📄The Minimum and Maximum Length and Width of The Sukkah

The length/width:[1]

A Sukkah must have the minimum size of seven-by-seven Tefachim [57.2 x 57.2 cm[2], throughout a height of ten Tefachim from the ground[3], within the inside space of the Sukkah without including the walls[4]].[5] If it does not have this minimum size, it is invalid. [The Sukkah must be at least seven Tefachim both in width and length. If it is less than seven Tefachim in either length or width, then even if it contains a total space of 7 square Tefach, it is invalid. For example, a Sukkah that is 20 Tefach by 6 Tefach is invalid.[6]] A round Sukkah must contain the above square dimension within its circle.[7] As stated above, the 7×7 Tefachim is measured from the inside space of the Sukkah, and hence if one placed sheets or [pictures] or any other item on the wall of the Sukkah for the sake of decorating it, then it diminishes it from its inside space and if there will be less than 7×7 Tefachim inside the Sukkah due to it then it is invalid.[8]

Not enough space to sleep properly:[9] If one’s Sukkah is very small to the point that it is difficult for him to sleep comfortably while inside, such as if he is unable to stretch his arms and legs and must sleep in a fetal position with his arms and legs bent inward, the Sukkah nonetheless remains valid.[10]

Maximum size:[11] There is no maximum size for the Sukkah [and hence even if it is 1000×1000 Amos it is Kosher].

How to calculate the dimension if there are areas of the Sukkah that don’t contain Sechach: See Chapter 2 Halacha 2C regarding if it contains empty space, and Halacha 11 regarding if it contains invalid Sechach.

Corner areas and rooms in a Sukkah [see illustration]:[12] A Sukkah that contains an extension area [i.e. “corner” in Halacha] that is less than 7×7 Tefachim, then that extension are is invalid, and does not join the rest of the Sukkah. [If either the length or width of the extension area is less than 7 Tefachim, it is invalid.[13] However, one may be lenient to have one’s table situated in the area of this extension, even if it is less than 7×7.[14] Likewise, rooms that are separated with Mechitzos are invalid if they contain a dimension that is less than 7×7 Tefachim.[15] Thus, not only must the entire Sukkah be 7×7 Tefachim, but any area of the Sukkah that is separate from the other areas must also contain a dimension of 7×7 Tefachim.]

Dimensions of Sechach and roof of Sukkah-A Teepee shaped Sukkah, portable Sukkah, and car sunroof Sukkah?[16] The Sukkah must maintain a minimum dimension of 7×7 Tefachim throughout its height of ten Tefachim from the ground.[17] [However, past the height of ten Tefachim from the ground it is not necessary for it to maintain a 7×7 Tefachim dimension. Thus, technically, there is no requirement for there to be a 7×7 dimensions of Kosher Sechach on top of the Sukkah, so long as there is a 7×7 dimension of space inside the Sukkah for a height of ten Tefachim.] Accordingly, a teepee shaped Sukkah is Kosher even though its roof does not contain a space of 7×7 Tefachim, so long as there is a space of 7×7 Tefachim within a ten Tefachim height of the Sukkah when measuring from the ground.[18] Nonetheless, even by a teepee shaped Sukkah, there must be a minimum of a Tefach square of Sechach on its roof, or it must be lifted a Tefach from the ground.[19] In addition, in all cases, its walls must be made of material which is Kosher for Sechah being that the walls serve as part of the Kosher Sechach.[20] The above is all regarding a teepee shaped Sukkah, however by a regular Sukkah one must always maintain a 4×4 dimension of Kosher Sechach, and in all cases there must be enough Kosher Sechach to provide majority shade for the Sukkah to be Kosher.[21] Furthermore, even if one has a 4×4 dimension of Kosher Sechach it is only valid if there is less than 3×3 Tefach of empty space or non-Kosher Sechach material on the roof next to the 4×4 area of Kosher Sechach, otherwise it is invalid until there is a space of 7×7 of Kosher Sechach.[22] [In other words, there must be a roof of 7×7 Tefachim for the Sukkah to be Kosher, although from amongst that space, it is not required for that entire space to be made up of Kosher Sechach, and rather so long as it contains less than 3 Tefachim of non-Kosher Sechach in that space it is valid.[23] From here we can also learn the law regarding a portable travel Sukkah which is made in a slant, that it is not required to contain 7×7 Tefach dimension by its top, so long as it has this dimension for a height of ten Tefachim from the ground. However, it is only valid in such a case if the wall material of the portable Sukkah is made of material that is Kosher for Sechach, which is usually not the case, and it is hence invalid. Thus, one cannot turn a portable shower travel unit into a Sukkah by placing Sechach on its opening if the roof area is less than 7×7 Tefachim. If, however, the roof area is 7×7 Tefachim or more, and the window opens to a space of more than 4×4 Tefachim for the Kosher Sechach to be placed, and there isn’t 3×3 dimension of non-Kosher Sechach material[24], then it is valid. From this ruling we can also understand the law regarding if one can turn his car into a Sukkah by opening the sunroof and placing Sechach on top of it. Most sunroofs of cars [excluding convertibles] do not have a dimension of 7×7 Tefachim, with it usually being less than 7 Tefachim in one direction, and also do have more than 3×3 Tefachim[25] [and even more than 4×4 Tefachim[26]] of car roof on the front and back of the sunroof. Thus, it is invalid to make a Sukkah out of a car by placing Sechach on the sunroof window when open.] See Chapter 2 Halacha 6 for the full details of this Halacha!

 

Summary: The minimum dimension of a Sukkah is 57.2 x 57.2 centimeters with a minimum height of 82 centimeters, and a maximum height of 938 cm from the floor to the Sechach.   Q&A May one put up a Mechitza in a Sukkah?[27] A Mechitza may only be set up in a Sukkah if it leaves a dimension of 7×7 Tefachim on each side of the Mechitza, otherwise that area that contains less than 7×7 Tefachim becomes invalidated. Thus, when setting up Mechitzos in a Sukkah to separate between men and women, or to separate between diners in a restaurant or hotel, or to separate between people in quarantine, then one must make sure to leave a space of 7×7 Tefachim within each Mechitza.   May one sit near the inside edge of a round Sukkah?[28] Yes.   If there is furniture or appliances in the Sukkah, does it diminish from the 7×7 dimension?[29] Yes. Thus, one must beware that there remains a 7×7 Tefach free space in the Sukkah even after all the furniture and appliances are entered.

[1] Michaber 634:1; Rav Huna Sukkah 2a-3b and 16a that the Sukkah must hold the head, majority of and body and table; Rosh Sukkah 1; Rif 13a

Does a ledge or step inside of a Sukkah count as part of the 7 by 7 required Tefachim, as is common in porches to have a ledge surrounding it,on which the fence is situated? If the ledge is less than ten Tefachim high, than it counts as part of the 7×7 required Tefachim. If more than ten Tefachim high, it is questionable if it is valid. [See Devar Shmuel 203, brought in Shaareiy Teshuvah 634:3; Bikureiy Yaakov 634:6; Gilyonei Hashas Mahariy Engel Sukkah 16b; Mikraeiy Kodesh Sukkos 1:3; Chelkas Yaakov 3:16; Orchos Rabbeinu 2:220 in name of Chazon Ish; Shevet Halevi 8:148; Hasukkah Hashaleim Miluim 5:6 in name of Rav SZ”A; Piskeiy Teshuvos 634:4]

A Sukkah made with two walls pointing diagonally [like this <]: Some say that it should be viewed as three walls, however the space in the corner which does not contain 7×7 Tefachim is invalid to sit in. [See Chazon Ish Eiruvin 72:5; Piskeiy Teshuvos 634:2]

[2] See Shiureiy Torah p. 249 that an Ama Sochekes is 49 cm., and accordingly a Tefach Sochakos is 8.17 cm [i.e. 1/48 of a cm times 8.] and by the Shiur Sukkah of 7×7 one should measure with an Ama Sochakos. Thus, its exact Shiur is 57.19 cm; See also M”B 633:2 and Shaar Hatziyon 633:2 that by Sukkah we follow the stringent approach in the dimensions, either Dochakos or Sochakos, and by the 7×7 dimension we follow Sochakos, and the same would apply here by the ten Tefach dimension; See also Midos Vishureiy Torah pp. 48-57 regarding Ama Sochakos and Dochakos; Piskeiy Teshuvos 633:1; Minchas Chinuch Mitzvah 325 who rules that by Tefachim we don’t apply the extra Dochakos or Sochakos, and this is only done by Amos

Other opinions-Chazon Ish: According to the Chazon Ish, the measurement is 68.74 cm following the 9.82 measurement of Tefach Sochakos. [See Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid]

[3] Rama 631:10; Tur 631

[4] Michaber 632:3

Explanation: Meaning that it does not suffice for there to be 7×7 Tefachim when measuring from outside the walls of the Sukkah, as inside the Sukkah there will be less than 7×7 Tefachim, and the entire reason for requiring 7×7 Tefachim is because a person requires one Ama [six Tefachim by six Tefahcim] of space for his body to sit in, and one Tefach of a table, which is all measured inside the Sukkah.

[5] The reason: As only this size can hold one’s head, the majority of one’s body, and a table. [Sukkah ibid; M”B 634:1 and Shaar Hatziyon 634:1]

[6] M”A 634:1; Taz 634:1; Elya Raba ; Chacham Tzevi ; Mamar Mordechai; M”B 634:1

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it suffices if the Sukkah contains 7 square Teafch even if there is not Seven Tefach in the width or length. [Bach 634 in name of Tur, brought in Bikuereiy Yaakov 632:7]

[7] Michaber 634:2; Rebbe Yochanon in Sukkah 7b

[8] Michaber 632:3; Rav Ashi Sukkah 10; See however Michaber 633:3 where we rule regarding the 20 Amos that placing decorative items does not diminish the space inside the Sukkah. Vetzarcuh Iyun!

[9] Admur 640:7

[10] The reason: As this is not considered a true pain, as it is common on occasion for people to sleep in a fetal position with the body and limbs bent. [Admur ibid; Rama 640:4; Terumos Hadeshen 92; M”A 640:9

[11] Michaber ibid; Rambam Sukkah 4:1

[12] M”A 634:1; M”B 634:1; Biur Halacha 634:1 “Sukkah” in length; See Bigdei Yesha 634; Bikureiy Yaakov 634

Other opinions: Some Poskim negate the ruling of the M”A and rule that an extension of the Sukkah is valid just like the Sukkah itself and does not need to have its own 7×7 dimension. [Chazon Ish 144:6; Orchos Rabbeinu 2:29; See Bigdei Yesha 634; Bikureiy Yaakov 634]

The status of a Tzuras Hapesach in middle of Sukkah: If a Tzuras Hapesach is made in middle of a Sukkah, it is disputed as to whether it splits the Sukkah in two, and thus requires that both sides contain 7×7 and 3 Kosher walls for it to be Kosher. [See Minchas Yiotzchak 10:50 who rules its valid; Piskeiy Teshuvos 630:4 in name of Poskim that perhaps it is invalid]

[13] Biur Halacha 634:1 “Sukkah”, in negation of Derech HaChaim

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that a if the length of the extension is not 7 Tefachim it is valid, so long as the width is 7 Tefachim, being that one can join the rest of the Sukkah to its length. [Derech HaChaim, brought in Biur Halacha ibid; Chazon Ish 144:6; Chelkas Yaakov 3:16; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 634:1]

[14] Biur Halacha 634:1 “Sukkah” in name of Bikureiy Yaakov

[15] See Q&A!

[16] See Michaber 632:1; Rama 631:10; Tur 631; Beis Yosef 631 and 632; M”A 632:3; Elya Raba 632:3; Piskeiy Tehsuvos 632:6

[17] Rama 631:10; Tur 631

[18] Michaber and Rama 631:10; See Background in coming footnotes!

[19] Michaber 631:10

[20] Rama ibid

[21] See Michaber 632:1 that by a 7×7 Tefach Sukkah the Sukkah remains Kosher so long as one has more than 4×4 Tefachim of Kosher Sechach and the remaining [less than three Tefachim] if of non-Kosher Sechach

Background: See Ran, brought in Beis Yosef 631, that the Sechach wall of the teepee must be 17 Tefachim tall, ten for the height of the wall, and seven for the Sechach, hence implying that it must have seven [x7?] Tefachim worth of Sechach. However, see Beis Yosef in explanation of Rav Hamaggid on Rambam Sukkah 4:7 that according to some opinions [which the Rav Hamagid leans to agree with] there is never a need to have a 7×7 space of Sechach, and so long as it has a Tefach of Kosher Sechach it is valid if it contains a space of 7×7 Tefachim on the ground, and does not contain 3 Tefachim of invalid Sechach, or empty space, on top, such as by a teepee Sukkah. Practically, while the Rav Hamagid himself is stringent, and so seems to be the opinion of the Beis Yosef, in the Tur and Shulchan Aruch no one makes mention of a requirement for there to be 17 Tefachim of slanted wall made from Kosher Sechach. Nonetheless, the Rama ibid rules like the Ran that the slanted walls must be made of material that is Kosher for Sechach being that the walls are the Sechach, and the M”B 631:34 and Kaf Hachaim 631:55 rule that this applies even if it has a flat Tefach of Kosher Sechach. Thus, we see that the Poskim did accept the opinion of the Ran in regards to that a Tefach of Sechach does not suffice and one must include also the walls as Sechach. Vetzaruch Iyun according to this why also the condition of having 17 Tefachim of wall was not mentioned, although perhaps the Rama holds that the walls can serve both as Sechach and walls, Vetzaruch Iyun! Whatever the case, everyone agrees that a Sukkah of 7×7 remains Kosher so long as it contains more than 4×4 of Kosher Sechach [See Michaber 632:1] and hence we can conclude that so long as a Sukkah contains 4×4 Tefachim of Kosher Sechach it is valid even according to the Ran, and that he does not require a space of 7×7 of Kosher Sechach. However, in truth this is seemingly only correct according to the understanding of Elya Raba 632:3 who rules that so long as there is more than 4×4 of Kosher Sechach, then it is valid [under the Kosher Sechach] even if there is more than 3×3 of non-Kosher Sechach. However, according to the M”A 632:3 who rules that it is only valid if in addition to having more than 4×4 of Kosher Sechach it also has less than 3×3 of non-Kosher Sechach, as only then is it nullified to the Kosher Sechach [Taz 632:3; M”B 632:10], then we see that a Sukkah is invalid so long as it does not contain 7×7 of Kosher Sechach, or an exact measurement of 7×7 roofing which contains less than 3×3 of non-Kosher Sechach, in which case we view it as nullified to the Kosher Sechach. Practically, we rule like the M”A ibid. [P”M 632 A”A 3; Siddur Beis Shoeiva 632:11; M”B 632:8; Kaf Hachaim 632:12]  Vetzaruch Iyun why the Poskim don’t add the opinion of the Maggid Mishneh as recorded in the Beis Yosef ibid to prove like the Elya Raba that there is no requirement to have 7×7 Tefachim of Sechach, and that even one Tefach can suffice. Perhaps, however, the reason is because although a single Tefach of Kosher Sechach suffices, one is not allowed to have more non-Kosher Sechach than Kosher Sechach on the roof, or have 3 Tefachim or more of non-Kosher Sechach. Vetzaruch Iyun!

[22] M”A 632:3; P”M 632 A”A 3; Siddur Beis Shoeiva 632:11; M”B 632:8; Kaf Hachaim 632:12

The reason: As in such a case it contains less than 7×7 Tefachim of Kosher Sechach which is the minimum dimension required for a Sukkah. [M”A ibid; Poskim ibid] Now, although earlier we established that one only requires slightly more than 4×4 Tefachim of Kosher Sechach, this only applies in a case that the non-Kosher Sechach or empty space is nullified to the Kosher Sechach, or is considered non-existent, which is only applicable if it contains less than a 3×3 Tefach dimension. [See Bikureiy Yaakov 632:6]

Other opinions: Some Poskim question the above ruling of the M”A ibid and state that so long as the 9.5 by 9.5 Tefach Sukkah contains more than 4×4 Tefachim of Kosher Sechach, the Sukkah is valid and one may eat and sleep under the Kosher Sechach even if the remainder of the ceiling is non-Kosher Sechach and is greater than 3×3 Tefachim, as it is no different than the validation of a 7×7 Tefach Sukkah with slightly more than 4×4 Tefachim of Kosher Sechach. [Elya Raba 632:3; Bikureiy Yaakov 632:6; Hagahos Rav Akivga Eiger 632; Chazon Ish 144:3; See See Piskeiy Teshuvos 632:6] According to this approach, it is understood that there is no need for one to have 7×7 Tefachim of Kosher Sechach, and that so long as one has more than 4×4 Tefachim of Kosher Sechach, and has more Kosher Sechach then sunlight or non-Kosher Sechach, then it is valid. However, see Bikureiy Yaakov 632:6 who explains that even according to this opinion one needs part of the non-Kosher Sechach to join the Kosher Sechach for a total of a 7×7 dimension, and it is just that they rule that even more than 3×3 Tefachim of non-Kosher Sechach can join the Kosher Sechach to make up this dimension. However, this only applies if the non-Kosher Sechach is less than 4×4 Tefachim, as otherwise it is considered its own area of significance and cannot join the Kosher Sechach to make up its 7×7 dimension and is hence invalid. [Bikureiy Yaakov ibid; Chazon Ish 144:3; Piskeiy Teshuvos 632:6]

[23] This does not contradict the ruling by a Tzarif, in which we ruled that having a Tefach roof suffices, as there the slanted walls count as part of the 7×7 required roof and Sechach.

[24] This follows the opinion of the M”A ibid, however, according to the Elya Raba, it would be valid even if the invalid material is stretched more than 3×3 Tefachim, so long as it is less than 4×4 Tefachim.

[25] This follows the opinion of the M”A ibid, however, according to the Elya Raba, it would be valid even if the invalid material is stretched more than 3×3 Tefachim, so long as there is a 4×4 area of Sechach on the sunroof, which is the standard case for almost all sunroofs of vehicles.

[26] In which case it would be invalid even according to the Elya Raba ibid

[27] So is implied from Sukkah ibid regarding the inner rooms of the Sukkah of Hilni the Queen which were made for Tzenius purposes; M”A ibid regarding a corner

[28] Biur Halacha 634:1 “Sukkah” in negation of opinion of Bikureiy Yaakov in his understanding of M”A ibid that only the actual middle of the circle is valid

[29] Piskeiy Teshuvos 634:1 based on ruling of M”A and Poskim ibid who invalidate an extension from a Sukkah being that in that area one does not have a 7×7 space.