These notes are intended solely to aid in the learning process and should not be considered authoritative halachic conclusions
Please do not rely on these notes l’maaseh
וChelek 6
- You must sit in the shade of the sukka and not the shade of a separating “roof” under the sukka. For example: under a bed. However, if the bed provides less than 10 tefachim of air-space underneath, it is insignificant and not counted as a separating roof. (ShA – MB , )
- The main mitzvah of sukka includes eating, drinking, and sleeping. (MB )
- A canopy over the bed which is not attached to the bed is a separation only when it is 10 tefachim high off the floor and it has a horizontal “roof” at least one tefach wide. (ShA – MB )
- In order not to be considered a tefach-wide roof, the canopy must descend at a sharp angle from the peak so that it is not a tefach wide even at 3 tefachim down from the peak. (MB )
- The canopy must also reach the floor at an angle and not hang (even a tefach) above the ground. (MB )
- A canopy which is fixed to the bed is a separation when either it has a horizontal “roof” at least one tefach wide (even if under 10 tefachim) or it is slanted but 10 tefachim high (according to the first opinion in ShA). (ShA – MB )
- The 10 tefachim in the above halacha is measured from the top of the bed. (MB )
- All sukka decorations should be within 4 tefachim of the schach. If it is within 4 tefachim, it can even be a spread decorative cloth or any other decoration which is not kasher for schach. Since it is to decorate the sukka, it is subordinate to the schach and you can even sit under the decoration. (ShA – MB , , )
- An exception to the above is the lamp. Keep the flames as far away from the schach as possible. (MB )