...Continued from previous week
1) When saying Vidui (Admitting our sins before Hashem, Ashamnu, Bagadnu, Gazalnu etc.), when saying “Al Cheit” on Erev Yom Kippur and on Yom Kippur, and also during the Bracha of Selach Lanu each weekday in Shemona Esrei it is customary to lightly pound the heart with the fist of the right hand. (Based on the writings of the Arizal; as if to say that the heart led us astray and caused us to sin)
A left handed person also pounds his heart with his right hand. (Ruling of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal) It is brought in the Sefarim not to pound the heart by Selach Lanu on days that Tachanun is not recited. (MeKor Chaim and Siddur Ya’avetz in the name of the Shl”a HaKadosh)
2) Parenthetically, one of the reason that the classic Vidui of Ashamnu, Bagadnu, Gazalnu etc. follows the order of the Aleph Bais is to imply that when we sin we cause destruction to the world which Hashem created utilizing the 22 Hebrew letters, thus we say Vidui utilizing the order of those same holy letters and thus help repair the world that we damaged with our sins. (Based on the teachings of MaRa MiPano and other kabalistic sources; based on the Sefer Yetzirah’s discussion of Hashem creating the world and its contents with the Aleph Beis. See also Talmud Shabbos 104a and Rashi to Bereishis 2:4)
Similarly, along the same lines, over the course of Yom Kippur we say Vidui ten times to rectify the sins we did which caused destruction to Hashem’s world which He created with ten utterances. (See Pirkei Avos Perek 5 Mishna 1)
3) On each of the seven days of Sukkos (besides for Shabbos) we take and shake a Lulav and an Esrog. (Vayikra 23:40)
The Lulav (branch of a palm tree) has three Hadasim (myrtle) and two Aravos (willow) tied onto it, and is held upright in the right hand and the Esrog (citron) is held in the left hand. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 651:2)
According to the Mechaber (Rav Yosef Cairo, author of the Shulchan Aruch) a left handed person follows the same procedure and holds the Lulav in the right hand and the Esrog in the left hand, as since the Lulav has in it three Mitzvos (i.e. 3 of the 4 species) and the Esrog is only one Mitzvah, the item with more Mitzvos is held in the more highly regarded hand. Most Sephardic Jews follow this ruling. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 651:3 and Mishna Berura S”K 18)
However, the Rama (ibid.) rules that left handed people should switch the order and hold the Lulav in their strong hand (left) and the Esrog in their weaker hand (right). Most Ashkenazic Jews follow this ruling.
4) An ambidextrous person should take the Lulav in his right hand and the Esrog in the left hand. (ibid.) If the Lulav was held in the wrong hand, the obligation has been satisfied (Rama ibid.) However, if it was taken in the wrong hands it is best to be stringent and take the Lulav and Esrog again in the correct hands without reciting a new Bracha. (Mishna Berura S”K 19)
Many left handed people are stringent after taking the Lulav in their left and the Esrog in their right (or vice versa) to repeat the process the other way around (without a new Bracha) to satisfy the rulings of both the Shulchan Aruch and the Rama. (See Kaf HaChaim 651:38. See also Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. 2 page 288 that the Steipler Zatzal, who was a lefty and an Ashkenazi, followed the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch regarding this Halacha and not the Rama)
5) When setting up and holding the Arba Minim, the three Hadasim (myrtle) should be tied onto the right side of the Lulav and the two Aravos (willow) should be tied onto the left side of the Lulav. (Mishna Berura Siman 651:12). For kabalistic reasons, the Hadasim should be tied slightly higher than the Aravos. (Rama 651:1 and Mishna Berura ibid.). Left handed people should also set up their Lulav with the Hadasim on the right side and the Aravos on the left. (This is how the Pri Megadim, quoted in Mishna Berura ibid. rules)
6) After reciting the Bracha on the Arba Minim, and then again during the recitation of Halel, the Lulav and Esrog are shaken three times per direction to and fro in all four directions and up and down. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 651:8 and 9)
There are various customs as to the order of which direction to follow. The Shulchan Aruch rules to shake to the east, south, west, north, upward then downward. (Siman 251:10. This is also the ruling of the Derech HaChaim and the Chayei Adam. See Mishna Berura S”K 47)
The reason for this order is based on the principle of “B’chol Pinos SheAta Poneh, Tifneh L’Yemin, whenever you have a choice to go to the right or to the left, always choose to go to the right”.(See Maseches Midos Perek 2 Mishna 2 and Talmud Yoma 15b and Sotah 15b). Thus, since we are standing facing east, the direction to follow is a circle to the right. (Mishna Berura ibid. quoting the Mogen Avraham 651:21)
7) The Arizal had a different order to shake the Lulav, as follows: South, north, east, upward, downward then west. (See Be’er Heitev 651:20. See also Sha’arei Teshuva 651:10 for additional variations in the order of directions that other Poskim followed. Of course, every individual should follow their own accepted custom.)
8) Regardless which minhag any one individual follows in regard to the directions to shake the lulav, there is no difference between a left handed person and a right handed person regarding the order to be followed. (Mogen Avraham ibid.) The person shaking the Lulav does not need to actually turn around in all the directions, as long as the Lulav is shaken in the proper directions it suffices. (Mishna Berura ibid.)
9) When circling the Bimah during the recitation of Hoshanos each day of Sukkos (and seven rounds on Hoshana Rabbah) the circle should begin from the right side of the Bimah. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 660:1 and Mishna Berura S”K 3)
