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l7. Horn, Booth, and Palm Branch - Shofar ve-Sukkah ve-Lulav
a) The Horn
We are commanded to hear the blowing of a horn
(shofar) on Rosh ha-Shanah, as it says "It shall be a day
of blowing the horn for you".1 In the Temple the
shofar was accompanied by two trumpets, as it says "Blow
trumpets and sound the horn before Ha-Shem the King".2,a
If one of the days of Rosh ha-Shanah falls on the sabbath
the horn is not blown on that day except in places where
there is an ordained rabbinical court.b It is customary
to blow the horn after the reading of the Torah and also
after each of the three intermediate benedictions in the
shemoneh esreh of the additional service.c
b) The Booth
We are commanded to live in a booth (sukkah) on
Sukkos, as it says "You shall dwell in booths for seven
days"3; during that time one must use the booth for
regular meals and the like, but he can use his house in
an incidental way or if using the booth would cause him
excessive discomfort (in particular when it rains).d
The booth must have three walls and must be roofed with
plant growths that have been detached from the ground and
that are not susceptible to impurity.e
c) The Palm Branch
We are commanded on Sukkos to hold a palm branch (lulav),
a citron(esrog), three or more myrtle twigs and two willow
twigs [as it says "And you shall take for yourselves
on the first day] the fruit of a beautiful tree, palm
branches, a branch of a thick tree and willows of the
stream".4,f They must be held upright and waved at
certain times during the reading of hallel (Psalms
113-118, which are recited after the morning shemoneh
esreh on new moons, festivals, and Chanukah). It is
also customary to carry them around the synagogue once
on each of the first six days and seven times on the
seventh day, just as they were carried around the altar
in the Temple.g Originally this commandment applied
only to the first day of Sukkos, except in the Temple
where it applied to all seven days, as it says "And you
shall rejoice before Ha-Shem your G-d for seven days"4;
since the destruction of the Temple it was instituted
on all seven days (except the sabbath) everywhere.h
It was also traditional in the Temple to put willow
branches against the altar on each of the seven days.i
Sukkos in the Temple was an especially joyful festival,
as it says "And you shall rejoice before Ha-Shem your
G-d for seven days"4; it was celebrated with dancing,
singing, and playing on musical instruments.j
Sources: |
| 1. Num. 29:1 |
a. 1:1-2 |
| 2. Psalms 98:6 |
b. 2:6,8-9 |
| 3. Lev. 23:42 |
c. 3:10 |
| 4. Lev. 23:40 |
d. 6:2,5,10 |
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e. 4:2; 5:1 |
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f. 7:1-3,7 |
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g. 7:9-10,23; Chanukah 3:6ff. |
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h. 7:13,15 |
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i. 7:20-21 |
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j. 8:12-13 |
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