Building the Sukkah: Difference between revisions

==Decorations of the Sukkah==

# It is a mitzvah to decorate and beautify the [[sukkah]]. <ref>Gemara [[Shabbat]] 133b, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 74). Mishna Brurah 638:11 writes that it's a mitzvah to decorate the [[sukkah]] with important fruit and clothes, however, one should not hang nice fruit if one has children and one knows that the children will rip them down and eat them. The concept of hidur mitzva, beautification of mitzvot is brought down in Shabbat 133b based on the pasuk “Zeh Eli VeAnvehu” - “This is my God and I will Beautify His Mitzvot”. The Raavad (cited in Chidushei Anshei Shem, Brachos 38a, no. 2) suggests that Hiddur Mitzvah is a biblical commandment, whereas the Ritva (Sukkah 11b s.v. Vi’ee) holds that it is only rabbinic. </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>Shulchan Aruch 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 Shulchan Aruch 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 the decorations fell on [[Chol HaMoed]] one may move them and put them back up. However, one may not benefit from it (if it's food one may not eat it) unless one stipulated as above. <ref>Mishna Brurah 638:14, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 83)</ref>

# One should make sure to keep the decorations hanging from the [[S'chach]] within 4 [[Tefachim]] of the [[S'chach]].<ref>Rama 627:4</ref> Some say that the decorations only need to begin within 4 [[Tefachim]] of the S'chach.<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Sukkot pg 76) writes that it's only lechatchila to have the decorations within 4 tefachim of the s'chach. Then he says perhaps it only needs to start within 4 tefachim of the s'chach. Rav Yacov Kamenetsky in Emet LeYacov Shulchan Aruch 627 writes that the beginning of the decoration has to be within 4 tefachim of the s'chach. </ref>

# One who makes colored paper chains as a decoration of the [[Sukkah]] should make sure that it is within 4 [[Tefachim]] of the [[S'chach]]. After the fact, it is, nonetheless, fit to sit, eat, and sleep under. <ref> Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 76) </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> Shulchan Aruch 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>

# One must avoid writing any pesukim for the sole purpose of decorating his sukkah because it is forbidden to write pesukim unless it is a whole sefer.<ref> S”A 638:2</ref> Nonetheless, one may purchase printed pesukim to hang in his sukkah.<ref> Piskei Teshuvot p. 363 </ref>

==Miscellaneous==