Siman 629 – The Schach

וChelek 6

27. The basic 3 requirements for schach are:
    1. Sprouted from the ground.
    2. Detached from the ground.
    3. Not able to mekabayl tuma even m’derabbonon. (Sha1 – MB 7)

28. Vessels that were able to be mekabayl tuma m’deoraisa and are now broken are still disqualified for schach. (ShA 2 – MB 8)

29. Straight wooden sticks can be used for schach even those which are used as vessels. (e.g. skewers, arrow shafts that have never been fastened with arrow heads). (ShA 3 – MB 5)

30. Hollow reeds that can hold water are kasher for schach since their “receptacle” was not fashioned for the purpose of containing something. (MB 10)

31. Wooden vessels that are wide enough to hold things are mekabayl tuma d’rabbonon (e.g. rake end, shovel end) and are therefore disqualified. (MB 19)

32. A reed mat that is made for laying (or sitting) upon is mekabayl tumas zav and is therefore disqualified. (ShA 6 – MB 16)

33. A reed mat could be kasher if it was made for shade (i.e. not for lying upon). If the mat is much larger than a man’s height, it can be used for schach even if the reason for manufacturing it was unspecified. However, if it is common practice in your locale to use such mats for laying upon – any size mat will be disqualified because using it for schach will cause confusion. (ShA 6 – MB 17, 18 – ShaH 24)

34. L’chatchila, do not support your schach directly upon something (e.g. metal bar) that is mekabayl tuma. You also shouldn’t use mekablay tuma to hold down your schach. Bedieved, we hold that both cases are acceptable. (Rama 7 – MB 22)

35. You may support your schach directly upon a stone wall, even l’chatchila. (MB 22)

36. Poles that are made of kasher schach material and are put in place to support the schach are allowed to be fastened with nails or strips of cloth (mekablay tuma), even l’chatchila. (ShA 8)

37. L’chatchila, do not tie the schach itself to the poles with string that is mekabayl tuma. (MB 26)

38. Animal food (e.g. hay) is kasher for schach. (MB 27)

39. Any schach that will shrivel within 7 days must be viewed as if it has already shrivelled and left an air space. (Rama 12)

40. The Chachomim decreed not to use schach that would disturb you and drive you out of the sukka. Don’t use branches with tiny leaves that fall down all the time and don’t use foul smelling schach. If you already put it on, you do not have to replace it. (ShA 14 – MB 38, 39) If the odor from the schach is so bad that you can’t tolerate it, the sukka could be possula. (MB 38)

41. Another decree is that they prohibited covering your sukka with bundles of reeds. If the bundle has 25 or more units tied at both ends to ease carrying, the schach is possul until you untie the bundle. (ShA 15, 17)

42. The minhag is to not use boards for schach no matter what the width. Some rishonim write that they are disqualified because these days even thin boards are used for house – roofing. (ShA 18 – MB 49)

43. If all you have for schach is that which the Chachomim decreed against, use it. The Rashba held you can even say a beracha on the sukka. (MB 50)

44. You are allowed to spread a cloth within 4 tefachim under the schach, but only for the purpose of noi sukka. (ShA 19)

45. If you are unable to eat in the sukka because of wind (blowing out candles), the dripping after a rainstorm, or falling pieces of schach – it is preferable to spread a sheet under the schach within 4 tefachim for protection, rather than eating indoors. (Do not say a beracha.) (ShA 19 – MB 58)

46. If you hang such a protective sheet under the schach on Shabbos or Yom Tov, make sure it hangs within 3 tefachim so as not to make an ohel. (ShaH 84)