Materials to use for S'chach: Difference between revisions

# There are three conditions for [[Schach]] to be valid. 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>The Mishna ([[Sukkah]] 11a) indicates that [[Schach]] must be grown from the ground, detached from the ground, and impervious to impurity. The source for these requirements according to the gemara ([[Sukkah]] 12a) is the pasuk (Devarim 16:13) which says that the [[Schach]] should be made from the materials of the granary and winery.

See also Rashi ([[Sukkah]] 11a s.v. pesula). Rambam ([[Sukkah]] 5:1) and Shulchan Aruch 629:1 codify this as halacha. Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 123 and Chazon Ovadia [[Sukkot]] page 14 concur. </ref> All of these examples are biblical invalidations.<ref>Biur Halacha 629 s.v. Tzomech</ref>

===Grow from the Ground===

# Nylon or plastic curtains are not kosher for sechach because they do not grow from the ground.<Ref> Chazon Ovadia Sukkot pg. 15, Shu"t Shevet Halevi 4:57 </ref>  Neither is glass for the same reason. <Ref> Chazon Ovadia Sukkot pg. 15, Bikkurei Yaakov 632:7 </ref>  

# Fresh plants that will dry up and fall down in the middle of Sukkot are unfit even for the beginning of Sukkot. <Ref>Rama 639:12, Magen Avraham 629:13</ref> Similarly, if the plants cover a majority while they are fresh and they will dry up in the middle of Sukkot and cover a minority of the Sukkah that is also an issue even for the beginning of Sukkot.<ref>The Levush 629:12 writes that if the fresh plants cover a majority only while they are fresh and they will dry up and cover a minority of the Sukkah that is an issue. However, the Pri Megadim (E"A 629:13) questions him and points out that perhaps this is only a rabbinic concern. Kaf Hachaim 629:73 is concerned for the Levush.</ref>

===Attached to the Ground===

===Impervious to Impurity===

==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>Shulchan Aruch 631:1 and 4 </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 [[Tefachim]] which has more sunlight than shade one may not sit in that area. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 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>

==Invalid Schach and Airspaces==

* The Magen Avraham 629:9 permits using metal nails to support the poles of the [[sukkah]] since they don’t directly support the [[schach]]. For example, the Bikkurei Yacov 629:15 writes that it is permitted to place [[schach]] on top of wooden poles on top of walls which are susceptible to impurity. The Chazon Ish (O.C. 143:2) argues since we can’t distinguish between different layers of [[schach]] and simply state the top layer of kosher [[schach]] is supported by another layer that is in turn supported by an item that is susceptible to tumah. Rav Schachter (“Inyonei [[Sukkah]]”,  min 44-6, 62-4) noted that although the Chazon Ish’s argument is reasonable, the minhag follows the Magen Avraham and allows placing [[schach]] on top of planks on top of a metal frame.</ref> After the fact, if the [[schach]] was placed directly on metal, it is kosher. <ref> Mishna Brurah 629:22 and 630:58 </ref>  

# One should ideally avoid [[tying]] the [[schach]] down with a material that would not serve as kosher [[schach]] if the [[schach]] would be unable to withstand regular wind independently.<ref> Be’tzel Ha’Chochma 5:44</ref> However, many poskim always permit one to tie down [[schach]] with material that is only invalid as [[schach]] mi’derabanan (such as natural materials).<ref>R’ Vosner cited in the Beit Levi Cheilek 4, pg. 23. Rav Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia p. 24-5) writes that it is permitted to use a material that is only rabbinically invalid in order to hold up the [[schach]] since the entire issue of maamid is only a gezerah, so the rabbis would never have instituted a gezerah l’gezerah. This is based on the opinion of the Ritva ([[Sukkah]] 11b). Rav Schachter (“Inyonei [[Sukkah]]”,  min 44-6, 62-4) agreed, though he questioned it because this seems to fall into the category of a double d'rabbanan and not a gezerah l’gezerah.</ref>

==Sukkah Built Underneath a Tree or House==

# One may hang lights from the [[S'chach]] even if they hang below 4 [[Tefachim]] from the [[S'chach]]. <ref>Chaye Adam 146, Mishna Brurah 627:15, Nitei Gavriel ([[Sukkot]] 26:4)</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>

==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>

==Links==

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