Building the Sukkah: Difference between revisions

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==Number of walls of the Sukkah==
==Number of walls of the Sukkah==
# 3 walls one being a tefach
# The minimum number of walls necessary for a Sukkah is 3 of length 7 Tefachim. It's possible to build the third wall without having to complete it but footnote for details. <ref> S"A 630:2 according to the explanation of the Mishna Burah 630:6 the third wall doesn't have to be a full wall of 7 Tefachim but must still look like a wall and so it's permissible to build two walls next to each other (say one is from southwest to southeast and the other is southeast to northeast) and then a third wall (from northeast to northwest) constructed with a wall which is more than one Tefach thick within 3 Tefachim to one of the two other walls (within 3 tefachim of the northeast corner) and also a poll at the end of 7 tefachim (7 Tefachim from the northeast corner) and a poll on top of the more than one tefach wall and the poll at the end of 7 Tefachim. See picture. [[Image:Minimum_sukkah.png | 100px | right]]<ref>
# walls must be 7 x7
# The minimum measure of a Sukkah is 7 Tefachim in length by 7 Tefachim in width and 10 Tefachim in hieght. <ref>S"A 633:8, 634:1 </ref>
# height at least 10 tefachim
# There is no maximum width or length but the maximum height is 20 Amot. <ref>S"A 633:1, 634:1 </ref>
# If the walls are made of polls or strings only in the horizontal direction or only in the vertical direction then one must have 4 wall complete walls, however, if there are 3 walls and a Tefach for the fourth wall it's a doubt whether it's acceptable. <ref>Halichot Shlomo (7:2 , pg 98) </ref>
# If the walls are made of polls or strings only in the horizontal direction or only in the vertical direction then one must have 4 wall complete walls, however, if there are 3 walls and a Tefach for the fourth wall it's a doubt whether it's acceptable. <ref>Halichot Shlomo (7:2 , pg 98) </ref>
# The walls must be built within 3 Tefachim of the ground. <ref>Halichot Shlomo (7:5, pg 100) </ref>
# The walls must be built within 3 Tefachim of the ground. <ref>Halichot Shlomo (7:5, pg 100) </ref>
===Arrangment of the walls===
 
===Arrangement of the walls===
# If one has two walls facing one another and the third is four tefachim it must be within 3 tefachim of one side and within 3 of the other or at least have a tzurat hapetach to the second side. <ref> S"A 630:3 </ref>
# If one has two walls facing one another and the third is four tefachim it must be within 3 tefachim of one side and within 3 of the other or at least have a tzurat hapetach to the second side. <ref> S"A 630:3 </ref>


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==Materials for walls of Sukkah==
==Materials for walls of Sukkah==
# metal, wood…
# All materials are permissible to be for the walls of a Sukkah (see next halacha). Some say that that a pious person should preferably only  use materials that aren't Biblically unfit for S'chach. <ref>S"A 630:1 rules that all materials are permissible. Biur Halacha D"H Kol quotes two reasons that a pious person should be strict only to use materials that not unfit biblically for S'chach, but quotes others who reject this stringency. </ref>
# what about canvas or plastic tarp? What about tying strings for lavud?
# Many authorities hold that plastic curtains (tarp, canvas) are unfit for walls of a Sukkah, while others permit. [This is not because of an issue with the material itself but because of an issue with it blowing in the wind.] <Ref> Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Chazon Ovadyah (pg 1-5) and Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurerbach in Halichot Shlomo (Sukkah 7:1 pg 97) hold that plastic curtains that sway in the wind even slightly are unfit for walls of a Sukkah. However, Rav Moshe Feinstein in Sh”t Igrot Moshe 5:40 permits if the curtains are thick and there’s poles. [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] (min 72-80) explains that even though the Chazon Ish was lenient most poskim are strict. Rav Schachter leaves an absolute guideline unclear but in a situation of extreme need one could rely on the Chazon Ish. </ref>
# Many authorities hold that plastic curtains (tarp, canvas) are unfit for walls of a Sukkah, while others permit. <Ref> Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Chazon Ovadyah (pg 1-5) and Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurerbach in Halichot Shlomo (Sukkah 7:1 pg 97) hold that plastic curtains that sway in the wind even slightly are unfit for walls of a Sukkah. However, Rav Moshe Feinstein in Sh”t Igrot Moshe 5:40 permits if the curtains are thick and there’s poles. </ref>


==S'chach of Sukkah==
==S'chach of Sukkah==
(siman 629)
(siman 629)
# attached to ground
# There's three conditions regarding the S'chach (covering) of the Sukkah. It must be made from a material that grows from the ground, is unattached from the ground, and is impervious to impurity (see further for examples). <ref>S"A 629:1 </ref>
# mekabel tumah
# Metal, dirt, and animal hides are unfit for S'chach as they do not grow from the ground. <ref>S"A and Rama 629:1 </ref>
# bamboo mats
# Bamboo mats made for S'chach which are 3x2 meters according to most poskim are fit for S'chach. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Sukkot pg 25-6). Halichot Shlomo (pg 128) and [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] (min 78-79:30) are also lenient unlike Rav Elyashiv (quoted by Sh"t Shevet HaLevi 6:74) who is strict. </ref>
# The S'chach should be made so that there is a majority of shade and minority of sunlight that's let through the S'chach. If there's an equal amount of shade and sun in the actual S'chach it's unfit but if there's an equal amount of shade to light that shines on the floor of the Sukkah it's fit. <ref>S"A 631:1 and 4 </ref>
# The S'chach should be thin enough that one can see the large stars through the S'chach. <ref>S"A 631:3 </ref>
# If one made the S'chach very thick so that one can't see the stars nonetheless it's fit. However, if it's so thick that when it rains a lot water won't come in then it's unfit unless there's no way to remove some S'chach in which case one may rely on the lenient opinions. <ref>S"A 631:3, Mishna Brurah 631:6 </ref>
# If one made the S'chach very thin so that there's patches of empty space it's fit only if (1) there's no area of empty space larger than 3 Tefachim and (2) there is a majority of shade and minority of sunlight. <ref>S"A 631:4 </ref>
# putting Sachach on top of metal walls
# putting Sachach on top of metal walls
# very thick sachach (siman 631)
# very thin sachach
# One must ensure that one's Sukkah is under the open sky and not beneath a tree, roof of a house, or a porch. (For details about after the fact see the footnote.) <ref> Rama 626:1 writes that in all cases one should avoid building one's sukkah under a tree or roof. Mishna Brurah 626:1 and Aruch HaShulchan 626:1 explain that it's best to build the Sukkah under the open sky. So rules Chazon Ovadyah (Sukkot pg 11). However, after the fact, Aruch HaShulchan 626:1 writes if it's built under a roofed area it's unfit, but if it's built under a tree there is a discussion about when it is fit. S"A 626:1 (according to Biur Halacha D"H VeYesh, Mishna Brurah 626:10 and 11) rules that a sukkah under branches of a tree is fit only if it fits three requirements (See S"A with Mishna Brurah 626:10 and 11). (1) Among the branches of the tree there is majority of sun and minority shade (2) the there is less than four tefachim of tree branches over the sachach, and (3) there is a majority of shade from the kosher sachach and a minority of shade even without the tree branches (and even so the sachach under the tree branches itself is unfit but the rest of the sukkah is fit). </ref>
# One must ensure that one's Sukkah is under the open sky and not beneath a tree, roof of a house, or a porch. (For details about after the fact see the footnote.) <ref> Rama 626:1 writes that in all cases one should avoid building one's sukkah under a tree or roof. Mishna Brurah 626:1 and Aruch HaShulchan 626:1 explain that it's best to build the Sukkah under the open sky. So rules Chazon Ovadyah (Sukkot pg 11). However, after the fact, Aruch HaShulchan 626:1 writes if it's built under a roofed area it's unfit, but if it's built under a tree there is a discussion about when it is fit. S"A 626:1 (according to Biur Halacha D"H VeYesh, Mishna Brurah 626:10 and 11) rules that a sukkah under branches of a tree is fit only if it fits three requirements (See S"A with Mishna Brurah 626:10 and 11). (1) Among the branches of the tree there is majority of sun and minority shade (2) the there is less than four tefachim of tree branches over the sachach, and (3) there is a majority of shade from the kosher sachach and a minority of shade even without the tree branches (and even so the sachach under the tree branches itself is unfit but the rest of the sukkah is fit). </ref>


Revision as of 05:12, 9 October 2011

This is an outline and needs to be filled in

Number of walls of the Sukkah

  1. The minimum number of walls necessary for a Sukkah is 3 of length 7 Tefachim. It's possible to build the third wall without having to complete it but footnote for details. Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
  2. There is no maximum width or length but the maximum height is 20 Amot. [1]
  3. If the walls are made of polls or strings only in the horizontal direction or only in the vertical direction then one must have 4 wall complete walls, however, if there are 3 walls and a Tefach for the fourth wall it's a doubt whether it's acceptable. [2]
  4. The walls must be built within 3 Tefachim of the ground. [3]

Arrangement of the walls

  1. If one has two walls facing one another and the third is four tefachim it must be within 3 tefachim of one side and within 3 of the other or at least have a tzurat hapetach to the second side. [4]

Building a Sukkah in the street

  1. If there's no room on private property to build a Sukkah and the city leaders (mayor) give permission, it's permissible to build it in the public street however one should make sure that the Sukkah doesn't to block walkers (traffic). [5]

Materials for walls of Sukkah

  1. All materials are permissible to be for the walls of a Sukkah (see next halacha). Some say that that a pious person should preferably only use materials that aren't Biblically unfit for S'chach. [6]
  2. Many authorities hold that plastic curtains (tarp, canvas) are unfit for walls of a Sukkah, while others permit. [This is not because of an issue with the material itself but because of an issue with it blowing in the wind.] [7]

S'chach of Sukkah

(siman 629)

  1. There's three conditions regarding the S'chach (covering) of the Sukkah. It must be made from a material that grows from the ground, is unattached from the ground, and is impervious to impurity (see further for examples). [8]
  2. Metal, dirt, and animal hides are unfit for S'chach as they do not grow from the ground. [9]
  3. Bamboo mats made for S'chach which are 3x2 meters according to most poskim are fit for S'chach. [10]
  4. The S'chach should be made so that there is a majority of shade and minority of sunlight that's let through the S'chach. If there's an equal amount of shade and sun in the actual S'chach it's unfit but if there's an equal amount of shade to light that shines on the floor of the Sukkah it's fit. [11]
  5. The S'chach should be thin enough that one can see the large stars through the S'chach. [12]
  6. If one made the S'chach very thick so that one can't see the stars nonetheless it's fit. However, if it's so thick that when it rains a lot water won't come in then it's unfit unless there's no way to remove some S'chach in which case one may rely on the lenient opinions. [13]
  7. If one made the S'chach very thin so that there's patches of empty space it's fit only if (1) there's no area of empty space larger than 3 Tefachim and (2) there is a majority of shade and minority of sunlight. [14]
  8. putting Sachach on top of metal walls
  9. One must ensure that one's Sukkah is under the open sky and not beneath a tree, roof of a house, or a porch. (For details about after the fact see the footnote.) [15]

When should one build the Sukkah?

  1. Mitzvah to build Sukkah after yom kippur
  2. If a Sukkah was set up before 30 days before sukkot, then what do you have to do?(siman 636)
  3. If you forgot can you do it on chol hamoed

==Decorations of the Sukkah==(siman 667)

  1. Mitzvah to decorate and beatify the sukkah
  2. If they fell on yom tov are they Muktzeh
  3. If they fell on chol hamoed are they Muktzeh?

Covering the Sukkah in case of rain

  1. It's permissible to cover the Sukkah with a plastic tarp to prevent it from getting wet if one places the tarp directly above the Shach and not a tefach above the Shach and one has in mind to remove the tarp when one next uses the Sukkah for the mitzvah. [16]

References

  1. ↑ S"A 633:1, 634:1
  2. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (7:2 , pg 98)
  3. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (7:5, pg 100)
  4. ↑ S"A 630:3
  5. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (7:11, pg 109)
  6. ↑ S"A 630:1 rules that all materials are permissible. Biur Halacha D"H Kol quotes two reasons that a pious person should be strict only to use materials that not unfit biblically for S'chach, but quotes others who reject this stringency.
  7. ↑ Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Chazon Ovadyah (pg 1-5) and Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurerbach in Halichot Shlomo (Sukkah 7:1 pg 97) hold that plastic curtains that sway in the wind even slightly are unfit for walls of a Sukkah. However, Rav Moshe Feinstein in Sh”t Igrot Moshe 5:40 permits if the curtains are thick and there’s poles. Rav Hershel Schachter (min 72-80) explains that even though the Chazon Ish was lenient most poskim are strict. Rav Schachter leaves an absolute guideline unclear but in a situation of extreme need one could rely on the Chazon Ish.
  8. ↑ S"A 629:1
  9. ↑ S"A and Rama 629:1
  10. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Sukkot pg 25-6). Halichot Shlomo (pg 128) and Rav Hershel Schachter (min 78-79:30) are also lenient unlike Rav Elyashiv (quoted by Sh"t Shevet HaLevi 6:74) who is strict.
  11. ↑ S"A 631:1 and 4
  12. ↑ S"A 631:3
  13. ↑ S"A 631:3, Mishna Brurah 631:6
  14. ↑ S"A 631:4
  15. ↑ Rama 626:1 writes that in all cases one should avoid building one's sukkah under a tree or roof. Mishna Brurah 626:1 and Aruch HaShulchan 626:1 explain that it's best to build the Sukkah under the open sky. So rules Chazon Ovadyah (Sukkot pg 11). However, after the fact, Aruch HaShulchan 626:1 writes if it's built under a roofed area it's unfit, but if it's built under a tree there is a discussion about when it is fit. S"A 626:1 (according to Biur Halacha D"H VeYesh, Mishna Brurah 626:10 and 11) rules that a sukkah under branches of a tree is fit only if it fits three requirements (See S"A with Mishna Brurah 626:10 and 11). (1) Among the branches of the tree there is majority of sun and minority shade (2) the there is less than four tefachim of tree branches over the sachach, and (3) there is a majority of shade from the kosher sachach and a minority of shade even without the tree branches (and even so the sachach under the tree branches itself is unfit but the rest of the sukkah is fit).
  16. ↑ Sh"t Igrot Moshe 5:39(4) writes that it's permissible to cover the Sukkah with a plastic sheet on Shabbat and Yom Tov without an issue of Boneh by making an Ohel nor the issue of muktzah.
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