If one’s Sukkah serves as part of one’s home, must all the Sechach be lifted and replaced each year before Sukkos?
- Example: One has a retractable roof in one of the rooms of his house which serves as a Sukkah during the Holiday. May one leave the Sechach remaining throughout the year and simply open the roof to use the Sukkah, or does the Sechach require removal and replacement?
If one lives in the room then all the Sechach must be lifted and then replaced before Sukkos.[1] This applies even if one has a retractable roof over the Sechach, nevertheless it does not suffice to simply open the roof.[2] If, however, one does not live in this room, then it suffices to simply open the roof before Sukkos. Some Poskim[3] however side that even if one lives in the room, it suffices to open the retractable roof.
The definition of living: Seemingly, it is only defined that one is living in the room regarding the above law, if one uses the room for eating, sleeping and all one’s regular house activity. If, however, one does not eat or sleep in the room then it is not considered a living area and hence does not require removal of all the Sechach prior to Sukkos.
[1] Bikurei Yaakov 635:1
Must one remove the Sechach after Sukkos? One is not required to remove the Sechach after Sukkos and then replace it the next Sukkos, and rather it may remain under the retractable roof throughout the year
[2] Bikurei Yaakov 635:1; M”B 636:8; Chelkas Yoev Tinyana 3; Avraham 141; Machshavos Beitza 24; Piskeiy Teshuvos 636:2; Nitei Gavriel 27:10
[3] Avnei Nezer 1:473; See Rav SZ”A brought in Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid footnote 7