Page 236 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

Chayei Adam - K’lal 146 - Laws of the Succah

ground] it is not valid even if the boards are very tall, since it is a hanging
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partition. The width of the walls [must measure] at least seven by seven
tefachim as this is the size which can contain a person’s head together with most
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of his body, and a table measuring one tefach. One can make his succah wider,
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even several mil, and make it higher, up to twenty amos. However, if the s’chah
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is higher than twenty amos, it is not valid, as below. If the airspace of the succah
inside measures less than ten tefachim high, or is less than seven by seven
tefachim in width and length, it is not valid as it is considered a rotten dwelling
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place and people don’t live in rotten dwelling places. Nevertheless, although he
brings his utensils and decorations into the succah, it is still valid, even though it
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diminishes the airspace because it is nevertheless a dwelling place. However, if
the s'chach descends within ten tefachim, it is not valid as this is not [considered]
a dwelling place. Yet, if [these] are on the side, [such as] a succah which measured
exactly seven by seven tefachim, and he hung decorations on the walls and
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diminished its space, it is posul. If the succah is very big and a corner turns
inward and there is less than seven by seven tefachim [in that section], he may not
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sit there since it is a very narrow place and doesn’t qualify as a dwelling place.

םדו רשב

of lavud, such as if the wall is placed within akuma) to validate a succah. Accordingly,
three tefachim of the ground or ceiling, the combining gud asik with lavud should also be
gap between them is considered closed and, questionable, and in fact, based on this, the
therefore, measures more. Taz rules leniently in cases of combining two
The walls however need not reach the halachos. Conversely, others rule stringently in
s’chah, as we apply the rule of ‘gud asik’ to this case as well. (R’ Akiva Eiger, Panim
imaginarily extend the walls upwards until Meiros) See however the Bikurei Yaakov who
they reach the s’chach. Even if this imaginary opines that this case is different: Here, we are
extension doesn’t actually hit the s’chach, but not combining two halachos, but rather
it comes within three tefachim of the s’chach, it fulfilling two separate directives, i.e. that a wall
is valid, for we apply the rule of lavud together must measure ten tefachim, and that someone
with gud asik. (Shulchan Aruch). However, see who sits in the succah, must sit within three
siman 20 below where the poskim debate the tefachim of the s’chach.
permissibility of combining two different
halachic rules (such as gud asik and dofen 29. A gap at the bottom of three tefachim

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