Page 320 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

Chayei Adam - K’lal 147 - Laws of Sitting in the Succah

at least a k’zayis [of bread] in the succah, as is derived from the common usage of
the ‘the 15th’ from Pesach, that just like one is absolutely obligated on Pesach, so
is he obligated [to eat bread] on the first night of Succos, in the
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succah. Therefore, many authorities hold that just like one is always obligated
on Pesach, the same applies to Succos and he is obligated to eat a k’zayis in the
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succah even if it rains. Even though [ordinarily] when it rains one is exempt
because we derive that one must dwell in the succah like he lives in his house, this
is only during the rest of Succos, but on the first night, the Torah did not exempt
one who is distressed, and he is nevertheless obligated [to eat in the succah] and
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can make a beracha of leisheiv ba’succah. [However] some of the great poskim
hold that even on the first night, one is exempt [from succah] if it rains, because
then there is no obligation of succah at all, and we [only] learn the gezeira shava
[to teach us] that although on the other days, one can choose not to eat or to eat
[just] a k’zayis and be exempt from eating in the succah, on the first night, one
must eat even a k’zayis in the succah, unless it rains, in which case he is
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exempt. Therefore, in order to fulfill all opinions, it is proper to wait until
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midnight, and if it stops raining before midnight, he should go into the succah,
for just like the time for eating matza is only until midnight, the same is true of
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[this obligation of] succah. If one doesn’t want to wait that long, he should at
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least wait an hour or two, and if it doesn’t stop [raining] he should make kiddush
in the succah, and say shehecheyanu, having in mind to include the shehecheyanu
on the succah [as well], as this is not worse than saying shehecheyanu upon
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building the succah, [and then] he fulfills [his obligation]. However, he should

םדו רשב
53. Succah 27a. night, but expects that he will have later on, he
should wait at least until midnight.
54. As above, note 51 (opinion of the Rosh). Accordingly, one should wait in order to be

55. Since, according to those opinions, he able to eat in the succah as well.
is fulfilling the mitzva of eating in the succah. 58. See Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 477:1) that
matza should be eaten before chatzos
56. Tosfos, Gra.
(halachic midnight). Since the obligation to eat
57. See Magen Avraham 289:4 that if one a k’zayis in the succah on the first night of
does not have wine for kiddush on Friday Succos is derived from the obligation to eat

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