The following mishnah describes two different sukkot with the same problem.
Read the mishnah and draw the two sukkot.
(ב) הָעוֹשֶׂה סֻכָּתוֹ תַחַת הָאִילָן, כְּאִלּוּ עֲשָׂאָהּ בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּיִת. סֻכָּה עַל גַּבֵּי סֻכָּה, הָעֶלְיוֹנָה כְשֵׁרָה, וְהַתַּחְתּוֹנָה פְּסוּלָה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, אִם אֵין דִּיּוּרִין בָּעֶלְיוֹנָה, הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה כְּשֵׁרָה:
(2) With regard to one who establishes his sukka beneath a tree, it is as though he established it inside the house and it is unfit. If one established a sukka atop another sukka, the upper sukka is fit and the lower sukka is unfit. Rabbi Yehuda says: If there are no residents in the upper sukka, the lower sukka is fit.
Understanding the mishnah:
- Which part of the sukkah can’t function properly in both of these situations? The floor? The walls? The roof?
- From Mishnah 1:1 we know that the schach can’t let in more sun than shade. How would you edit the rule to include what you learned about the sukkah under a tree and the double-decker sukkah?
- Why do you think it is important for some sun to come into the sukkah?
Now read the next mishnah. The sukkah described there has a similar problem.
(ג) פֵּרַס עָלֶיהָ סָדִין מִפְּנֵי הַחַמָּה, אוֹ תַּחְתֶּיהָ מִפְּנֵי הַנְּשָׁר, אוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַס עַל גַּבֵּי הַקִּינוֹף, פְּסוּלָה...
(3) If one spread a sheet over the roofing as protection for those sitting in the sukka due to the sun, or if one spread a sheet beneath the roofing as protection due to the falling leaves, or if one spread a sheet as a canopy over the frame of a four-post [kinof] bed, the area in the sukka beneath the sheets is unfit...
- Draw one of the sukkot mentioned in Mishnah 1:3.
Why would someone want to cover their sukkah with a cloth? Think about the weather during Sukkot in your community.
When you have finished, click here for the next sheet.