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Siman 638 – Issur of the Sukka and it’s decorations

  1. Your sukka (walls and schach) is compared to a korban Chagiga and is therefore forbidden for personal use until after Shmini Atzerres. And if Yom Tov ends on Friday night, the prohibition extends until after Shabbos.(ShA 1 – MB 1)
  1. This issur precludes nullifying the mitzvah object, like using some of its wood for a fire or breaking off a splinter to pick your teeth. However it is not forbidden to benefit while the sukka remains intact – so you are allowed to lean on the sukka or to put things upon it. (Rama 1 – MB 4,25)
  1. A sukka that stands from year to year becomes forbidden when you go live in it for the first time on Yom Tov. The kedusha leaves the sukka once Yom Tov is over. (MB9)
  1. It is proper to beautify the sukka with drapes and decorative hangings and fruit. This is called “noi sukka”. (MB 11)
  1. The noi sukka are likewise forbidden for mundane use until after the Chag – even if they fall off. However, a hanging esrog is allowed to be used for the mitzvah of Arba Minim on Chol Hamoed.You can even sell it to someone. (ShA 2 – BeH “kul shemona”)
  1. Noi sukka is muktza on Shabbos and Yom Tov . If it falls on to your dining table “ochel nefesh” permits you to remove it in order to be able to eat. If you are able to gently tilt the table and let the decoration roll off, it’s better. (Rama 2 -BeH “uvYom Tov”)
  1. If people are disgusted by small sticks falling from the shach on to the dining table, you could be allowed to remove them directly using the hetter of graff shel r’ee. (BeH “uvYom Tov”)
  1. You can make a condition that limits the sanctity of noi sukka and thereby benefit from them anytime. Declare while hanging them or anytime before the first bain hashmashos, “Ainee bodel meihem kol bain hashmashos shel shemona yomim”. This means “I do not wish to separate from using my decorations during the twilight of the eight (holy) days”. (ShA 2 – MB 16)
  1. The above condition will allow you to take down the sukka decorations that you want to protect from rain and from thieves. On Yom Tov it will still be forbidden to untie knots, so make sure to hang them with bows. (MB 24)
  1. It is forbidden to etch into a pumpkin rind the possuk ” בסכות תשבו” and other such verses to be hung in the sukka. One reason is that it is bound to fall into the hands of disgrace. There is also an issue of writing single verses from the Torah unnecessarily. (MB 24)
  1. Wood from a sukka is in the category of tashmishay mitzva and must not be disgraced.Do not step on them nor leave them on a walkway where people might trample upon them. (MB24)
  1. If you use haddasim for your schach, you can still enjoy the smell. However if you hang haddasim for noi, you may not deliberately smell them. (Rama 2 – MB 25,26)
  1. An esrog that is hung as a sukka decoration is allowed to be smelled. Do not move it or touch it on Yom Tov. (Rama 2)