Anonymous

Building the Sukkah: Difference between revisions

From Halachipedia
Line 52: Line 52:
'''Background'''
'''Background'''
*In Gemara Sukkah 24b, Rav Acha Bar Yaakov states that a wall that cannot stand in the wind is not considered a valid wall. The Chazon Ish (Hilchot Eruvin 13:6) suggests that a wall is not valid only if it falls or sways more than three tefachim in normal wind. However, Rav Ovadia Yosef in Chazon Ovadia pp. 1-5 and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichot Shlomo Sukkah 7:1 p. 97) hold that plastic curtains that sway in the wind even slightly are unfit for walls of a Sukkah. Rav Ovadia adds, based on Shulchan Aruch 630:10, that this is true even if one ties down the ends because we are concerned that the ties will loosen and that he will not notice. Rav Moshe Feinstein in Sh”t Iggrot Moshe 5:40:2 writes that one should not misinterpret the prevalence of these canvas sukkot as an endorsement of their validity. On the other hand, some achronim (Rav Sonnenfeld, Rav Menashe Klein, and Rav Shternbuch all cited in Piskei Teshuvot 630:9) justify the common practice to use canvas Sukkot since nowadays they are put together well, so the concern of the Shulchan Aruch that the ties may become loose no longer applies.
*In Gemara Sukkah 24b, Rav Acha Bar Yaakov states that a wall that cannot stand in the wind is not considered a valid wall. The Chazon Ish (Hilchot Eruvin 13:6) suggests that a wall is not valid only if it falls or sways more than three tefachim in normal wind. However, Rav Ovadia Yosef in Chazon Ovadia pp. 1-5 and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichot Shlomo Sukkah 7:1 p. 97) hold that plastic curtains that sway in the wind even slightly are unfit for walls of a Sukkah. Rav Ovadia adds, based on Shulchan Aruch 630:10, that this is true even if one ties down the ends because we are concerned that the ties will loosen and that he will not notice. Rav Moshe Feinstein in Sh”t Iggrot Moshe 5:40:2 writes that one should not misinterpret the prevalence of these canvas sukkot as an endorsement of their validity. On the other hand, some achronim (Rav Sonnenfeld, Rav Menashe Klein, and Rav Shternbuch all cited in Piskei Teshuvot 630:9) justify the common practice to use canvas Sukkot since nowadays they are put together well, so the concern of the Shulchan Aruch that the ties may become loose no longer applies.
*Despite his objection, Rav Moshe would allow a canvas wall if the canvas is sewn around a metal frame in such a manner that no part of the canvas sways more than three tefachim from the frame in a normal wind. [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/764662/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/%D7%A2%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%99_%D7%99%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9B'%D7%A4_%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA Rav Hershel Schachter] (“Inyonei Yom Kippur VeSukkot” min 72-80) explains that even though the Chazon Ish (Hilchot Eruvin 13:6) was lenient, most poskim are strict.
*[http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/764662/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/%D7%A2%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%99_%D7%99%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9B'%D7%A4_%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA Rav Hershel Schachter] (“Inyonei Yom Kippur VeSukkot” min 72-80) explains that even though the Chazon Ish (Hilchot Eruvin 13:6) was lenient, most poskim are strict.
*Rav Moshe Feinstein writes that if the canvas walls wouldn't move in the wind more than 3 tefachim without being tied down, then they are acceptable when they are tied down to the top and bottom of the frame. His reasoning is that Shulchan Aruch was only strict about a cloth that could become untied and sway more than 3 tefachim but if the cloth even if untied wouldn't sway more than 3 tefachim is permitted if tied. However, it still needs to be tied so that it doesn't move in a normal wind so that it is similar to an established house wall. Yet, since the Shulchan Aruch was strict about using cloths for walls of a Sukkah and the achronim don't distinguish between using different types of cloths one shouldn't use a canvas sukkah unless there's nothing else is available.  
*Rav Moshe Feinstein writes that if the canvas walls wouldn't move in the wind more than 3 tefachim without being tied down, then they are acceptable when they are tied down to the top and bottom of the frame. His reasoning is that Shulchan Aruch was only strict about a cloth that could become untied and sway more than 3 tefachim but if the cloth even if untied wouldn't sway more than 3 tefachim is permitted if tied. However, it still needs to be tied so that it doesn't move in a normal wind so that it is similar to an established house wall. Yet, since the Shulchan Aruch was strict about using cloths for walls of a Sukkah and the achronim don't distinguish between using different types of cloths one shouldn't use a canvas sukkah unless there's nothing else available. [It is questionable if today's canvas sukkah's would fit the standards of Rav Moshe of not swaying 3 tefachim in the wind without being tied down.]
*Hilchot Chag Bichag pp. 87-90 and Rav Menashe Klein (Mishneh Halachot 5:77) recommend, therefore, to place poles or cords horizontally across the sukkah within three tefachim of each other up to a height of ten tefachim, and, combined with the canvas, this would be a perfectly valid sukkah.</ref>
*Hilchot Chag Bichag pp. 87-90 and Rav Menashe Klein (Mishneh Halachot 5:77) recommend, therefore, to place poles or cords horizontally across the sukkah within three tefachim of each other up to a height of ten tefachim, and, combined with the canvas, this would be a perfectly valid sukkah.</ref>