[Avodah] Time for dinner on Shmini Atzeres

[Akiva Miller]

Regarding the late afternoon of Hoshana Raba in Chutz Laaretz, Mishneh
Brura 668:7 writes:

<<< The Acharonim conclude that one should not eat in the evening until
dark. However, b'dieved, if he already washed his hands and said Hamotzi,
he should *not* say Leshev Basukkah, because he already accepted Shmini
Atzeres in davening and in kiddush. >>>

>From this, it seems that the MB has no problem beginning Shmini Atzeres
early, with davening and/or kiddush, his only problem is with eating. He
explains this more deeply in Shaar Hatziuy 668:12:

<<< The reason is because it is still part of the seventh day, and he is
obligated by the Torah to eat in the sukkah. How can he eat without daying
Leshev Basukkah?!?!? But to say Leshev Basukkah is not possible, because it
would be a contradiction, because in davening and kiddush, he declared it
to be Shmini Atzeres! >>>

Writing in chutz laaretz, the MB clearly presumes that this person *is* in
the sukkah, and the only problem is the bracha. I don't understand why the
bracha is such a big deal. What's wrong with simply omitting the Layshev?

Let's phrase it this way: This person has two choices: (A) At this time,
during which there might be a Torah obligation to eat in the sukkah, he can
eat in the sukkah without the Birkas Hamitzvah. (B) Because of the
uncertainty about saying the bracha, he should avoid eating in the sukkah
entirely, until this uncertain time ends. - It seems clear to me that it
would be far preferable to choose A and thereby possibly do a mitzvah
d'Oraisa albeit without a bracha, rather than just sit around squandering
that opportunity. Why am I wrong? What did I miss?

(By the way, please note the MB's words "b'dieved, if he already washed his
hands and said Hamotzi". I am curious what he would advise for a person who
said Kiddush and washed Netilas Yadayim, but did NOT say Hamotzi yet. Shaar
Hatziyun 668:13 (near end) is lenient for the last quarter-hour before
dark, but what if it were earlier? Would he really tell a person not to eat
yet?)

None of the above would apply in Eretz Yisrael, where there are real
problems with eating in the sukkah on Shmini Atzeres, even without a
bracha. Similarly, in Eretz Yisrael it's not possible to eat in the house
until dark, because of the safek chiyuv d'Oraisa. But my next question, I
think, is equally valid in Israel and Chu"l:

Suppose it is raining on Hoshana Raba afternoon - wither in Eretz Yisrael
or not - and the rain is expected to continue into the night, and he is
therefore planning to eat indoors. Is there any reason to delay dinner? The
MB has no problem with davening or kiddush early, and there is no question
of saying Leshev. So why not?

Akiva Miller
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