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?

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I want to know why and how does one observe the religious festivals like Passover day or Rosh Hashana etc. by eating and dancing or by chanting prayers?

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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.

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Hi Rabbi , why does the holiday of Succot last for eight days instead of seven days like Passover? Ty    

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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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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.

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My work schedule does not always give me time to go to the mikvah on erev Yom Kippur. So I haven’t gone every year. How important is it to go? How bad is it to skip sometimes?

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Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. If someone has a web of connected Xmas lights hanging from the schach that are strung across the entire width and breadth of his sukkah, would these lights be considered more than 4 tefachim wide, so that one would not be permitted to sit under them if they are 4 tefachim lower than the schach, or would they not be considered to be more than 4 tefachim wide. Thank you.