Question
Dear Rabbi: Unfortunately my wife (Yael bat Channah) is now already nearly a year in hospitals and Rehab Nursing Homes. She has many times been unconscious, not aware of what was going on, but thank G-d her health has improved and she understands now most of the things, that happen around her. At home I continued always to candle the lights for Shabbos and Chanuka, even when she couldn't. If I bring her electric Shabbos candles and an electric Menora, can she say the bracha over the light kindling? Real fire is not allowed in the Hospital or Nursing Home. Too dangerous.
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Question
אסרו חג פסח 1. I saw this word on a memorial plaque. 2. How do you pronounce the first word? Please provide transliteration. 3. I looked up the word and it translates to "banned", which makes no sense to me. 4. I found out that there is such a day after each of the 3 Regalim: Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot. 5. To what Hebrew date does each correspond? Is it the same Hebrew date in Israel and Diaspora? 6. What is the significance of this day?

Question
The Simchat Torah luncheon seems to be a very popular event. It was held at many congregations during my childhood (I remember going to them with my family when I was a toddler), and continues to be held all over town today. Is there some ancient reason for this tradition? Or is it a more modern development from the 20th century?

Question
Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. The word "hoshana" is said before and after every verse in the weekday hoshanas. Is this also the case in the "Nation Protected" hoshana that is said on Shabbos, found on page 736 in the Artscroll Siddur? Thanks a lot.

Question
Dear Rabbi, when Succot is over what does one do with the etrog and luvav? I noticed in my shul that the lulav is placed on top of the Aron Kodesh (the Holy Ark)? There's also one member of our congregation who collects them to make some sort of pie, I think. Could you kindly reply with an explanation? Thank you.    
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Question
Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. In the sefer "Guidelines" to the Yomim Nora'im, they write that a yachid can say Kol Nidrei as long as he says the future tense version. Would he be able to say the Kol Nidrei prayer exactly as the Siddur has it, even though the Siddur says “that we will vow...etc” - all in the first person plural, even though he is a yachid? Or should he change the "we" to "I" when he says Kol Nidrei. Thanks a lot.