{"id":10990,"date":"2001-01-02T00:12:20","date_gmt":"2001-01-01T22:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=10990"},"modified":"2022-09-14T11:28:48","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T08:28:48","slug":"13-02-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/13-02-12\/","title":{"rendered":"12. Intention When Building a Sukka<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is a mitzva to engage in building a sukka<\/em>. According to the Sages of the Yerushalmi, one even recites a berakha<\/em> upon doing so: \u201cWho has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to make a sukka<\/em>\u201d (\u201cla\u2019asot sukka<\/em>\u201d \u2013 y. Berakhot<\/em> 9:3; y. Sukka<\/em> 1:2). However, in practice we follow the ruling of the Bavli and recite a berakha<\/em> on the mitzva when we fulfill it, namely, when we sit in the sukka<\/em> (Mena\u1e25ot<\/em> 42a; SA 641:1).<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, putting up a sukka<\/em> clearly involves a mitzva element. The pious and virtuous would hurry to begin building the sukka<\/em> right after Yom Kippur, so as to go directly from one mitzva to the next. They try to finish it by the next day, for when one has an opportunity to do a mitzva, he should make sure not to miss out (Maharil; Rema 624:5, 625:1).<\/p>\n

According to Beit Shammai, one must build a sukka<\/em> with the intention to fulfill the mitzva of the festival with it, as we read, \u201cYou shall hold (ta\u2019aseh<\/em>, lit. \u2018make\u2019) the seven-day festival of Sukkot\u201d (Devarim 16:13). Without such intent, the sukka<\/em> is invalid. However, the halakha<\/em> follows Beit Hillel\u2019s view that one need not put up the sukka<\/em> specifically for the mitzva of the festival. Rather, as long as he built it to provide shade, it is kosher. Therefore, a sukka<\/em> built by shepherds or guards to protect themselves from the sun is kosher, as is a sukka<\/em> made by a non-Jew to provide himself with shade (Sukka<\/em> 8a-b; SA 635:1). However, the Sages say that if a sukka<\/em> was not built for the mitzva of the festival, le-khat\u1e25ila<\/em> something should be added to it before the festival. For example, one could add a square tefa\u1e25<\/em> of sekhakh<\/em> or a strip of sekhakh<\/em> that extends the length of the sukka<\/em> (Yerushalmi; MB 636:4). The same applies to an \u201cold sukka<\/em>\u201d \u2013 a sukka<\/em> from a previous year that was never taken down. Technically it is kosher, but since it was put up for a previous year, it does not count as having been put up for this year\u2019s mitzva. Therefore, le-khat\u1e25ila<\/em> one should add either a square tefa\u1e25<\/em> or a strip of sekhakh<\/em> along its length (SA 636:1; MB ad loc<\/em>. 7).[17]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

If a sukka<\/em> was put up to provide privacy, it is invalid since it was not intended for shade. Similarly, if one put up a sukka<\/em> to serve as his permanent home, it is invalid even if the roof is made of kosher sekhakh<\/em>, since it is not a temporary residence. One who wants to use such a sukka<\/em> for the mitzva would have to remove all of the sekhakh<\/em> and replace it while having the mitzva of sukka <\/em>in mind.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n[17]<\/a>. According to the Yerushalmi, there is a mitzva to build a sukka<\/em>, as one must recite the berakha<\/em>: \u201cWho has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to build a sukka<\/em>\u201d (\u201cla\u2019asot sukka<\/em>\u201d). Indeed, She\u2019iltot<\/em>, Ve-zot Ha-berakha<\/em> \u00a7189 concurs (as is explained in the She\u2019iltot <\/em>commentary Ha\u2019amek She\u2019ala<\/em>). However, many maintain that building a sukka<\/em> is only a preparation for performing the mitzva. This is implied by the Bavli, which maintains that no berakha<\/em> is recited upon putting it up. It is also implied by Beit Hillel, who do not require intention when building it. (See BHL 656, end of s.v. \u201cafilu\u201d; Responsa Rashbash<\/em> \u00a7334.) The Yerushalmi also states that if a sukka<\/em> was not built for the purpose of the mitzva, there is a mitzva to add something to it. Binyan Shlomo<\/em> 1:43 explains that the Yerushalmi\u2019s reason is that it is a mitzva to put up a sukka, <\/em>and by adding something he participates in the mitzva of putting up the sukka<\/em>. This is the practical ruling, as we state above. It thus emerges that all agree that there is an element of mitzva in building a sukka<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The halakha is that a sukka<\/em> put up by a non-Jew or a woman is kosher (Sukka<\/em> 8a-b; SA 14:1, 635:1). Despite this, some say that le-khat\u1e25ila<\/em> one should be fastidious and have it built by a male Jew over the age of 13 (deferring to Rabbeinu Tam, who maintains that only one who is obligated in the mitzva may put up the sukka<\/em>). This is the position of Magen Avraham<\/em> 14:3, Bikurei Yaakov<\/em> 635:2, and Binyan Shlomo<\/em> 1:43. However, the widely accepted position is that a sukka<\/em> put up by a non-Jew or a woman is kosher even le-khat\u1e25ila<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is a mitzva to engage in building a sukka. According to the Sages of the Yerushalmi, one even recites a berakha upon doing so: \u201cWho has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to make a sukka\u201d (\u201cla\u2019asot sukka\u201d \u2013 y. Berakhot 9:3; y. Sukka 1:2). However, in practice we follow the ruling […]<\/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-10990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-13-02"],"yoast_head":"\n12. 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