Sukkos

Dear Rabbi Simon If the pitom [protrusion at the top of the etrog, more correctly known as shoshanta] of my etrog breaks off during hol ha-mo’ed [intermediate days of the festival], is it kosher [ie, valid] to use during the rest of Sukkot? Many thanks, Pini Dear Pini Yes, you may use it, and recite the berakhah in the usual way,…

Dear Rabbi Simon, We had a query re sechach. We have seen advice on Facebook that using bamboo blinds for sechach is OK if we buy from, say, B&Q.  Please can you let us know if this is indeed acceptable and/or there is anything we should look out for, or whether this is in fact a bad idea! Thank you,…

Dear Rabbi Simon, I bought an etrog which is quite green (rather than yellow). The dealer assured me it is OK halachically, but I am not sure if I can rely on his advice. Should I take it back and choose another one? Thank you, Jay Dear Jay, Thank you for your question. I can validate your caution about relying…

Contextual note: The questioner is a 17-year old boy, writing on the last day of hol ha-mo’ed Sukkot (Hoshanah Rabbah) Hi Rabbi Simon With regard to shaving, I find it really uncomfortable to sleep with a few days to a week’s stubble and was wondering whether it would be permitted today as I regularly shave erev shabbat and yomtov. Thank…

Dear Rabbi Simon, I just was wondering if I’m allowed to use holly leaves as my sechach? Thanks David Dear David, Yes you may, if they are real, not the decorative artificial kind popular in December (!). Best to use the leaves that are still attached to the branches or tendrils, as the leaves on their own may dry fairly…

Dear Rabbi Simon The “rule of six” has knocked my Sukkot plans for 6. I have no means of building a sukkah in or around my flat, and sukkah invitations for Ruchie and me are very difficult to come by this year, due to the coronavirus crisis and the Rule of Six . And truthfully, I am uneasy about eating…

Dear Rabbi Simon, After 15 years of faithful service, the timber of our Succah is now rotting and requires replacing. I am designing a new timber succah and want to clarify a couple of halachic issues. 1) In order to make the sechach more wind resistant , I want the sechach to rest on wooden battens six inches below the top…