Halocho #1905 - Lefties In Halacha

Go to http://tinyurl.com/leftiesinhalacha for a full overview of all Halachot related to lefties.

Regarding the Lulav and Etrog, this is what he writes:

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.

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)

Go to http://tinyurl.com/leftiesinhalacha for a full overview of all Halachot related to lefties, including what lefties do in the following cases:

• The groom uses his right hand to hold the ring and to place it onto the right index finger of the bride
• When putting on shoes in the morning, one first puts on the right shoe, but first ties the left one
• When putting on an article of clothing, one should start with covering the right side
• The right hand should be washed first
• Holding the Tzitzis in one's left hands, near the heart, during the recitation of Krias Shema
• Tefillin which are bound to the left arm
• Covering one's eyes with the right hand when saying the first Pasuk of Shma
• After completing Shemona Esrei, bowing to the right, then to the left
• Handing over and holding or carrying a Sefer Torah with one's right hand
• A "Kos Shel Bracha" - the cup of wine should be held in one's right hand
• At the Seder, there is a Mitzvah to eat  while leaning on one's left
• Tearing Kriah for mourners
• The Shofar should be placed on the right side of one's mouth
• Vidui; pounding one's heart with the right hand
• When setting up and holding the Arba Minim, the three Hadasim should be tied onto the right side

All the halachot at http://tinyurl.com/leftiesinhalacha are based on a Sefer titled "Ish Iter- The left handed person" by haRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita

- Danny
Tuesday, 21 Elul 5777