{"id":10967,"date":"2001-01-02T00:04:48","date_gmt":"2001-01-01T22:04:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=10967"},"modified":"2022-07-31T14:03:19","modified_gmt":"2022-07-31T11:03:19","slug":"13-02-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/13-02-04\/","title":{"rendered":"04. Planks and Mats"},"content":{"rendered":"

A structure whose ceiling is made out of beams and planks is not a kosher sukka<\/em>. Although the beams and planks themselves could be acceptable as sekhakh<\/em>, as they are from plant matter and are not susceptible to tum\u2019a<\/em>, nevertheless, since the sukka<\/em> must be a temporary residence, the ceiling of a permanent residence renders it invalid as a sukka<\/em>.<\/p>\n

So that people do not mistakenly sit under a ceiling of beams or planks, the Sages decreed against using planks that are at least 4 tefa\u1e25im<\/em> (c. 30 cm) wide, as they resemble ceiling beams (Sukka<\/em> 14a). Nowadays we follow the stricter view and avoid using even planks that are less than 4 tefa\u1e25im <\/em>wide (SA 629:18; MB ad loc<\/em>. 49), as it is common to build ceilings out of planks that are narrower than 4 tefa\u1e25im<\/em> (Kol Bo <\/em>and Hagahot Maimoniyot<\/em>). However, beams that are less than a tefa\u1e25<\/em> (c. 7.5 cm) wide are not used to build ceilings, so they are acceptable according to all opinions \u2013 as long as they are not attached with nails or glue. In times of need, one may use beams more than a tefa\u1e25<\/em> but less than 2 tefa\u1e25im<\/em> wide. Certainly, then, one may use a beam wider than a tefa\u1e25<\/em> on which to place the sekhakh<\/em>. One who wants to paint these planks may do so, as paint does not invalidate the sekhakh<\/em>.[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

If one wishes to use a ceiling in the home that is made of planks as a sukka<\/em>, he must disjoin the planks from their fixed connection and re-place them. Once he has done something to the planks so that they are not a permanent ceiling, they are kosher as sekhakh<\/em>. However, if the planks were more than 4 tefa\u1e25im <\/em>wide, then even this action does not make them kosher sekhakh<\/em> (Rambam; second view in SA 631:9).<\/p>\n

Many people use \u201csekhakh la-netza\u1e25<\/em>,\u201d which is slats or narrow planks connected to one another with string, forming a type of mat. Some say that this sekhakh<\/em> is invalid, as linking the slats and planks with string causes them to be considered planks that are more than 4 tefa\u1e25im<\/em> wide, which are invalid due to the decree against ceiling material. However, common practice is not to be concerned for this, as the slats and narrow planks are loosely connected and flexible, and do not resemble the sort of planks used to build ceilings.[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

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\n[5]<\/a>. MB 629:3 states that under pressing circumstances, when the only material available for sekhakh<\/em> is planks that are 4 tefa\u1e25im<\/em> wide, one should use them, since they are kosher as sekhakh <\/em>at the Torah level, and according to the vast majority of poskim<\/em>, rabbinic enactments apply to normal circumstances, but under pressing circumstances, they do not invalidate the sukka <\/em>and one may make a berakha <\/em>upon sitting in the sukka<\/em>. In times of need, one may use beams up to 2 tefa\u1e25im<\/em> wide; since they are not too wide, one need not worry that they resemble a permanent roof. This is certainly true when there are only a few beams on which the rest of the sekhakh <\/em>is placed. (See Har\u1e25avot<\/em> 4:3-4.)<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a>. Many poskim<\/em> are lenient, including my master and teacher R. Avraham Shapira; R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Halikhot Shlomo<\/em> 8:5; Shevet Ha-Levi<\/em> 6:74; Az Nidberu<\/em> 2:66. It is also claimed that the string that holds the mats together is susceptible to tum\u2019a<\/em>, and one should not support sekhakh<\/em> with things that are susceptible to tum\u2019a<\/em>. However, the accepted halakhic view is that even if sekhakh<\/em> is supported by something susceptible to tum\u2019a<\/em>, it is still kosher, as is explained in the next section. In addition, as a rule, string is only invalid as sekhakh<\/em> rabbinically, and many permit supporting the sekhakh <\/em>with something that is rabbinically invalid as sekhakh<\/em>. Some books erroneously state that R. Mordechai Eliyahu and R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv were categorically opposed to the use of mats. However, in Hilkhot \u1e24agim<\/em> 50:39, R. Eliyahu writes that be-di\u2019avad<\/em> one may rely on those who are lenient. And at the end of Hilkhot \u1e24ag Be-\u1e25ag<\/em>, the author says that he showed this type of sekhakh<\/em> mat to R. Elyashiv and he unhesitatingly permitted it. See Har\u1e25avot<\/em> 2:4; 5:3.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A structure whose ceiling is made out of beams and planks is not a kosher sukka. Although the beams and planks themselves could be acceptable as sekhakh, as they are from plant matter and are not susceptible to tum\u2019a, nevertheless, since the sukka must be a temporary residence, the ceiling of a permanent residence renders […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[200],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-13-02"],"yoast_head":"\n04. 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