I am
leaving town for the last days of Succos; may I dismantle my succah during chol
hamoed?
There are
three concerns involved in dismantling a succah on chol hamoed:
- Performing labour during chol hamoed for a
non-Yom Tov purpose;
- Degrading the sanctity of the succah
materials;
- The possibility that one might need the succah
again.
Because of
these concerns, we do not dismantle a succah on chol hamoed. However, one may
dismantle a succah if its materials are needed for another succah at one's
destination. Also, one may remove succah decorations if he is concerned that
they might be damaged before his return.
What if one
needs to build a succah during chol hamoed for temporary use, e.g. camping? One
should declare before building the succah that he intends to dismantle it
during chol hamoed. However, even in such a case one may dismantle it only in
an amateur way, lest he violate the prohibition against performing labour
during chol hamoed, and one may dismantle only after it is clear that he will
not need it again.
(Shoel
uMeishiv IV 3:28; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 67:footnote 177; Piskei Teshuvos
637:1, 638:3; Chevel Nachalaso 4:16)
Have a wonderful Yom Tov,
Mordechai
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