Tishrei

ב”ה

– In the Zohar [III, 255b] it states that on the 7 days of Sukkos, special supernal guests (ushpizin) come into our Sukkah. They are Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Moshe, Aharon, Yosef, David and Shlomo.

– Each day, they (re)enter with the main quest for that day at the head of the group.

– Each of the ushpizin says a special verse through which he blesses the Jew (s) in the Sukkah: [Zohar II 104a}

Avraham:	“then you will delight in G-d. | will let you ride the heights of the earth and enjoy the inheritance of your father Jacob, for G-d’s mouth has spoken” [Yeshayaho 58:14]
Yitzchak:	“His offspring will be mighty in the land, a generation of the upright who will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his merit endures Forever.” [Tehillim 112: 2, 3]
Yaakov:	“Then your light will burst forth like the down, and your healing will spring up quickly. Your righteousness will precede you, and G-d’s glory will Follow you.”[Yeshayahu 58:8]
Moshe & Aharon  & Yosef :	“G-d will always guide you, satisfying you when you are parched and strengthening your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring whose waters do not fail.” [Yeshayahu 58: 11]
David HaMelech:	“No weapon manufactured against you will succeed, and you will defeat every tongue raised against you in judgement. This is the lot of G-d’s servants and their reward from Me, says Hashem”. [Yeshayahu 54:17]

In addition to the classical upshpizin mentioned by the Zohar, there also appear Chassidic Ushpizin each day, as revealed by the Rebbe Rayatz in the name of his father, the Rebbe Rashab [sicha on first night of sukkos 1936 + 1942]. They are: the Baal sham Tov, the Maggid, the Alter Rebbe, the Mittler Rebbe, The Tsemach Tsedek, The Rebbe Maharash and the Rebbe Rashab.

This chassidic set of ushpizin (guests) does not differ from the first set of ushipizin, but rather they represent the primiyus (or neshama) of the classical ushpizin. Together, they become one perfect unit. It is not surprising, therefore, that we find many Striking similarities between the 2 sets of ushpizin, and even the differences they have are complementary. One example – Chazal tell us that the lives of Avraham Yitzhak and Yaakov overlapped for 15 years. It is known also that the Baal Shem Tov, The Maggid and the Alter Rebbe lived simultaneously for 15 years!

The ushipizin come to our sukka and cause thereby all aspects of our holiday to be uplifted and elevated incomparably. When they come, they are not the same as they were last year, since the whole year they engaged in Torah study in Gan Eden. And why do they come specifically on Sukkos? A) SIMCHA – breaks barriers and causes one to share with everyone. B) ACHDUS – as Chazal say [Gmara Sukkah 27 b] “all the Jewish People are fit to sit together in one sukkah”.

The Parallel Ushpizin:

The general progression among the classical Ushpizin:

Avraham:	opened the way to reveal G-dliness in the world.
↓
Yitzchak:	his very birth caused a revelation of G-diness in the world.
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Yaakov:	Torah, tiferes, Harmonizing between chessed & gevura.
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Moshe:	expanding the Torah through wisdom and insight.
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Aharon:	bringing the Torah to the masses and to those unaffiliated .
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Yosef:	using the Torah to influence the world.
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Dovid:	finishing the refinement and rectification of the world, thereby bringing Geula.

Comparisons between the classical and the Chassidic Ushpizin:

1	Avraham Avinu & The Baal Shem Tov :	Spreading emuna & G-dliness among the masses. Connection to water. Affect on the nations. Hachnasas Orchim
2	Yitzchak Avinu & The Maggid:	Staying in one place and influencing from there. The purpose of simcha as embodied by both.
3	Yaakov Avinu &   The Alter Rebbe:	Torah: revealed and hiddenLearning Torah and serving Hashem in conditions of confinement and in conditions of complete liberation
4	Moshe Rabbeinu & The Mittler Rebbe:	Expansion of Torah without limitations. Drawing down Ruach Hakodesh and preparing for the revelations of Yemos HaMashiach.
5	Aharon Hakohen & The TsemachTsedek:	Loving one’s Fellow Jew and uniting all the Jews. Simcha through water at the Simchas Beis Hashoeva.
6	Yosef Hatsaddik & The Rebbe Maharash:	Wealth and abundance “Lechatchila Ariber” Extensive dealings with the non-Jewish world
7	Dovid Hamelech & The Rebbe Rashab:	Soldiers of the House of DavidPreparing the world for Geula Simcha on the level of Kesserקוֹל צָמַח אִישׁ צֶֽמַח שְׁמוֹ, הוּא דָּוִד בְּעַצְמוֹ,מְבַשֵּׂר וְאוֹמֵר.  [In Hoshanos]
8	Shlomo HaMelech & The Rebbe Rayatz:	conquering the world the Haftora of Shmini Atzeres is about Shlomo HaMelech and  contains the verse: יְהִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עִמָּנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם אֲבֹתֵינוּ אַל יַעַזְבֵנוּ וְאַל יִטְּשֵׁנוּ.

ב״ה

• Kapparos is done during the days preceding Yom Kippur, ideally the night preceding Yom kippur, towards the end of the night. It’s done in order to sweeten the supernal severities, and is compared with the scapegoat of Yom Kippur – which vicariously removes our aveiros.
• The Mitzva of eating alot on Erev Yom Kippur starts the night before Yom Kippur [R. Farkash].
• One should seek forgiveness from anyone they may have wronged before You Kippur.
• The “AVODA’ of Ever You Kippur is remorse and regret over the past; while the “AVODA’ of Your Kippur is more resolve for a better future.
• During Shacharis, we omit Mizmor Le Toda in Psukei Dezimra.
• After Shacharis we ask for a piece of honey cake (lekach) usually from the gabai in shul [or at home, from a family member] and by doing so one fulfills the need to ask anyone for a favor the entire year ahead.
• Men go to the Mikve 3 times on Eren Yom Kippur:
  • once before shacharis
  • once after ‘lashes’ (malkos) before Mincha
  • and once before Kol Nidrei.
• Generally, people eat 2 meals on Ever You Kippur. At the First they will also have fish, but not at the second when they have chicken. There is also the minhag to eat ‘Kreplach’ on Erev You Kippur.
• It is best to stipulate that with the conclusion of the seuda HaMafsekes ( the 2nd meal), one does not accept the fast but will still eat and drink as long as one is permitted to.
• The women must accept all 5 abstentions of the fast with candlelighting (40 minutes before Sunset in Yerushalayim) and the men before Kol Nidrei (or at least 6 minutes before sunset). Before lighting candles we also light a Yizkor Lamp(s) for the departed, and a Leibedike Licht (‘a candle for life’) – both 24 hour candles. The Yizkor Lamp(s) should be lit at home (R. Y.K. Marlow) and the Leibedike Licht is lit (by the men in shul – one per married person. The woman can light her Leibedik Licht at home before she lights candles for Yom Kippur.
• There are 2 brochas said: “Lehadlik ner shel Yom Hakkipurim “(If Yom Kippur were to fall on Shabbos we would say “ Lehadlik ner shel Shabbos veshel Yom HaKippurim”), AND Shehechiyanu.
• Before leaving for shul, the father should bless his sons and daughters with the formula of Birkas Cohanim and can add ‘that you should be sealed for good life  and that your hearts be set right in the ways of Fear of Heaven, etc…
• The 5 abstentions are:
  • No leather shoes.
  • No washing parts of one’s body but one may wash dirt off himself if not for pleasure.
  • No anointing:  Annointing for pleasure is forbidden but anointing for medical reasons is permitted (even where there’s no danger to life).
  • No marital relations. Therefore, one should leave a little light on in the bedroom [which thereby makes it forbidden].
• Right before Kol Nidrei, one should enter the fast just having said confession (to begin with a clean slate).
• Kol Nidrei serves as the (public) annulment of vows for women.
• When ritually washing our hands, we do so to the 3rd row of Knuckles (which is up to the palm). In the morning brochas we omit the blessing concerning wearing of shoes: “She asa li kol tsarki”
• When saying confession, one should not Lean on anything whereby if that thing were removed the person wouldn’t remain standing.
• Men should not go to the bathroom wearing their kittle or their gartel since these are garments designated for praying.
• On a Motzoei Yom Kippur which falls on a Motzoei Shabbos, the full Havdala is said (and the fire is taken from an already existing flame). When Yom Kippur falls on a weekday no Besomim is used during Havdalah.
• On a Motzoei Yom kippur which falls on a Motzoei Shabbos, the celebratory meal also serves as a Melave Malka.
• The men usually do Kiddush Levana on Motzoei Yom kippur after breaking the fast.
• One should begin building the sukka on Motzoei Yom Kippur – and if he can’t build it then, at least he should talk about his building plans for the Sukka.