Shofar, Sukkah and Lulav Chapter 6

נָּשִׁים וַעֲבָדִים וּקְטַנִּים פְּטוּרִים מִן הַסֻּכָּה. טֻמְטוּם וְאַנְדְּרוֹגִינוּס חַיָּבִים מִסָּפֵק. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁחֶצְיוֹ עֶבֶד וְחֶצְיוֹ בֶּן חוֹרִין חַיָּב. קָטָן שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְאִמּוֹ שֶׁהוּא [כְּבֶן חָמֵשׁ] כְּבֶן שֵׁשׁ חַיָּב בְּסֻכָּה מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים כְּדֵי לְחַנְּכוֹ בְּמִצְוֹת:

Women, slaves, and minors are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah of] sukkah. A tumtum and an androgynous are obligated because of the doubt [concerning their status]. Similarly, a person who is half slave and half free is obligated. A minor who does not require his mother's [presence] - i.e., a child of five or six - is obligated [to fulfill the mitzvah] of sukkah according to Rabbinic decree, to train him in [the performance of] mitzvot.

חוֹלִים וּמְשַׁמְּשֵׁיהֶן פְּטוּרִים מִן הַסֻּכָּה. וְלֹא חוֹלֶה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ סַכָּנָה אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ חָשׁ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ חָשׁ בְּעֵינָיו. מִצְטַעֵר פָּטוּר מִן הַסֻּכָּה הוּא וְלֹא מְשַׁמְּשָׁיו. וְאֵיזֶהוּ מִצְטַעֵר זֶה שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִישֹׁן בַּסֻּכָּה מִפְּנֵי הָרוּחַ אוֹ מִפְּנֵי הַזְּבוּבִים וְהַפַּרְעוֹשִׁים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן אוֹ מִפְּנֵי הָרֵיחַ:

The sick and their attendants are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah] of sukkah. This applies not only to a person who is dangerously ill, but also to one with a headache or a sore eye. A person who is uncomfortable [when dwelling in the sukkah] is freed from the obligation [to fulfill the mitzvah] of sukkah. This applies to the person himself, but not to his attendants. Who is "a person who is uncomfortable [when dwelling in the sukkah]"? A person who cannot sleep in the sukkah because of the wind or because of the flies, mites, or the like, or because of the smell.

הָאָבֵל חַיָּב בְּסֻכָּה. וְחָתָן וְכָל הַשּׁוֹשְׁבִינִין וְכָל בְּנֵי חֻפָּה פְּטוּרִים מִן הַסֻּכָּה כָּל שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה:

A mourner is obligated [to fulfill the mitzvah] of sukkah. A groom, his attendants, and all the members of the wedding party are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah] of sukkah throughout the seven days of [the wedding] festivities.

שְׁלוּחֵי מִצְוָה פְּטוּרִים מִן הַסֻּכָּה בֵּין בַּיּוֹם וּבֵין בַּלַּיְלָה. הוֹלְכֵי דְּרָכִים בַּיּוֹם פְּטוּרִים מִן הַסֻּכָּה בַּיּוֹם וְחַיָּבִין בַּלַּיְלָה. הוֹלְכֵי דְּרָכִים בַּלַּיְלָה פְּטוּרִים מִן הַסֻּכָּה בַּלַּיְלָה וְחַיָּבִים בַּיּוֹם. שׁוֹמְרֵי הָעִיר בַּיּוֹם פְּטוּרִים מִן הַסֻּכָּה בַּיּוֹם וְחַיָּבִים בַּלַּיְלָה. שׁוֹמְרֵי הָעִיר בַּלַּיְלָה פְּטוּרִים מִן הַסֻּכָּה בַּלַּיְלָה וְחַיָּבִים בַּיּוֹם. שׁוֹמְרֵי גִּנּוֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִין פְּטוּרִין בֵּין בַּיּוֹם וּבֵין בַּלַּיְלָה שֶׁאִם יַעֲשֶׂה הַשּׁוֹמֵר סֻכָּה יֵדַע הַגַּנָּב שֶׁיֵּשׁ לַשּׁוֹמֵר מָקוֹם קָבוּעַ וְיָבוֹא וְיִגְנֹב מִן מָקוֹם אַחֵר:

Emissaries charged with a mission involving a mitzvah are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah] of sukkah both during the day and at night. People who journey during the day are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah] of sukkah during the day and are obligated at night. People who journey during the night are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah] of sukkah at night and are obligated during the day. A city's day watchmen are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah] of sukkah during the day and are obligated at night. Its night watchmen are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah] of sukkah at night and are obligated during the day. The watchmen of gardens and orchards are freed from [fulfilling the mitzvah] during the day and the night, because if the watchman constructs a sukkah, a thief will realize that the watchman has a fixed place and will go to steal from another place.

כֵּיצַד הִיא מִצְוַת הַיְשִׁיבָה בַּסֻּכָּה. שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה וְדָר בַּסֻּכָּה כָּל שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים בֵּין בַּיּוֹם וּבֵין בַּלַּיְלָה כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהוּא דָּר בְּבֵיתוֹ בִּשְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה. וְכָל שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים עוֹשֶׂה אָדָם אֶת בֵּיתוֹ עַרְאַי וְאֶת סֻכָּתוֹ קֶבַע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כג מב) "בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים". כֵּיצַד. כֵּלִים הַנָּאִים וּמַצָּעוֹת הַנָּאוֹת בַּסֻּכָּה. וּכְלֵי שְׁתִיָּה כְּגוֹן אֲשִׁישׁוֹת וְכוֹסוֹת בַּסֻּכָּה. אֲבָל כְּלֵי אֲכִילָה כְּגוֹן קְדֵרוֹת וּקְעָרוֹת חוּץ לַסֻכָּה. הַמְּנוֹרָה בַּסֻּכָּה. וְאִם הָיְתָה סֻכָּה קְטַנָּה מַנִּיחָהּ חוּץ לַסֻּכָּה:

How must the mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah be fulfilled? A person must eat, drink, and live in the sukkah throughout all seven days [of the festival], both during the day and at night, in the same manner as he dwells in his home throughout the year. During these seven days, he must consider his house as a temporary dwelling and the sukkah as his permanent home, as [Leviticus 23:42] states: "You shall dwell in sukkot for seven days." What does this imply? His attractive utensils and attractive bedding [should be brought] to the sukkah. His drinking utensils - i.e., his cups and crystal pitchers - [should be brought] to the sukkah. However, utensils used for food - i.e., pans and plates - [may be left] outside the sukkah. A candelabra [should be brought] to the sukkah. However, if the sukkah is small, it should be left outside the sukkah.

אוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין וִישֵׁנִים בַּסֻּכָּה כָּל שִׁבְעָה בֵּין בַּיּוֹם וּבֵין בַּלַּיְלָה. וְאָסוּר לֶאֱכל סְעֻדָּה חוּץ לַסֻכָּה כָּל שִׁבְעָה אֶלָּא אִם אָכַל אֲכִילַת עֲרַאי כְּבֵיצָה אוֹ פָּחוֹת אוֹ יֶתֶר מְעַט. וְאֵין יְשֵׁנִים חוּץ לַסֻכָּה אֲפִלּוּ שְׁנַת עֲרַאי. וּמֻתָּר לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם וְלֶאֱכל פֵּרוֹת חוּץ לַסֻּכָּה. וּמִי שֶׁיַּחֲמִיר עַל עַצְמוֹ וְלֹא יִשְׁתֶּה חוּץ לַסֻכָּה אֲפִלּוּ מַיִם הֲרֵי זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח:

We should eat, drink, and sleep in the sukkah through the entire seven days [of the festival], both during the day and at night. It is forbidden to eat a meal outside the sukkah for the entire seven [day period]. However, [there is no prohibition] if one eats a snack the measure of a k'beitzah or less, or even slightly more. One may not sleep outside the sukkah at all, even a brief nap. It is permissible to drink water and eat fruit outside the sukkah. However, a person who follows the stringency of not drinking even water outside the sukkah is worthy of praise.

אֲכִילָה בְּלֵילֵי יוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן בַּסֻּכָּה חוֹבָה. אֲפִלּוּ אָכַל כְּזַיִת פַּת יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ. מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ רְשׁוּת. רָצָה לֶאֱכל סְעֻדָּה סוֹעֵד בַּסֻּכָּה. רָצָה אֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל כָּל שִׁבְעָה אֶלָּא פֵּרוֹת אוֹ קְלָיוֹת חוּץ לַסֻּכָּה אוֹכֵל כְּדִין אֲכִילַת מַצָּה בְּפֶסַח:

Eating in the sukkah on the first night of the festival is an obligation. If a person eats merely a k'zayit of bread, he fulfills his obligation. Afterwards, [the matter is left to one's] volition. If one desires to eat a meal, one must eat it in the sukkah. If one desires, throughout the seven [days of the festival], one may eat only fruit or roasted grain outside of the sukkah. The same laws apply as those regarding the eating of matzah on Pesach.

מִי שֶׁהָיָה רֹאשׁוֹ וְרֻבּוֹ בַּסֻּכָּה וְשֻׁלְחָנוֹ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ אוֹ חוּץ לַסֻּכָּה וְאוֹכֵל הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר וּכְאִלּוּ לֹא אָכַל בַּסֻּכָּה עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה שֻׁלְחָנוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַסֻּכָּה. גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא יִמָּשֵׁךְ אַחַר שֻׁלְחָנוֹ. וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּסֻכָּה גְּדוֹלָה:

One who has their head and the majority of their body in the sukkah and their table in the house, or otherwise outside of the sukkah, and eats -- this is forbidden, and it's as though they did not eat in the sukkah, until the table is within the sukkah. This is a decree, lest they be drawn after their table. And this is even with a very large sukkah.

כָּל שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים קוֹרֵא בְּתוֹךְ הַסֻּכָּה. וּכְשֶׁמֵּבִין וּמְדַקְדֵּק בְּמַה שֶּׁיִּקְרָא יָבִין חוּץ לַסֻכָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה דַּעְתּוֹ מְיֻשֶּׁבֶת עָלָיו. הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל רָצָה מִתְפַּלֵּל בַּסֻּכָּה אוֹ חוּץ לַסֻּכָּה:

Throughout the seven days [of the festival], a person should read in the sukkah. However, when he attempts to comprehend what he reads in depth and appreciate its details, he should do so outside the sukkah, so that his mind will be settled. When a person prays, he may pray inside the sukkah or outside the sukkah, as he desires.

יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים הֲרֵי זֶה נִכְנָס לְתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת. מֵאֵימָתַי מֻתָּר לִפָּנוֹת, מִשֶּׁיָּרְדוּ לְתוֹךְ הַסֻּכָּה טִפּוֹת שֶׁאִם יִפְּלוּ לְתוֹךְ הַתַּבְשִׁיל יִפָּסֵל, אֲפִלּוּ תַּבְשִׁיל שֶׁל פּוֹל. הָיָה אוֹכֵל בַּסֻּכָּה וְיָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים וְנִכְנַס לְבֵיתוֹ וּפָסְקוּ הַגְּשָׁמִים אֵין מְחַיְּבִים אוֹתוֹ לַחֲזֹר לַסֻּכָּה (כָּל אוֹתוֹ הַלַּיְלָה) עַד שֶׁיִּגְמֹר סְעֻדָּתוֹ. הָיָה יָשֵׁן וְיָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים בַּלַּיְלָה וְנִכְנַס לְתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת וּפָסְקוּ הַגְּשָׁמִים אֵין מַטְרִיחִין אוֹתוֹ לַחֲזֹר לַסֻכָּה כָּל אוֹתוֹ הַלַּיְלָה אֶלָּא יָשֵׁן בְּבֵיתוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר:

If rain descends, a person may enter his home. When is one permitted to leave [the sukkah]? When enough raindrops descend into the sukkah so that they would spoil a cooked dish - even a dish of beans - were they to fall into it. If a person was eating in the sukkah and rain descended, and hence, he entered his home, if the rains stop we do not obligate him to return to his sukkah {that entire night} until he is finished eating. If he was sleeping and rain descended, and hence, he entered his home, we do not obligate him to return to his sukkah that entire night should the rains cease. Rather, he may remain sleeping in his house that entire night until dawn.

גָּמַר מִלֶּאֱכל בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּשַׁחֲרִית לֹא יַתִּיר סֻכָּתוֹ. אֲבָל מוֹרִיד הוּא אֶת כֵּלָיו וּמְפַנֶּה אוֹתָן מִן הַמִּנְחָה וּלְמַעְלָה. אֵין לוֹ מָקוֹם לְפַנּוֹת פּוֹחֵת בָּהּ אַרְבָּעָה עַל אַרְבָּעָה. וְאִם הֻצְרַךְ לִסְעֹד בִּשְׁאָר הַיּוֹם צָרִיךְ לֶאֱכל בַּסֻּכָּה, שֶׁמִּצְוָתָהּ כָּל שִׁבְעָה:

A person should not take apart his sukkah after he finishes eating on the seventh day [of Sukkot]. However, from the afternoon on, he may take down his utensils and remove them. If he has no place to put the utensils, he should reduce its space by at least four handbreadths by four handbreadths. If he has to eat later that day, he must eat in the sukkah, because the mitzvah extends throughout the seven days.

כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס לֵישֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה כָּל שִׁבְעָה מְבָרֵךְ קֹדֶם שֶׁיֵּשֵׁב אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לֵישֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה. וּבְלֵילֵי יוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן מְבָרֵךְ עַל הַסֻּכָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ עַל הַזְּמַן. וּמְסַדֵּר כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת עַל הַכּוֹס. נִמְצָא מְקַדֵּשׁ מְעֻמָּד וּמְבָרֵךְ לֵישֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה וְיוֹשֵׁב וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְבָרֵךְ עַל הַזְּמַן. וְכָזֶה הָיָה מִנְהַג רַבּוֹתַי וְרַבָּנֵי סְפָרַד לְקַדֵּשׁ מְעֵמָּד בְּלַיִל רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

Whenever a person enters a sukkah with the intention of sitting down throughout the seven [days of Sukkot], he should recite the following blessing before sitting: [Blessed are You...] who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah. On the first night of the festival, one should first recite the blessing on the sukkah, and then the blessing for the occasion. One should recite all the blessings over a cup of wine. Thus, one should recite kiddush while standing, recite the blessing leishev basukkah, sit, and then recite the blessing shehecheyanu. This was the custom of my teachers and the Rabbis of Spain: to recite kiddush while standing on the first night of the Sukkot festival, as explained.

בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה שֶׁאָנוּ עוֹשִׂין שְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים. יוֹשְׁבִין בַּסֻּכָּה שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים. וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי שֶׁהוּא יוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת יוֹשְׁבִין בָּהּ וְאֵין מְבָרְכִין לֵישֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה. וְכֵן טֻמְטוּם וְאַנְדְּרוֹגִינוּס לְעוֹלָם אֵין מְבָרְכִין לֵישֵׁב בַּסֻּכָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן חַיָּבִים מִסָּפֵק וְאֵין מְבָרְכִין מִסָּפֵק:

At present, when we celebrate holidays for two days, we dwell in the sukkah for eight days. On the eighth day, which is the first day of the holiday of Shemini Atzeret, we dwell in the sukkah, but do not recite the blessing leishev basukkah. Similarly, a tumtum and an androgynous never recite the blessing leishev basukkah, because their obligation [to perform the mitzvah is based] on doubt, and a blessing is never recited when one is doubtful [of one's obligation].

גָּמַר מִלֶּאֱכל בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי מוֹרִיד כֵּלָיו וּמְפַנֶּה אוֹתָהּ. אֵין לוֹ מָקוֹם לְהוֹרִיד אֶת כֵּלָיו אִם הָיְתָה קְטַנָּה מַכְנִיס בָּהּ מְנוֹרָה. וְאִם הָיְתָה גְּדוֹלָה מַכְנִיס בָּהּ קְדֵרוֹת וּקְעָרוֹת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן כְּדֵי לְהַזְכִּיר שֶׁהִיא פְּסוּלָה וְשֶׁכְּבָר נִגְמְרָה מִצְוָתָהּ וּמִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא יוֹם טוֹב אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִפְחֹת בָּהּ וּלְפָסְלָהּ:

After a person finishes eating on the eighth day [of Sukkot], he should take down his utensils and remove them. When a person has no place to put the utensils, [the following rules apply]: If it is a small [sukkah], he should bring his candelabra into it; if it is a large sukkah, he should bring in his pots, plates, and the like, to bring to mind that it is no longer acceptable and that its mitzvah is completed. Since the day is a holiday, one may not reduce its space and nullify it.

מִי שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה סֻכָּה בֵּין בְּשׁוֹגֵג בֵּין בְּמֵזִיד עוֹשֶׂה סֻכָּה בְּחֻלּוֹ שֶׁל מוֹעֵד. אֲפִלּוּ בְּסוֹף יוֹם שְׁבִיעִי עוֹשֶׂה סֻכָּה, שֶׁמִּצְוָתָהּ כָּל שִׁבְעָה. עֲצֵי סֻכָּה אֲסוּרִין כָּל שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי הֶחָג בֵּין עֲצֵי דְּפָנוֹת בֵּין עֲצֵי סְכָךְ אֵין נֵאוֹתִין מֵהֶן לְדָבָר אַחֵר כָּל שְׁמוֹנַת הַיָּמִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי כֻּלּוֹ הַסֻּכָּה מֻקְצָה עַד בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת וְהוֹאִיל וְהֻקְצַת לְבֵין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת שֶׁל שְׁמִינִי הֻקְצַת לְכָל הַיּוֹם:

A person who did not construct a sukkah [before the holiday] - whether intentionally or unintentionally - should construct a sukkah on Chol Hamo'ed. One should even construct a sukkah on the final moments of the seventh day, because its mitzvah lasts throughout the seventh day. The wood with which the sukkah was constructed is forbidden [to be used for other purposes] on all eight days of the festival. This applies to both the wood used for the walls and the wood used for the s'chach. Throughout [these] eight days, no benefit may be derived from it for other purposes. [They are prohibited on the eighth day] because the sukkah is muktzeh the entire seventh day, including the period beyn hash'mashot. Since it was muktzeh during the period beyn hash'mashot, it is muktzeh on the entire day [that follows].

וְכֵן אֳכָלִין וּמַשְׁקִין שֶׁתּוֹלִין בַּסֻּכָּה כְּדֵי לְנָאוֹתָהּ אָסוּר לְהִסְתַּפֵּק מֵהֶן כָּל שְׁמוֹנָה. וְאִם הִתְנָה עֲלֵיהֶן בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁתְּלָאָן וְאָמַר אֵינִי בּוֹדֵל מֵהֶן כָּל בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת הֲרֵי זֶה מִסְתַּפֵּק מֵהֶן בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁיִּרְצֶה. שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא הִקְצָה אוֹתָם וְלֹא חָלָה עֲלֵיהֶן קְדֻשַּׁת הַסֻּכָּה וְלֹא נֶחְשְׁבוּ כְּמוֹתָהּ:

Similarly, it is forbidden to take from the food and beverages that were hung in the sukkah as decorations for all eight days [of the festival]. However, if at the time one hung [the decorations], he made the condition: "I will not refrain from using them during the entire period of beyn hash'mashot," he is entitled to use them whenever he desires, because he did not set them aside, nor did the sanctity of the sukkah encompass them, nor are they considered part of it.