Sukkah 39 - August 15, 7 Elul

This week's learning is sponsored in memory of Fred Hochstadter, Ephraim Ben Baruch (yahrzeit on 8 Elul). "Dear Dad: We miss you very much and especially cherish our summer memories of spending time in Cape Cod. We are continuing the tradition and thinking of you. With lots of love, Adam, Carolyn, Michal, Josh, Benny, Izzy, Shim, Zoe and Yehuda."

There were various customs regarding which verses were doubled in Hallel. Abaye says that the blessing in Hallel that depended on the local custom of the place was the one recited at the end as the one at the beginning is obligatory as all in mitzvot the blessing is recited before performing the mitzva. According to the Mishnah, if one buys the four species in a shemita year, it is not possible to buy the etrog but the seller has to give it to the buyer as a gift. If the seller does not want to, one can buy it by absorbing the price in the price of the lulav, havla’ah. What is the problem with buying etrog in a shmita year? Apparently this halakha only refers to a buyer that is an am haaretz, because even in the ways that it is permitted to buy shmita produce, the sages forbade buying from an am haaretz. What is the reason? And why is it only an issue for the etrog and not the lulav?