Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim Siman 631

Siman 631

Presented here for study, not as a practical ruling. The Shulchan Aruch rules by Sephardi custom, the Rema's glosses by Ashkenazi custom, and the Kitzur follows Ashkenazi custom. For a practical question, ask your rabbi.

א סֻכָּה שֶׁחַמָּתָהּ וְצִלָּתָהּ שָׁוִים מִלְּמַעְלָה, פְּסוּלָה, לְפִי שֶׁהַחַמָּה מִתְפַּשֶּׁטֶת בְּרִחוּקָהּ וְיִהְיֶה לְמַטָּה חַמָּתָהּ מְרֻבָּה מִצִּלָּתָהּ; אֲבָל אִם חַמָּתָהּ וְצִלָּתָהּ שָׁוִים מִלְּמַטָּה, כְּשֵׁרָה.
1 A Sukkah whose Sunlit Area Exceeds its Shaded Area, & Other Laws Governing S’chach, containing 10 Seifim: A sukkah who's sunlit area is equal to its shaded area from above is invalid according to the idea that the sunlight diffuses as it gets more distant and is greater than the shaded area. However, if the sunlit area and shaded area are equal from below, it is valid.
ב אִם בְּרֹב מִמֶּנָּה צִלָּתָהּ מְרֻבָּה שְׁנֵי מַשְׁהוּיִין, וּבְמִעוּט מִמֶּנָּה חַמָּתָהּ מְרֻבָּה מַשֶּׁהוּ בְּעִנְיָן שֶׁכְּשֶׁנְּצָרֵף יַחַד הַחַמָּה וְהַצֵּל שֶׁל כָּל הַסֻכָּה יִהְיֶה צִלָּתָהּ מְרֻבָּה מֵחַמָּתָהּ מַשֶּׁהוּ, כְּשֵׁרָה. הַגָּה: וְיֵשׁ מַחְמִירִין אִם הַסֻּכָּה גְּדוֹלָה וְיֵשׁ מָקוֹם ז' עַל ז' שֶׁחַמָּתוֹ מְרֻבָּה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבְּצֵרוּף כָּל הַסֻּכָּה הָוֵי הַצֵּל מְרֻבֶּה (רַ"ן ספ"ק דְּסֻכָּה).
2 A sukkah is valid if the majority of the s’chach casts a shadow whose area is two small measures greater than the sunlit area and hence the empty space in the s’chach is [considered as] very little, while [under] a smaller part of the s’chach, the sunlit area exceeds the shaded part by a small measure. Rema: There are those who are stringent if the sukkah is large and there is a space that is 7 x 7 (tefachim) where the sunlight is the majority, even though when combined the entire sukkah has more shaded area (R"an).
ג דֶּרֶךְ הַסִכּוּךְ לִהְיוֹת קַל, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּרָאוּ מִמֶּנּוּ הַכּוֹכָבִים הַגְּדוֹלִים; הָיְתָה מְעֻבָּה כְּמִין בַּיִת, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַכּוֹכָבִים נִרְאִים מִתּוֹכָהּ, כְּשֵׁרָה.
3 As an initial and preferred option, the s’chach should be light so that large stars to be seen through it at night. [After the fact] even if [the s’chach] was very thick, [making it seem] like [the roof of] a house and not allowing the stars to be seen, it is valid.
ד הָיָה כִּסוּי דַּק מְאֹד שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ אֲוִיר הַרְבֵּה, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין ג' טְפָחִים בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד, וּבֵין הַכֹּל צִלָּתָהּ מְרֻבָּה מֵחַמָּתָהּ, כְּשֵׁרָה.
4 If the s’chach is a very light covering with much empty space, but no one place has three handbreadths of empty space [the sukkah] is valid, [provided] the overall shaded part [of its floor] exceeds its sunlit area; i.e., there is more s’chach than open space.
ה הָיָה הַסִכּוּךְ מְדֻבְלָל (פֵּרוּשׁ מְבֻלְבָּל), וְהוּא הַסִכּוּךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מִקְּצָתוֹ לְמַעְלָה וּמִקְּצָתוֹ לְמַטָּה, כָּשֵׁר, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה בֵּין הָעוֹלֶה וְהַיּוֹרֵד ג' טְפָחִים; וְאִם הָיָה בְּרֹחַב זֶה הָעוֹלֶה טֶפַח אוֹ יוֹתֵר, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא גָּבוֹהַּ מִג' טְפָחִים, רוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ כְּאִלּוּ יָרַד לְמַטָּה וְנָגַע בִּשְׂפַת זֶה הַיּוֹרֵד, וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מְכֻוָּן כְּנֶגֶד שְׂפַת הַיּוֹרֵד. הַגָּה: דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּאֲוִיר שֶׁבֵּין הַתַּחְתּוֹן טֶפַח, שֶׁרָאוּי לְהוֹרִיד הָעֶלְיוֹן וְאָז כְּשֵׁרָה אֲפִלּוּ חַמָּתָהּ מְרֻבָּה, שֶׁיְּהֵא הַצֵּל מְרֻבֶּה כְּשֶׁהַחַמָּה בְּאֶמְצַע הָרָקִיעַ (רַ"ן פֶּרֶק הַיָּשֵׁן וּבֵית יוֹסֵף בְּשֵׁם הָרַמְבָּ"ם).
5 If the s'chach is tangled and irregular i.e., parts of it were on a somewhat higher level and parts were on a somewhat lower level, it is valid. Provided that the vertical distance between the higher level and the lower level [of the s’chach] is less than three handbreadths. If the width of the upper one is a tefach or more, even though it is higher than three tefachim, we consider [the s’chach on] the higher level as if it had descended and was positioned in the empty space under it. Rema: In other words, there is a tefach in the space of the bottom one such that one could bring down the top one and then it is valid, even if its sunlit area exceeds the shaded area, since when the sun is at its zenith, directly overhead, the shaded part [of the sukkah floor] does exceed its sunlit area, [the sukkah] should not be disqualified because of sunlight that comes in [at other times] from the side, at an angle.
ו קָנִים הַיּוֹצְאִים לַאֲחוֹרֵי הַסֻכָּה, כְּגוֹן שֶׁאֲחוֹרֵי דֹּפֶן אֶמְצָעִי בּוֹלְטִים קָנִים מִן הַסְכָךְ וְיֵשׁ בָּהֶם הֶכְשֵׁר סֻכָּה, וְצִלָּתָהּ מְרֻבָּה מֵחַמָּתָהּ וְג' דְּפָנוֹת, כְּשֵׁרָה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַדֹּפֶן הָאֶמְצָעִי לֹא נַעֲשָׂה בִּשְׁבִילָם אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל עִקַּר הַסֻכָּה שֶׁהוּא לְפָנִים מִמֶּנּוּ.
6 Poles that come out from the back of the sukkah, for example when the canes of the s’chach project beyond the fourth side of the sukkah, if the canes [covering this addition] extend over the minimum dimensions of a sukkah, and its shade exceeds its sunlit area, the three walls are valid even though the middle wall wasn't made for it but rather for the essence of the sukkah, which is inside of it. [Note: For [even if the latter were to be the builder’s intent,] we are not concerned with his intent (for there is no requirement that a sukkah be built with the intent [that it be used for a mitzvah]. Thus it is as if he did not reveal his intent at all. [Rather,] the entire length of the s’chach is rendered valid by the third, short wall, even if it does not extend the entire length of the s’chach as does the opposite wall]
ז וְכֵן הַקָּנִים הַבּוֹלְטִים מִן הַסְכָךְ לַצַּד הַפָּרוּץ, וְדֹפֶן אֶחָד נִמְשָׁךְ עִמָּהֶם, כָּשֵׁר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעָשָׂה דֹּפֶן עַל הַצְּדָדִין יֶתֶר עַל ז' וַהֲוָה לָן לַמֵּימַר הֲרֵי גִּלָּה דַּעְתּוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל הַסֻכָּה בִּדְפָנוֹת אֲרֻכּוֹת, וְדֹפֶן אַחֵר שֶׁנִּמְשָׁךְ עִם הַקָּנִים שֶׁל סְכָךְ אֵינוֹ מִן הַסֻכָּה אֶלָּא בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ עוֹמֵד, וְנִמְצָא שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא דֹּפֶן אֶחָד שֶׁהוּא הַדֹּפֶן הַנִּמְשָׁךְ, אֲפִלּוּ הָכֵי כְּשֵׁרָה.
7 A similar [law applies] if the canes of the s’chach project beyond the fourth side of the sukkah, which is open and not enclosed by a wall, and one of the [parallel] walls extends outward with those canes. If the canes [covering this addition] extend over the minimum dimensions of a sukkah, this [additional] area is also considered as part of the sukkah and one may sit there even though it has only one wall. [These laws apply] even [when it is possible to say that] the owner of the sukkah revealed his intent to construct the entire sukkah with long walls, flanking the full length of the s’chach.
ח סִכְּכָהּ בְּשִׁפּוּדִין שֶׁהֵם פְּסוּלִין לְסַכֵּךְ בָּהֶם, וְאֵין בָּהֶם אַרְבָּעָה וְאֵין מֵהֶם אַרְבָּעָה בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד, וְהִנִּיחַ בֵּין שִׁפּוּד לְשִׁפּוּד כִּמְלֹא שִׁפּוּד וְנָתַן שָׁם סְכָךְ כָּשֵׁר, פָּסוּל, שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְצַמְצֵם שֶׁיְּמַלֵּא כָּל הָאֲוִיר מִסְכָךְ כָּשֵׁר, וְנִמְצָא הַפָּסוּל מְרֻבֶּה; אֲבָל אִם הֶעְדִּיף סְכָךְ הַכָּשֵׁר מְעַט עַל הַפָּסוּל, אוֹ אִם הָיָה הַפָּסוּל נָתוּן שְׁתִי וְנָתַן הַכָּשֵׁר עֵרֶב, אוֹ אִיפְּכָא, כָּשֵׁר, שֶׁאָז מִתְמַלֵּא כָּל הָאֲוִיר מִסְכָךְ כָּשֵׁר וְדַוְקָא בְּסֻכָּה גְּדוֹלָה, אֲבָל בְּסֻכָּה קְטַנָּה צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת מִן הַשִּׁפּוּדִים פָּחוֹת מִג' בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד (בֵּית יוֹסֵף וּמהר"א מִפְּרַאג).
8 A person covered [the top of the sukkah] with [metal] spits, which are invalid as s'chach, and they do have 4 tefachim win them, and 4 tefachim from them to any one place, and he left a space the width of a spit between each pair of spits, and filled those spaces with valid s’chach, it is invalid, because it is impossible for a person to be exact and fill all the empty space between the spits with valid s’chach without leaving any space whatever between [any] spit and the [adjoining] valid s’chach. Hence, such a sukkah is not valid unless one placed on it a little additional valid s’chach to overlap the invalid s’chach, for then, all the empty space between the spits will certainly be covered. [This is certainly true with a large sukkah. But regarding a small sukkah, one must have less than three tefachim between the spits] (Beis Yosef; Maharal m'Prague].
ט בַּיִת הַמְקֹרֶה בִּנְסָרִים שֶׁאֵין עֲלֵיהֶם מַעֲזִיבָה (פֵּרוּשׁ טִיט וּצְרוֹרוֹת שֶׁמְּשִׂימִין עֲלֵיהֶם) וּבָא לְהַכְשִׁירוֹ לְשֵׁם סֻכָּה, דַּי בָּזֶה שֶׁיָּסִיר כָּל הַמַּסְמְרִים לְשֵׁם עֲשִׂיַּת סֻכָּה, אוֹ שֶׁיִּטֹּל מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי נְסָרִים אֶחָד וְיִתֵּן סְכָךְ כָּשֵׁר בִּמְקוֹמוֹ וְכֻלָּהּ כְּשֵׁרָה, אֲפִלּוּ הַנְּסָרִים רְחָבִים אַרְבָּעָה, וְיֵשׁ מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר שֶׁצָּרִיךְ שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ הַנְּסָרִים רְחָבִים אַרְבָּעָה.
9 [The following applies to] a house roofed with boards that are not covered by a maazivah (i.e., a clay floor that [sometimes] overlays them), and [one desires] to make [the house] valid so that he can dwell under [the boards] for the sake of [the mitzvah of] a sukkah, or one grabs hold of one board of a set of two and places valid s'chach in its place - all of it is valid, even the boards which are wider than four tefachim. There is one (opinion) who says that the boards cannot be wider than four tefachim.
י סֻכָּה שֶׁאֵין לָהּ גַּג, כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיוּ רָאשֵׁי הַדְּפָנוֹת דְּבוּקוֹת זוֹ בְּזוֹ כְּמִין צְרִיף, אוֹ שֶׁסָמַךְ רֹאשׁ הַדֹּפֶן שֶׁל סֻכָּה לַכֹּתֶל, פְּסוּלָה; וְאִם הָיָה לָהּ גַּג, אֲפִלּוּ טֶפַח, אוֹ שֶׁהִגְבִּיהַּ הַדֹּפֶן הַסָמוּךְ לַכֹּתֶל מִן הַקַּרְקַע טֶפַח, הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה. הַגָּה: וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהַטֶּפַח לֹא תִּהְיֶה אֲוִיר, רַק מִן הַדֹּפֶן אוֹ הַסְּכָךְ (הָרֹא"שׁ בְּשֵׁם ר"י וְהרה"מ פ"ד) וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בָּהּ ז' טְפָחִים עַל ז' בְּגֹבַהּ י' טְפָחִים (טוּר). גַּם צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַדְּפָנוֹת לְאַחַר שֶׁהֵם גְּבוֹהִים עֲשָׂרָה עֲשׂוּיוֹת מִדָּבָר שֶׁמְּסַכְּכִין בָּהֶם, דְּהָא הֵם הַסְּכָךְ (רַ"ן ספ"ק דְּסֻכָּה). וְאִם כָּל הַדְּפָנוֹת מִדָּבָר שֶׁמְּסַכְּכִין בָּהֶם, מֻתָּר לִישַׁן אֲפִלּוּ תַּחַת הַדְּפָנוֹת (ס"ח בְּפֵרוּשׁ רַבֵּנוּ יְרוּחָם נ"א נ"ח).
10 A sukkah without a roof, for example the tops of the walls were stuck together like a shed; or the top of the wall leans against the sukkah to create a wall - this is invalid. If it had a roof, even a small portion, or the leaning wall was raised to the wall from the earth for a small portion, this is valid. Rema: There are those who say that this small space should not be empty space - only from the wall or the s'chach [Rosh in the name of the R"i; Rambam]. It must be 7 x 7 tefachim and higher than ten tefachim [Tur]. The walls, which are greater than ten, must also be made out of materials that can be used as s'chach [R"an]. If all of the walls are made of materials than can be used for s'chach one may sleep even under the walls [explanations of Rabbeinu Yerucham]
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