14 Oct DETAILED HALACHOT OF BUILDING A SUKKAH

1. Walls of the
Sukkah:
– Minimum
Requirement: The
sukkah must have at
least two full walls and
part of a third wall. The two full walls should
be at least 7 tefachim wide (approximately 56-
70 cm), and the third wall should be at least 1
tefach (about 8-10 cm). The forth side can be
completely open.
– Materials: The walls can be made from
any material sturdy enough to withstand a
normal wind. They should be solid and stable.
Walls that move back and forth in a regular
wind, such as sheets, are invalid and should be
avoided.
– Height: The walls must be at least 10
tefachim high (about 80-100 cm). If they are
too low, they do not count as valid walls.
– Gaps: The walls must not have significant
gaps. A gap of less than 3 tefachim is permitted
at the bottom, known as lavud. Gaps larger
than this invalidate the sukkah.
– Order: Care should be taken not to place
the schach before the walls are set up. For
example, if one hangs the schach on the frame
of the sukkah before putting up the walls, this
is invalid.
2. The Schach:
– Material: The schach must come from
something that grows from the ground but is
detached (e.g., branches, bamboo, wooden
slats). It must not be made from something
that is susceptible to impurity (e.g., metal,
finished products). Natural growth like
overhanging tree branches cannot be used as
schach. The beams of the schach should not be
4 tefachim wide (approximately 32 cm), as
this resembles sitting in a permanent house
and detracts from the temporary nature of the
sukkah.
– Coverage: The schach must provide more
shade than sunlight. A sukkah with too many
open spaces where sunlight dominates is not
valid. The spaces between the branches should
not be large enough to allow more sun than
shade inside the sukkah.
– Support: The schach may rest on the
sukkah’s walls or on a frame. Many refrain
from supporting the schach with metal poles
or vinyl strings, which are not valid for schach,
unless the schach can hold well without them
and they are used solely for extra support.
3. Height of the Sukkah:
– Minimum Height: As mentioned above,
the walls must be at least 10 tefachim high,
but even if they meet this requirement, care
should be taken when placing the schach to
ensure that there remains a space of at least 10
tefachim underneath it. The schach should not
hang below this height.
– Maximum Height: The sukkah must not be
taller than 20 amot (approximately 10 meters
or 32 feet). A sukkah higher than this is not
valid because it is too far from the human
experience of sitting in a Sukkah.

4. Open Air and Overhanging Objects:
– Open Air: The sukkah should be built under
open skies, without any overhanging objects
like tree branches, roofs, or pergolas. If such
an object casts shade, the sukkah may be
invalidated, as it interferes with the mitzvah of
dwelling under the schach.
– Partial Overhang: If only part of the sukkah
is shaded by overhanging branches or
structures, the area directly under the overhang
cannot be used for fulfilling the mitzvah,
though the rest of the sukkah may still be
valid. If branches hang over a wall of the
sukkah, that wall may become invalid,
potentially reducing the number of valid walls
required for the sukkah, which can invalidate
the sukkah altogether.
5. Dimensions:
– Minimum Size: The sukkah must be large
enough to hold most of a person’s body, a
table, and the food being eaten. The minimum
dimension for the floor space is 7×7 tefachim
(about 56-70 cm2).
– Large Sukkot: There is no maximum size
limit for the floor area of the sukkah as long as
it remains temporary and retains the basic
structure of three walls and schach.
Summary of the Halachot of Using the Sukkah
1. Eating in the sukkah:
– It is a Torah obligation to eat meals in the
sukkah during the entire Chag of Sukkot.
– Bread and Mezonot: Any meal that
includes bread or foods made from grains
(Mezonot) that are a larger than the size of
k’beitza (about 2 ounce) must be eaten in the
sukkah.
– Other Foods: Foods like fruits, vegetables,
and drinks may be eaten outside the sukkah,
but it is praiseworthy to eat everything in the
sukkah. Also rice may be eaten outside the
sukkah, although the bracha for it is mezonot.
2. Sleeping in the sukkah:
– Men are obligated to sleep in the sukkah,
whether for a nap or overnight. However, in
places where it is very cold or difficult to
sleep, or unsafe one may be lenient.
– Women are exempt from the mitzvah of
sleeping in the sukkah, but they may do so if
they wish.
3. Living in the sukkah:
– One should treat the sukkah as their primary
dwelling for the duration of the holiday,
spending as much time as possible in it,
including relaxing, studying, and socializing.
– Activities typically done in a home should,
ideally, be done in the sukkah to fulfill the
commandment of teshvu ke’ein taduru
(dwelling in the sukkah as one dwells in their
home), still one should refrain from activities
that aren’t respectful such as playing cards in
the sukkah, etc.
4. When exempt from the sukkah:
– If it rains hard enough that it would spoil
your food, you are exempt from eating in the
sukkah. However, very light rain does not
exempt one from eating in the sukkah.

– If conditions in the sukkah make it
uncomfortable (e.g., cold, extreme heat,
insects), one is not obligated to stay, as the
mitzvah is to dwell comfortably, just as you
would in your home.
– A person who is sick or uncomfortable, or
caring for someone who is sick is exempt from
the sukkah.
5. Decorating the sukkah:
– It is customary to decorate the sukkah with
beautiful items to enhance the mitzvah. These
decorations are considered part of the sukkah
and must not be removed or used for personal
benefit during the holiday.
6. Order of blessings:
– Before eating a meal in the sukkah, the
blessing “Leishev BaSukkah” is recited.
According to Sephardim, the obligation
applies only to meals that include bread, while
Ashkenazim say the blessing applies to
Mezonot as well if eaten in a quantity greater
than k’beitza, such as cakes, cookies, and
crackers.
– On the first two night (outside of Israel), the
Shehechiyanu blessing is also recited in
addition to the blessing for the sukkah and
Kiddush.
Summary of the Halachot of the Arba Minim
(Four Species)
1. The Arba Munum:
– The four species are the lulav (palm
branch), etrog (citron), hadassim (myrtle
branches), and aravot (willow branches).
These must be taken together to fulfill the
mitzvah.
2. Requirements for Each Species:
The measurements mentioned are 8-10 cm per
tefach; thus, ideally, the lulav should be about
32 cm, and the hadass and aravah should be
about 24 cm. However, the Shulchan Aruch
(siman 650) brings a smaller measurement.
– Lulav: The lulav spine must be at least 4
tefachim in length, and the central leaf should
be straight and not split. It should be fresh and
green, not dried out.
There are various opinions on whether the top
spine of the lulav may be split at all, or if a
small split is acceptable, and to what extent.
– Etrog: The etrog must be whole and
unblemished. It should not have any significant
spots or damage that affects its beauty. For
example, a black dot on the upper part of the
etrog, where it starts bending upwards, may
invalidate it. Additionally, two or more black
dots on the rest of the etrog also invalidate it.
Common brown spots on an etrog are often
leaf marks (bletel), which occur when the
etrog grows with a leaf resting against it.
These marks typically do not invalidate the
etrog, as they are considered natural and do
not detract from the hadar (beauty) of the
etrog. The pitom (the stem at the top) should
be intact, though the etrog is kosher if it was
detached from the tree without a pitom.
– Hadassim: Three branches are used. Each
branch should be at least 3 tefachim long, with
clusters of three leaves growing from the same

point along the majority of the branch.
– Aravot: Two willow branches are used.
They should be at least 3 tefachim in length.
The leaves should be long, smooth-edged, and
fresh, not dried out.
3. Binding the Lulav:
– The lulav, hadassim, and aravot are bound
together, typically with strips of palm leaves.
The hadassim are placed on the right side of
the lulav, and the aravot on the left. According
to the Arizal, the hadassim are placed with one
to the right of the lulav, one to the left, and the
third in the back. The two aravot are also
spread, with one on the right and one on the
left.
– The etrog is held separately in the left hand
when performing the mitzvah.
4. When to Shake the Arba Minim:
– The mitzvah is performed during the day
except on Shabbat, ideally before Shacharit or
during the morning prayers (Shacharit) before
Hallel, but it can be done at any time during
the day. According to the Arizal one should try
to shake the Lulav in the Sukkah.
– Before the bracha is recited, the lulav with
the hadassim and aravot are held without the
etrog, and some hold the etrog upside down.
Then the blessings “Al netilat lulav” is recited,
and afterward, the etrog is taken or turned
right-side up and brought close to the lulav.
– On the first day one should also say
“She’cheyanu” before shaking the lulav.
– After the blessing, the lulav and etrog are
shaken in six directions while held close
together.
Here’s the standard sequence according to the
Arizal custom (Some have different customs
regarding how to turn and shake the lulav):
1. South (right)
2. North (left)
3. East (straight)
4. Up
5. Down
6. West (backward)
5. Who Is Obligated?
– Men are obligated to perform the mitzvah
of the Arba Minim, while women are exempt
but may choose to perform the mitzvah if they
wish. If a woman decides to shake the lulav,
according to Sephardi halacha, she would do
so without reciting the blessing. However,
according to Ashkenazi practice, she may
recite the blessing.
– The Arba Minim should be owned by the
person performing the mitzvah. On the first
day of Sukkot, they must belong to the person
fulfilling the mitzvah and not be borrowed.
Therefore, when sharing, it is customary to
give the Arba Minim as a temporary gift
(matana al menat lehachzir).