Must I light a shamash as part of my channukiah on Channukah?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

There is no such obligation. A shamash historically was simply that
which was used as the source of fire to light the candles of the channukiah.

Therefore, one is only obligated to light the candles of channukah, without there
being a need to add a shamash.


See RAMBAM, Hilchot Channukah, Chapter 4, Halacha 8
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/3a04.htm

May I light the channukiah indoors and then move it in front of the entrance to my home?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

No-one may not do so. One should light the channukiah in the same location as
one will leave it. As the gemara says in Masecheth Shabbath, Amud 23A:
"Hadlakah Oseh Mitzvah"

See RAMBAM, Hilchoth Channukah, Perek 4, Halacha 9
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/3a04.htm

Is Megillat Antiochus historically accurate?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
Megillat Antiochus is not historically reliable. It contains
many fanciful inaccuracies.

When do I say the bracha "leishev basukkah" when fuflilling the mitzvah of sukkah?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

 

On the first night of succot one should say kiddush
standing up in the sukkah,  say the bracha
"leisheiv basuukah", sit down, and then say the bracha
"shehecheyanu". In accordance with the Talmud Yerushalmi
one should not say the bracha again during the rest of the
chag, the logic  being that the mitzvah of dwelling in the
sukkah is one mitzvah which extends during the course of the entire chag.

Alternatively, one may follow the opinion of the
Vilna Gaon which is that one should say the
bracha "leisheiv basukkah" immediately before
each time one sits down in the sukkah. The
Vilna Gaon's opinion follows the approach
of the Talmud Bavli.

If it is uncomfortably hot in the sukkah am I exempt from the mitzvah?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

 

One who experiences significant discomfort because
of prevailing conditions in the sukkah is exempt from the mitzvah.

See Rambam, Hilchoth Sukkah, Chapter 6, halacha 2.
 http://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/3606n.htm

If I go on a day trip with my family during hol hamoed succoth which involves going to remote areas where there are no succas must I avoid eating mezonoth or hamotzi?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
When one goes on the type of day trip which you
describe one would be exempt from needing to eat
in the sukkah, during the day alone assuming your trip
is only during the daylight hours.

See Rambam, Hilchoth Sukkah, Perek 6, halacha 4.

If it is raining heavily while I am in the sukkah, though I am exempt from having to stay in the sukkah is it considered admirable to remain anyway?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

 

Just as one is not expected to sit in a room while water
leaks upon one's head, one is not expected to sit in a Sukkah
while it rains. Not only may one leave the sukkah under
such circumstances, but one should.

See Rambam, Hilchoth Sukkah, Chapter 6, Halacha 10.
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/3606n.htm

 

What type of ethrog should I buy?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
One should buy a Yemenite etrog.

Should I sleep in the sukkah during Succoth?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

Men must indeed sleep in the Sukkah under ordinary circumstances.

Must I eat seudah shlishith on yom tov?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
Yes, just as one does on Shabbath.

Should we take the lulav when the first day of Sukkoth falls on Shabbat?

Written by Webmaster
Yes, if you are a resident of Erets Yisrael.
This is explained explicity in the Mishnah and both
the Talmud Yerushalmi and Talmud Bavli. This was the
custom for hundreds of years in Eretz Yisrael and is still
practiced by a few. For more information, see The Misswa of Lulav on Shabbat.

May I use body deodorant on Yom HaKippurim?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

One may dab only a very small amount.
Otherwise, this may be considered to be in
violation of the prohibition against sicha (annointing).

Should I say a bracha upon building my sukkah?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

Yes. In accordance with the Talmud Yerushalmi the
appropriate bracha to say upon building one's sukkah
is "asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu la'asoth sukkah"

When should my shul do the final tekiya of the shofar at the end of Yom HaKippurim?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

It is correct to do so after Arvith, as opposed to after neilah
as many are accustomed to do. Thus, one avoids the issue
of blowing shofar when perhaps Yom HaKippurim has not yet ended.
See Tur, Orach Chaim, section 624

I'm on the 4th floor. Where should I put my Hannukiah?

Written by Webmaster

1. Even were your apartment to be on the ground floor,
   but inside the building (as opposed to the door to your
   apartment opening directly on to the street), it is unclear
   whether it would be correct to place your Ner Hannuka
   at the entrance to the building - there exist a machloketh
   Rishonim regarding this question: according to the Rambam
   you would place the candles outside your own door, and
   according to the Tosaphoth you would place them outside
   the entrance to the building.
   
   
2. Seeing that your apartment is on the fourth floor,
   you have two options:
   a) to light in a window (which faces the street if at
   all possible), or
   b) to light outside the door to your apartment in the stairwell.
   
   
3. These two options are equally correct in my view.
   There is no issue of the window being too high when
   one lights inside as mentioned by the Tur (OH 672) in
   the name of Rabbenu Yoel. This is also the view of the
   Ra'avya (843). I believe this to be correct (even though
   the Tur disputes this - I do not understand the Tur's reasoning,
   whereas the reasoning of R. Yoel and the Ra'avya seems to me unassailable).
   
   
4. Regarding option 2b) there is a stipulation, namely that
   at least some people are likely to walk by in the stairwell
   and see your candles, even if this might only be one or
   two people. If however no-one is likely to see the candles,
   it is preferable to light in the window (where I assume at
   least some people will see them).

Should I do Tashlich on Rosh HaShana?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
No, one should not. As the Gra points out, this is an unseemly custom.

Should I leave Israel to go to Uman on Rosh HaShana?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

 

One should not leave Israel to go to Uman.

Rav Kook pointed out that there are enough gravesites of tzadiikim in Eretz Yisrael, and therefore leaving Eretz Yisrael for such a purpose is inappropriate.

May I use electricity on Yom Tov?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim
No, one may not.

Should I put on tefillin on chol hamoed?

Written by Rav Bar-Hayim

Yes, one should.