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Building the Sukkah: Difference between revisions
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# 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> Shulchan Aruch 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 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> Shulchan Aruch 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> | ||
===Dimensions=== | ===Dimensions=== | ||
# The minimum measure of a [[Sukkah]] is 7 [[Tefachim]] in length by 7 [[Tefachim]] in width and 10 [[Tefachim]] in height. <ref>Gemara Sukkah 3a, Shulchan Aruch 633:8, 634:1, Chazon Ovadia [[sukkot]] page 9. | # The minimum measure of a [[Sukkah]] is 7 [[Tefachim]] in length by 7 [[Tefachim]] in width and 10 [[Tefachim]] in height. <ref>Gemara Sukkah 3a, Shulchan Aruch 633:8, 634:1, Chazon Ovadia [[sukkot]] page 9. | ||
The Gemara records three opinions regarding the minimum area of a sukkah. Rebbe believes that the minimum area is four amot by four amot. Beit Hillel maintains that a sukkah only needs to fit one’s head and body, which is estimated to be about six by six tefachim. Beit Shammai rules that the sukkah must also be able to fit a small table, and thus must be at least seven by seven tefachim. The gemara rules in accordance with Beit Shamai, and this is codified in the Shulchan Aruch 634:1. See Tosfot 3a s.v. di’amar for a list of cases where halacha accords with Beit Shammai. | * The Gemara records three opinions regarding the minimum area of a sukkah. Rebbe believes that the minimum area is four amot by four amot. Beit Hillel maintains that a sukkah only needs to fit one’s head and body, which is estimated to be about six by six tefachim. Beit Shammai rules that the sukkah must also be able to fit a small table, and thus must be at least seven by seven tefachim. The gemara rules in accordance with Beit Shamai, and this is codified in the Shulchan Aruch 634:1. See Tosfot 3a s.v. di’amar for a list of cases where halacha accords with Beit Shammai. </ref> Even if the decorations cause the sukkah to be smaller than 7x7 it is invalid.<ref>Gemara 10b, Shulchan Aruch 634:3</ref> | ||
# It is permitted to make a sukkah in different shapes as long as a sukkah of 7 x 7 tefachim is able to fit inside it. However, according to most poskim a sukkah which is thinner than 7 tefachim but longer than 7 tefachim so that the total area is 49 square tefachim is invalid.<ref> The achronim discuss whether a sukkah that is longer than seven tefachim but narrower than seven (e.g. 6 by 8.5) is valid. The Bach 634:2 learns from Tosfot 3a said that such a sukkah is kosher. However, the Magen Avraham 634:1 and Taz 634:1 argue that it is invalid and the Bach's version of Tosfot was incorrect. From the Tosfot Rosh s.v. baneha and Tosfot Rabbenu Peretz s.v. lo it is clear that the Magen Avraham and Taz's version of Tosfot are correct. The Mishna Brurah 634:1 writes that most achronim agree that this sukkah is invalid. Chazon Ovadia p. 11 agrees. Shulchan Aruch 634:2 writes that one may construct a sukkah of other shapes, such as a circle, as long as a sukkah of seven tefachim by seven tefachim can fit inside it. </ref> | # It is permitted to make a sukkah in different shapes as long as a sukkah of 7 x 7 tefachim is able to fit inside it. However, according to most poskim a sukkah which is thinner than 7 tefachim but longer than 7 tefachim so that the total area is 49 square tefachim is invalid.<ref> The achronim discuss whether a sukkah that is longer than seven tefachim but narrower than seven (e.g. 6 by 8.5) is valid. The Bach 634:2 learns from Tosfot 3a said that such a sukkah is kosher. However, the Magen Avraham 634:1 and Taz 634:1 argue that it is invalid and the Bach's version of Tosfot was incorrect. From the Tosfot Rosh s.v. baneha and Tosfot Rabbenu Peretz s.v. lo it is clear that the Magen Avraham and Taz's version of Tosfot are correct. The Mishna Brurah 634:1 writes that most achronim agree that this sukkah is invalid. Chazon Ovadia p. 11 agrees. Shulchan Aruch 634:2 writes that one may construct a sukkah of other shapes, such as a circle, as long as a sukkah of seven tefachim by seven tefachim can fit inside it. </ref> | ||
# A sukkah must be at least ten tefachim tall.<ref>Mishna (Sukkah 2a), Rambam Hilchot Sukkah 4:1, Tur and Shulchan Aruch 633:8 </ref> | # A sukkah must be at least ten tefachim tall.<ref>Mishna (Sukkah 2a), Rambam Hilchot Sukkah 4:1, Tur and Shulchan Aruch 633:8 </ref> If a sukkah is ten tefachim tall but there are branches of schach hanging down from the schach it is invalid sine it isn't fit for living. However, if there are decorations hanging from the ceiling they are considered part of the sukkah and the sukkah is valid.<ref>Rava in Gemara 4a says that if there are branches hanging from a ten tefach sukkah it is invalid since it isn't livable. However, on 10b the gemara establishes that the decorations of a sukkah don't minimize its area. Shulchan Aruch 633:10 codifies this halacha. The Taz 633:10 explains that as long as the decorations don't bother you it doesn't minimize the sukkah.</ref> | ||
# If the walls of the sukkah are 10 tefachim tall, but they do not reach up to the sechach, the sukkah is kosher as long as the walls are lined up with the roof or within 3 tefachim, based on the principle of gud asik mechitzta.<ref> Chazon Ovadia Sukkot pg. 12 | # If the walls of the sukkah are 10 tefachim tall, but they do not reach up to the sechach, the sukkah is kosher as long as the walls are lined up with the roof or within 3 tefachim, based on the principle of gud asik mechitzta.<ref>Mishna Brurah 630:43, Chazon Ovadia Sukkot pg. 12. | ||
* Shulchan Aruch 630:9 teaches based on the Gemara (Sukkah 16a) that the walls don’t have to reach the schach, as long as they line up within three tefachim of the schach. Mishna Brurah 630:43 and Chazon Ovadia p. 12 write that this is based on the concept of gud asik, that is, we view the walls as extending upward. | * Shulchan Aruch 630:9 teaches based on the Gemara (Sukkah 16a) that the walls don’t have to reach the schach, as long as they line up within three tefachim of the schach. Mishna Brurah 630:43 and Chazon Ovadia p. 12 write that this is based on the concept of gud asik, that is, we view the walls as extending upward. | ||
* The Gemara (Sukkah 6b) mentions that gud asik is a halacha limoshe misinai. The main discussion of it is in the Gemara (Sukkah 4b), where the gemara records a dispute as to whether one can build a sukkah without walls on the top of a flat roof. Rambam (Hilchot Sukkah 4:11) rules like R’ Yaakov who holds that if the schach is aligned with the walls of the house, the sukkah is valid because we view it as if the walls of the building extend upward. If the schach is not aligned with the walls of the house, the sukkah is invalid. Rosh (Sukkah 1:6) disagrees and rules like the Chachamim that in either case the sukkah built without walls on a roof is invalid. Shulchan Aruch 630:6 quotes both opinions, but Mishna Brurah 630:30 is machmir for the Rosh. | * The Gemara (Sukkah 6b) mentions that gud asik is a halacha limoshe misinai. The main discussion of it is in the Gemara (Sukkah 4b), where the gemara records a dispute as to whether one can build a sukkah without walls on the top of a flat roof. Rambam (Hilchot Sukkah 4:11) rules like R’ Yaakov who holds that if the schach is aligned with the walls of the house, the sukkah is valid because we view it as if the walls of the building extend upward. If the schach is not aligned with the walls of the house, the sukkah is invalid. Rosh (Sukkah 1:6) disagrees and rules like the Chachamim that in either case the sukkah built without walls on a roof is invalid. Shulchan Aruch 630:6 quotes both opinions, but Mishna Brurah 630:30 is machmir for the Rosh. | ||
