DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.1 MB)
Succot- How to Conduct Oneself in the Sukka; Which Amounts of Food Require a Sukka

Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Hazon Ovadia – Laws of Sukkot (p. 127), discusses the Halachic principle of "Teshevu Ke'en Taduru," which requires that throughout the festival of Sukkot one must treat his Sukka as his home. Accordingly, one should use in the Sukka the same chinaware, glasses and other fine utensils that he normally uses in his home. It is improper to use disposable plates and utensils in the Sukka if one normally does not use disposable goods. Similarly, one should not bring pots and the like into the Sukka. Just as food is normally served to the table in comely serving bowls and platters, so should one bring food to the Sukka in proper serving utensils. And even if there are those who bring pots directly to the table, since they comprise the minority of people, they, too, must bring food to the Sukka in proper serving utensils.

It is forbidden to perform in the Sukka any activity that might seem degrading to the Sukka, such as washing dishes and diapering a baby. Hacham Ovadia rules that smoking is permissible in the Sukka, as it does not constitute a degrading activity. (He does not address here the issue of smoking generally and the health hazard it could present.) He further writes that one may wash Netilat Yadayim at the table in the Sukka, just as many people are accustomed to doing at their tables inside the home.

Throughout the festival of Sukkot, it is forbidden to eat bread outside the Sukka, unless one eats a quantity of 2 oz. or less. If one eats more than 2oz, he must eat in the Sukka and recite the Beracha of "Lei'shev Ba'sukka." If one eats 2oz or less of bread and wishes to do so in the Sukka, he does not recite the Beracha of "Lei'shev Ba'sukka." If after eating 2 oz. he decides to eat some more, then he should recite the Beracha even though he intends to eat only a small amount. Since altogether the amount of bread he eats on that occasion amounts to more than 2 oz., he must recite the Beracha. This is the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yosef (ibid. p. 133).

Other grain products, too, such as cake and pastries, must be eaten in the Sukka if one eats more than 2 oz. In such a case, however, one does not recite the Beracha of "Lei'shev Ba'sukka" unless he partakes of 8 oz. or more of these products.

Summary: Throughout the festival of Sukkot one should use in his Sukka the same kinds of utensils he uses at home, including serving utensils. One may not performing degrading activities in the Sukka such as washing dishes and diapering a child. During Sukkot, one who eats more than 2 oz. of bread or other grain products must do so in the Sukka. He recites the Beracha of "Lei'shev Ba'sukka" if he eats more than 2 oz. of bread, or if he eats 8 oz. or more of other grain products.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
If the Hazan Forgot to Recite Ya’aleh Ve’yabo During the Repetition of the Amida on Rosh Hodesh
Should Two Kaddishim be Recited if a Shiur is Given Immediately Before Arbit?
Reciting “Yiheyu Le’rason Imreh Fi” at the End of the Amida
The Kaddish Before Baruch She’amar
The Value of Praying “Vatikin” and Studying Torah Before Prayer
The Importance and Significance of Birkat Ha’lebana
The Custom Among Syrian Jews Regarding the Text of “Ve’la’minim” and Other Portions of the Amida
Adding Prayers for Forgiveness and for One’s Livelihood in “Shema Kolenu”
If One Mistakenly Recited “Morid Ha’tal” Instead of “Mashib Ha’ru’ah U’morid Ha’geshem”
Should a Mourner be Called for an Aliya if He is the Only Kohen in Attendance?
May Birkat Kohanim be Recited if a Non-Jew is Present
If a Kohen Was Mistakenly Called for the Second Aliya; Calling Kohanim for Later Aliyot
How Should the Aliyot be Arranged in a Minyan of Only Kohanim, or if There is Only One Yisrael?
Birkat Kohanim – The Hazan’s Announcement of “Kohanim”; If There is One Kohen or No Kohanim Present
Birkat Kohanim in a Place Without a Sefer Torah; One Who Enters the Synagogue During Birkat Kohanim; Reciting Birkat Kohanim Several Times in One Day
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found