The Sukkah commemorates the Clouds of Glory that protected Bnei Yisroel 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 Possul (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.
It is Chabad custom to eat and drink in the Sukkah even in the rain or inclement weather, and a Leisheiv Basukkah is still recited when eating the Shiur of Hamotzie or Mezonos. [As mentioned earlier, it is forbidden on Yom Tov or Shabbos 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 it from the rain, unless there is less than one Tefach (8cm) of airspace in height.]
It is Chabad custom to refrain from eating or drinking anything – even minute amounts – outside the Sukkah. The Rebbe Rashab would even take medicine only in the Sukkah.
When eating in the Sukkah on Yom Tov or Shabbos, 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 Sukkos, 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 Beis Hamedrash.
One should daven with a Minyan in Shule. However, if circumstances require him to daven at home, he should do so in the Sukkah, unless he cannot focus there.
Chabad practice is not to sleep in the Sukkah.
One mentions the daily Ushpizin and Chassidishe Ushpizin by sharing a Dvar Torah or story pertaining to them. There are many Sichos which focus on the common denominator between that day’s Ushpizin, as well as the contrasts between them.
The order of the Ushpizin:
- Avraham / Baal Shem Tov.
- Yitzchok / Mezritcher Maggid.
- Yaakov / Alter Rebbe.
- Moshe / Mittele Rebbe.
- Aharon / Tzemach Tzeddek.
- Yosef / Rebbe Maharash.
- Dovid / Rebbe Rashab.
One may assume that a Sukkah owner consents to its use by others for the sake of the Mitzvah, but only when the Sukkah would otherwise be vacant, the owner’s privacy is not encroached, and the Sukkah is left in exactly the same condition after use.
