Sukkot  For Sukkot services and related events, see our Holiday Services Page. The joy of Sukkot is experienced by dwelling for a week in a sukkah. Traditionally, all meals during Sukkot are eaten in the sukkah, and many people even sleep in their sukkah. This is a wonderful holiday to celebrate at home, where children can experience the smell and feel of the holiday in their own yards, and where community can gather in our homes.   We held a sukkah building workshop at Kol Shofar, where we learned everything we need to build and decorate a sukkah. Members of our community demonstrated different models of sukkot, with guidance in how to do-it-yourself. People were so inspired that we thought it would be useful to post the information here on the web. Please see the laws for building a sukkah, posted below on this page, as well as a list of companies that sell kits. If you have questions about building a sukkah, please use the kol-limud talklist, (feel free to join by sending an email to onlinetalk@kolshofar.org if you're not already on it) and post your questions there - a variety of Kol Shofarniks are sure to help, and many like you are sure to learn from your sukkah questions. We're starting a gallery of photos here - if you'd like, please send photos of your sukkot for us to post –  to photos@kolshofar.org.  LAWS FOR BUILDING A SUKKAH SELECTING A SITE To build your own Sukkah, first select a site that has nothing hanging above it – i.e. a roof or a tree. The Sukkah floor space must be at least 27 inches by 27 inches (67 cm) – the minimum space for most of a person to sit with a small table. If you don't have a yard, then an apartment balcony will do just fine, provided it has no roof. THE WALLS A "kosher" Sukkah needs at least two complete walls and a small part of a third wall. The walls can be of any material, as long as they are sturdy enough to withstand a normal wind. The walls should be at least 38 inches high (96 cm), but not higher than 30 feet (9.6 m).   You don't have to build walls especially for the Sukkah; you can use the side of a building, or even a hedge of bushes. And if you can find an area that is already enclosed by 2 or 3 walls, then your job will be that much easier! THE ROOF The Talmudic term for roof material is S'chach, from the same root as the word Sukkah. The roof must be made from material that grows from the ground – i.e. branches or leaves (but not metal, or any food). Also, the material must be presently detached from the ground – i.e. don't just bend a tree over the top of your Sukkah! The roof material can only be added after the requisite number of walls are in place. The roof must be sufficiently covered so that it gives more shade than sun during the daytime. Yet it should be sufficiently open so that the stars are visible through the roof at night. Since the Sukkah is designated as your "home" for the next seven days, it is customary to decorate it nicely. Many people hang fruits and flowers from the ceiling, and tape posters of Jerusalem and other Jewish themes on the walls. When should one begin building the Sukkah? According to most opinions, one should begin on at the departure of Yom Kippur in order to go immediately from one mitzvah to another. If this is not possible, one should begin the following morning. If this will not leave him sufficient time to complete the Sukkah, one may begin to build before Yom Kippur, but the s'chach should not be placed until after Yom Kippur. According to some opinions, one should begin to build the Sukkah before Yom Kippur, as an added merit. Are all branches suitable? Most are kosher, but one should not use the following types: • Branches whose leaves tend to shrivel, since it is difficult to estimate how much s'chach is required • Branches whose leaves tend to fall off into the Sukkah • Branches that have an unpleasant smell • Branches that are liable to contain flies or bugs that may fall into the Sukkah. May one cut branches from trees in the street or countryside? It is forbidden to fulfill a mitzvah through stealing. Therefore, permission must be obtained before cutting any such trees, unless one is certain that they are ownerless. Taking Care of Your Lulav and Etrog The following links to a good clear article about how to take care of the lulav and etrog from www.myjewishlearning.com Some Sukkah Kit Manufacturers Attached is a list of some links to Sukkah Kit Manufacturers. THE LAWS OF THE SUKKAH ACCORDING TO DR. SUESS (with numbered footnotes) 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 in an alley (6) You shouldn’t build it in a valley (6) You can build it on a wagon (8) You can build it on a dragon (9) You can make the schach of wood (10) Would you, could you, yes you should Make the schach 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 cannot 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 where 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: Maimonides (RMBM) Mishne Torah, Hilchot Sukkah, Chapter 4, Section 1.  The  minimum height of a Sukkah is 10 tefachim.  A tefach is a measure of the width of the four fingers on one’s hand.  My hand is 3 1/4 inches wide for a minimum Sukkah height of 32 1/2 inches.  The minimum allowable width is 7 tefachim by 7 tefachim.  This would result in a Sukkah of 22 3/4 inches by 22 3/4 inches. 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. According to RMBM the Sukkah can be built to a width of several miles.  Shulchan Aruch also slays there is no limit on the size of the width. RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, section 6. RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 11. RMBM states that one may construct a Sukkah by wedging poles in the four corners of the roof and suspending schach from the poles. The walls of the building underneath are considered to reach upward to the edge of the schach. RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 8-10 discusses the ins and outs of  building your Sukkah in an alley or passageway. There is a location referred to in the Talmud called Ashtarot Karnayim. 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 Sukkah. RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 6.  You can go into a Sukkah built on a wagon or a ship even on Yom Tov. RMBM Hilchot Sukkah Chapter 4, Section 6.  OK, RMBM says a camel but dragon rhymes with wagon a lot better. Anyway RMBM says you can build your Sukkah 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. Chapter 5 deals with the rules for the schach.  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 Sukkah to form the schach.  But you can cut the branches from a tree and use them as schach. This would be a violation of the rule cited in the prior footnote. Shulchan Aruch, Hilchot Sukkah, Perek 636, section 1.  The Sukkah should not be built sooner than 30 days before the Hag.  However, if the structure is built prior to 30 days, as long as something new is added within the 30 days, the Sukkah is kosher. Of course it is a well know rule that you must sit in the shade from the roof of the Sukkah 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 Sukkah. Technically, women, servants and minors are exempt from the Mitzvah of Sukkah. In our day we know better than to read out half the Jewish people from the observance of Mitzvot. RMBM ibid Chapter 6, Section 6 explains that you should eat, drink and live in the Sukkah for the 7 days as you live in your own home.  One should not even take a nap outside of the Sukkah. RMBM ibid, Section 10.  If it rains one should go into the house. How does one know if it raining hard enough? If sufficient raindrops fall  through the schach and into the food so that the food is spoiled, go inside. Rabbi Art Gould Bonni and Steve Schiff's Sukka: Rhea and Ron Brown's Sukkah: For an interesting drash on Sukkot, THE SUKKAH: IS FAITH A SHELTER? THEN WHY AM I GETTING WET? by Rabbi Mark Greenspan, sent by Bonni Schiff, click here to download.