Dismantling a succah during Succot

Hi,

[Note: Other laws of Succot may be found by clicking the relevant topics in the righthand sidebar.]

I am leaving town for the last days of Succot; may I dismantle my succah during chol hamoed?

There are three concerns involved in dismantling a succah on chol hamoed:

1. Performing labour during chol hamoed for a non-Yom Tov purpose;
2. Degrading the sanctity of the succah materials;
3. 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 Teshuvot 637:1, 638:3; Chevel Nachalato 4:16)

חג סוכות שמח,

Mordechai

Building a succah during chol hamoed

Hi,

One who did not build a succah before Succot may build it on chol hamoed. However, ideally, it should be done in an amateur [but safe!] way, rather than professionally, to honour chol hamoed.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 637:1; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 67)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Dismantling a Succah

Hi,

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:

1. Performing labour during chol hamoed for a non-Yom Tov purpose;
2. Degrading the sanctity of the succah materials;
3. 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

Wood slats for schach

Hi,

Finished wood slats that are wide enough to be used for flooring should not be used for schach. If they are unfinished, though, or they are more narrow than that, one may use them.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:40:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A succah with canvas walls

Hi,

A succah which has canvas walls is kosher if the walls are tied at the base in a way that will not be undone easily, and they do not sway more than 3 tefach (10.8 inches).

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:40:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Decorating the Succah

Hi,

When we say that one should live in the succah "as he lives in his house", that refers to one's behaviour - sitting, eating, learning and sleeping, for example. It does not refer to the structure of the succah itself.

Therefore, one may use wall materials which are not the sort used for one's house. Also, one should decorate the walls of the succah even if he does not decorate the walls of his home.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:39:6, and see 5:40:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Putting a plastic cover over a succah on Shabbos

Hi,

One may put a plastic cover atop a succah on Shabbos. This is not called "construction", because the cover is clearly temporary. Even putting such a cover atop a non-ritual hut would be permitted, because it's not something one leaves atop the hut.

The above assumes the plastic cover is directly atop the roof; one may not support it above the roof, for that would constitute the separate problem of constructing an independent roof (ohel).

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:39:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A succah constructed on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not use a succah which was constructed by Jews on Shabbat, even if no other succah is available.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:69:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Amen to "Leisheiv baSuccah"

Hi,

A woman whose husband is reciting kiddush should hear his blessing of "Leisheiv baSuccah [upon dwelling in the Succah]" and answer Amen, even if she will not drink from kiddush in the Succah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Succah Hopping

Hi,

One should have in mind, when starting a meal in a Succah, that his blessing is only for that Succah. Should he then wish to go to another Succah, he would recite his closing blessing, and then recite a new blessing in the next Succah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Slats for Schach

Hi,

Wood slats which serve as shutters for windows may not be used as schach for a Succah; they are considered a כלי which is susceptible to impurity.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:177)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Food as Schach

Hi,

Foods which are edible for humans are not eligible as schach. Therefore, those who hang food items from their schach should not sit beneath them, assuming that the food hangs more than 14 inches from the schach and covers an area of more than 3.5 inches.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 627:4; 629:9)

Chag sameach,
Mordechai

Where the schach meets the wall

Hi,

One should take care to ensure that the schach reaches the wall of his succah. If there is a gap of more than 3 tefach (10.8 inches), and it is wide enough that his body fits in the gap, the gap disqualifies the relevant section of that wall.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 632:2)

Chag sameach,
Mordechai

Canvas Succah

Hi,

The walls of the succah should not be so light and loose that they would sway in a normal wind - even if the succah stands in a space where there is no wind. No standard is presented in the Shulchan Aruch to define the limits of permissible 'swaying'.

One solution for swaying is to create a frame of posts or poles, spaced at intervals of 10 inches or less, so that they constitute a halachic wall in themselves. Even should the light material sway, the posts/poles would not sway.

Note that the walls must be properly secured/reinforced before the schach is added on top, since the walls of the succah must be constructed before the schach is placed on top.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 630:10; Magen Avraham 630:16; Mishneh Berurah 630:48; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 630:32)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

The first night of Succot

Hi,

On the first night of Succot, one is supposed to make a special effort to sit in the Succah. Just as there is a special Mitzvah to eat Matzah on the first night of Pesach, so there is a special Mitzvah to live in the Succah on the first night of Succot.

If it is raining, one is not truly "living in the Succah," since one is supposed to live in the Succah as one would in one's home. Therefore, we do not sit in the Succah in the rain.

If it rains at the start of the first night, but it may stop in the next hour or two, one should wait for the rain to stop. If it does not stop, one should make Kiddush in the Succah in the rain and eat an olive-sized amount of bread for 'HaMotzi,' all while planning to finish the meal in the house. One should then finish the meal in the house.

One who ends up making Kiddush and having bread in the rain in the Succah does not recite the blessing of "Leisheiv baSuccah," the blessing on dwelling in the Succah, since one is not truly dwelling in the Succah. One does recite the "Shehechiyanu" blessing (for the first night of Succot), though.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 639:5; Mishneh Berurah 639:35)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Sitting in the Succah

Hi,

One fulfills the mitzvah of sitting in the succah only if one is sitting directly beneath the schach roof material.

Therefore, one should make sure not to sit under decorations which are more than 1 square foot in area and hang more than a foot down from the schach.

Also, one who is sleeping in the succah should not sleep beneath a table, for the same reason.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 627)

Have a great day,
Mordechai