From the Rav’s Desk: Cooking and Barbecue in a Sukkah

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  1. Question: [Sunday, 7th Tishreiy, 5782]

May I cook or barbecue in a Sukkah? I have a barbecue that is drilled into my Sukkah patio, may I leave it in the Sukkah and if so, may I use it to barbecue in the Sukkah?

 

Answer:

No. You may not cook or barbecue in a Sukkah. Furthermore, if possible, the barbecue grill is to be removed from the Sukkah.

Explanation: From the letter of the law, it is permitted to enter pots and pans of food into a Sukkah for the sake of the meal. Nonetheless, once the meal has been completed, one is to remove the [dirty] pots, pans, and plates from the Sukkah, being that after their use they are considered repulsive [and it is belittling to the Sukkah to have them remain]. According to some opinions, leaving dirty pots and plates in a Sukkah can invalidate the Sukkah, and it is hence to be removed immediately after the meal is completed. Many Poskim record that the custom is not to enter pots and pans of food into a Sukkah at all even for the purpose of serving the food, and rather the food is serving in a dish a tray. Based on all this, we can also conclude regarding cooking in the Sukkah, that it is not to be done, and that furthermore, one is not to leave any cooking ware, such as a stove or oven in the Sukkah.

 

Sources: Avnei Derech 9:84; See regarding entering pots into a Sukkah: Admur 639:2; Michaber and Rama 639:1; Rambam 6:5; Sukkah 29a; M”B 639:3; Kaf Hachaim 639:14; See also Michaber 666:1; Piskeiy Teshuvos 639:2

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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