1These are the required measurements of a sukkah: Its height1 should not be less than ten handbreadths,2 nor more than twenty cubits.3 Its area should not be less than seven handbreadths by seven handbreadths.4 There is no maximum limit to its area,5 and one may increase it to include a number of millim.6 A sukkah which7 is less than ten handbreadths high, smaller than seven handbreadths by seven handbreadths in area, or taller than twenty cubits8—even if the increase or decrease is of the slightest amount—is invalid.אשִׁעוּר הַסֻּכָּה: גָּבְהָהּ - אֵין פָּחוֹת מֵעֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים, וְלֹא יָתֵר עַל עֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה. וְרָחְבָּהּ - אֵין פָּחוֹת מִשִּׁבְעָה טְפָחִים עַל שִׁבְעָה טְפָחִים, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ לְהוֹסִיף בְּרָחְבָּהּ אֲפִלּוּ כַּמָּה מִילִין. הָיְתָה פְּחוּתָה מֵעֲשָׂרָה אוֹ מִשִּׁבְעָה עַל שִׁבְעָה, אוֹ גְּבוֹהָה מֵעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה כָּל שֶׁהוּא - הֲרֵי זוֹ פְּסוּלָה.
2A sukkah which does not possess three walls is invalid.9 However, if it has two complete walls10 perpendicular to each other in the shape of the Greek letter gamma11 an L shape, it is sufficient to construct a third wall that is only slightly more than a handbreadth wide and place it within three handbreadths12 of one of the two walls.13 Also, one must construct the likeness of an entrance,14 since it15 the sukkah does not possess three complete walls.16 בסֻכָּה שֶׁאֵין לָהּ שָׁלוֹשׁ דְּפָנוֹת, פְּסוּלָה. הָיוּ לָהּ שְׁתֵּי דְּפָנוֹת גְּמוּרוֹת זֶה בְּצַד זֶה כְּמִין גַּם - עוֹשֶׂה דֹּפֶן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּרָחְבּוֹ יָתֵר עַל טֶפַח, וּמַעֲמִידוֹ בְּפָחוֹת מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה סָמוּךְ לְאֶחָד מִשְּׁתֵּי הַדְּפָנוֹת, וְדַיּוֹ. וְצָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהּ צוּרַת פֶּתַח, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין לָהּ שָׁלוֹשׁ דְּפָנוֹת גְּמוּרוֹת.
We have already explained in Hilchot Shabbat17 that wherever the term “a likeness of an entrance” is used, it may be a rod on one side, another rod on the opposite side, and a third above,18 even though the third rod does not touch the other two.19 וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת שַׁבָּת, שֶׁצּוּרַת פֶּתַח הָאֲמוּרָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם, אֲפִלּוּ קָנֶה מִכָּאן וְקָנֶה מִכָּאן וְקָנֶה עַל גַּבֵּיהֶן, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַגִּיעַ לָהֶן.
3If the two walls20 were parallel to each other and there was an open space between them, one should construct a wall slightly more than four handbreadths wide 21and place it within three handbreadths22 of one of the two walls; then, the sukkah is kosher.23 However, it is necessary to construct “the likeness of an entrance.”24 If the rods of the s’chach of the sukkah extend beyond the sukkah and one wall extends with them,25 they are considered to be part of the sukkah.26גהָיוּ לָהּ שְׁתֵּי דְּפָנוֹת זֶה כְּנֶגֶד זֶה וּבֵינֵיהֶן מְפֻלָּשׁ - עוֹשֶׂה דֹּפֶן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּרָחְבּוֹ אַרְבָּעָה טְפָחִים וּמַשֶׁהוּ, וּמַעֲמִידוֹ בְּפָחוֹת מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה סָמוּךְ לְאַחַת מִשְּׁתֵּי הַדְּפָנוֹת, וּכְשֵׁרָה; וְצָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהּ צוּרַת פֶּתַח. קָנִים הַיּוֹצְאִים מִסְּכַךְ הַסֻּכָּה לִפְנֵי הַסֻּכָּה, וְדֹפֶן אַחַת נִמְשֶׁכֶת עִמָּהֶן - הֲרֵי הֵן כַּסֻּכָּה.
4When a sukkah’s walls27 are connected to its roof the s’chach, but do not reach the earth,28 if they are three handbreadths above the earth, they are invalid.29 If the distance is less than that,30 they are kosher31 because of the principle of l’vud. The following rules apply should the walls be connected to the earth, without reaching the s’chach:32 If they are ten handbreadths high,33 they are kosher even though they are removed several cubits from the roof,34 provided they35 are positioned below the end of the roof36 i.e. s’chach. If the roof37 was separated horizontally from the wall by three handbreadths, it is invalid;38 less than this amount is kosher.39 If one suspended a partition which is slightly more than four handbreadths high at a distance of less than three handbreadths from the earth40 and a distance of less than three handbreadths from the roof,41 it is kosher.42 דדְּפָנוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ דְּבוּקוֹת בְּגַג הַסֻּכָּה, וְלֹא הָיוּ מַגִּיעוֹת לָאָרֶץ: אִם גְּבוֹהוֹת מִן הָאָרֶץ שְׁלוֹשָׁה טְפָחִים, פְּסוּלָה; פָּחוֹת מִכֵּן, כְּשֵׁרָה. הָיוּ הַדְּפָנוֹת דְּבוּקוֹת בָּאָרֶץ, וְלֹא הָיוּ מַגִּיעוֹת לַסְּכָךְ - אִם גְּבוֹהוֹת עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן רְחוֹקִין מִן הַגָּג כַּמָּה אַמּוֹת, כְּשֵׁרָה, וּבִלְבָד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַדְּפָנוֹת מְכֻוָּנוֹת תַּחַת שְׂפַת הַגָּג. הִרְחִיק אֶת הַגָּג מִן הַדֹּפֶן שְׁלוֹשָׁה טְפָחִים, פְּסוּלָה; פָּחוֹת מִכֵּן, כְּשֵׁרָה. תָּלָה מְחִצָּה שֶׁגָּבְהָהּ אַרְבָּעָה וּמַשֶׁהוּ בָּאֶמְצָע, בְּפָחוֹת מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה סָמוּךְ לָאָרֶץ, וּבְפָחוֹת מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה סָמוּךְ לַגָּג - הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

5When a person constructs his sukkah among the trees,43 using the trees as walls not s’chach, it is kosher if:44 a) they are strong enough45—or he tied them and reinforced them so that they would be strong enough—that they would not be shaken by the wind at all times;46 and, b) he filled the space between the branches47 with hay and straw,48 tying them49 so that they will not be shaken by the wind.ההָעוֹשֶׂה סֻכָּתוֹ בֵּין הָאִילָנוֹת, וְהָאִילָנוֹת דְּפָנוֹת - אִם הָיוּ חֲזָקִים, אוֹ שֶׁקָּשַׁר אוֹתָם וְחִזֵּק אוֹתָם עַד שֶׁלֹּא תִהְיֶה הָרוּחַ הַמְּצוּיָה מְנִידָה אוֹתָם תָּמִיד, וּמִלֵּא בֵּין הָאֲמִירִים בְּתֶבֶן וּבְקַשׁ כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תָנִיד אוֹתָם הָרוּחַ, וְקָשַׁר אוֹתָם - הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה.
This is necessary, for any partition that cannot stand before an ordinary50 land wind51 is not considered to be a partition.52שֶׁכָּל מְחִצָּה שֶׁאֵינָה יְכוֹלָה לַעֲמֹד בְּרוּחַ מְצוּיָה שֶׁל יַּבָּשָׁה, אֵינָהּ מְחִצָּה.
6If a person constructs his sukkah on top of a wagon53 or on the deck of a ship,54 it is kosher, and one may ascend to it on the festival.55 If one constructs it on the treetops or on a camel’s back, it is kosher,56 but one may not ascend to it on the festival,57 because climbing on a tree or animal is forbidden on a festival.58והָעוֹשֶׂה סֻכָּתוֹ בְּרֹאשׁ הָעֲגָלָה אוֹ בְּרֹאשׁ הַסְּפִינָה - כְּשֵׁרָה, וְעוֹלִין לָהּ בְּיוֹם טוֹב. בְּרֹאשׁ הָאִילָן, אוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַגָּמָל - כְּשֵׁרָה, וְאֵין עוֹלִין לָהּ בְּיוֹם טוֹב; לְפִי שֶׁאָסוּר לַעֲלוֹת בְּיוֹם טוֹב בָּאִילָן אוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי בְּהֵמָה.
If some of the walls were the result of human activity and some were trees, we consider its structure. We may ascend to any sukkah where, if the trees were taken away, it would be able to stand with the walls that were built by man alone.59הָיוּ מִקְצַת הַדְּפָנוֹת עֲשׂוּיוֹת בִּידֵי אָדָם וּמִקְצָתָן אִילָנוֹת - רוֹאִין, כָּל שֶׁאִלּוּ נִטְּלוּ הָאִילָנוֹת, הִיא יְכוֹלָה לַעֲמֹד בַּדְּפָנוֹת שֶׁבִּידֵי אָדָם - עוֹלִין לָהּ בְּיוֹם טוֹב.
7A sukkah that does not possess a roof is invalid.60 To what does this refer? A sukkah whose walls are joined to each other like a hut;61 alternatively, when the side of the sukkah is placed against the wall.62 However, if it63 has a roof, even only a handbreadth in width,64 or if one lifted the side of the sukkah close to the wall a handbreadth above the ground,65 it is kosher.66 A round sukkah, if its circumference is large enough to contain a square seven handbreadths by seven handbreadths, is kosher even though it has no corners.67 זסֻכָּה שֶׁאֵין לָהּ גָּג, פְּסוּלָה. כֵּיצַד? כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיוּ רָאשֵׁי הַדְּפָנוֹת דְּבוּקוֹת זֶה בְּזֶה כְּמִין צְרִיף, אוֹ שֶׁסָּמַךְ רֹאשׁ דֹּפֶן הַסֻּכָּה לַכּוֹתָל. וְאִם הָיָה לָהּ גָּג אֲפִלּוּ טֶפַח, אוֹ שֶׁהִגְבִּיהַּ הַדֹּפֶן הַסָּמוּךְ לַכּוֹתָל מִן הַקַּרְקָע טֶפַח - הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה. סֻכָּה עֲגוּלָה - אִם יֵשׁ בְּהֶקֵּפָהּ כְּדֵי לְרַבֵּעַ בָּהּ שִׁבְעָה טְפָחִים עַל שִׁבְעָה טְפָחִים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין לָהּ זָוִית, הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה.
8Should one place s’chach over an excedra68 which has projections extending from its pillars,69 it is kosher,70 regardless of whether the projections can be seen from the inside71—although they cannot be seen from the outside72—or whether they can be seen from the outside73—although they cannot be seen from the inside.74חסִכֵּךְ עַל גַּבֵּי אַכְסַדְרָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ פְּצִימִין - בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ נִרְאִין מִבִּפְנִים וְאֵין נִרְאִין מִבַּחוּץ, בֵּין שֶׁהָיוּ נִרְאִין מִבַּחוּץ וְאֵין נִרְאִין מִבִּפְנִים - כְּשֵׁרָה.
9If it75 does not have projections extending from its pillars76 it is not valid, because it resembles a sukkah constructed in an alley,77 because it has walls on only the two sides of the excedra. The middle of the excedra does not have a wall and there are no projections opposite it.78טלֹא הָיוּ לָהּ פְּצִימִין - פְּסוּלָה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא סֻכָּה הָעֲשׂוּיָה כְּמָבוֹי, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין לָהּ אֶלָא שְׁנֵי צִדֵּי הָאַכְסַדְרָה, וְאֶמְצָעִי הָאַכְסַדְרָה אֵין בּוֹ כּוֹתֶל, וְשֶׁכְּנֶגְדּוֹ אֵין בּוֹ פְּצִימִין.
10Should a person place s’chach over an alleyway which possesses a lechi79 vertical poles or a well which possesses passim80 partitions, it is considered a kosher sukkah only on the Sabbath of the festival.81 Since this lechi and these pasim are considered to be partitions with regard to the Sabbath laws,82 they are also considered to be partitions with regard to the laws of sukkah.83יסִכֵּךְ עַל גַּבֵּי מָבוֹי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לֶחִי אוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי בְּאֵר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ פַּסִּין - הֲרֵי זוֹ סֻכָּה כְּשֵׁרָה לְאוֹתָהּ שַׁבָּת שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הֶחָג בִּלְבָד; מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֶּחִי זֶה וּפַסִּין אֵלּוּ מְחִצּוֹת לְעִנְיַן שַׁבָּת, נַחְשֹׁב אוֹתָן כִּמְחִצּוֹת לְעִנְיַן סֻכָּה.
11Should a person implant four poles in the four corners of the roof and place s’chach upon them,84 it is kosher. Since he placed the s’chach above the edge of the roof, we consider that the lower walls ascend to the edge of the s’chach.85יאנָעַץ אַרְבָּעָה קֻנְדָסִין עַל אַרְבַּע זָוִיּוֹת הַגָּג וְסִכֵּךְ עַל גַּבָּן - הוֹאִיל וְהַסִּכּוּךְ עַל שְׂפַת הַגָּג, כָּשֵׁר; וְרוֹאִין אֶת הַמְּחִצּוֹת הַתַּחְתּוֹנוֹת כְּאִלּוּ הֵן עוֹלוֹת לְמַעְלָה עַל שְׂפַת הַסִּכּוּךְ.
12A sukkah which has many entrances and many windows in its walls is kosher even though the open portion86 exceeds the closed portion, provided there is no opening larger than ten cubits.87 If there is an opening larger than ten cubits, it is necessary that the closed portion exceed the open portion, even though the opening is constructed in the form of an entrance.88יבסֻכָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ פְּתָחִים הַרְבֵּה, וְיֵשׁ בְּכוֹתָלֶיהָ חַלּוֹנוֹת הַרְבֵּה - הֲרֵי זוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה; וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁפָּרוּץ מְרֻבֶּה עַל הָעוֹמֵד. וּבִלְבָד שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה שָׁם פֶּתַח יָתֵר עַל עֶשֶׂר. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה בָּהּ פֶּתַח יָתֵר עַל עֶשֶׂר - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ צוּרַת פֶּתַח, צָרִיךְ שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה הַפָּרוּץ מְרֻבֶּה עַל הָעוֹמֵד.
13When the height of a sukkah’s inner89 space exceeds twenty cubits, it is not acceptable.90 Should one reduce it91 by placing pillows and coverings on the floor, it is not considered to be reduced.92 This applies even if one considered them a permanent93 part of the sukkah.94יגסֻכָּה שֶׁאַוִּירָהּ גָּבוֹהַּ מֵעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה, וּמִעֲטָהּ בְּכָרִים וּכְסָתוֹת - אֵינוֹ מִעוּט, וַאֲפִלּוּ בִּטְּלָם.
If one reduced the space using straw and considered it as a permanent part of the sukkah, the space is considered to be reduced.95 Needless to say, the above applies if one used earth and considered it to be a permanent part of the sukkah.מִעֲטָהּ בְּתֶבֶן וּבִטְּלוֹ - הֲרֵי זֶה מִעוּט; וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר עָפָר וּבִטְּלוֹ.
However, if one merely brought in earth with no specific intention, its space is not considered to be reduced.96אֲבָל בֶּעָפָר סְתָם, אֵינוֹ מִעוּט.
If the inner space of a sukkah was twenty cubits high,97 but branches from the s’chach descend within the twenty cubits, the following principle applies: If its shade would be greater than its open portion98 because of these lower-hanging branches alone,99 it is considered as having thick s’chach100 and is kosher.101הָיְתָה גְּבוֹהָה מֵעֶשְׂרִים, וְהוּצִין יוֹרְדִין לְתוֹךְ עֶשְׂרִים, אִם הָיְתָה צִלָּתָן מְרֻבָּה מֵחַמָּתָן - יֵחָשְׁבוּ כְּגָג עָבֶה וּכְשֵׁרָה.
14When a sukkah is more than twenty cubits high, but one builds a bench102 next to the middle wall extending across its entire span103—if the width of the bench is equal to the minimum width of a sukkah seven hand-breadths,104 it is kosher.105ידבָּנָה אִצְטַבָּה בָּהּ כְּנֶגֶד דֹּפֶן הָאֶמְצָעִית עַל פְּנֵי כֻּלָּהּ, אִם יֵשׁ בָּאִצְטַבָּה שִׁעוּר רֹחַב הַסֻּכָּה - כְּשֵׁרָה.
Should one build the bench next to the middle wall along one side, if there are four cubits between the bench and the opposite wall, it is unacceptable.106 If there are fewer than four cubits, it is kosher.107בָּנָה אִצְטַבָּה מִן הַצַּד: אִם יֵשׁ מִשְּׂפַת אִצְטַבָּה וְלַכּוֹתָל אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, פְּסוּלָה; פָּחוֹת מֵאַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, כְּשֵׁרָה.
Should one build the bench in the middle of the sukkah, if there are four cubits from the edge of the bench to any of the sides of the sukkah,108 it109 is not acceptable.110 If there are fewer than four cubits,111 it is kosher. It is considered as if the walls touch the bench,112 and the distance from the bench to the s’chach is less than twenty cubits.113בָּנָה אִצְטַבָּה בְּאֶמְצָעָהּ: אִם יֵשׁ מִשְּׂפַת אִצְטַבָּה וְלַכּוֹתָל אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת לְכָל רוּחַ, פְּסוּלָה; פָּחוֹת מֵאַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, כְּשֵׁרָה, וּכְאִלּוּ הַמְּחִצּוֹת נוֹגְעוֹת בָּאִצְטַבָּה, וַהֲרֵי מִן הָאִצְטַבָּה עַד הַסִּכּוּךְ פָּחוֹת מֵעֶשְׂרִים.
If one constructs a pillar114 within a sukkah115 whose s’chach is more than twenty cubits high, the following rule applies: Even though the area above it is of the minimum size required of a sukkah,116 it is unacceptable,117 because its the pillar’s walls are not discernible.118 Thus, it is as if there is kosher s’chach above the pillar without any walls. בָּנָה בָּהּ עַמּוּד, וְיֵשׁ בּוֹ הֶכְשֵׁר סֻכָּה - פְּסוּלָה, שֶׁאֵין אֵלּוּ מְחִצּוֹת הַנִּכָּרוֹת, וְנִמְצָא עַל גַּב הָעַמּוּד סְכָךְ כָּשֵׁר, בְּלֹא דְּפָנוֹת.
15The following rule applies when the inner space of the sukkah was less than the minimum ten handbreadths high119 and one dug into the ground of the sukkah to create120 an inner space of ten handbreadths:121 If there are three handbreadths from the edge of the pit until the wall of the sukkah, it is not acceptable.122 If there is less than that amount, it is kosher,123 because any distance less than three handbreadths is considered to be insignificant, and the two entities are considered to be adjacent to each other, as explained in Hilchot Shabbat.124טוהָיְתָה פְּחוּתָה מֵעֲשָׂרָה, וְחָקַק בָּהּ לְהַשְׁלִימָהּ לַעֲשָׂרָה - אִם יֵשׁ מִשְּׂפַת חֲקָק וְלַכּוֹתָל שְׁלוֹשָׁה טְפָחִים, פְּסוּלָה; פָחוֹת מִכֵּן, כְּשֵׁרָה; שֶׁכָּל פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה הֲרֵי הוּא כְּדָבוּק, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת שַׁבָּת.
16The walls of the sukkah are kosher although made from all substances.125 All that is necessary is a barrier of any kind.126 Even living beings may serve that purpose.127 Thus, a person can create a wall of the sukkah by using a colleague so that he can eat, drink, and sleep in the sukkah, for which his colleague is serving as a wall128 even on the holiday.129 The above applies when one employs the person as a wall without his conscious knowledge. However, it is forbidden to create a wall by using a person130 when the latter is conscious of the fact on the holiday.131 Nevertheless, it is permitted during the other days of the festival.132 Similarly, a person may create a fourth wall133 from utensils on the holiday. However, he should not create a third wall using utensils134 on the holiday, because, by doing so, he is making the sukkah fit for use, and it is forbidden to create even a temporary tent on the holiday.טזדָּפְנֵי סֻכָּה כְּשֵׁרִין מִן הַכֹּל - שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ צְרִיכִין אֶלָא מְחִצָּה מִכָּל מָקוֹם, וַאֲפִלּוּ מִבַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים. וְעוֹשֶׂה אָדָם אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ דֹּפֶן בְּיוֹם טוֹב, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֹּאכַל וְיִשְׁתֶּה וְיִישַׁן בְּסֻכָּה כְּשֵׁרָה, שֶׁחֲבֵרוֹ דֹּפֶן לָהּ. וְהוּא שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא לְדַעַת זֶה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה דֹּפֶן; אֲבָל אִם עָשָׂהוּ לַדַּעַת - אָסוּר בְּיוֹם טוֹב, וּמֻתָּר בִּשְׁאָר יְמֵי הֶחָג. וְכֵן עוֹשֶׂה בְּכֵלִים דֹּפֶן רְבִיעִית בְּיוֹם טוֹב; אֲבָל דֹּפֶן שְׁלִישִׁית, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ בְּכֵלִים בְּיוֹם טוֹב, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא מַכְשִׁיר הַסֻּכָּה, וְאֵין עוֹשִׂין אֹהֶל עֲרַאי בְּיוֹם טוֹב.