Page 284 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

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

one shouldn’t recite the beracha of sitting in the succah, since some say it is posul,
and that only if [the sheet is intended] as a decoration [is it batul], but if it is in
order to shield from the rain, etc, it is not secondary to the succah. 173

]38[ Even if a succah was not constructed for the explicit sake of the mitzva, it is
kosher. 174 [This is true] even if it was built by non-Jews who are not commanded
[in the mitzva of succah] whatsoever, as the Torah only demands that it be made
for shade, as the Torah says ‘you shall make the festival of Succos’ and a succah is
[defined as something] intended specifically for shade. 175 Even if it was only made
as a very temporary structure such as those made for shepherds and the like, it is
valid, provided it is covered [with s’chach] in accordance with the halacha. 176
However, a succah which is made on its own such as if one dug out a hollow
space in a haystack, leaving walls and s’chach, it is posul since it was not made to
provide shade. 177 If it was made to serve as a home it is like a house and is not

םדו רשב

when Rav Ashi saw his servant spread out a clear to everyone that he covered his s’chach
wet garment over the s’chach to dry out, he because of the rain, and not that the plastic
warned him to remove it as soon as it dries, cover should serve as the s’chach. The poskim
lest people think it was put there to serve as recommend doing so (see Mishna Berura and
s’chach. The Ran discusses if this might be a Biur Halacha) and this is in fact the custom in
possible proof to the opinion of Tosfos that many communities where rain is common
items placed on the s’chach are in fact batul to during Succos. The Chayei Adam here seems
it like decorations are. Although he rejects it as to apply this to keeping the wind out as well;
proof, what emerges is that even according eating in the dark is difficult and one would in
ומק
to the lenient opinion, one must take the fact be exempt from sitting in the succah like
presumptions of passersby into account. If anyone who is uncomfortable. (See k’lal 147
however, the garment is wet, it is permitted below.) As such, it would be better to cover
(since it was clearly put there to dry out). the s’chach to keep out the wind.
זמק
Based on this, the Magen Avraham
recommends covering the succah with a 173. Magen Avraham, since the Shulchan
waterproof tarp etc., in the rain, rather than Aruch rules like the more stringent opinion
eating inside. This way, he will actually be (Machtzis Hashekel). Furthermore, even the
eating in the succah according to many halacha was unclear, in disputable cases, the
opinions. Moreover, since it is raining, it is beracha is omitted (Magen Avraham). חמק

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