Ask The Rabbi
16 March 1996
Issue # 100
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This Issue Contains:
1.  Blazing Sukkahs
2.  Answer to Yiddle Riddle
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Jeff Marder <jeff@godzilla.quotron.com> wrote:

>Dear Rabbi,
>
>Recently I cleaned out the garage, and I found lumber that was once used
>to build our Sukkah.  I no longer use this wood for creating such a
>`Sacred Space.'  May I burn these boards in our fireplace?

* * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Jeff,

In general, `mitzvah objects' may be disposed of when you're done with
them.  Nevertheless, they should be treated with dignity -- they shouldn't
be stepped on or thrown in the garbage.

Burning, however, is not considered a disgrace to a mitzvah.  So burning
sukkah wood -- the walls and the roof -- is a perfect way to dispose of it.
Just be careful.

There are a number of exceptions to this rule -- e.g., Torah scrolls,
tefillin and mezuzot.  They have special sanctity and should not be burned.
Rather they should be buried (geniza).

Ideally, once you use an object for a mitzvah you should try to use it for
another mitzvah.  For example, you should use a torn tzitzit string as a
bookmark when you study Torah!

So use your sukkah wood to burn your chametz, or burn it in you fireplace
for oneg Shabbat (Shabbat enjoyment).

Here's a true story that's hard to imagine happening anywhere else but here
in Israel.  I was once walking to Yeshiva when I passed a garbage truck
moving slowly down the street.  The garbage man standing in back of the
truck was trying to get my attention.  Then I noticed he was holding
something long and black in his outstretched arm, and he was motioning for
me to take it.  "Burnt spaghetti?" I wondered.  I reached out and took it.
It was a tefillin strap.  "This shouldn't be in the garbage," said the
garbage man.  "You'll know what to do with it..."

Sources:
o  Tractate Megillah 26b
o  Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 21:1
o  Mishna Berurah ibid. 6 ,8 & 9 and 638:24
o  Aruch Hashulchan 638:12, Bekurei Yaakov 638:18

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Yiddle Riddle

Last week we asked:  Triplets and their cousin are born within a 2 hour
period, yet the brit milah for each of the four takes place on four
consecutive days.  They are all healthy -- i.e., no jaundice or other
health problems.  How can this be?

Answer:

1.  One baby is born before sunset.  His brit is 8 days later, which
    happens to be the day before Yom Tov.

2.  His brother is born after dark -- halachically a new day.  His brit is
    a full day later, the day of Yom Tov itself.  A brit performed on the
    8th day supersedes Yom Tov.

3.  The third triplet was born between the other two.  He was born in the
    halachic `gray area' after sunset but before dark.  It is unclear if
    this is considered night or day.  He can't have his brit the day before
    Yom Tov because that might be the 7th day, which is too early.  He
    can't have his brit on Yom Tov, because that might be the 9th day, and
    only a brit done on the 8th day supersedes Yom Tov.  Therefore, his
    brit is the day after Yom Tov.

4.  So much for the triplets who, by the way, were born in Israel.  Their
    cousin in Johannesburg, South Africa was born at the same time as the
    baby in paragraph #3.  His brit, however, is postponed yet another day,
    due to the extra day of Yom Tov observed outside of Israel!
    (Johannesburg is in the same time zone as Israel.)

Thanks to Shlomo Steinhart for the riddle idea.

Also thanks to Carl & Adina Sherer, Robert Vasl and Baruch Bar-Alon for
sending in correct answers; their answers were basically the same as the
answer we proposed with an additional twist that the *triplets* were born
outside of Israel and the cousin was born in Israel.  A particularly
ingenious answer involved the International Date Line.  Thank you!

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