Page 244 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

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

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]12[ The mats which are made of twigs of tree branches which are soft and
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placed on wagons may not be used for s'chach as they are utensils, even after
they have been nullified from being used as utensils, as above, siman 9. However,
if they are made for s'chach, they may be used as such even if they have a rim,
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provided they don’t form a receptacle. [This is true] unless the local custom is to
place these mats as roofs to serve as a type of ceiling, in which case it is
forbidden because people will say what’s the difference between sitting in a
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succah or in a house. However, those mats which are made from the bark are
invalid because they are used to cover merchandise and are [therefore] utensils

and susceptible to tumah. 62

]13[ One may not use s'chach that has a foul odor or sheds. Even if they grow
from the ground and are not susceptible to tumah such as grasses which are not
fit for eating, it is forbidden to use them lest the foul odor or the fact that they
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shed causes him to leave the succah. Nevertheless, b’dieved, one fulfills his
obligation [if he used them]. Similarly, if he has nothing else to use as s'chach, it is
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permitted [to use them]. If however they only shed when it is windy, they may

םדו רשב
water off a roof etc, is also not susceptible to statement. However, the consensus of
tumah and may be used. (Magen Avraham) contemporary poskim is that our succah mats
ונ
are made for the express purpose of s’chach,
58. The mishna (Succah 19b) teaches that and may be used, regardless of the texture or
one may use large mats for s'chach, provided size. Mats that are made to stand or sit on
they were made to provide shade and not to however, are susceptible to tumah and are
sit or lay on, for if they were, they are therefore posul for s’chach. Accordingly if the
susceptible to tumah and may not be used for local custom is to make mats for sitting on, or
s’chach. Although the gemara there teaches the mat has possibly already been used for
that small mats are assumed to have been this purpose, it is susceptible to tumah and
זנ
made to sit on, and that the texture of its may no longer be used for s’chach.
weave determines whether it is meant for
sitting on or for shade, the Magen Avraham 59. To make a softer surface to sit on.
writes that one should assume that any mat
was made to sit or lay on and therefore may 60. Although a rim is an indication of
not be used. The Mishna Berura echoes this intent that this should serve as a receptacle

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