Rosh Hashana Q & A
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| Why do we blow the shofar during the month of Elul? | After the sin of the golden calf, Moshe went up to Mount Sinai to receive the second set of Tablets on Rosh Chodesh Elul. On that day, the Jewish People sounded the shofar to remind themselves to stray no more after idol worship. Also, the sound of the shofar strikes awe into our hearts and inspires us to return to the ways of Torah.
| Mishna Berura and Aruch Hashulchan Orach Chaim 581
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| Where in the written Torah text does it tell us explicitly that the first day of Tisrei is Rosh Hashanah? | Nowhere. The Torah calls it "a day of shofar blowing." (This is one of many examples showing how our observance depends on the continuous oral tradition dating back to Mount Sinai).
| Bamidbar 29:1
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| We eat apples dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet year. Why do we choose apples above other sweet fruits? | Isaac blessed Jacob with the words: "The fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field which Hashem has blessed…" (Bereishis 27:27). The Talmud identifies this "field" as an apple orchard.
| Ta'anis 29b, Biyur Hagra
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| What two blessings do we say before sounding the shofar? | "Blessed are You… who has commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar," and the shehechiyanu blessing.
| Orach Chaim 581:2
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| Which Book of Tanach does the beginning of the Tashlich prayer come from? | The Book of Micha (7:18-20). | |
| What three barren women were 'remembered' by Hashem on Rosh Hashanah? | Sara, Rachel and Chana. On Rosh Hashanah it was decreed that these barren women would bear children.
| Tractate Rosh Hashanah 10b
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| A person's yearly allowance is fixed on Rosh Hashanah, except for three types of expenses. What are they? | Expenses for Shabbos, Yom Tov, and the cost of one's children's Torah education.
| Ba'er Hetaiv Orach Chaim 242:1
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| We refer to the binding of Isaac in our prayers when we say: "Answer us as You answered Abraham our father on Mount Moriah…" What was Abraham's prayer on Mount Moriah? | He prayed that Mount Moriah should remain a place of prayer for all future generations (Onkelos 22:14). Also, he prayed that his sacrifice of the ram should be considered as though he had actually sacrificed Isaac.
| Rashi 22:13
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| Why, even in Israel, are there two days of Rosh Hashanah, whereas other festivals in Israel are celebrated for only one day? | Before our current exile, we did not have a fixed calendar as we do today. Rather, the Supreme Torah court in Jerusalem determined our calendar on a month to month basis. They did this on the first day of every month, based on witnesses testifying that they had seen the new moon. Therefore, the people outside Israel had insufficient time to find out the exact date in time for the festivals. The "two-day festival" arose to correct this situation. In Israel, however, the people lived close enough to Jerusalem to find out the exact date of all the festivals except Rosh Hashanah. Since Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first day of the month, even those living in Jerusalem sometimes needed to observe it for two days, if the witnesses failed to arrive. | |
| What halacha applies to the shehechiyanu blessing on the second night of Rosh Hashanah which does not apply on the second night of any other holiday? | On the second night of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to wear a new garment or to have a new fruit on the table when saying the shehechiyanu blessing. Thus, the shehechiyanu blessing applies not only to the holiday, but to the new garment or new fruit as well. (This is done in order to accommodate the minority of halachic authorities who rule that no shehechiyanu blessing be said on the second night of Rosh Hashanah.)
| Taz 600:2
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The word "shofar" is related to the Hebrew word "shapair," which means "to improve." The shofar blast tells us: "Improve your ways!"
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| Passover commemorates the going out of Egypt. Shavuos commemorates the giving of the Torah. What historical event can Yom Kippur be said to commemorate? | Moshe came down from Mount Sinai on the tenth of Tishrei with the second set of Tablets, signifying forgiveness for the sin of the golden calf. Yom Kippur can be said to commemorate this event, the first national day of forgiveness for the Jewish People. | |
| For what kinds of sins does Yom Kippur not atone? | Sins committed against other people, including hurting someone's feelings. Yom Kippur does not atone for these sins until the perpetrator gains forgiveness from the victim himself.
| Orach Chaim 606:1
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| What should someone do if the person he wronged does not forgive him the first time? | He should try at least two more times to gain forgiveness.
| Orach Chaim 606:1
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| Why is the vidui confession included during the mincha prayer the afternoon before Yom Kippur? | Lest one choke while eating the pre-Yom Kippur meal and die without atonement, or lest one become intoxicated and unable to concentrate on the prayers at night.
| Mishna Berura 607:1
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| On Yom Kippur we refrain from: Working, eating, drinking, washing, anointing, family relations and wearing leather shoes. Which three of these prohibitions are more severe than the others? | Eating, drinking, working.
| Mishna Krisus 1:1
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| In what two ways does the prohibition against eating food on Yom Kippur differ from the prohibition against eating pork the entire year? |
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| Who wrote the prayer "Unesaneh Tokef" said during the chazan's repetition of musaf? | "Unesaneh Tokef" was written by Rabbi Amnon of Mainz, Germany about 1000 years ago. | |
| Why do we read the book of Yona on Yom Kippur? | The repentance of the people of Ninveh serves as an inspiration to us to repent, and shows us that repentance can overturn a Divine decree.
| Shelah Hakadosh
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| In what two ways does havdalah after Yom Kippur differ from havdalah after Shabbos? | After Yom Kippur, the blessing over spices is omitted from havdalah. Also, the source of the flame used for havdalah after Yom Kippur must be a fire kindled before Yom Kippur.
| Orach Chaim 624:3,4
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| Ideally, what mitzvah should one begin immediately after Yom Kippur? | Building the succa.
| Rema, Orach Chaim 624:5
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"Al Chet …"
The word 'chet'- sin - has a silent "alef" at the end. This indicates that a person does not sin unless he first forgets about Hashem, who is called "Alufo shel Olam" - "Master of the World."
Ta'amei Haminhagim in the name of the Degel Machaneh Efraim in the name of the Ba'al Shem Tov
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| According to the Torah, what three basic requirements define a material as valid for use as a succa roof? | It must grow from the ground, no longer be connected to the ground, and not be receptive to tumah (ritual defilement). | |
| If the succa causes discomfort (e.g., it's too cold) to the extent that under similar conditions you would leave your very own house, you are exempt from the mitzvah. Why? | Because the commandment of living in a succa is to dwell in the succa for seven days the same way you dwell in your house the rest of the year.
| Mishna Berura 640:13
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| What two things are forbidden to do outside of the succa all seven days of the festival? | Eat (an 'established' meal) or sleep.
| Orach Chaim 639:2 |
| What is the absolute minimum number of meals a person is required to eat in the succa during the seven day holiday? | One. Eating a meal in the succa the first night of Succos is a requirement. The rest of the festival, a person can eat 'snacks' which are not required to be eaten in a succa. (Outside Israel, one must eat a meal the second night of Succos as well. However, there is no requirement to live outside Israel!)
| Orach Chaim 639:3
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| Besides referring to the tree and its fruit, what does the word "esrog" mean literally? | Beauty.
| Ramban Vayikra 23:40
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| What is the minimum length of a lulav? | Its spine must be at least 4 tefachim (halachic handbreadths). | |
| What is the maximum percentage a person is required to add to the purchase price of his esrog in order to obtain an esrog of greater beauty? | 33.3%
| Orach Chaim 656:1
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| On the Shabbos that occurs during Succos, we read the Book of Koheles, in which King Solomon refers to himself as "Koheles." Why is King Solomon called Koheles? | Because he gathered (kihale) vast wisdom, and because he, as king, gathered the nation on Succos after the Sabbatical year.
| Rashi, Koheles 1:1
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| What prohibition could a person transgress simply by sitting in the succa on the eighth day of Succos? | Bal Tosif - "Do not add to the mitzvos." The commandment to live in the succa applies for only seven days. To sit in the succa on the eighth day with intent to fulfill the mitzvah transgresses "bal tosif."
| Orach Chaim 666:1
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| We hold a tallis over the heads of the people who read the end of the Torah and the beginning of the Torah. Why? | It represents the wedding canopy, symbolizing that through the Torah we wed ourselves to Hashem. |
Tishrei is called the seventh month, because it has seven mitzvos in it: Shofar, fasting on Yom Kippur, succa, lulav, esrog, hadass and aravah. Avudraham
One should dance and sing vigorously in honor of the Torah, just as King David danced ecstatically in front of the Holy Ark of the Torah. It was said about the Gaon of Vilna that he danced before the Torah scroll with all his might.
Mishna Berura 669:10
Hoshana Rabba is identified with the Ushpizin guest King David. King David woke every midnight to study Torah. The moon, too, the symbol of David's dynasty, 'pays tribute' to King David on this night: The moon rises at midnight on Hoshana Rabba. Its light helps us study Torah till dawn!
