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Materials to use for S'chach: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Sukkah2.png|200px|right]] | [[Image:Sukkah2.png|200px|right]] | ||
One of the most critical parts of the [[Sukkah]] is the [[S'chach]], the natural covering of the [[walls of the Sukkah]]. | One of the most critical parts of the [[Sukkah]] is the [[S'chach]], the natural covering of the [[walls of the Sukkah]].<ref>Rashi (Sukkah 2a s.v. delo) writes that the word Sukkah is derived from the word Schach which is the primary part of the Sukkah.</ref> | ||
==Basic | ==Basic Requirements of S'chach== | ||
# 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 | # 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 detached from the ground, and is impervious to impurity (see further for examples). <ref>Rambam (Sukkah 5:1), S"A 629:1, [[Sukkah]] 12a based on Devarim 16:13, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 123, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 14. </ref> | ||
# Material that is grown from the ground but is completely changed from its original form is unfit. <ref>Rambam (Sukkah 5:4)</ref> For example, paper and cardboard are unfit for Schach. <ref>Yalkut Yosef 629:14</ref> | |||
===Grow from the Ground=== | |||
# 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, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 123, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 14 </ref> | # 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, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 123, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 14 </ref> | ||
===Attached to the Ground=== | |||
# Branches attached to a tree which is still attached to the ground is not fit for [[schach]]. Therefore, if one put that over his [[sukkah]], and then decided to detach them from the tree one must shake each branch by lifting and placing back down, otherwise it is not kosher as this is a problem of taaseh vilo min ha'asuy. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 123, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 33. </ref> | # Branches attached to a tree which is still attached to the ground is not fit for [[schach]]. Therefore, if one put that over his [[sukkah]], and then decided to detach them from the tree one must shake each branch by lifting and placing back down, otherwise it is not kosher as this is a problem of taaseh vilo min ha'asuy. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 123, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 33. </ref> | ||
===Impervious to Impurity=== | |||
# One may not use food as Schach since it is susceptible to impurity.<ref>Rambam (Sukkah 5:3)</ref> | |||
# One may use spices which are only meant to be smelled or flowers which are only meant as decoration as [[Schach]] since they are impervious to impurity.<ref>Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Chazon Ovadia ([[Sukkot]], p. 23)</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> | |||
==Thickness of the Schach== | |||
# 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 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> | # 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 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 (counting the entire area of the [[S'chach]]). Even if it's an acceptable [[Sukkah]], nonetheless, if there's a patch of 7x7 7 [[Tefachim]] which has more sunlight than shade one may not sit in that area. <ref>S"A 631:2 and 4 rules that if altogether there's a majority of shade and minority of sunlight and there's no open space of 3 [[Tefachim]] it's fit. Rama 631:2 adds that some are strict if there's an area of 7x7 [[Tefachim]] which has more sunlight than shade. The Aruch HaShulchan 631:5 and Mishna Brurah 631:4 writes that in such an area one may not sit. Mishna Brurah adds that if there's such a patch that breaks up one of the walls so that there's only 2 walls left then it puts the whole [[sukkah]] into question. </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 (counting the entire area of the [[S'chach]]). Even if it's an acceptable [[Sukkah]], nonetheless, if there's a patch of 7x7 7 [[Tefachim]] which has more sunlight than shade one may not sit in that area. <ref>S"A 631:2 and 4 rules that if altogether there's a majority of shade and minority of sunlight and there's no open space of 3 [[Tefachim]] it's fit. Rama 631:2 adds that some are strict if there's an area of 7x7 [[Tefachim]] which has more sunlight than shade. The Aruch HaShulchan 631:5 and Mishna Brurah 631:4 writes that in such an area one may not sit. Mishna Brurah adds that if there's such a patch that breaks up one of the walls so that there's only 2 walls left then it puts the whole [[sukkah]] into question. </ref> | ||
# It's preferable not to put the [[S'chach]] directly on top of walls which are made out of material that's unfit for [[S'chach]]. <ref> Mishna Brurah 630:59, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 44) </ref>According to most leading authorities, however, it's permissible to place [[S'chach]] on top of a material that's fit for [[S'chach]] which is in turn held up by something that's unfit for [[S'chach]]. Therefore, if one has a metal frame one should place wooden planks on the frame and then [[S'chach]] on top of it. <ref>Mishna Brurah 629:26, BeYitzchak Yikra (Rav Nevensal) on that Mishna Brurah quoting Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Yabia Omer 10:46 and Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 44) are lenient unlike the Chazon Ish 143:2-3. [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] (62:30-66:15) also seems to be lenient (listen for exact language). | ==Schach Held Up by Unfit Items== | ||
# It's preferable not to put the [[S'chach]] directly on top of walls which are made out of material that's unfit for [[S'chach]].<ref> Mishna Brurah 630:59, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 44) </ref> According to most leading authorities, however, it's permissible to place [[S'chach]] on top of a material that's fit for [[S'chach]] which is in turn held up by something that's unfit for [[S'chach]]. Therefore, if one has a metal frame one should place wooden planks on the frame and then [[S'chach]] on top of it. <ref>Mishna Brurah 629:26, BeYitzchak Yikra (Rav Nevensal) on that Mishna Brurah quoting Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Yabia Omer 10:46 and Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 44) are lenient unlike the Chazon Ish 143:2-3. [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] (62:30-66:15) also seems to be lenient (listen for exact language). See Chelkat Yaakov 3:127, Minchat Shlomo 2:55 and Moadim u'zmanim 1:82. </ref> After the fact, if the [[schach]] was placed directly on metal, it is kosher. <ref> Mishnah Berurah 629:22 and 630:58 </ref> | |||
# One shouldn't use [[schach]] with a foul odor or whose leaves are falling off because there is a worry that the person may come to leave his [[sukkah]] because of the smell or the leaves falling on him. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 629:14 </ref> | # One shouldn't use [[schach]] with a foul odor or whose leaves are falling off because there is a worry that the person may come to leave his [[sukkah]] because of the smell or the leaves falling on him. <ref> Rambam (Sukkah 5:1), Shulchan Aruch 629:14 </ref> After the fact, it is valid. <ref>Rambam (Sukkah 5:1)</ref> | ||
==Sukkah Built Underneath a Tree or House== | ==Sukkah Built Underneath a Tree or House== | ||
# 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. This is also the opinion of Chazon Ovadyah ([[Sukkot]] pg 11) and Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 125. 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 Beiur Halacha s.v. 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 [[schach]], and (3) there is a majority of shade from the kosher [[schach]] 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> | |||
# If one built a [[sukkah]] under a tree or a house which would render it unfit, and then removed the branches or the roof to make it kosher, this isn't a problem of taaseh vilo min ha'asuy as the problem was never in the [[schach]] itself. <ref> Chazon Ovadia page 33. </ref> | # If one built a [[sukkah]] under a tree or a house which would render it unfit, and then removed the branches or the roof to make it kosher, this isn't a problem of taaseh vilo min ha'asuy as the problem was never in the [[schach]] itself. <ref> Chazon Ovadia page 33. </ref> | ||
# A [[sukkah]] built under clothes-lines or electric/phone lines, even if there isn't a space of 3 [[Tefachim]] between each one, is still kosher, even if clothing is on the lines. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 125, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 69. </ref> | # A [[sukkah]] built under clothes-lines or electric/phone lines, even if there isn't a space of 3 [[Tefachim]] between each one, is still kosher, even if clothing is on the lines. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 125, Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 69. </ref> | ||
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==S'chach moved due to inclement weather== | ==S'chach moved due to inclement weather== | ||
# If a strong wind blew the [[schach]] higher than 3 [[Tefachim]] above the [[sukkah]] and then fell back down, even though since it happened automatically it wasn't put down for the sake of shade, the [[sukkah]] is kosher since it was originally placed in a kosher manner. <ref> Sh"t [[Shevet Halevi]] 10:100 </ref> | # If a strong wind blew the [[schach]] higher than 3 [[Tefachim]] above the [[sukkah]] and then fell back down, even though since it happened automatically it wasn't put down for the sake of shade, the [[sukkah]] is kosher since it was originally placed in a kosher manner. <ref> Sh"t [[Shevet Halevi]] 10:100 </ref> | ||
# If snow falls and solidifies on top the [[schach]], it doesn't render the [[sukkah]] not kosher, and one can still eat in it and some poskim permit saying a beracha of leshev basukkah in this situation. <ref> Sh"t Ginat Veradim 4:7, Moed Likol Chai 21:20, Bikkurei Yaakov 626:7. Aruch Hashulchan 629:2 however only permits saying a beracha if the [[schach]] is still more than the snow. | # If snow falls and solidifies on top the [[schach]], it doesn't render the [[sukkah]] not kosher, and one can still eat in it and some poskim permit saying a beracha of leshev basukkah in this situation. <ref> Sh"t Ginat Veradim 4:7, Moed Likol Chai 21:20, Bikkurei Yaakov 626:7. Aruch Hashulchan 629:2 however only permits saying a beracha if the [[schach]] is still more than the snow. See Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 125 and Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 37. </ref> | ||
==Positioning of the S'chach== | ==Positioning of the S'chach== | ||
# If the [[schach]] of the [[sukkah]] was placed on a slant, the [[sukkah]] is still kosher. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 631:10 </ref> | # If the [[schach]] of the [[sukkah]] was placed on a slant, the [[sukkah]] is still kosher. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 631:10 </ref> | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Holidays]] | [[Category:Holidays]] | ||
[[Category:Sukkot]] | [[Category:Sukkot]] | ||
