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Eating in the Sukkah: Difference between revisions
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==Who is obligated to eat in the Sukkah?== | ==Who is obligated to eat in the Sukkah?== | ||
# One who is exempt from the sukkah yet chooses to remain there does not receive reward for remaining in the sukkah and is foolish.<ref> Rama 639:7. The Biur Halacha 639 explains that one is only considered foolish if one became exempt while sitting in the sukkah and continued to sit there. This is particularly true with rain because Chazal compare rain on Sukkot to a servant who served his master water and had it splashed back in his face. Once the master demonstrated that he wasn’t interested in the services, if the servant forces his master to allow him to serve him the servant would be foolish. That is why remaining in the sukkah when it rains is foolish. Nonetheless, if one is technically exempt not because of suffering, (i.e. if it began to rain and then the rain stopped and he is still in the middle of eating his meal inside) and he chooses to return to the sukkah he will receive reward.</ref> | |||
===Women and Children=== | |||
# Women are exempt from the [[Sukkah]]. <ref> Mishna [[Sukkah]] 28a, S"A 640:1 </ref> | # Women are exempt from the [[Sukkah]]. <ref> Mishna [[Sukkah]] 28a, S"A 640:1 </ref> | ||
# Very young children are exempt from the [[Sukkah]], however, once they are reach that they no longer need their mother (around age 5) there is a mitzvah of [[Chinuch]] (training them in mitzvot) that a child be obligated in sitting in the [[sukkah]]. <ref> S"A 640:2, Mishna Brurah 640:2. The Magen Avraham 640 says that it is prohibited to feed children outside the [[sukkah]], just like it is forbidden to feed children not kosher food. Sh"uT Binyan Av 1:25 says that a man cannot feed the child outside the [[sukkah]] but a woman can. The Mishna Brurah 640:5 quotes this magen avraham and adds that on shouldn't even tell the child to eat outside the [[sukkah]]. Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Tshuvot Vihanhagot 3:211 says very young children are exempt based on the fact that they need their mothers to eat properly. Aruch Hashulchan 640:2 justifies not obligating them in sukka because children have a lower tolerance for the cold.</ref> | # Very young children are exempt from the [[Sukkah]], however, once they are reach that they no longer need their mother (around age 5) there is a mitzvah of [[Chinuch]] (training them in mitzvot) that a child be obligated in sitting in the [[sukkah]]. <ref> S"A 640:2, Mishna Brurah 640:2. The Magen Avraham 640 says that it is prohibited to feed children outside the [[sukkah]], just like it is forbidden to feed children not kosher food. Sh"uT Binyan Av 1:25 says that a man cannot feed the child outside the [[sukkah]] but a woman can. The Mishna Brurah 640:5 quotes this magen avraham and adds that on shouldn't even tell the child to eat outside the [[sukkah]]. Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Tshuvot Vihanhagot 3:211 says very young children are exempt based on the fact that they need their mothers to eat properly. Aruch Hashulchan 640:2 justifies not obligating them in sukka because children have a lower tolerance for the cold.</ref> | ||
===Sick or Suffering=== | |||
# A person who is sick is exempt from the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>S"A 640:3 based on Mishna [[Sukkah]] 25a. </ref> | # A person who is sick is exempt from the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>S"A 640:3 based on Mishna [[Sukkah]] 25a. </ref> | ||
# One is not required to eat in the [[sukkah]] if it is raining. <ref> Mishnah [[Sukkah]] 28b </ref> If it is raining and one began to eat inside, he may continue to eat inside even when it stops raining. <ref> Mishna Brurah 639:38 based on Rashi [[Sukkah]] 29a "viyardu." Ritva [[Sukkah]] 29a "Tannu Rabanan," writes that one is not required to eat in the [[sukkah]] if there are rain-clouds in the sky and it appears as if it is going to rain. Rav Shalom Schwadron in Daat Torah OC 639:5 says that most poskim don't accept this opinion but he is in doubt if you can recite a beracha in such a situation. </ref> However, these rules only apply after the first night. For the rules for the first night see below. | # One is not required to eat in the [[sukkah]] if it is raining. <ref> Mishnah [[Sukkah]] 28b </ref> If it is raining and one began to eat inside, he may continue to eat inside even when it stops raining. <ref> Mishna Brurah 639:38 based on Rashi [[Sukkah]] 29a "viyardu." Ritva [[Sukkah]] 29a "Tannu Rabanan," writes that one is not required to eat in the [[sukkah]] if there are rain-clouds in the sky and it appears as if it is going to rain. Rav Shalom Schwadron in Daat Torah OC 639:5 says that most poskim don't accept this opinion but he is in doubt if you can recite a beracha in such a situation. </ref> However, these rules only apply after the first night. For the rules for the first night see below. | ||
# One who is suffering from sitting in the sukkah is exempt. For instance, if one cannot sleep in the sukkah because of the wind, because of the flies buzzing, because of the cold, or even because of a small amount of rain he is exempt. Additionally, one is only exempt from the sukkah due to suffering if leaving the suka will help alleviate his suffering. <ref> S"A 640:4, Rama 639:2, 639:5, and 640:4 </ref> | # One who is suffering from sitting in the sukkah is exempt. For instance, if one cannot sleep in the sukkah because of the wind, because of the flies buzzing, because of the cold, or even because of a small amount of rain he is exempt. Additionally, one is only exempt from the sukkah due to suffering if leaving the suka will help alleviate his suffering. <ref> S"A 640:4, Rama 639:2, 639:5, and 640:4 </ref> | ||
# If on Shabbat the lights in the sukkah go out one is not obligated to go to his friend’s sukkah if this is difficult or uncomfortable; rather, he may eat his meal in his house.<ref> Rama 640:4</ref> | |||
# If one feels crowded in the sukkah this does not constitute “suffering” and one must continue to live there.<ref> Rama 640:4. Mishna Brurah 640:26 however writes that a fastidious person for whom this is difficult is exempt. </ref> | |||
# In general, one cannot claim he is suffering and that he is therefore exempt from the sukkah if others typically would not suffer from experiencing the matter he is facing.<ref> Rama 640:4. Nonetheless, the Mishna Brurah 640:29 writes that if one is a fastidious individual and other fastidious people of the same type would suffer from what he is undergoing, this would suffice to exempt him. </ref> | |||
===Traveling=== | |||
# Travelers who are traveling for business or for pressing matters <ref> Igrot Moshe OC 3:93 and Yalkut Yosef as quoted in Piskei Teshuvot p. 385 no. 38 hold that these are the travelers referred to in the S"A, whereas those who travel for pleasure or without a real need and claim that they are exempt from sukkah are acting improperly. </ref> are exempt from a sukkah as long as they are traveling.<ref> S"A 640:8</ref> When they pause their journey, if they are unable to find a sukkah they are also exempt from sukkah then. <ref> Rama 640:8 </ref> | |||
# If one is involved in a mitzvah such as going to learn Torah <ref> Mishna Brurah 640:35 </ref> he is exempt from the mitzvah of sukkah.<ref> The S"A 640:7 as explained by the Mishna Brurah feels that in such a case one is not required to enter a sukkah even when one reaches a resting point on his mitzvah journey, whereas the Rama writes that if this is not difficult and will not affect his ability to perform the mitzvah one should find a sukkah in which to eat and sleep. </ref> Accordingly, those tending to the needs of the sick are exempt from the sukkah.<ref> S"A 640:3 as explained by the Mishna Brurah. Note that this rule does not include those helping one who is mitztaer, but only the sick as defined above.</ref> | |||
==Which foods can one eat outside the Sukkah?== | ==Which foods can one eat outside the Sukkah?== | ||
