Candles
Candle lighting on Friday night is at 6:08pm. We say 2 blessings each of the first two nights of chag. When possible candles should be lit in the sukkah.
On Friday night we say:
ברוך אתה ה’ אלקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של שבת ושל יום טוב
Baruch Atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam asher kidshanu be-mitzvotav ve-tzivanu lehadlik ner shel Shabbat ve-shel Yom Tov.
Blessed are You Hashem our God Sovereign of the universe Who has sanctified us through his commandments and commanded us to kindle the candles of Shabbat and of Yom Tov.
ברוך אתה ה’ אלקינו מלך העולם שהחיינו וקיימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה.
Baruch Atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam she-hechiyanu ve-kiyimanu ve-higi’anu la-zman ha-zeh.
Blessed are You Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this season.
On Saturday night we say:
ברוך אתה ה’ אלקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של יום טוב
Baruch Atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam asher kidshanu be-mitzvotav ve-tzivanu lehadlik ner -shel Yom Tov.
Blessed are You Hashem our God Sovereign of the universe Who has sanctified us through his commandments and commanded us to kindle the candles Yom Tov.
ברוך אתה ה’ אלקינו מלך העולם שהחיינו וקיימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה.
Baruch Atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam she-hechiyanu ve-kiyimanu ve-higi’anu la-zman ha-zeh.
Blessed are You Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this season.
Sukkah
The Torah commands that we dwell in our Sukkot for the seven days of Sukkot. In the Diaspora, unless one has a family custom to the contrary, we also eat in the Sukkah on Shimini Atzeret. The Sages teach that we should strive to dwell in our Sukkah as we dwell in our homes.
Whenever one eats substantial food in the sukkah (bread or “mezonos” i.e., baked goods) we say the following bracha:
ברוך אתה ה’ אלקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו מצותיו וצונו לישב בסוכה
Baruch Atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam Asher kidshanu be-mitzvotav ve-tzinvanu leishev ba-sukkah.
Blessed are You Hashem our God, sovereign of the world, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah.
Although women are exempt from eating in the sukkah because it is a time bound positive commandment, they recite a bracha when eating there.
Ideally, we should fully live in our Sukkah during Sukkot, even sleep. The common practice, however, in colder climates such as ours is not to sleep in the Sukkah.
Kiddush
Kiddush should be made and the meal should begin after tzeit ha-kochavim which is 7:06 PM.
During the second night of chag we include havdallah as part of the kidush.
Rain
On Sukkot, at all times, all meals should be eaten in the Sukkah. Aside from the first nights, however, as long as it is raining strong enough to ruin our food we may eat indoors. On the first nights, if it is raining, we wait to see if the rain will subside. If the rain does not subside, the meal may be taken in the house. Kidush and an olive’s size piece of bread should however be consumed in the Sukkah without the special “Leisheiv” berakhah.
For most people, discomfort due to cold does not create an exemption since it can be remedied by bundling up. However, anyone who suffers distress or a malady which, for whatever legitimate reason, makes eating in a Sukkah uncomfortable is under no obligation to be in the Sukkah.
Ushpizin
There is a beautiful custom on Sukkot to invite both real and virtual guests to our Sukkah. Just as the four walls of Abraham and Sarah’s tent were open to guests, so too we affirm the value of hachnasat orchim – hospitality as a fundamental to building the good society. This hospitality extends to all humanity, as we pray for the God to spread the shelter of the great Sukkah of peace over the entire world and all humanity. The traditional rite found in siddurim and benchers is to invite a different Patriarch and great Biblical leader each night of Sukkot. In our time, many have creatively expanded upon the guest list to include Matriarchs and great Biblical women. An engaging exercise is to expand further on this idea of Ushpizim by thinking of what other historical guests you would like to symbolically invite to your sukkah.
Seudah Shlishit
Opinions vary on the obligation of seudah shlishit when yom tov coincides with Shabbat. Great care must be taken to ensure we will not ruin our appetites for the yom tov meal at night. Different positions include:
• Include an extra dish or type of food at lunch to represent seudah shlishit
• Have a light snack in the afternoon of Shabbat without washing.
• Wash over bread and have a light meal but be sure to do so in the afternoon not too close to yom tov.
Arba Minim (Lulav and Etrog)
If we hold the Lulav (palm branch) in front of us with the spine of the branch facing us, the three Hadassim (myrtle) are to the right, and the two Aravot (river willow) are to the left, slightly lower than the Hadassim. Every man and woman and child who reaches an age of understanding should take hold of a set of Arba Minim on each day of Sukkot and make the appropriate blessing(s) and wavings. For men this is Chiyyuv (obligation), for women this is Kiyyum (religious opportunity) and for children this is chinuch (education in a life of mitzvot). BOO has an extra set of arba minim for anyone who does not have their own.
The arba minim should preferably be put together before Shabbat. Since the first day of Yom Tov this year is Shabbat, we do not take the arba minim on the first day. On the second day, the blessing for arba minim is usually said before Hallel, however, some have the custom to take the lulav before davening in the Sukkah. Shehechiyanu is said on the first day at the time of blessing.
Havdala:
Havdalah Sunday night is made in the Sukkah. The order is “Boreh pri Hagafen” and “HaMavdil.” No “leishiv” is made.
Chol ha-Moed
No unnecessary work should be done on chol ha-moed that does not directly contribute to our enjoyment of the holiday or our preparations for Shabbat and Yom Tov. Going to class and taking notes is considered a matter of great loss if one doesn’t go. Students therefore can go to class and participate fully.