Sukkah

He who makes a lulab1 for his own use2 shall recite the benediction, ‘Blessed [art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe] who has kept us in life, and hast preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season’. When he takes it to fulfil therewith his obligation, he shall say, ‘Blessed [art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe] who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and commanded us concerning the taking of the lulab’ and even though he has recited the benediction on the first day, he must again recite it on all seven days. He who makes a Sukkah for his own use shall recite the benediction, ‘Blessed [art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe] who kept us in life, and sustained us etc.’ When he enters the Sukkah to take up his abode therein he shall say, ‘. . . Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and commanded us to dwell in the Sukkah’; and once he has recited the benediction on the first day, he has no need to repeat it [on subsequent days].3 Now is there not a contradiction between the one statement concerning the lulab and the other,4 and between the one concerning Sukkah and the other?5 The difficulty between the one statement concerning the lulab and the other may well be disposed of, since one might refer to Temple times6 and the other to the time when the Temple was no longer in existence; but does not the difficulty concerning the two statements about the Sukkah remain? — The question7 is one in dispute between Tannas, as it has been taught, Whenever a man puts on his tefillin8 he must9 recite the benediction; so Rabbi,10 but the Sages ruled, He recites the benediction in the morning only. 11 It was stated:12 Abaye ruled, The law is in agreement with Rabbi, while Raba ruled, The law is in agreement with the Rabbis. R. Mari the son of Samuel's daughter remarked, I noticed that Raba himself did not act in accordance with his own ruling13 but rising early, he would go to the privy, emerge and wash his hands, put on his tefillin and recite the benediction, and when he had to attend to his needs a second time he would14 go to the privy, emerge and wash his hands, put on his tefillin and recite the benediction again. We also act in accordance with the ruling of Rabbi and recite the benediction15 all seven days.16 Mar Zutra remarked, I notice that R. Papi recited the benediction whenever he put on his tefillin.17 The Rabbis of the school of R. Ashi recited the benediction whenever they touched their tefillin. 18 Rab Judah citing Samuel ruled: The commandment of lulab19 applies to all the seven days,16 but R. Joshua b. Levi ruled, The commandment of the lulab19 applies to the first day only,20 and subsequently it is but an ordinance of the Elders;21 while R. Isaac ruled, [The taking of the lulab on] every day, and even on the first one is but an ordinance of the Elders. But have we not an established rule that on the first day it is a Pentateuchal commandment? — Say rather, Except on the first day. But if so, is not this22 identical with the ruling of R. Joshua b. Levi? — Read, And so said R. Isaac. Rab also is of the opinion that the commandment of the lulab19 applies to all seven days,23 for R. Hiyya b. Ashi citing Rab stated, One who kindles the Hanukkah lamp24 must recite a benediction.25 R. Jeremiah ruled, He who sees the Hanukkah light26 must recite the benediction. What benediction does one recite? — Rab Judah answered, On the first day he who kindles the light must recite three benedictions27 and he who sees it must recite two;28 henceforth he who kindles the lights recites two benedictions29 and he who sees them only one.30 What is the benediction? — ‘Blessed [art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe] who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah’.27 But where31 did He command us? — [The commandment is deduced from the verse,] Thou shalt not turn aside.32 R. Nahman b. Isaac replied, [Deduction is made from the verse,] Ask thy father, and he will declare unto thee.33 (Which [benediction] does one omit?34 — The benediction on the season.35 Might it not be suggested that one omits the benediction of the miracle?36 — The miracle occurred every day).37 R. Nahman b. Isaac taught this38 explicitly:39 Rab ruled, The commandment of the lulab applies to all seven days. Our Rabbis taught, He who makes a Sukkah for his own use shall recite the benediction, ‘Blessed art Thou . . . who has kept us in life etc.’40 When he enters to take up his abode in it, he says, ‘Blessed art Thou . . . who has sanctified us, etc.’41 If it42 was already erected,43 he may recite the benediction if he can make some renovation in it; and if not, he recites two benedictions40 when he enters to take up his abode in it. R. Ashi stated, I observed that R. Kahana recited all of them over the cup of Sanctification. 44 Our Rabbis taught, He who has to perform many commandments45 [simultaneously] shall say, ‘Blessed . . . who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and commanded us concerning the commandments’.46 R. Judah ruled, One must recite a benediction over each one separately. R. Zera or, as some say, R. Hanina b. Papa stated, The halachah47 is in agreement with R. Judah. R. Zera or, as some say, R. Hanina b. Papa further stated, What is the reason of R. Judah? Because it is written, Blessed be the Lord by day.48 Now do we bless Him by day and not by night?49 But this comes to teach you: Return to Him every day its appropriate benedictions.50 So also here: Return unto Him for every single thing, its appropriate benedictions. R. Zera or, as some say, R. Hanina b. Papa further stated, Come and see that not as the standards of mortal man are the standards of the Holy One, blessed be He. According to the standards of mortal man, an empty vessel that it must be recited all the seven days. recited on the first day only. more than once. repeated every day. night, two on the second, three on the third, and so on, until the eighth night when eight lamps are kindled. sanction. passage, v. Shab. 23a. (P.B. p. 232 also. This is our present custom.