Are there situations when Ashkenazic Jews follow the ruling of Rav Yosef Karo as recorded in the Shulchan Aruch and Sephardic Jews do not? The answer is yes, in a few instances, na’anu’im being one of them. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 651:9) rules that the na’anu’im begin in front and then wind around the right and conclude with up and down motions. Sephardim (and chasidim), though, follow the Arizal’s practice of shaking to the south, then north, east, east in the upward direction, east in a downward motion and finally to the west (Kaf HaChaim Orach Chaim 651:49).
Maran Rav Karo writes that one performs the na’anu’im simply by moving one’s hands. While Ashkenazi Jews follow this practice, Sephardic Jews fully extend their arms holding the four minim in a full motion back and forth, once again following the approach of the Arizal (Kaf HaChaim Orach Chaim 651:48 and 93).
The Kaf HaChaim (651:96) notes that it appears from the Shulchan Aruch (op. cit.) that one moves his hands and not his body when performing the na’anu’im. However, he notes that the prevalent Sephardic practice in his area is to move one’s entire body in the direction to which he is waving. This appears to be the widespread practice among Sephardic Jews today.
Two other differences between Ashkenazic practice and Sephardic practice reflect differences between Maran Rav Yosef Karo and the Rama. The Rama (Orach Chaim 651:8) records the Ashkenazic practice to shake not only for Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov Ki L’Olam Chasdo, but also when responding Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov to the shaliach tzibbur reciting Yomar Na Yisrael etc. Maran Rav Karo does not record such a practice since Sephardic Jews do not respond Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov to Yomar Na Yisrael etc.
This difference of opinion between Rav Karo and the Rama stems, as it often does, from a dispute between Tosafot and the Rambam. Tosafot (Sukkah 37b s.v. B’Hodu) mentions waving while responding Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov to the shaliach tzibbur reciting Yomar Na Yisrael, etc., while the Rambam (Hilchot Lulav 7:10) makes no mention of this. This is because Sephardic Jews do not respond Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov to the shaliach tzibbur reciting Yomar Na Yisrael, etc.
In addition, while the Rama (Orach Chaim 651:9) defines na’anu’im as shaking the lulav, Maran Rav Karo defines it simply as waving. This difference of opinion between Rav Karo and the Rama once again stems from a dispute between Tosafot and the Rambam. Tosafot (Sukkah 37b s.v. Kde) mentions shaking in addition to the Gemara’s mention of waving, while the Rambam (Hilchot Lulav 7:10) makes mention only of waving but not of shaking.
There is an important ramification of this difference. While some Ashkenazic poskim express reservations about using a lulav whose tip is closed by brown bark (sometimes referred to as “kora”) since one is unable to shake such a lulav, for Sepharadim this is not a concern. In fact, it is preferable for a Sephardic Jew to purchase such a lulav, since the sealing of the tip in this manner allows for the purchaser to assume that the tip of the lulav is intact (see Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 645:3).
Finally, one more difference is that Yalkut Yosef (OC 651:50) records the practice to wave the lulav only once when reciting the last Hodu of Hallel. Ashkenazic Jews wave both times the last set of Hodu is recited.
Rabbi Haim Jachter is the spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarei Orah, the Sephardic Congregation of Teaneck. He also serves as a rebbe at Torah Academy of Bergen County and a dayan on the Beth Din of Elizabeth.
