Q&A: Question Regarding a Sukkah Balcony
Question Regarding a Sukkah Balcony
Question
Hello Rabbi,
With the Rabbi’s permission, I’m asking by email so I can attach a relevant picture..
I have a problem mentioned in “Mikra’ei Kodesh” (in the picture I attached. It’s simply a good summary of the problem and the proposed solution mentioned by the halakhic decisors) regarding a sukkah balcony: along one axis of the sukkah I have only between 4 and 7 handbreadths that are not covered. As mentioned there in the book (in the attached picture), they proposed a solution by using a partition in the appropriate place (making the sukkah smaller so that the invalid roofing is less than 3 handbreadths, and therefore it joins the valid roofing).
In practice, I bought a “Sukkat Nehalim,” which is obviously larger, and I want to add the required partition in the appropriate place.
In the book there is an illustration where the partition is made of wood. The problem is that it seems hard for me to put up such a partition in my case (and honestly, I also have two left hands). My question is whether instead of a wooden partition, it can be made with ropes, using the principle of “lavud” (at the proper intervals, and reaching the required height of course), as one can make a regular wall of a sukkah that way..? Seemingly I don’t see any problem with that, but I want to make sure I’m not missing something..
Thank you very much in advance, and happy holiday,
Answer
If I understood correctly, we’re talking about 5 handbreadths of valid roofing, and you want to combine with it another two invalid handbreadths in order to complete it to 7 (= the minimum measure of a valid sukkah). A partition is indeed a possible solution, and a lavud partition is good for this just like any other partition. This is your sukkah wall, and all the laws of partitions apply to it as well.
Happy holiday,