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 explanations.

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.

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