Eating in the Sukkah
Which foods and what quantities of those foods require Sukkah?
Bread or Mezonos, foods in the quantity of a more than a Kibeitzah (around the size of a medium slice of challah, 6 crackers, 2.5 sandwich cookies), must be eaten in the Sukkah.
Chicken, meat, fish, and cheese do not need to be eaten in the Sukkah.
However, if one is eating a meal of these foods, it is preferable to eat in the Sukkah.
Beverages (water, juice, coffee, etc.), fruit, and vegetables do not need to be consumed in the Sukkah.
Though one is not required to eat these items in the Sukkah, there is a mitzvah to eat and drink all food items in the Sukkah.
Beracha of Leishev BaSukkah
Bread
One who eats bread more than a Kibeitzah in the Sukkah recites the Beracha.
Mezonos foods
One who eats a normal amount of cake, cookies, pretzels, etc. does not recite the Beracha.
However, if one is Kovea Seudah (full meal) or one eats together with a group of people, then the Beracha should be recited.
One who eats Mezonos foods at a Kiddush in the Sukkah should recite the Beracha (since one can only eat at a Kiddush if he eats a Seudah, the “Seudah” of Mezonos becomes their meal and the meal requires a Beracha).
When do we say the Beracha of Leishev BaSukkah?
The Beracha is recited after reciting the appropriate Beracha on the food/drink (before taking a bite/sip).
One who forgot to make the Beracha at the start of their meal
One who forgot to recite the Beracha can still recite it whenever they remember, provided that they have not yet recited the Beracha Acharona.
If they finished eating (but have not recited the appropriate Beracha Acharona) they should still recite the Beracha and eat some Mezonos foods.
Exemptions from eating in the Sukkah
Rain
Exemption due to rain on all days and nights except for the first two nights
Ordinarily (with the exception of the first two nights), if it rains on Sukkos, a person is exempt from eating in the Sukkah.
This only applies if it is actually raining, but a rainy forecast is not enough to allow one to exit the Sukkah.
Rain is relevant only if it is dripping in the Sukkah to the extent that if it occurred in the same manner in the home, one would change locations.
Even after the rain ends, one is exempt from eating in the Sukkah while rain drops continue to fall from the Schach at a significant rate.
If the meal commenced indoors because of the rain, one may complete the meal indoors even if the rain ends.
First night of Sukkos
If it is raining on the first night, one should ideally wait an hour or two after nightfall before reciting Kiddush to see if stops raining.
If it is too difficult for the family to wait, or if the weather forecast calls for continuous rain, it is not necessary to wait at all.
In such a case, one should enter the Sukkah with the family, recite Kiddush and Shehechiyanu, wash and eat one Kizayis of Challah (about one small slice) in the Sukkah. The Beracha of Leishev BaSukkah is not recited.
The meal is completed in the house.
If the rain stops during the meal, one returns to the Sukkah, recites the Beracha of Leishev BaSukkah and eats a Kibeitzah of Challah (around a medium slice).
If the rain subsides after completing the meal in the house, one washes and recites Hamotzi and Leishev BaSukkah in the Sukkah and eats a Kibeitzah of Challah.
Second night of Sukkos
If it raining, one waits a short time to see if it will subside.
If it does not subside:
Kiddush and Hamotzi are recited in the home after nightfall.
One should eat a Kizayis of Challah at the end of the meal in the Sukkah but does not recite Leishev BaSukkah.
If the rain ends:
If the rain stops in the middle of the meal, one enters the Sukkah and eat a Kizayis of Challah after reciting Leishev BaSukkah.
If the rain stops after completing the meal, one washes and recites Hamotzi and Leishev BaSukkah in the Sukkah and eats a Kibeitzah of Challah.
Women
Women are exempt from eating in the Sukkah
However, it is certainly a Mitzvah for them to choose to eat in the Sukkah.
Women of Ashkenazic descent who sit in the Sukkah should recite the Beracha of Leishev. Women of Sefardic descent do not recite a Beracha of Leishev.
Decorations
There is a custom to beautify the Mitzvah of Sukkah by adorning the Sukkah with decorations.
Prohibitions related to the decorations
One is forbidden to benefit or use the decorations during all eight days of Sukkos
Decorations should not be taken down during all eight days of Sukkos unless it is raining and one is worried that the decorations will be ruined.
One is allowed to change the location of the decorations from the Scach to the walls of the Sukkah.
Decorations that fell on the table
Yom Tov and Shabbos
If decorations fell onto the table during a Yom Tov meal, one could move it “Kl’achar Yad” (push it off of the table with non-Muktzah object, such as a spoon or fork). If one needs the spot of the table (Tzorech Mikomo) where the decorations fell then they can move it in the regular way
After Yom Tov is over
Decorations can be discarded after Yom Tov is over
Lulav and Esrog
Set up of the Lulav
With the spine of the Lulav (the greenish side) facing you, the Hadasdim should be on the right side and the Aravos on the left side
Haddasim should be higher up on the Lulav than the Aravos
The top of the Hadasim and Aravos should not be within four inches from the top of the Palm spine.
Proper way to hold the species during the Beracha
One should take the Lulav in their right hand. The Esrog should be taken upside down in the left hand while both Berachos (The Beracha of Al Netilas Lulav and the Beracha of Shehechiyanu) are recited. After the Beracha is recited, one turns the Esrog back straight and shakes the Lulav and Esrog.
Lefties
Lefties should hold the Lulav in their left hand and the Esrog in their right hand.
Lefties should have the Haddasim on the left side of the Lulav and the Aravos on the right side of the Lulav. However, some opinions maintain that a lefty should have the Haddasim on the right side of the Lulav and the Aravos on the left side of the Lulav.
The Beracha
One recites the Beracha of Al Netilas Lulav.
Normally, on the first day of Sukkos, the Beracha of Shehechiyanu is also recited. Since the first day of Sukkos is Shabbos and we do not take the Lulav on Shabbos, one should recite a Shehechiyanu on the second day of Sukkos.
When to recite the Beracha and fulfill the Mitzvah
Some have the custom of reciting the Bracha and shaking the Lulav in the Sukkah before davening. Others have the custom of reciting the Beracha and shaking the Lulav in shul before Hallel.
How to hold the Lulav and Esrog
One should hold the Lulav in their right hand with the spine (the greenish side) facing them and the Esrog in the left hand.
The Lulav and Esrog should be held together (there should not be a gap between the two).
Women
Women are exempt from the Mitzvah of Lulav.
However, it is certainly a Mitzvah for women to fulfill the mitzvah of Lulav.
Women of Ashkenazic descent who shake the Lulav should recite the Beracha of Al Netilas Lulav. Women of Sefardic descent do not recite the Beracha.
Discarding the Lulav and Esrog after Sukkos
Lulav and Esrog are not “Sheimos” and, as such, do not need to be buried. However, it is not appropriate to simply discard Mitzvah items in the garbage.
There is a custom to save the Lulav until Erev Pesach and burn it with the Chametz. This is so that you can use this Mitzvah object for another Mitzvah.
Alternatively, one can wrap the Lulav or Esrog in a bag or plastic and place it in the garbage.
The Esrog can be used to make Jam, Esrog Liqueur or as Besamim for the weekly Havdallah.
Shabbos
The Lulav and Esrog are not taken on Shabbos and are considered Muktzah
Hoshanos
Only those with a Lulav and Esrog should circle the Bimah with the congregation during Hoshanos.
An Avel (in the year of mourning) does not circle the Bimah during Hoshanos.
Hoshanos is only recited if one is davening with a Minyan.
Eruv Tavshillin
One is only allowed to cook on Yom Tov for that day alone. When Yom Tov is on Erev Shabbos, this presents an issue as it becomes difficult to properly prepare for Shabbos. In order to allow us to prepare (cook, light fires, etc.) for Shabbos, our sages created an “Eruv Tavshillin”.
The Eruv Tavshillin should be made on Wednesday afternoon before one lights candles for Tom Tov.
An Eruv Tavshillin is accomplished by taking two already prepared food items. One of these items should be a cooked food (traditionally a boiled egg), and the other item should be a baked item (Challah roll or Matzah).
A Beracha should be recited while holding the two prepared food items. A few sentences are recited after the Beracha. Both the Beracha and sentences can be found in a Machzor or in the back of many siddurim.
One should keep the Eruv in a secure place and not consume or discard it on Yom Tov.
Ideally, one should use the Matzah as part of Lechem Mishna (double bread) on Friday night and on Shabbos day and then eat the roll or Matzah as part of Shalosh Seudos.
One who cooks or warms up food on Friday (Yom Tov) for Shabbos should preferably make sure the food is cooked or warmed up with enough time to potentially serve guests (one does not need guests to actually come. One just needs enough time to hypothetically feed guests).
First night of Yom Tov
The correct Beracha is LeHadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov followed by Shehechiyanu.
Kiddush
Kiddush should not be recited until Tzeis Hakochavim.
After Kiddush, one should recite the Beracha of Leishev BaSukkah and then recite Shehechiyanu (The Beracha of Shehechiyanu is also going on the new Mitzvah of Sukkah).
First day of Yom Tov
Preparations for second night of Yom Tov
No preparations (including cooking, warming up food, or setting the table) should be done prior to candle lighting time.
Kiddush
The Beracha of Leishev BaSukkah
After Kiddush, one should recite Shehechiyanu before reciting the Beracha of Leishev BaSukkah.
Shabbos Chol Hamoed
The correct Beracha is LeHadlik Ner Shel Shabbos
Kiddush
A regular Shabbos Kiddush is recited
Saturday Night/Motzai Shabbos
Havdallah
What to say?
A regular full Havdalla is recited
Where to say Havdallah?
Havdallah should be recited in the Sukkah
There are three customs regarding the Beracha of Leishev BaSukkah during Havdallah.
Some do not recite a Leishev (since the drinking of wine or grape juice does not mandate a Beracha of Leishev unless there is a gathering to drink wine).
Others have a custom to eat cookies or cake immediately following Havdallah and recite the Leishev after Havdallah having the Mezonos foods in mind.
There are those that recite the Leishev just for having wine or grape juice.
Chol HaMoed
Tefillin
Those who wear Tefillin on Chol Hamoed should remove them after Kedushah of Chazaratz Hashatz.
Shaliach Tzibur on Chold Hamoed
Unlike Chol Hamoed Pesach, when the Shaliach Tzibur takes off his Tefillin (if he is wearing) after reciting Hallel, the Shaliach Tzibur on Chol Hamoed Sukkos should remove his Tefillin before reciting Hallel.
Hoshana Rabba
The Shabbos/Yom Tov Pisukei Dizimra is recited, except:
Mizmor LiSoda is recited.
Nishmas Kol Chai is not recited.
Night of Shemini Atzeres
The correct Beracha is LeHadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov followed by Shehechiyanu.
Night of Simchas Torah
Candle Lighting
No preparations (including cooking, warming up food, or setting the table) should be done prior to candle lighting time.
The correct Beracha is LeHadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov followed by Shehechiyanu
Motzai Shabbos
Havdallah
A regular full Havdalla is recited
Taking down the Sukkah
One is not allowed to take down the Sukkah on Chol HaMoed, even if they will not be home for the second days of Yom Tov, unless they are taking down to rebuilt somewhere else.