SLeePLeSS iN The Sukkah?

Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman

QI noticed that in many Chabad families they almost never sleep in the Sukkah, while most or at least some other people do if the weather permits. Why the difference in customs?

Your observations are quite correct. According to the Talmud, men are indeed obligated to sleep in the sukkah. Though this has become less common in recent generation for various reason, it is mainly due to leniencies. For example, in some places the cold, wet weather would cause much discomfort, taking away from the joy of the festival. In other places it would be dangerous to sleep in the sukkah for fear of thievery or violence. However, in safe places with a pleasant climate, many people do in fact sleep in the sukkah today. And you are correct that the Chabad custom is specifically to avoid sleeping the in the sukkah, which is interesting because Chabad nee custom is generally quite stringent and avoids leniencies when it comes to observance of Jewish law.

In contrast, when it comes to eating, the Chabad custom it to eat and drink exclusively in the sukkah regardless of the weather, even when not partaking in a full meal. It would seem that the opposite should have been the case: The obligation to sleep in a sukkah carries a greater stringency than that of eating and drinking there. For one may eat a light repast (and surely drink water) outside the sukkah, while in classical Jewish sources even a short nap is prohibited outside the sukkah.

Now, it is true that difficulties resulting from time and place free a person from the obligation to sleep in the sukkah, as we find in the law that “where it is painful to sleep in the sukkah because of the cold ... it is not necessary to sleep in the sukkah ... for whoever is distressed by dwelling in the sukkah is free from the obligation to dwell there.”

Nevertheless, this does not resolve the question concerning eating and drinking. Even when it was raining — during which time one may surely eat in the house — he would not eat outside the sukkah.

The source of this custom is a question the Mitteler Rebbe (Rabbi Dovber, the second

Chabad rebbe) once asked: “How is it possible to sleep in the sukkah when it is illuminated by an extremely lofty level of holiness?” As such, the Mitteler Rebbe expressed astonishment that his disciples could sleep there, in keeping with the verse where Jacob expresses a similar astonishment when he encountered angels in his dreams while sleeping at the place that turned out to be the Temple Mount: “Behold, G‑d is found in this place, and I knew it not,” upon which Rashi comments: “Had I known, I would not have slept in so sacred a place.”

When one is aware of the holiness of the sukkah, the law allows one to sleep in his home, because attempting to sleep in the sukkah will cause discomfort and distress. When unable to fall asleep in the sukkah, one is exempt from the obligation and permitted to sleep in the house.

Even if we “regular” people might not be so disturbed by this holiness that it would cause us to lose sleep over it, the fact that our holy Rebbes did feel it and conducted themselves this way makes us want to emulate them. And the fact that we don’t have the level of awareness to conduct ourselves in a manner similar to their Rebbes causes us pain, which frees us from the obligation to sleep in the sukkah.

This is particularly so, as the Mitteler Rebbe wondered how it was possible for people to sleep in the sukkah. Therefore a person who feels close to his Rebbe finds it impossible to sleep in the sukkah. For although the sacred illumination of the sukkah does not disturb his sleep, he is pained by the very fact that he is able to sleep in the sukkah, undisturbed by the sukkah’s sanctity. EM

Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman is the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario. You can Ask the Rabbi at jrcc.org or fax to 416.222.7812. To meet with Rabbi Zaltzman in person, feel free to call 416.222.7105 to book an appointment. Appointments are generally available on Wednesday evenings after 7pm. Rebbitzin Chiena Zaltzman is also available for private consultations by appointment on Wednesday evenings from 9 to 10pm by calling 416.222.7105.

Наступление Осенних праздниковРош Ашана и Йом Кипур совсем скоро. В Рош Ашана Вс-вышний судит все свои творения, определяя для них предстоящий год. В молитве «Видуй» - «Покаяние», кото-рую несколько раз произносят во время праздничных служб, перечисляются все мыслимые грехи, которые человек может совершить. Почему побуждение к греху овладевает человеком? Может, это связано с проступком Первого Человека – Адама, который, как известно, в тот же день, когда его сотворил Вс-вышний, ослушался Творца. Ранее мы с Вами не обсуждали проступок Адама, - мне не хочется употре-блять слово «грех» по отношению к святому Первому Человеку. Общеизвестен тезис, что человечество страдает из-за совершенного Адамом греха. Это правда. Правда? Так что же совершил Адам, почему его проступок называется грехом, и чем этот грех обернулся для человечества? Талмуд объясняет, что Адам не должен был трогать виноград, который назывался древом жизни. Виноград? Я слышала, что было яблоко или даже инжир...

The article above is excerpted from the Russian edition of Exodus Magazine. To subscribe, please visit exodusmagazine.org or call 416.222.7105.

18 Elul Farbrengen

The 18th of the month of Elul is the birthday of two great luminaries — the Baal Shem Tov (R. Yisrael ben R. Eliezer, born 1698), founder of the Chassidic move¬ment, and the Alter Rebbe (R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, born 1745), founder of Chabad. Together, they formed the foundation of the Chassidic revolution of Jewish life, one that continues unabated to this day. It is no wonder that this day infuses the month of Elul with life – 18 being the numerical value of the Hebrew word “chai,” which means life. There is no better time, since this day also marks 12 days before Rosh Hashana, one day to reflect upon and repair one month of the previous year. The day was marked with an uplifting community farbrengen gathering hosted by the JRCC S Richmond Hill & Maple and attended by dozens of community members.

Shofar Factory And Hebrew School Open House

The JRCC S Richmond Hill & Maple hosted a Shofar Factory event where children got to make their own real shofars together with their parents one week before Rosh Hashana. The event also served as an Open House for the JRCC S Richmond Hill & Maple’s Hebrew School branch, and was free to attend for existing Hebrew School students. The shofar making activity is an example of the Hebrew School’s approach to making education an interactive, hand-on experience where children use their sense and creative abilities to learn about and engage with their Jewish heritage. For more information visit: jrccHebrewSchool.org.

ADVANCE IN MATH this Summer

June 27th - August 4th