Some thoughts on Sukkot

 

Note: The spelling/transliteration of Hebrew in the following is either the cited authors or, when a book is cited, my transliteration. I have tried to put Hebrew next to the “English” to help the reader better understand the author’s meaning.

Let there be light … and erub tavselin

When the first days of Sukkot fall on Thursday and Friday, one must ensure to prepare an Erub Tabshilin (עירב תבשילין) on Wednesday, before the onset of Yom Tob, to allow cooking on Friday for Shabbat.

The women’s obligation of Hadlakat Nerot (candle lighting) applies on the first two nights of Sukkot, just as on Friday night. On Wednesday night, the first night of Sukkot, the woman lights candles before sundown, at the time printed in the calendars, similar to the candle lighting on Friday afternoon, and she recites the Beracha “Le’hadlik Ner Shel Yom Tob”. (לחדלק נר ליום טוב)

On Thursday night, the second night of Yom Tob, she lights candles – with the same Beracha – when the husband returns home from the synagogue. These candles must be lit from an existing flame. On Friday afternoon, she lights Shabbat candles before sundown, from an existing flame, reciting the usual Beracha of “Le’hadlik Ner Shel Shabbat” (לחדלק נר שבת). (R. Eli Mansour http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=687 )

 

Sheheheyanu – How many times?

When constructing a Sukkah for oneself, it would be appropriate to recite the blessing of Sheheheyanu over its construction. However, we rely on the blessing of Sheheheyanu that is recited during the Qiddush (קידוש) to cover this also.

If one did not eat in the Sukkah on the first night of Sukkoth, even though one recited Sheheheyanu (שהחינו) in the house, one must recite Sheheheyanu again when eating in the Sukkah, on account of the Sukkah.

One recites the blessing of Sheheheyanu on the Sukkah the first time one eats in the Sukkah, irrespective of whether that occurs during the day, or at night. (R. Ya'aqob Menashe http://www.atorahminute.com/2013-09-16 )

If someone did say the Sheheheyanu (שהחינו) blessing when building the sukkah, the person does not say the Sheheheyanu again when sitting in the sukkah for the first time. (R. Yosef Messas, Hod Yosef Hai, Pg.179)

 

Who is obliged, who is optional?

Males who are bar mitzvah (13 years and a day) are obliged to sit in a sukkah.

Boy should be encouraged to join the men from age 5 or 6. (R. Ya'aqob Menashe http://www.atorahminute.com/2013-09-15 )

Although women and children are exempt from the Sukkah, however, wherever possible, they should also perform the commandment and they will get reward for it. (ibid.)

 

Honoring Ushpizin

The Zohar notes that a crucial part of the Ushpizin concept is bringing joy to the poor, either by inviting them to one’s Succa together with the Ushpizin, or by giving them charity in the Ushpizin’s honor. The Ushpizin derive enjoyment not from the food served in the Succa, but rather from the assistance lent to the poor, and thus besides inviting the Ushpizin into our Succa, we must also ensure to care for the needy as part of our hosting these special guests. (R. Eli Mansour http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=&ClipID=2564)

 

First night blessings

The sequence for the recitation of Kiddush (קידוש) on the first night of Sukkot is as follows: “Boreh Peri Ha’gefen "(בורא פרי הגפן) “Baruch Ata…Asher Bahar Banu…Mekadesh Yisrael Ve’ha’zemanim” (אשר בהר בנו), “Le’sheb Ba’sukka” (לישב בסוכה), “She’hehiyanu” (שחהינו). After one recites “Shehehiyanu” everyone sits down and the Kiddush cup is passed around for everyone to drink. It is important that everyone sits in the Sukka after Kiddush, as it is through sitting that one fulfills the Misva. (R. Eli Mansour http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=687 )

The blessing “Le’sheb Ba’sukka” (לישב בסוכה) on erev Shabat and erev Yom Tov should be said standing as with the other blessings of the day. At other times, “Le’sheb Ba’sukka” (לישב בסוכה) should be said sitting; however, if said standing that, too, is OK. (R. Shalom Messas, ילקות שמ''ש Pg. 134)

 

Etrog and Lulav

While the etrog should be free from defects, it is not necessary to inspect it under a magnifying glass. (R. Yosef Messas, Hod Yosef Hai, Pg.178)

According to Maran (Yosef Caro), people lacking a lulav and etrog may participate in the circling of the bemah (להקיף הבימה). The Remah (R. Moses ben Israel Isserles of Krakow) ruled that only those with etrog and lulav may circle the bemah. The custom (מנחג) of North Africa (Morocco to Libya) follows Maran. (R. Shalom Messas, ילקות שמ''ש Pg. 137)

 

Intermediate days

On the intermediate days (ימי חול), “Le’sheb Ba’sukka” (לישב בסוכה) is said sitting and immediately after the blessing on the bread (המוציא) but before tasting the bread. (R. Shalom Messas, ילקות שמ''ש Pg. 135)

 

יוחנן גלן

Return to sender

Reports from Lebanon state that Assad is shipping his WMDs, including chemical weapons, are back to Iraq, from whence they came prior to the U.S.’ invasion of that country.

Because it took Bush II months to convince his friends in the EU to join in the attack, Saddam Hussein was able to transfer his WMDs to Syria. By the time the “inspectors” arrived on the scene, there were no WMDs to be found, much to the delight of the liberals.

Now Putin and Obungler – and that’s the proper order – are giving Assad a little over a week to tell the world where WMDs remain in Syria.

Some WMDs will be found; almost everyone agrees that Syria has such weapons so failing to find something would seem suspicious.

Meanwhile, Putin is delivering Israel-range missiles to the Syrians – government or rebels, the result will be the same for Israel no matter who ends up with the launch codes.

And, “meanwhile,” Obungler is claiming the U.S.’ threat of an attack on Syria caused Assad to buckle. There may be a job for him at Comedy Central; the entire Muslim middle east thumbed its nose at Obungler, and Israel (one hopes) realizes that it is on its own.

The whole idea of U.S. missiles taking out Syria’s – government or rebels – chemical weapons is ludicrous – at best.

The U.S. lacks the intelligence to know where the weapons are stashed. The U.S. lacks the intelligence to know when the weapons are relocated, and to where.

The bottom line is: The U.S. lacks intelligence in the Muslim world. – and that includes the Muslims in the U.S.

President Faux Pas managed to put himself – and us as well – between a hammer and an anvil/rock and a hard spot by making threats he apparently had no intention of carrying out. Unfortunately, as the chief executive’s reputation goes, so goes the nation or organization over which the chief executive presides, or pretends to preside.

Bush I did almost as much damage to America’s standing among the nations when he failed to finish what he started in Iraq. Bush II, in a slightly less faux pas declaring the war in Iraq over long before the shooting stopped. (Carter, of course, topped them all.)

Indeed, if it were not for peanut farmer, Obungler would win the “worst president in modern times” award hands down. (With Obamacare still in flux, Carter may yet be elevated out of his bottom-most spot.)

With all the spy power – drones, satellites – one would think the weapons shift back to Iraq – and then onward to Iran - could be seen and interdicted. It won’t happen on Obungler’s watch.

Perhaps President Faux Pas is preparing for his post-White House career: using his abundant hot air to send balloons into the sky. For this we are paying $400,000 a year PLUS perks.

 

Changed your passwords lately?

Islamist* dance

 

According to a report in the Global Security Newswire headed Assad Sets Conditions on Relinquishing Chemical Arms, the Syrian president said his nation would give up its chemical arms “only if the United States ends any weapons deliveries to opposition forces and ceases its ‘threatening’ behavior.”

Put conditions on everything and do nothing.

Sounds like Bashar Al Assad’s buddy in Iran, Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini, a/k/a Grand Ayatollah and his nuclear games.

And then there is the terrorist Abu Mazen of the so called Palestinian Authority who demands that Israel make concessions and, when the Israeli prime minister du jour caves under US and leftist pressure, the terrorist adds more demands.

It’s the Islamist dance.

* Iranians are quick to tell us they are not Arabs; Muslims yes, Arabs no, hence “Islamist.”

What is particularly interesting about Assad’s two-step is that while he is pressing for to halt the weapons flow to the insurgents, he will continue to receive weapons from his allies – Iran and Russia. These weapons can be used against both the locals and Israel.

What I fail to understand is what he calls Obungler’s “threatening’ behavior.” The incumbent at 1600 Pennsylvania has emasculated the country and truly made it what the Chinese called it decades ago: a paper tiger of no consequence.

On the other hand, most Israelis – except perhaps Obungler’s alter ego in the prime minister’s office, and the left wing – now understand that they cannot depend on the United States for anything, certainly not as long as the White House and State Department are Islamist sympathizers.

Obungler managed to put his foot in his mouth and embarrassed the United States by making threats he won’t carry out.

Then he comes crawling to the Congress in hopes it will share the blame for his stupidity.

“Well,” he tells the world, “I can’t do anything until Congress gets back from its latest vacation.”

Meanwhile, one on-line poll shows that at least 91 percent of all respondents do NOT think the U.S. should attack Syria.

Is Syria a threat to the U.S.? Not hardly. Certainly it can be a jumping off point for Islamist terrorists, but the U.S. has its own homegrown Islamist terrorists (or is Islamist and terrorist redundant?).

Does Syria have anything the U.S. wants? No.

“Well,” we are told by Obungler & Friends, “the U.S. must act for humanitarian reasons.”

OK. So …

1. Why wait until now? Syria’s civil war is more than 2 years old.
2. Why didn’t Obungler threaten Sudan (see UN Human Rights Council and Darfurian Voices
3. Why doesn’t Obungler press for a Kurdish state? Kurds are victims in Syria, Turkey, and elsewhere.
4. Why doesn’t Obungler point the finger at the Muslims in Aza or in Lebanon/Syria who randomly fire rockets at Israeli civilians and Hamas in Aza who murder Egyptian policemen at their posts.
5. What about North Korea? In September 2011, the Harvard International Review published an article which argued that North Korea was violating the UN Genocide Convention in every possible way, through its systematic killing of half-Chinese babies and religious groups.[
6. And Somalia. The Social Science Research Council (2007) reported genocidal killings committed against Somalia's Bantu population and Jubba Valley dwellers from 1991 onwards noting that "Somalia is a rare case in which genocidal acts were carried out by militias in the utter absence of a governing state structure

Why is it that chemical weapons are bad, but bullets, bombs, missiles, and other killing devices are OK?

Never mind that Obungler allowed the attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya go unpunished. Shades of Jimmy (Peanut Brain) Carter.

While North Korea is not an Islamist state, it uses the Islamist delaying tactic to keep the U.S. at bay while the North threatens the South.

I am reminded of the Arpege perfume commercial: Promise her anything, but give her Arpege. Promise the U.S. anything, and like an ingénue, the U.S. will believe and will coninue to believe the promises even after they are broken time and time again.

Obungler has done somethiing right – by accident. So far he has only used his hot air against Syria. At the same time, he has made the U.S. a laughing stocvk among nations that understand only force, a heavy hand.

The Arabs and Persians and Koreans all respect only a heavy hand. Unfortunately, the day when Teddy Roosevelt could “speak softly and carry a big stick” (with the so-called “Great White Fleet”) are long gone.

America’s political fall from power didn’t start with Obungler – it goes back to charmin’ Jack and his “youth in Asia” plan (incorrectly applied to LBJ) – but the current president certainly has exasperated matters.

Turns out there is a post script to this. Since the above was cobbled together he other day, Assad has added more conditions, including that Israel must join in renouncing use of chemical weapons and allow unbiased (that's a joke) UN inspectors to review whatever chemical weapons Israel might possess. Meanwhile, Assad's stockpile gets moved around - likely to Iran.

Chicken Out!

כפרות

The more modern rabbis of Israel and elsewhere are concerned with the well being of hens and roosters used for the kaparot ceremony. They base their concerns on our humanitarian laws.

Bravo!

However, in R. Eli Mansour’s Daily Halacha for September 12 2013/ז' תשרי he notes that a woman 40 days or more pregnant should bring a chicken for the fetus as well as herself. This is a custom and not halakah.

How does the mother-to-be know if the fetus is male or female? Ultrasound. But maybe not.

R. Yitzhak Yaakob Weiss rules that, based on his research with OB-GYNs,ultrasound cannot determine the sex of the fetus at 40 days. R. Ovadia Yosef rules otherwise. According to Syrian R. Mansour, “Ovadia notes that in any event, taking Kapparot for an unborn child is not required according to the strict Halacha, and thus, for example, if a pregnant woman cannot afford extra chickens for her fetus, she may bring only one hen for herself.”

Obviously if the woman is carrying twins she would need at least 3 fowl; triplets, 4 fowl, and more would require emptying out the lul (chicken house).

According to Chabad, “A pregnant woman should perform kaparot with three chickens—two hens and a rooster. One hen for herself, and the other hen and rooster for the unborn child (of undetermined gender). Or, if this is too expensive, one hen and one rooster will suffice (and if the fetus is female, she shares the hen with her mother).

“If a chicken is unavailable, one may substitute another kosher fowl (besides for doves and pigeons, as they were offered as sacrifices in the Holy Temple). Some use a kosher live fish; others perform the entire rite with money, and then giving the money – at least the value of a chicken – to charity.”

The blessings for fowl are shown below. If using something other than fowl or money, simply namethe item in lieu of the fowl.

BUT

Parents-to-be can “chicken out.”

There is an acceptable option that even PITA would approve.

Use money.

Unlike chickens, money has no sex. (“Gender” is for grammar; “sex” is for living things.)

Unlike fowl, the blassing over money is the same for males and females of all ages, from a 40-day old fetus to the oldest amoung us.

Instead of reciting

…this rooster/hen shall go to its death…

...התנגול/ת ילך/תלך למיתה...

the person substitutes

…this money will go for tzdaka …

… הכסף ילך לצדקה…

Transliteration, thanks to Kapparot.com:

Zeh 'halifati, zeh temourati, zeh kaparati, zeh hakessef yelekh litsedaka, vaani elekh le'haïm tovim aroukhim oulechalom

The amount, according to all authorities, should at least equal the price of a (kosher) hen or rooster. A personal suggestion: Since fowl are food, an appropriate charity would be a Jewish food bank. If a live creature is used for kapora, it is slaughtered (with a gratuity to the shochet) and given to a needy person/family. Food bank or food, the end result is the same.

For more on kapparot, go to Brooklyn’s ‘crazy chicken lady’ takes on kapparot. Well worth a read.

גמר חתימה טובה

Lines for war

According to a Global Security Newswire on-line article, Obama Adviser: Syrian Transitional Body ‘Only Sustainable’ Way to End Bloodshed, the president’s national security adviser insisted in a Monday speech that the creation of a post-Assad transitional authority in Syria would be the ‘only’ long-term means of ending bloodshed in the Middle Eastern nation’s ongoing civil war.”

Syria’s civil war – likewise the problems in Libya, Pakistan, India, Lebanon, and probably a great deal of Africa as well – can be laid at the door of fat-headed Europeans who knew better than the locals when it came to drawing borders.

Consider tribal loyalties – hardly.

Consider religious affiliations – never; the people are “heathens” anyway, so who cares.

Draw lines where it is convenient for the European conquerors.

Consider the Kurds.

1986 CIA World Factbook

The Encyclopedia of the Middle East notes that There are about 26-36 million Kurds in the world, with the largest concentration, 10-15 million, in Turkey. The map below shows the major areas of Kurdish concentration. The settlements in outlying districts away from the central area of Kurdistan, reflect in part attempts at resettlement and ethnic cleansing by various Turkish and Iranian Muslim rulers. Alone among the major peoples of the Middle East, the Kurds were denied self determination after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

A glance at the map shows that the Kurds are a widely disbursed people, but there IS a concentration; the majority of Kurds live in an area that includes parts of Northern Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Kashmir is another example.

Rather than create an independent state populated by Kashmiri peoples in India, Pakistan, and China, the Brits drew lines of convenience – for them.. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) map follows. The BBC map cuts off Kashmir from the rest of India and offered it to Pakistan and China.

BBC map

Obungler wants the Syrians to create a “Syrian Transitional Body” but who will populate this group?

Syria is divided along religion and tribal lines. Add to the indigenous population the imports from Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and “Palestinians” who fled Israel to clear a path for the glorious Arab armies that would drive the Jews into the sea.

Map by Fragile States Resource Center

To see how lines could be drawn to reduce intra-religious conflict, the populations of the adjacent states (Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, and even Israel) need to be displayed together with the Syrian map. See the second Kurdish map as an example of cross-border populations.

Syria and Lebanon are both ancient nations, but their modern borders are the result of French and British map makers who ignored the reality on the ground.

Which begs the question: Who will be represented on Obungler’s “Syrian Transitional Body?” Will imports Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah be included? Will the Kurds, the Druze, the Jews still in Syria – and there are Jews in Syria. How about Christians?

If the so-called Palestinians cannot sit down with Israelis, why would Obungler think Shia, Sunni, and Alawi sit down to draw up an agreement – never mind including the other groups.

Who will be an “honest broker” among the parties? The Arab League? Hardly; it, too, is fragmented along religious lines. “Infidels” would be wasting their time as well as generating increased hostility toward the nations they represent.

Bottom line: Obungler should drop the whole Syria issue and hope the world will forget how his speech writers got him between a hammer and an anvil/rock and a hard spot.

The United States has no business interfering, in any way, in Syria’s civil war. For the U.S. and other non-Muslim countries, interference is a lose-lose situation. Besides, the French and Brits caused enough trouble in the area by drawing maps of their convenience.

ObunglerDamned if he does; Damned if he doesn't

The incumbent at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, probably recalling the problems Bush 1 and Bush 2 had with the populace when they invaded Iraq sans congressional approval, tells the world that he will attack Syria if the U.S. congress agrees.

It is debatable whether or not congress represents the American people who, reportedly, are against any excursions into Syria.

Obungler does not need congress' approval to lob a few rockets at Syrians; however, only congress can declare war.

Obungler is criticized by his Muslim buddies for being hesitant; these same "buddies" are pushing him to put American (read "infidel") lives on the line. There is no offer from the Arabs to put THEIR troops in harm's way or even to use any of their missiles to end the Syrian civil war - husbanding them, I suppose, to fire at Israel.

A-Sharq Al-Awsat columnist Mushari Al-Thaidy writes that “Obama continues to try and understate the strike against the Assad forces, saying it is limited, measured and quick. He further claims it is not a war and not intended to topple the regime. The only thing left for him is to inform Bashar of the coordinates of the sites being targeted so that he can vacate them and of the length of the attack so that Bashar and Maher and the other pillars of the regime can take their summer vacation as soon as it ends!”

Britain, Canada, and Germany have told Obungler that they want no part of any attack on Syria, perhaps because

(a) They lack solid proof that the chemical attacks originated with Assad's troops

(b) They understand that some of the so-called rebels are Al-Qaida terrorists

(c) They understand that no matter whose side they support, in the end, the Muslims will band together against the infidels of England, Canada, and Germany, attacking them at home.

Islamist-oriented Turkey, suddenly America's ally, is like its Muslim neighbors pushing Obungler to order an attack, but like the other Muslims, offering only noise in support of the president.

Israel, finally realizing it is on its own, is wondering why Obungler can't act; he has put himself solidly between the proverbial rock and hard spot or, in Israel, between the hammer and the anvil. He's made noises about a "red line" and the Syrians - either or both sides - have blatantly crossed it, thumbing their noses at their friend in Washington.

Like most people, I too have wondered about Obungler's words failing to match actions.

Perhaps - just perhaps - he's waiting to get sufficient naval assets in the area. When the U.S. finally - and foolishly - attacks Syria, Iran may respond, attacking Israel and, less likely, U.S. warships in the area. Since he has repeatedly promised that an attack on Israel would be an attack on the U.S., he may be planning to order missile strikes on Iran under the pretext of retaliation. Then again, what he might do is anyone's guess.

The only problem with that scenario is U.S. intelligence, or more accurately, lack of intelligence. Despite being blatantly pro-Muslim for decades, the State Department and the U.S. intelligence community lack reliable resources in the middle east (and elsewhere). This is an on-going problem for the U.S.

In order for missiles to be effective, they must hit a target rather than landing harmlessly in a field. Not only is U.S. intelligence lacking, the Syrians (both sides) are relocating assets at all times. Some of the assets are making their way into Lebanon, but there is no talk of raining rockets on that country.

From my personal perspective, the U.S. has NO business getting involved in Syria's civil war; just as it had no business in Libya's and has no business getting involved in Egypt. It will likewise have no business in the coming strife in Jordan, Turkey, and Saudia.

For the U.S., getting involved in any Muslim civil war is a lose-lose situation. Even if the Sunnis murder Shiia and Shiia slaughter Sunnis, in the end, the U.S. will be hated by both Shiia and Sunni alike. There are no advantages or benefits for the U.S.