Eating in the Sukkah: Difference between revisions

# Women are exempt from the [[Sukkah]]. <ref> Mishna [[Sukkah]] 28a, Shulchan Aruch 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> Shulchan Aruch 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>

# A person who is sick is exempt from the [[Sukkah]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 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 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> Shulchan Aruch 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>

===Traveling===