section of this week’s Torah Tidbits. If you have a HaMotzi meal after Havdala, then you can use the convenient SUKKA-BIRKON, also part of this Sukkot Pull-Out.

OU ISRAEL CENTER Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union Jerusalem World Center
Yitzhak Fund, President
Rabbi Emanuel Quint, Senior Vice President
Prof. Meni Koslowsky, Vice President
Harvey Tannenbaum, Secretary/Treasurer
Sandy Kestenbaum, Vaad member
Rabbi Eddie Abramson, Vaad member
Rabbi Dovid Cohen, Vaad Member
Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center
Phil Chernofsky, Educational Director and TT editor
Ita Rochel Russek, Production Assistant, Torah Tidbits
22 Keren Ha'Yesod POB 37015 Jerusalem 91370
Phone: (02) 566 7787 Fax: (02) 561-7432
email: tt@ou.org - website: www.ou.org/torah/tt
Orthodox Union • National Conference of Synagogue Youth
This publication and many of the programs of the Israel Center and NCSY b'Yisrael are assisted by grants from The Jewish Agency for Israel
TT is published and printed "in house" at the Israel Center

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