Building the Sukkah: Difference between revisions

# The minimum number of walls necessary for a [[Sukkah]] is 3 of length 7 [[Tefachim]]. <ref> The Mishna Sukkah 2a states that a sukkah requires only three walls. The Gemara (Sukkah 6b) quotes a Tosefta (Sukkah 1:9) which records a dispute about how many walls are needed for a sukkah. The Rabbis hold that a sukkah requires two full walls and a third wall of at least a tefach, while Rabbi Shimon holds that a sukkah requires three full walls and a fourth wall of at least a tefach. The Shulchan Aruch 630:2 rules in accordance with the Rabbis. The Chaye Adam (146:3) writes that it is preferable to construct a sukkah of four complete walls, however, he agrees that this is not required.</ref> It's possible to build the third wall without having to complete it but see footnote for details. <ref> S"A 630:2 according to the explanation of the Mishna Brurah 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 pole at the end of 7 [[Tefachim]] (7 [[Tefachim]] from the northeast corner) and a pole on top of the more than one [[tefach]] wall and the pole at the end of 7 [[Tefachim]]. See picture. [[Image:Minimum_sukkah.png | 100px | right]]</ref>

# The minimum measure of a [[Sukkah]] is 7 [[Tefachim]] in length by 7 [[Tefachim]] in width and 10 [[Tefachim]] in height. <ref>S"A 633:8, 634:1, Chazon Ovadia [[sukkot]] page 9.

# There is no maximum width or length but the maximum height is 20 [[Amot]]. <ref>S"A 633:1, 634:1 </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>

# 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> The Mishna Sukkah 12a declares that all materials are valid for the walls. S"A 630:1 codifies this. Interestingly, the Bach OC 630:1 writes that a pious person should be strict for the Or Zarua (Hilchot Sukkah 2:289:2 quoted by Hagahot Ashri 1:24) who holds that one should not use materials that one may not use for schach for the walls of the sukkah, such as materials that are susceptible to impurity. The Biur Hagra 630:1 questions the Hagahot Ashri, since the Yerushalmi he quotes as a proof, in fact says exactly the opposite. Beiur Halacha s.v. Kol quotes two reasons that a pious person should be strict only to use materials that are not unfit biblically for [[S'chach]] based on the Bach siman 630, but quotes others who reject this stringency. See Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] 1-2 for a list of poskim as well even though he allows the use of these materials. Chazon Ovadia pp. 1-2 as well as Aruch Hashulchan 630:1-2 both say that most achronim do not hold of this stringency and allow one to use materials that are mekabel tumah for the walls.  </ref> Nonetheless, one should avoid using any material that emits a foul odor.<ref>  Rama 630:1</ref>  

# If a [[Sukkah]] was set up with the [[S'chach]] from before 30 days before [[sukkot]] and it wasn't made for the purpose of the mitzvah of [[Sukkot]] one must change or improve one thing (such as putting down [[S'chach]]) of an area a [[Tefach]] by a [[Tefach]] or the whole width even if it's of minimal length (or vice versa). However, if it was made within 30 days of [[Sukkot]] or was made for the express purpose of [[Sukkot]] it's fit even without any change. However, if the [[Sukkah]] was originally built for [[Sukkot]] and stands unchanged year to year it requires some change the each year. This is only if the [[S'chach]] was put in advance but if just the walls were putup in advance and not the [[S'chach]] there's no issue. <ref>S"A 636:1, Mishna Brurah 636:1, 5-7. Mishna Brurah 636:4 also points out that this is only the preferable course of action (but after the fact isn't absolutely necessary). </ref>

# If one forgot intentionally or unintentionally to build a [[Sukkah]] before [[Sukkot]] one can build it on [[chol hamoed]]. One may, however, not build it or fix it on [[Yom Tov]]. <ref>S"A 637:1, Mishna Brurah 637:1. See [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/782407/_Shay_Schachter/Building_a_Succah_on_Chol_Hamoed_and_Being_Usable_for_Seven_Days Rabbi Shay Schachter in a shiur on yutorah.org] who discusses the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer who wouldn't allow building a [[Sukkah]] on [[Chol HaMoed]].</ref>

# The decorations of the [[Sukkah]] are forbidden from benefit from the first day of [[Sukkot]] until after [[Simchat Torah]] unless one stipulates before [[Yom Tov]] that I want to be able to eat and get benefit from these decorations at any time during the holiday. <ref>S"A 638:2, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 77) , mishna brura 638:2</ref> This is true about decorations on the walls as well. <ref> Although the S"A 638:2 writes that anything “hanging in the sukkah” is forbidden to derive benefit from, the Mishna Brurah 638:10 writes that this status also extends to other decorations hanging from the walls of the sukkah.</ref>

# If one places an artistic covering underneath his schach within four tefachim of the schach and his intention is to beautify the sukkah the sukkah is kosher. However, if the covering is placed above the schach or if it isn’t to beautify the sukkah, the sukkah is invalid. <ref> S"A 627:4. Chazon Ovadia p. 84 writes that if one’s intention is to both beautify the sukkah and to protect oneself from the sun and rain the sukkah is kosher. </ref>

# Throughout the entire holiday, it is Biblically forbidden to derive benefit from any of the essential materials used in building the sukkah. Regarding these materials, a stipulation will not permit one to derive benefit from them. <ref> Mishna Brurah 638:1 explaining S"A there. See Tosfot (Sukkah 9a s.v. minayin). The Rama 638:1 notes that the essential materials of the sukkah can’t be used even if makes a stipulation that they should not be designated for a mitzvah.</ref>