DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Memory of
 Sarah bat Pauline, Thomas ben Sarah & Tracy bat Pauline
"In Loving Memory of Mommy, brother & sister "

Dedicated By
Pauline Pomerantz

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 1.21 MB)
Succot: Owning the Lulav and Etrog on the First Day

On the first day of Succot, one must fulfil the Misva of Lulav and Etrog with a set that belongs to him. This is derived from the Pasuk: "V’Lakachtem LA’CHEM B’yom Harishon. (And you shall take for yourself on the first day…)." "Lachem" (for yourself) implies "MiShelechem" (belonging to you). Therefore, a person may not use a borrowed set to fulfil his obligation. If someone doesn’t own a set, he must acquire it from his friend as a gift (with a stipulation that he return it). Accordingly, it is problematic to give a child a set to use on Yom Tob. The child has sufficient Da’at (Halachic competence) to receive the gift and become the owner as required, but he does not have the Da’at to perform the transaction of giving it back. Therefore, one should first fulfil the Misva himself and only then give it to a minor to use.

The following case happened in Kahal Kadosh Ateret Torah on the first day of Succot. A father fulfilled the Misva of Lulav and Etrog and then gave it to his son, as stated above. However, the question arose as to how he will fulfill his Misva the next day, the second day of Yom Tob, which is celebrated in the diaspora. The Etrog will remain the property of his son and many authorities hold that the requirement of owning the Arba’at Haminim applies to the second day as well.

While he was given the answer that there is nothing to be done, and he may not use his Etrog, Hacham Ovadia (Hazon Ovadia p. 399 in the footnote) found a way to solve the problem. He cites the minority opinion of the Ran that a child over six, who has reached the age referred to as "Peutot," has the Halachic competence to perform a transaction of giving. While this is not the accepted opinion, it is significant enough to create a Safek Sefeka (Double Doubt). Perhaps the second day is actually Hol Hamoed; and even if it is Yom Tob and ownership of the Etrog is required, perhaps the Halacha is in accordance with the Ran that a six year old child can make a transaction. Based on this, he permits the father to use his Etrog on the second day and make a Beracha. Moreover, an additional doubt can be added to this equation. Even if the second day is actually Yom Tob, perhaps the Halacha is in accordance with the opinions that the second day of Yom Tob does not require "MiShelechem," and one does not need to own the Etrog on the second day.

SUMMARY
One must own the set of Lulav and Etrog in order to fulfil the Misva on the first day of Succot. Therefore, he should first fulfil the Misva before letting his minor child do so. However, after giving it to his child on the first day, there is no problem fulfilling the Misva with that set on the second day of Yom Tob.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Washing One’s Hands Immediately Upon Awakening in the Morning
Zimun: If Only Seven Out of the Ten Men Ate Bread
Determining Which Beracha to Recite When Smelling Fragrant Fruits
Within How Much Time After Eating May One Recite Birkat Hamazon or Me’en Shalosh?
Reciting Birkat Ha’gomel After a Boating Trip
Reciting Birkat Ha’gomel on Behalf of Somebody Else
Making a Zimun During Travel
Birkat Ha’gomel: Reciting the Beracha While Seated or at Nighttime; Reciting the Beracha After Confinement in a Holding Cell
The Procedure for Reciting Birkat Ha’gomel
Reciting a Zimun When Some Participants of the Meal Want to Leave
Mayim Aharonim – If One Forgot to Wash Mayim Aharonim; the Water Used for Mayim Aharonim; Using Other Liquids; the Procedure for Washing
Determining When to Recite “Boreh Asbeh Besamim” and When to Recite “Boreh Aseh Besamim”
Zimun: Counting Minors and Children Toward a Zimun, Granting Precedence to a Kohen or Torah Scholar
Situations Where One Would Not Recite a Beracha Before Drinking Water
Reciting the Beracha of Shehakol When in Doubt About the Beracha
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found