Living in the Sukkah
The Sukkah commemorates the Clouds of Glory that protected Bnei Yisrael from the sun and heat of the desert. Therefore, whenever in the Sukkah, one’s intention is that this Mitzvah commemorates our Exodus from Egypt.
If the Sukkah contains a section of Schach which is Passul (such as when the edge of the Sukkah lies under the overhanging roof of the house or under the edge of a rain cover), one must ensure not only that he is sitting under an area of the Schach that is Kosher, but also, that the part of the table that he is eating at, is situated there as well.
Most do not eat or drink in the Sukkah if it is raining, however the Chabad custom is to continue eating and drinking in the Sukkah even in the rain or inclement weather, and a Leshev Basukkah is still recited when eating the Shiur of Hamotzie or Mezonot. [As mentioned earlier, it is forbidden on Chag or Shabbat to create a temporary roof whose purpose is to provide any sort of shelter. Therefore, one should not place a box or bag over his food to shelter if from the rain, unless there is less than one Tefach (8cm) of airspace in height.]
It is a Chabad custom to refrain from eating or drinking anything – even minute amounts – outside the Sukkah. The fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rebbe Rashab would even take medicine only in the Sukkah.
When eating in the Sukkah on Chag or Shabbat, one should be mindful about the prohibitions of trapping or killing insects. [Although it is forbidden to trap an insect, one is not required to inspect a container before closing it to ensure that there are no insects inside.]
One must treat the Sukkah respectfully. One may not wash dishes in the Sukkah, keep dirty dishes there, store tools or bikes, cook, or hang laundry. Similarly, one should not bring the rubbish bin into the Sukkah, but rather, carry waste to a rubbish bin stationed outside.
Throughout Sukkot, one spends as much time in the Sukkah as practical. One learns in the Sukkah, unless he finds it hard to focus there, or he needs constant access to his Seforim library, or he wishes to learn in a Beit Hamedrash.
One should daven with a Minyan in Shul. However, if circumstances require him to daven at home, he should do so in the Sukkah, unless he cannot focus there.
Many have the practice to sleep in the Sukkah, Chabad do not.
One mentions the daily Ushpizin (and Chabad add the Chassidishe Ushpizin) by sharing a Dvar Torah or story pertaining to them. There are many Torahs which focus on the common denominator between that day’s Ushpizin, as well as the contrasts between them.
The order of the Ushpizin/Chabad Ushpizin:
- Avraham / Baal Shem Tov.
- Yitzchok / Mezritcher Maggid.
- Yaakov / Alter Rebbe.
- Moshe / Mittele Rebbe.
- Aharon / Tzemach Tzeddek.
- Yosef / Rebbe Maharash.
- David / Rebbe Rashab.
One may use someone else’s Sukkah assuming that his friend consents to his Sukkah being used for the sake of the Mitzvah, but only if the Sukkah is otherwise vacant during that time, and it will be left in exactly the same condition.
