Sukkot.....with apologies to Dr. Seuss

The Holiday of Sukkot has passed, leaving behind nothing but great memories... and the pile of palm leaves (s'chach-the branches that cover the top of a sukkah) on our mirpeset (balcony) where once our Sukkah stood. We were blessed with many wonderful visitors in our Sukkah and we're looking forward to building it again next year, hoping that you will visit us then (if not before).

This Shabbat, Jews the world over will begin to read the Torah again, the first Torah portion, Genesis 1:1 - 6:8... the stories of the creation of the world. Before turning back to the text, though, I'd like to "celebrate" Sukkot one last time (and then I'll take the palm fronds down to the corner because the city will be picking up Sukkah palms on Sunday). I thought you'd enjoy this rendition of Hilchot Sukkot, the rules and regulations of Sukkah building.

Shabbat Shalom -

Rabbi Jeff Kahn


Hilchot Sukkot - The Annotated Laws of the Sukkah-with numbered footnotes
(with apologies to Dr. Seuss-true author unknown)

You can build it very small (1)
You can build it very tall (2)
You can build it very large (3)
You can build it on a barge

You can build it on a ship (4)
Or on a roof but please don't slip (5)
You can build it in an alley (6)
You shouldn't build it in a valley (7)

You can build it on a wagon (8)
You can build it on a dragon (9)
You can make the s'chach of wood (10)
Would you, could you, yes you should

Make the s'chach from leaves of tree
You shouldn't bend it at the knee (11)
Build your Sukkah tall or short
No Sukkah is built in the Temple Court

You can build it somewhat soon
You cannot build it in the month of June (12)
If your Sukkah is well made
You'll have the right amount of shade (13)

You can build it very wide
You can not build it on its side
Build if your name is Jim
Or Bob or Sam or even Tim

Build it if your name is Sue (14)
Do you build it, yes you do!
From the Sukkah you can roam
But you should treat it as your home (15)

You can invite some special guests
Don't stay in it if there are pests
You can sleep upon some rugs
Don't you build it where there's bugs

In the Sukkah you should sit
And eat and drink but never ...
If in the Sukkah it should rain
To stay there would be such a pain (16)

And if it should be very cold
Stay there only if you're bold
So build a Sukkah one and all
Make it large or make it small

Sukkah rules are short and snappy
Enjoy Sukkot, rejoice be happy.

Footnotes:
1. Maimonides (RMBM) Mishne Torah, Hilchot Succah, Chapter 4, Section 1.
The minimum height of a Succah is 10 tefachim. A tefach is a measure of
the width of the four fingers of one's hand. My hand is 3 1/4 inches
wide for minimum Succah height of 32 1/2 inches. The minimum allowable
width is 7 tefachim by 7 tefachim. This would result in a Succah of 22
3/4 inches by 22 3/4 inches.

2. The maximum height is 20 Amot. An Amah is the length from the elbow
to the tip of the middle finger. My Amah is 15 1/2 inches for a maximum
height of 25 feet. Others say that 30 feet is the maximum.

3. According to RMBM the Succah can be built to a width of several
miles. Shulchan Aruch also says there is no limit on the size of the
width.

4. RMBM Hilchot Succah Chapter 4, Section 6.

5. RMBM Hilchot Succah Chapter 4, Section 11. RMBM states that one may
construct a Succah by wedging poles in the four corners of the roof and
suspending s'chach from the poles. The walls of the building underneath
are considered to reach upward to the edge of the s'chach.

6. RMBM Hilchot Succah Chapter 4, Section 8-10 discusses the ins and
outs of building your Succah in an alley or passageway.

7. There is a location referred to in the Talmud called Ashtarot
arnayim. According to the discussion there are two hills, with a valley
in between where the Sun does not reach. Therefore it is impossible to
sit in the shade of the roof of the Succah. I can't find the
reference...hopefully next year.

8. RMBM Hilchot Succah Chapter 4, Section 6. You can go into a Succah
built on a wagon or a ship even on Yom Tov.

9. RMBM Hilchot Succah Chapter 4, Section 6. OK, RMBM says a camel but
dragon rhymes with wagon a lot better, don't you agree. Anyway, RMBM
says you can build your Succah on a wagon or in the crown of a tree, but
you can't go into it on Yom Tov. There is a general rule against riding
a beast or ascending into the crown of a tree on Yom Tov.

10. Chapter 5 deals with the rules for the s'chach. Basically, you can
use that which has grown from the ground, and is completely detached
from the ground. So, for example, you cannot bend the branches of a tree
over the Succah to form the s'chach. But you can cut the branches from a
tree and use them as s'chach.

11. This would be a violation of the rule cited in the prior footnote.

12. Shulchan Aruch, Hilchot Succah, Perek 636, Section 1. The Succah
should not be built sooner than 30 days before the Chag. However, if the
structure is built prior to 30 days, as long as something new is added
within the days, the Succah is kosher.

13. Of course it's a well known rule that you must sit in the shade from
the roof of the Succah and not in the shade that may be cast by the
walls. It seems that this might affect the height of the walls,
depending on the longitude of the location where you are building your
Succah.

14. Technically, women, servants and minors are exempt from the Mitzvah
of Succah. In our day we hope we know better than to read out half the
Jewish people from the observance of Mitzvot. Of course, that's just a
personal opinion of the author.

15. RMBM ibid Chapter 6, Section 6 explains that you should eat, drink
and live in the Succah for the 7 days as you live in your own home. One
should not even take a nap outside of the Succah.

16. RMBM ibid, Section 10. If it rains one should go into the house. How
does one know if it is raining hard enough? If sufficient raindrops fall
through the s'chach (roof covering) and into the food so that the food
is spoiled - go inside!