A GUIDE TO THE LAWS OF SUCCOS

Chapter One - The obligation to live in the succah for seven days

1. Source for the mitzvah of dwelling in the succah
2. Thoughts a person should have while dwelling in the succah
3. Proper time to start building succah
4. Special customs for the eve of Yom Tov

1. Prohibition in making a succah under another succah or in the house
2. When branches not directly overhead prevent the sun from entering the succah
3. Succah located under a tree that prevents the majority of sunshine from entering
4. Is there a possibility of using above succah
5. Succah located under a tree that does not prevent the majority of sunshine from entering
6. In above case if the s'chach does not prevent the majority of sunshine from entering the succah however in conjunction with the tree the majority of sunshine is now being prevented from entering the succah
7. Placing the kosher s'chach on top of the tree branches in a succah
8. If the s'chach of the succah cause the succah to have more shade than sun. However being under the tree causes in fact that the s'chach is not causing the majority of the sunshine
9. In above case if succah has more sunshine than shade
10. Non-kosher s'chach being placed upon kosher s'chach where the kosher s'chach alone could provide the succah with more shade than sun
11. When only part of the succah is under the non-kosher s'chach
12. Lowering of overhead tree branches to be used as s'chach
13. Possibility of using above mentioned succah
14. Succah that was made under tree or in house
15. Making succah under a roof that was removed leaving only the rafters
16. In above case if there were only rafters without a roof covering to begin with
17. If the s'chach was placed between the rafters
18. Making a succah under a removable roof
19. Making succah under a Removable roof while it is closed
20. Using succah while roof is closed
21. Telling a non-jew to remove roofing nails (for succah underneath) or put s'chach upon succah on Yom Tov

1. Sleeping under a bed in the succah
2. Sleeping under a pitched canopy in the succah
3. Width of canopy top
4. If sides of canopy do not reach the ground
5. Sleeping in succah upon a four posted bed with covering
6. Sleeping in a succah upon two posted bed with covering
7. Sitting in succah under decorative sheet spread under the s'chach
8. If sheet was spread out more than three tefachim from the s'chach
9. Halachic implications of hanging decorations in the succah
10. If decorations do not give off more shade than sunshine
11. Large decorative items within four tefachim of the s'chach
12. Non-decorative items hung within four tefachim of the s'chach

1. Building one succah under another
2. Kashrus of one succah built under another
3. If s'chach of upper succah is able to let in more sunshine than shade
4. If upper succah is above twenty amos
5. If upper succah being above twenty amos has other disqualifications
6. Status of the s'chach of the lower succah I> Status of the s'chach of the lower succah
7. If s'chach of upper succah was not put on for shade
8. How to determine if upper succah is above twenty amos
9. If bottom succah has more shade than sunshine only as a result of the additional shade coming from the upper succah
10. In previous case if upper succah lets in more shade than sunshine, whereas the s'chach of bottom succah is able to let in more sunshine than shade
11. When upper succah is above twenty amos from bottom one and both of them have s'chach that lets in more shade than sunshine
12. If upper succah lets more sunshine in then shade and bottom one is able to let in more shade then sunshine, when bottom succah is within twenty amos of ground
13. When both succahs are able to let in more shade than sunshine and the upper one is within twenty amos of the s'chach of the bottom succah
14. Making a succah upon a wagon, truck, or boat
15. Using a succah upon the above when in movement
16. Making a succah upon a camel
17. Making a succah upon a tree
18. When the succah is upon the ground and its s'chach is resting upon the tree
19. If on Yom Tov only succah he has is resting upon a tree or camel
20. When part of the succah is upon the tree and the rest is resting upon something else
21. When succah is upon the ground and a tree acts as a wall

1. Requirements for kosher s'chach
2. If the materials can only receive Rabbinical defilement
3. Prohibition of using materials which can become defiled
4. Using broken articles
5. Using wooden sticks
6. Using arrows as s'chach
7. Using wooden spits with metal tips
8. Using wooden spits
9. Using utensils that are not receptacles
10. Using paper as s'chach
11. If snow falls upon the s'chach
12. Using flax as s'chach
13. If flax were crushed but not combed
14. Using flax that were soaked but not crushed or combed.
15. Using strands of flax
16. Using cotton and cannabis plant
17. Using hollow reeds as s'chach
18. Using ropes of flax
19. Using ropes made from reeds and palm tree
20. Using mats as s'chach
21. Using mats when most people use them as mattresses
22. Using mats when custom is not know
23. Using used mats when custom is not known
24. Using new mats when custom is to use them as s'chach
25. Using mats that were not ordered as s'chach when custom is to use mats as s'chach
26. If mat is surrounded by rim
27. If rim was removed
28. Using mats where custom is to use them as roofing
29. Using Wooden venetian blinds as s'chach
30. Using ladder as base for s'chach
31. Constructing succah from liftwood
32. Using stone wall to support s'chach
33. Using concrete wall containing metal rods to support s'chach
34. Supporting s'chach after the fact with material that can become tomah
35. Attaching succah frame with iron nails
36. Opinion of Chazon Ish in reference to previous question
37. Using branches of figs or grapes
38. Determination of what is considered food and what is non-food
39. Precautions in using straw as s'chach
40. Using plants that will dry out and fall during Succos
41. If above plants will dry out but not fall
42. Using something attached to ground as s'chach
43. Using materials that have bad odor
44. If odor is repugnant to most people
45. Using plants whose leaves fall off
46. Using bundles of wood tied together
47. Defining which bundles are prohibited
48. Additional example of bundles of wood
49. Bundles that are connected with one tie
50. If purpose of tying is to sell them in quantity
51. After the fact if a bundle was already used
52. Bundle first placed on succah to dry and then decided to use as s'chach
53. Using boards as s'chach
54. Boards that are narrower than four tefachim
55. If only s'chach available is boards
56. Spreading sheet above or below s'chach to prevent sun and falling leaves
57. Spreading sheet under s'chach in emergency situation
58. Spreading sheet under s'chach in order to dry out

1. Materials that are kosher for the walls of the succah
2. When the walls cause more sunshine than shade to enter the succah
3. Making succah walls of foul smelling materials
4. Making succah walls of materials that will dry out within seven days
5. Minimum number of walls for kosher succah
6. Minimum requirements for third wall
7. How far should the door frame extend
8. Particulars in construction of door frame
9. If the tefach wide third wall reaches the s'chach
10. A succah built entirely of door frames
11. Succah comprised of two opposite and parallel unattached walls
12. In previous question, if length of the two side walls were different from each other
13. In question #11, if third wall is seven tefachim long adjourned to side wall
14. Succah comprising two parallel wall in a courtyard with middle wall of courtyard opposite the succah
15. In previous case if the two side walls of the courtyard serve as the succah walls
16. In succah of two walls plus tefach if there are many openings so as to have more openings than closed space
17. In previous case how to calculate the amount of open space
18. Calculating amount of open space with regard to the law of Lavud
19. According to Chazon Ish how to build succah comprised of boards less than four tefachim in width
20. How to consider the section of succah wall which has entrance frame
21. Additional conditions to permit succah having more open space than walled in space
22. When there are openings more than ten amos wide
23. Status of succah containing openings wider than ten amos. Also summery of halachos pertaining to succah consisting of two walls and a tefach
24. Combining horizontal and vertical walls for succah wall
25. Placing window like openings in succah
26. Permissibility of using metal porch walls for succah
27. Permissibility of making succah with only two complete walls in first instance
28. Placing four poles along edge of roof to use as succah
29. Succah build in alleyway in which it is permitted to carry on Shabbos
30. Status of succah build by placing s'chach upon pasim surrounding well
31. Using partially roofed porch consisting of two walls, as succah
32. Using partially roofed porch consisting of two attached walls as succah
33. Building succah in courtyard surrounded by houses and porches .
34. How to construct succah in room of house
35. Minimum height of succah walls
36. Status of succah whose roof is over three tefachim higher than walls
37. Status of succah whose walls are three tefachim above ground
38. Succah walls that sway in wind
39. Precautions for swaying walls
40. Trees serving as walls for succah
41. Using trees as walls in conjunction with requirement to have walls that consist of horizontal and vertical components
42. Succah higher than ten tefachim with horizontal partition
43. Permissibility of making succah wall from curtains or sheets
44. Proper way of making succah walls from curtains or sheets
45. Succah walls made from animals
46. A person serving as succah wall
47. Using an animal for succah wall on Yom Tov
48. Using an animal as fourth succah wall on Yom Tov
49. Placing s'chach upon side boards of bed
50. Placing s'chach upon poles that surround bed
51. Opinion of Chazon Ish in reference to previous question

1. If s'chach gives off equal amounts of sun and shade
2. Equal amounts of sun and shade are in lower part of succah
3. When minority of succah has more sunshine than shade
4. Difference between large and small succah
5. When smaller section of succah has large amount of shade but larger section has more sunshine than shade
6. Proper way to cover succah with s'chach
7. If s'chach covering is very thin
8. If s'chach is alternately raised and lowered
9. In above question if width of upper s'chach is more than tefach
10. If above succah has more sunshine than shade
11. If s'chach extends and overlaps back of succah
12. If s'chach extends and overlaps the open side of succah with one wall extending along with it
13. In previous case if extended s'chach is not seven tefachim wide
14. If s'chach extending from open side is more than three tefachim from succah wall
15. If wall was subsequently extended alongside extended s'chach
16. succah having two walls plus tefach, required length of its entrance frame
17. Succah having metal rods as s'chach
18. How to permit succah having metal rods as s'chach
19. Differences between large and small succah in reference to prohibited s'chach
20. How to use house having boards as roofing for succah
21. Proper way to use succah having boards four tefachim wide as s'chach
22. If roof of house is covered with plaster
23. Succah shaped like slanted shed
24. Permissibility of using succah shaped like slanted shed
25. Measuring minimum requirements of succah if shaped like slanted shed
26. Which part of above succah to cover with s'chach
27. Permissibility in above succah to sleep under sections of wall which are below ten tefachim

1. If prohibited s'chach is resting on the roof of the succah in the middle.
2. Differences between prohibited s'chach measuring more than four tefachim or less .
3. Prohibited s'chach being less than four tefachim but more than three.
4. Prohibited s'chach in reference to a small succah
5. In a small succah what if the prohibited s'chach is scattered
6. Explanation of prohibited s'chach
7. Prohibited s'chach found only on side of succah
8. Why Prohibited s'chach over four tefachim but less than four amos does not prohibit succah
9. Sitting under the prohibited s'chach when we apply the law of dofen akumah
10. Applying dofen akumah when the walls do not reach s'chach
11. Applying dofen akumah when the walls are within three tefachim of s'chach
12. If the prohibited s'chach is placed at a slant
13. If lower than three tefachim from the prohibited s'chach is placed a beam near by
14. Prohibited s'chach of four tefachim a tefach of which is located outside the succah
15. Empty spaces located within the s'chach
16. Sleeping under the empty spaces in the s'chach
17. If the prohibited s'chach or empty space goes along the width of the succah leaving part of succah with kosher s'chach
18. In previous question if the inner and outer sections of succah are connected with kosher s'chach along the sides
19. In question #17 status of outer part of succah
20. In previous question if side wall is only seven tefachim long
21. Difference between empty spaces and invalid s'chach
22. succah made under a roof protruding four tefachim from the wall
23. If the roof protruded less than four tefachim till three
24. If the roof protruded less than three tefachim
25. In question 22 if additional wall was added next to house wall
26. Combining prohibited s'chach with empty space
27. Applying Lavud in order to combine sections of invalid s'chach
28. Applying Lavud in order to create an area of four tefachim of invalid s'chach

1. Contemporary measurements for these halochos
2. Maximum height for succah
3. Making succah walls of non-permanent materials
4. Succah exactly twenty amos high
5. Small branches detract from twenty amos height of succah
6. Contradiction between questions 4 and 5
7. Decorations detracting from twenty amos height of succah
8. Diminishing height of succah through putting pillows and blankets on ground
9. Diminishing height through placing mats on ground
10. Diminishing height with straw
11. Nullifying the material to the ground
12. Expressing verbally the nullification
13. Building platform in order to diminish height
14. If platform lacked 7 by 7 Tefachim
15. Platform constructed along side of succah
16. Area in front of platform near entrance
17. Sitting beyond platform and most of body is on a lower level than platform
18. Constructing platform in middle of succah
19. Platform built in center of four sided succah
20. Succah being lower than ten Tefachim
21. Small branches diminishing from the ten Tefachim
22. Decorations diminishing from height of ten Tefachim
23. Plants and flowers diminishing from height of ten Tefachim
24. Remove s'chach, or digging up floor to increase height to ten Tefachim
25. Using the space beyond the dug out area

1. Minimum length and width of succah
2. How do we derive this measurement
3. A succah whose width is less than seven tefachim but length is much longer
4. Large succah having corner less than seven by seven tefachim
5. Minimum size of rounded succah
6. Using entire area of rounded succah
7. Large succah whose corner is seven tefachim wide but less than seven tefachim in length
8. Maximum required height of seven by seven tefachim in rounded succah
9. If decorative items diminish area of seven by seven tefachim
10. If table was outside of succah

The webspace for the Neveh Zion site has been generously donated by