Eating in the Sukkah: Difference between revisions

Based on the pesukim in the Torah which read -בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; כָּל-הָאֶזְרָח, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יֵשְׁבוּ, בַּסֻּכֹּת. לְמַעַן, יֵדְעוּ דֹרֹתֵיכֶם, כִּי בַסֻּכּוֹת הוֹשַׁבְתִּי אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּהוֹצִיאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:  אֲנִי, ה אֱלֹקיכֶם.- "For a seven day period you shall live in booths. Every resident among the Israelites shall live in booths, in order that your [ensuing] generations should know that I had the children of Israel live in booths when I took them out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord, your God." <ref>Vayikra (23:42-43)</ref> there is a positive commandment to sit in the [[Sukkah]] for the 7 days of [[Sukkot]]. <ref>Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot, Aseh #168), [[Chinuch]] Mitzva 325. The Tur 625 explains that the reason we were commanded to do this specifically in tishrei and not in nissan is to make it clear that we aren't doing it for the shade it provides but rather because it is Hashem's command as this is a time that people normally move indoors and we move outdoors for this time.  </ref>

#There’s an obligation to eat a [[Kezayit]] of bread in the [[Sukkah]] on the first night of [[Sukkot]]. <ref>Rambam Hilchot Succa 6:7, S”A 639:3, Chazon Ovadyah pg 132 </ref> During the remaining days there is no obligation to eat in the [[Sukkah]] because you can just eat fruits or vegetables but there is still a mitzva to eat bread in the succa every day. <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:24 </ref>

#While [[sitting in the Sukkah]], one should have intent that one will fulfill the mitzvah, and that Hashem commanded us to sit in [[Sukkot]] in order to remember the exodus from Egypt (Yetsiat Mitzrayim) and that the [[Sukkot]] are in commemoration for the clouds of glory. <ref>There is a dispute in Gemara [[Sukkah]] 11b whether the [[Sukkot]] that Jews sit in are in commemoration of actual [[sukkot]] that Bnei Yisrael sat in in the desert or the Ananei Hakavod (clouds of glory) that God gave us for protection. The Tur 625:1 writes that the [[Sukkot]] are in commemoration of the Ananei Hakavod and the Jews sit in the Succa specifically in the winter (instead of when Bnei Yisrael left Eygpt) to show that even though the norm is to move back into your house for the winter, we move outside to fulfill G-d’s will. The Bach 625:1 s.v. BaSukkot says that the fact that the Tur wrote this indicates that one hasn't fulfilled one's mitzva completely if while [[sitting in the Sukkah]] one didn’t remember the exodus from Egypt (Yetsiyat Mitzrayim) since the pasuk states explicitly that the mitzvah of [[Sukkot]] is to remind us of the exodus. The Mishna Brurah 625:1 writes that one should have the intent that Hashem commanded us to sit in [[Sukkot]] in order to remember the exodus from Egypt (Yetsiat Mitzrayim) and that the Sukkat are in commemoration for the clouds of glory.  

*See also the Tur 417 who quotes his brother regarding the connection between [[Sukkot]] and Yacov Avinu. See more about that idea on [https://www.dailyhalacha.com/WeeklyParasha.asp?PageIndex=26&ParashaClipID=328 dailyhalacha.com].</ref> According to most authorities, after the fact, if one didn't have these intentions then one fulfills the mitzvah as long as one had intention to fulfill the mitzvah. <ref>The Pri Megadim (A"A Intro to Siman 625) writes that this is only in order to do the mitzvah in it's best way, however, after the fact even without the intent one has still fulfilled one's obligation as long as one had the intent to fulfill the mitzvah (as part of the concept that mitzvot need kavana). Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 97) and Mishna Brurah (625:1) agree with the Pri Megadim, unlike the Bikkurei Yaakov (625:3) who holds that one doesn't fulfill one's obligation at all without the proper intent. Rav Shternbuch in Moadim UZmanim (vol 1 pg 169) writes that although lacking the Kavanna doesn’t take away the mitzvah, however, one still loses the separate mitzvah of having kavanah.</ref>

 

#Women are exempt from the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Mishna [[Sukkah]] 28a, Shulchan Aruch 640:1 </ref>

#Very young children are exempt from the [[Sukkah]], however, once they no longer need their mother (around age 5) there is a mitzvah of [[Chinuch]] (training them in mitzvot) that a child be obligated in sitting in the [[sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 640:2, Mishna Brurah 640:2. The Magen Avraham 640 says that it is prohibited to feed children outside the [[sukkah]], just like it is forbidden to feed children not kosher food. Sh"uT Binyan Av 1:25 says that a man cannot feed the child outside the [[sukkah]] but a woman can. The Mishna Brurah 640:5 quotes this magen avraham and adds that on shouldn't even tell the child to eat outside the [[sukkah]]. Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Tshuvot Vihanhagot 3:211 says very young children are exempt based on the fact that they need their mothers to eat properly. Aruch Hashulchan 640:2 justifies not obligating them in sukka because children have a lower tolerance for the cold.</ref>

#A person who is sick is exempt from the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 640:3 based on Mishna [[Sukkah]] 25a. </ref>

#One is not required to eat in the [[sukkah]] if it is raining. <ref>Mishnah [[Sukkah]] 28b </ref> If it is raining and one began to eat inside, he may continue to eat inside even when it stops raining. <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:38 based on Rashi [[Sukkah]] 29a "viyardu." Ritva [[Sukkah]] 29a "Tannu Rabanan," writes that one is not required to eat in the [[sukkah]] if there are rain-clouds in the sky and it appears as if it is going to rain.  Rav Shalom Schwadron in Daat Torah OC 639:5 says that most poskim don't accept this opinion but he is in doubt if you can recite a beracha in such a situation. </ref> However, these rules only apply after the first night. For the rules for the first night see below.

#One who is suffering from sitting in the sukkah is exempt. For instance, if one cannot sleep in the sukkah because of the wind, because of the flies buzzing, because of the cold, or even because of a small amount of rain he is exempt. Additionally, one is only exempt from the sukkah due to suffering if leaving the sukka will help alleviate his suffering. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 640:4, Rama 639:2, 639:5, and 640:4 </ref>

#It is permissible to eat up to a [[Measurements#KeBaytzah|KeBaytzah]] of bread outside the [[Sukkah]] but for any more than a [[Measurements#KeBaytzah|KeBaytzah]] one must eat it in the [[Sukkah]] and make a bracha of Leshev BaSukkah. <ref>The Mishna in [[Sukkah]] 25a states that one may eat a snack (achilat arai) outside of the [[sukkah]]. The Gemara [[Sukkah]] 26a, states that the quantity of an achilat arai is the amount that a yeshiva student would eat in the morning on his way to the beit midrash.  Tosafot there "Tarti", say that this amount is a k'beitzah.  This is the conclusion of Shulchan Aruch 639:2, Mishna Brurah 639:13, Beiur Halacha s.v. [[KeBaytzah]], Natai Gavriel 48:2, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 132), Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 142). </ref>

#If one only ate a [[Kezayit]] of bread and other foods, according to Ashkenazim this is a meal and one must eat it in the [[Sukkah]] and even make the bracha of Leshev BaSukkah<ref>Natai Gavriel 48:7</ref>, however, according to Sephardim one doesn't have to eat this in the [[Sukkah]] and even if one eats in the [[Sukkah]] one does not make the bracha of LeShev BaSukkah. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah  ([[Sukkot]] pg 134)</ref>

#For Sephardim, if one sat in the [[sukkah]], planning to eat less than a [[kebaytza]] of bread, and then decided he wanted to eat more than a [[kebaytza]], he should recite a beracha then, even if what he has left is less than a [[kebaytza]]. <ref>Chazon Ovadia pg. 133 </ref>

#Some poskim hold that any food on [[shabbat]] needs to be eaten in the [[sukkah]] because it is achilat keva and not achilat arai. However, most poskim disagree. <ref>Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg. 143, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 141 </ref>

#It is permissible to eat fruits even if one eats a lot of fruit. <ref>This is an argument in the gemara Yoma 79b. Tosafot 26a s.v. tarti rule that it is permitted even in a large quantities because fruit is always considered arai. The Rosh [[Sukkah]] 2:13 quotes the Maharam Mirutenberg that one may not eat even fruit outside the [[sukkah]] but explains that the Maharam only refers to eating more than a k'beitzah but permits eating less than a k'beitzah of fruit. Shulchan Aruch and Rama 639:2 rule like tosafot, as does Natai Gavriel 50:1 </ref>Nonetheless, it's praiseworthy to have fruit in the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (pg 138), Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 143), Nitei Gavriel 50:12</ref>

#One may have drinks outside the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 639:2 </ref> However, if one sits down to drink wine in a fixed manner (not just as a snack) especially if a group of people sit to drink wine one must drink it in the [[Sukkah]] but not make the Bracha of Leshev BaSukkah. According to Ashkenazim, one should preferably not establish a drink of wine or beer except in a meal of a [[Measurements#KeBaytzah|KeBaytzah]] of bread, or at least a cooked dish made out of the five grains which one must eat in the [[Sukkah]] and on which one could make the Bracha of Leshev BaSukkah. <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:13, Natai Gavriel 50:3 </ref> Nonetheless, it's praiseworthy to have all drinks in the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 639:2 </ref>

#If one makes a meal out of meat, fish, cheese, and the like, one should eat it in the [[Sukkah]]. However, if one doesn't eat it as a meal one may eat outside the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Rosh [[Sukkah]] 2:13 quotes Rabbeinu Peretz that the leniency of eating fruit outside of the [[sukkah]] does not apply to meat, fish and cheese. Shulchan Aruch 639:2 doesn't rule explicitly on these items but Mishna Brurah 639:13 says that Shulchan Aruch implies that it is permissible to eat these items outside of the [[sukkah]], like fruit. This is also the conlusion of Natai Gavriel 50:2 </ref> Nonetheless, it's praiseworthy to have meat, fish, rice, eggs, and cheese in the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 138), Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 143). see also Halichot Olam 2: page 281. </ref>

#If one ate more than a [[Measurements#KeBaytzah|KeBaytzah]] of [[Pas Haba Bikisnin]] (cookies and cakes) one must eat it in the [[Sukkah]] and the Ashkenazic minhag is to make a bracha of LeShev BaSukkah. If one eating it as a snack and not a meal then it is preferable to establish one's residence in the [[Sukkah]] for a brief time before or after eating and have in mind when making the bracha that it should cover the eating and the sitting in the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:16, [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=20231&pgnum=604 Maamar Mordechai 639:3], [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=46442&pgnum=245 Natai Gavriel 49:1-3]. Both the Maamar Mordechai and Nitai Gavriel clarify that there's no distinction between Pat Haba Bkisnin and other cooked mezonot dishes.  

#If one is in the middle of a bread meal one may not eat any food or drink outside the [[Sukkah]], and even if there is food in one's mouth and one began chewing, when one leaves the [[Sukkah]] one shouldn't continue chewing until one returns to the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 143), Halichot Olam 2:pg. 271, Meiri Sukka 26b "Hamishnah Hachamishit", Shaar Hatziyun 639:29 </ref>

#Some say that It's proper to say the bracha of Leshev before making the [[HaMotzei]]. However, it's not an interruption if one does [[HaMotzei]] before the beracha of Leshev basukkah. On [[Shabbat]] and [[Yom Tov]], the Leshev beracha is said in [[Kiddish]] before one drinks from the wine. <ref>Shulchan Aruch and Rama 643:3, Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg 145, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 172).<br />

#One who eats while standing can nevertheless recite the beracha of leshev besukkah. <ref>Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 175 </ref>

#If one is fasting for a taanit chalom on [[sukkot]], one should still not recite the beracha on sleeping or sitting in the [[sukkah]], because the beracha was established for eating only. <ref>Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg. 145 </ref>

#Anytime one “leaves completely” from the sukkah he must make a new bracha upon returning to the sukkah if he desires to eat foods requiring a leshev ba’sukkah. “Leaving completely” includes anytime a person plans on leaving the sukkah and not returning immediately thereby causing him to forget about the fact that he is planning on returning to the sukkah soon (“hesech ha’daas”). <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:46. It may be that this only applies while one is in the midst of his meal, however if after birkat hamazon one leaves for even a small amount of time it could be that he is obligated to make a new bracha upon returning. However, the Shaar Ha’tziyun 639:91 concludes safek brachos le’hakel. </ref>

#On the first night of Sukkot, one should wait to do [[Kiddush]] until after [[Tzet HaKochavim]]. However, after the fact if one made [[Kiddish|Kiddush]] during [[Bein HaShemashot]] and ate a [[Kezayit]] of bread one should make sure to have another [[Kezayit]] after [[Tzet HaKochavim|Tzet HaKochavim,]] but one doesn’t need to make another Bracha of LeShev BaSukkah. <ref>Rama 639:3 writes that one make sure not to eat until nighttime. Mishna Brurah 639:25 explains that this is based on the connection between [[Pesach]] and [[Sukkot]] and by [[Matzah]] one may only eat at night as it says in the פסוק. Mishna Brurah continues that after the fact if one ate one should eat another [[Kezayit]] but not make another LeShev BaSukkah because of [[Safek Brachot LeHakel]]. Nitei Gavriel ([[Sukkot]] 38:12) extends the Rama to not even making [[Kiddish]] before nighttime. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 138) agrees with the above halachot. </ref>

#The order of Kiddush is hagefen, kiddush hayom, leshev ba’sukkah, and then on the first night, shehechiyanu. The reason that leshev follows kiddush hayom is because we only sit in the sukkah due to the sanctity of the day. Also, we delay shehechiyanu until the end in order to ensure that it covers both the kiddush hayom and the sukkah itself.<ref>S”A 643:1, Mishna Brurah 643:1, Chazon Ovadia Sukkot pg. 95 </ref> After the fact, if one made [[Shehecheyanu]] before [[Kiddish|Kiddush]] one fulfilled one's obligation (and one shouldn't go repeat it after [[Kiddish]]). <ref>Mishna Brurah 643:3 </ref>

#If one didn’t make a [[Shehecheyanu]] on the first night of [[Sukkot]], one can make it the rest of days and nights of [[Sukkot]]. <ref>Magen Avraham 643:1, Mishna Brurah 643:2, Chazon Ovadyah (pg. 95) </ref>

##According to Sephardim, one is exempt from the [[Sukkah]] and one should eat in the house.<ref>S”A 639:3-5 rules like the Rashba that one is not obligated to eat in the Sukkah besides the first night and one is not obligated to eat in the Sukkah on the first night if it rains. Chazon Ovadia (p. 100 and 122) rules like S”A in both instances. </ref>  However, if one wants to be strict one may wait a little bit for the rain to stop but one should not wait too long which would cause oneself pain on [[Yom Tov]]. If after eating the house the rains stops then if it’s before [[Chatzot]] (halachic midnight) one should go into the [[Sukkah]] to eat one [[Kezayit]] of bread and make Leshev BaSukkah and if it’s after [[Chatzot]] one shouldn’t make the Bracha of Leshev unless one eats a [[KeBaytzah]] of bread. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 140), Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 122) </ref>

##According to Ashekenazim, some poskim hold that one is not exempt from the [[Sukkah]] and one should wait an hour or two for the rain to stop if it does then one should eat in the [[Sukkah]] with a bracha of Leshev BaSukkah but if it doesn't one should recite [[Kiddush]] and eat a [[Kezayit]] of bread in the [[Sukkah]] without the bracha of LeShev BaSukkah. <ref>Rama 639:5, Mishna Brurah 639:35  

*Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky (“Eating In The Succah The first Night Of Succos and Hilchos Mitztaer” min 30-3) quotes Rabbi Mordechai Willig as having ruled that if it rains on the first night of Sukkot one may say Kiddush in the Sukkah without waiting for the rain to stop. Similarly, Rav Hershel Schachter (“Inyonei Sukkos 2” min 51-2) said that if it is raining the minhag is to say Kiddush without leshev ba’sukkah, eat a kezayit of bread in the sukkah, and then if it stops raining have another kezayit in the sukkah.</ref> Other poskim hold that one may say [[Kiddush]] in the [[Sukkah]] without waiting for the rain to stop. <ref>[http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/749248/Rabbi_Zvi_Sobolofsky/_Eating_In_The_Succah_The_first_Night_Of_Succos_and_Hilchos_Mitztaer# Rabbi Tzvi Sobolovsky in a shiur on yutorah.org (min 30-3)] quotes Rabbi Mordechai Willig as having ruled that if it rains on the first night of [[Sukkot]] one may say [[Kiddush]] in the [[Sukkah]] without waiting for the rain to stop. </ref>

#According to Ashkenazim, if one plans to eat mezonot products after reciting the daytime kiddush he should recite leshev ba’sukkah before drinking the wine. <ref>Mishna Brurah 643:9</ref> According to Sephardim, no leshev is recited for mezonot. <ref>Chazon Ovadia p. 134 </ref>

#Regarding one who plans on eating bread after the daytime kiddush, some recite leshev before drinking the wine, whereas others recite leshev only before eating the bread. <ref>Mishna Brurah 643:9 </ref>

#According to Sephardim, it is proper to stand for Kiddush. The Ashkenazic practice, however, is to sit. <ref>The Rambam (Sukkah 6:12) writes that one should stand for kiddush and then sit for the bracha of leshev ba’sukkah. The Maggid Mishna explains that the Rambam held that one should recite the bracha immediately prior to fulfilling the mitzvah of sitting in the sukkah. The Raavad, however, argues that the bracha is really made upon the eating and so it should be said sitting before eating. The Maggid Mishna and Rosh (Sukkah 4:3) agree with the Raavad and explain that the language of ‘leshev ba’sukkah’ doesn’t refer to literally sitting but to dwelling as per the pasuk “BaSukkot Teshvu”. Shulchan Aruch 643:2 holds the Rambam and Rama like the Raavad. </ref>

*if one didn’t remember until the middle of HaTov VeHaMeitiv or later, one must repeat [[benching]]. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (pg 101) </ref>

*if one didn’t remember until the middle of HaTov VeHaMeitiv or later, one doesn’t repeat [[benching]]. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (pg 101) </ref>

#It is proper to bring a chair for the ushpizin, like we have a chair at a [[brit mila]] for eliyahu hanavi zachur latov, because if there's no chair they will not come. <ref>Chid"a in Moreh Bietzbah 289, Leket Hakatzir 32:5 pg. 461 </ref>

#It’s permissible to eat in the [[Sukkah]] before [[Sukkot]] (erev [[Sukkot]]) and it’s not an issue of Bal Tosif. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah pg 481 holds that’s there no issue of Bal Tosif before the mitzvah was done. </ref>

#One should live in one's [[Sukkah]] like one lives in one's house the rest of the year. Therefore, one should eat, drink, sleep, hang out, speak to one's friend, and learn in the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 639:1 writes that one should live in one's [[Sukkah]] like one lives in one's house the rest of the year which includes eating, drinking, and sleeping. Mishna Brurah 639:2 adds speaking to one's friend and BeYitzchak Yikare 639:1 adds hanging out. Regarding speaking with friends, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 147 quotes those who disagree and say that one should only speak words of torah in the [[sukkah]]. See also Sh"t Minchat Shlomo 2:58. Minhagei Chatam Sofer 8:12 it is tells that that the Chatam Sofer only left the sukka once each day for [[Shacharit]]. He even said [[mincha]] and [[maariv]] in the [[sukkah]]. Regarding learning in the [[Sukkah]] see further. </ref>

#One should even bring one's nice utensils into the [[Sukkah]] just like uses them during the year in the house, however, one should not bring one's [[cooking]] pots into the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 639:1 writes that one should bring one's nice untensils into the [[Sukkah]], however, the [[cooking]] pots shouldn't brought in the [[Sukkah]]. The Rama adds that one may leave the [[cooking]] pots in the [[Sukkah]] during the meal but not after the meal, however, the Mishna Brurah 639:5 writes that the minhag is to be strict not to even bring [[cooking]] pots in the [[Sukkah]] during the meal. </ref>

#One should not do any degrading activity in the [[Sukkah]]. Therefore one should not clean the dishes in the [[Sukkah]], however, one may clean the cups. <ref>Rama 639:1, Mishna Brurah 639:9. However, the Ben Ish Chai Haazinu Halacha 9 forbids even cleaning cups except if they are small cups like coffee cups. </ref>

#One may not go to the bathroom in the [[Sukkah]] even if one goes in a pot. <ref>Chayei Adam 147:2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 135:2, Aruch Hashulchan 639:4. Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 131 is mekil for someone who is old or sick and it is too difficult for him to leave the sukka to go in a pot, just he warns that he should make sure to cover the pot properly. </ref>

#One shouldn't change a baby's diaper in the [[sukkah]]. <ref>Yalkut Yosef moadim pg. 142, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 129.  </ref>

#It is permissible to have marital relations in the [[sukkah]]. <ref>Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 130 </ref>

#It is permissible to smoke in the [[sukkah]], disregarding the permissibility of smoking in general. <ref>Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 130, for smoking in general, see Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Kibbud Av Vaem 7:footnote 16 and [[Hygiene_%26_Health#Smoking|Smoking]] </ref>

#Because of the holiness of the [[Sukkah]], it's proper to minimize one's mundane speech in the [[Sukkah]] and increase one's speech in Torah and holy matters and all the more so one should be careful not to speak any forbidden speech such as [[Lashon Hara]] or getting angry. <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:2, Baer Heitev 639:2, Kaf Hachaim 639:5-6, Bikkurei Yaakov 639:2</ref>

#If the cold or heat (if one doesn't have air conditioning in the [[Sukkah]]) bothers oneself and one can't concentrate to learn one may learn inside. <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:29 writes that if it's too cold for oneself in the [[sukkah]] and one can't concentrate one may learn inside. Natai Gavriel 48:7 extends this where it's too hot and one doesn't have air conditioning in the [[sukkah]]. </ref>

#If it's a pain to bring all the Seforim into the [[Sukkah]] many times (as one needs the space to eat or sleep) then one doesn't have to learn in the [[Sukkah]], however, if one can leave all the Seforim in the [[Sukkah]] for the entire holiday one must do that. <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:29, Natai Gavriel 58:3. see also Kaf Hachaim 639:62 Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] pg. 127 and Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg. 141 </ref>

#One who usually learns in a Bet Midrash doesn't have to learn in a [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch HaRav 639:4, Kaf HaChaim 639:63, Natai Gavriel 58:6 </ref>

#One should pray in a shul and not in one's [[Sukkah]] even if one can get a [[minyan]] in the [[Sukkah]]. If there's no shul in one's city if one is able to concentrate in the [[Sukkah]] one should pray in the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 639:4 writes that if one wants one may pray in the [[Sukkah]]. The Mishna Brurah 639:30 explains that in the place where one  has greater kavanah (concentration) one should pray unless there is a shul in the city in which case one should go there (because during the rest of the year one would leave one's house to go to the shul. Pri Megadim (M"Z 639:14), Kaf HaChaim 639:67, and Nitei Gavriel 58:8 add that one should pray in the established shul even if one can get a [[minyan]] in the [[Sukkah]]. </ref>

#If one usually does [[Havdalah]] at home during [[Sukkot]] one should do it in the [[Sukkah]]. However, those who listen to [[Havdalah]] in the shul can do so also on [[Sukkot]]. <ref>Mishna Brurah 639:30, Shaar HaTziyun 639:57, Kaf HaChaim 639:66. </ref> If one does it in the succah there is a discussion if you should recite the beracha. <ref>Shevet HaLevi 6:42 writes that no beracha of leshev basuccah is recited upon havdalah because it isn't a keviat seuda. However, Chazon Ish quoted in Rivevos Efrayim 1:428 and 3:424 rules that since it is wine for [[havdala]] it elevates the level of drinking to keviat seuda, and therefore would require the beracha. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata ch. 58 fnt. 103 cited by Dirshu 639:36) agrees. Rav Elyashiv in Succas Chayim page 202 rules that this applies only to wine and not to grape juice. The Steipler in Orchos Rabbeinu 2: page 228 as well as Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchita 58:22 recommend eating bread immediately after [[havdala]] to avoid any doubts, and recite leseh basuccah Shemirat Shabbat kihilchita recommends reciting the leshev basuccah before the boreh pri hagefen. Sh"t Minchat Yitzchak 9:163 says that one should have in mind when eating seudat shlishit to have in mind specifically, that the leshev basukkah recited then will not cover [[havdala]], then when reciting [[havdala]] say the beracha and immediately start eating melaveh malka. </ref>

#A community committee meeting can take place as usual and doesn't have to be in the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 58:10 who explains that the [[Sukkah]] is supposed to replace one's home but anyway for the meeting one always leaves one's home to go another place and also that they wouldn't be able to concentrate as well in the [[Sukkah]]. </ref>