הלכות שופר וסוכה ולולב ה׳Shofar, Sukkah and Lulav 5

Halacha 1א׳

הַסְכָךְ שֶׁל סֻכָּה אֵינוֹ כָּשֵׁר מִכָּל דָּבָר. אֵין מְסַכְּכִין אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁגִּדּוּלוֹ מִן הָאָרֶץ שֶׁנֶּעֱקַר מִן הָאָרֶץ וְאֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה וְאֵין רֵיחוֹ רַע וְאֵינוֹ נוֹשֵׁר וְאֵינוֹ נוֹבֵל תָּמִיד:

The covering (skhakh) of the sukkah is not fit from everything. We may only roof with something that grows from the ground, that was detached from the ground, that is not [susceptible to] contracting impurity and that does not have a bad smell, nor constantly sheds or wilts.

Halacha 2ב׳

סִכֵּךְ בְּדָבָר שֶׁאֵין גִּדּוּלָיו מִן הָאָרֶץ אוֹ בִּמְחֻבָּר לָאָרֶץ אוֹ בְּדָבָר שֶׁמְּקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה פְּסוּלָה. אֲבָל אִם עָבַר וְסִכֵּךְ בְּדָבָר הַנּוֹבֵל וְנוֹשֵׁר אוֹ בְּדָבָר שֶׁרֵיחוֹ רַע כְּשֵׁרָה. שֶׁלֹּא אָמְרוּ אֵין מְסַכְּכִין בְּאֵלּוּ אֶלָּא כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יַנִּיחַ הַסֻּכָּה וְיֵצֵא. וְצָרִיךְ לְהִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ הוּצִין וְעָלִין שֶׁל סְכָךְ יוֹרְדִין לְתוֹךְ עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יָצֵר לוֹ בִּישִׁיבָתוֹ. סִכְּכָהּ בְּמִינֵי מַתָּכוֹת אוֹ בַּעֲצָמוֹת וְעוֹרוֹת פְּסוּלָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵינָן גִּדּוּלֵי קַרְקַע. הִדְלָה עָלֶיהָ גְּפָנִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן עַד שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ סֻכָּה פְּסוּלָה שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא נֶעֶקְרוּ. סִכְּכָהּ בִּכְלֵי עֵץ וּבְמַחֲצָלוֹת הָעֲשׂוּיוֹת לִשְׁכִיבָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן פְּסוּלָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה. וְכֵן אִם סִכְּכָהּ בְּשִׁבְרֵי כֵּלִים וּבְלִיּוֹתֵיהֶן פְּסוּלָה הוֹאִיל וְהָיוּ מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה שֶׁמָּא יְסַכֵּךְ בִּשְׁבָרִים שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא טָהֲרוּ:

[If] one did roof with something that does not grow from the ground or that was [still] connected to the ground or that is susceptible to impurity, it is disqualified. But if he transgressed and roofed with something that wilts or sheds or that has a bad smell, it is [still] fit. As [the Sages] only said we do not roof with these in order that one not abandon the sukkah and exit [it]. And one must be careful that the ends of the palm leaves and the leaves of the skhakh not descend within ten handbreadths so that his sitting not be cramped. ,[If] one roofed with types of metal, bones or skins — it is disqualified, since they are not [things] that grow from the ground. [If] one raised vines and that which is similar to them until they became [the covering of] a sukkah — it is disqualified, since they are not detached. [If] one roofed with wooden vessels and mats made for laying upon and that which is similar to them — it is disqualified, since they are [susceptible to] contracting impurity. And likewise if one roofed with shards of vessels or used up vessels — it is disqualified: Since they had been susceptible to contracting impurity, [we are concerned] lest one cover with shards that have not yet become pure [from that susceptibility].

Halacha 3ג׳

סִכְּכָהּ בָּאֳכָלִין פְּסוּלָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה. סוֹכֵי תְּאֵנִים וּבָהֶן תְּאֵנִים. פַּרְכִּילֵי עֲנָבִים וּבָהֶם עֲנָבִים. מִכְבָּדוֹת וּבָהֶם תְּמָרִים. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן. רוֹאִין אִם פְּסלֶת מְרֻבָּה עַל הָאֳכָלִין מְסַכְּכִין בָּהֶן וְאִם לָאו אֵין מְסַכְּכִין בָּהֶן. סִכֵּךְ בִּירָקוֹת שֶׁאִם יִבשׁוּ יִבּלוּ וְלֹא יִשָּׁאֵר בָּהֶן מַמָּשׁ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן עַתָּה לַחִים הֲרֵי מְקוֹמָן נֶחְשָׁב כְּאִלּוּ הוּא אֲוִיר וּכְאִלּוּ אֵינָם:

[If] one roofed with foods — it is disqualified, since they are [susceptible to] contracting impurity. [In a case of] branches of figs, with figs on them; grape vines, with grapes on them; date branches, with dates on them — and so too, anything that is similar to them: If we see that the residue is greater than the food, we may cover with them; but if not, we may not cover with them. [If] one roofed with vegetables — such that if they dry, they wilt and nothing substantial remains — even though they are fresh now, their place is surely considered as if it was air and as if they were not [there].