Page 272 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

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

tie them with ropes made of flax or worn out garments, but ideally, one should
not tie the s’chach to the beams with ropes, since he is tying the s’chach itself with
something which is susceptible to tumah. 138

]31[ If one weaves sticks together [to form a roof for the succah], it is possibly
not valid if they measure four tefachim wide, for perhaps we view them like planks
of wood which measure four tefachim and are posul. 139 Even though he adds
kosher s’chach on top, it still might be forbidden. 140 Nevertheless, one should not
protest those who are lenient, because since they place s’chach on top, it isn’t
relevant to ban them [on account of] a roof. 141

]32[ A succah which does not have a roof such as one where the walls meet at
the top like this: /\ or [if] he rests the wall [of the succah] on a [regular] wall like
this: |\ it is not valid as there is no s’chach and no wall. 142 Nevertheless, if there is a
tefach within three tefachim of its roof, it is kosher. 143 Since this is not common in

םדו רשב
138. The Terumas Hadeshen writes that tefachim wide, for s’chach. The Ran writes that
connecting the beams of the succah together if reeds are attached together and result in a
with nails is of no concern, as it is not these piece of s’chach measuring four tefachim wide,
nails, but rather the beams which support the it is likewise included in this ban. The Rashba
s’chach. Accordingly, one may rest the s’chach entertains this possibility as well, but dismisses
on top of beams of wood which rest on a it, primarily, because the custom is to be
material which is not usable for s’chach. The lenient. (See Magen Avraham 626:6 who
זטק
Chazon Ish however disagrees and quotes this.) The Ran’s words however are
understands that anything which integrally problematic, because not only is it prevalent
supports the s’chach is included in the ban, to use mats for s’chach, but the mishna
even if the support is very indirect. explicitly permits it (Succah 19b), provided it
Accordingly, one would not be able to connect was not manufactured as a mattress. (See
the walls of his succah with metal screws. The above siman 12). The poskim suggest a
טיק
Chayei Adam clearly doesn’t understand it this number of approaches, among them that
way, and this is in fact the prevalent custom. connected reeds can only qualify as a plank if
זיק
the result is a stiff unit, but not a mat which is
139. See above, note 78 that Chazal soft and bends. (Dayan Y Y Fisher, Shevet
forbade using wooden planks measuring four HaLevi) Alternatively, only materials which

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