A kosher compliant home has kosher mezuzas on all entrances, and kosher appliances to make the kosher kitchen user friendly. Plus, no trees are hanging over the backyard area where the sukkah is to be built. How does anyone realize kosher roofs, porches, balconies and landings as well? How do you make a porch kosher compliant? The answer – build a ma’akeh.
What is a ma’akeh?
The Torah states in Parshas Ki-Seitze, “When you build a new house, then make a fence for your roof...”
The object of this positive mitzvah is to prevent a person from accidentally falling”, as the posuk continues, “...And you shall not put blood in your house, lest someone fall from there.”
A ma'akeh is required at the edge of any floor that people walk on, if the floor is more than ten t'fachim above the ground or above the next floor. The fence itself must be at least ten t'fachim tall.
A Tefach (a handbreath) is the width of a clenched fist. It is equivalent to a sit (used for measuring pieces of fabric). It is the distance between the index finger and the middle finger when held as far apart as possible.
Tefach is a significant measurement in several halachic issues.
Please indicate the number of Tefachim involved in the legal issues for following items:
- ____10____ MA’AKEH
- __________ HADAS
- __________ SUKKAH
- __________ PAROCHES (in the Mikdash)
- __________ MECHITZA
- __________ SHOFAR
- __________ LULAV
- __________ LAVUD
- __________ MENORAH
- __________ ARAVAH
There is a machlokes (disagreement) regarding the size of a Tefach: Rav Chaim No’ah – 8cm (3.14 inches) and the Chazon Ish – 9.6cm (3.77 inches)
