Succos

  • If you use mats for Schach you should make sure that the wind cannot blow them away.
  • You should put a plank of wood on top of the mats or tie them down with something that is not Mekabel Tumah (for example, with the leaves of a Lulav), you should not use plastic ties.
  • The best way to deal with bees is to have in the Sukkah a bee trap, which should be set up in the Sukkah before Yom Tov.
  • If you don’t have a bee trap, you may trap the bees on Shabbos and Yom Tov by placing a glass over them and removing them from the Sukkah.
  • You may not kill bees on Shabbos or Yom Tov.
  • You should prepare the Lulav Erev Yom Tov. 
  • You should make sure that the top of the Hadasim and Arovus should be 1 Tafach [3-4 inches] below the the top of the Shadra (not the top of the Lulav). 
  • You should put 3 rings on the Lulav.  
  • You should put the top ring a Tafach below the top of the Shadra. 
  • It is preferable that women take off their rings before shaking Lulav. 
  • The same Halocho applies to men, they should take off there T’filin-(R’mo 651:6). 
  • The Mishna Brurah (36) says that if by mistake you shook with your T’filin on you should shake over. 
  • During the seven days of Sukkos you are not obligated to eat in the Sukkah, but if you eat bread or Mezonus you have to eat it in the Sukkah.
  • However on the first night of Sukkos you are obligated Min H’torah to eat in the Sukkah at least a K’zayis (preferably a K’betzah) of Challah (Mishna Brurah 639:21:22).
  • You should eat the K’zayis B’chda Achilas Pras (2-4 minutes) (Mishna Brurah 639:22).
  • Women may make the Brocha L’shev B’Sukkah (Mishna Brurah 640:1).
  • The Minhag of the Sfardim (Baiss Yosef) is that women do not make L’shev L’Sukkah.
  • You should make Havdolah in the Sukkah.
  • Seeing it is a Shailoh whether you can say L’shaiv B’Sukkah on Havdolah you should wash or eat Mezunus right after Havdolah.
  • You should say L’shaiv by Havdolah (Rabbi Miller Shlita).

If in the unlikely event it is raining on the first night of Sukkos the following Halochos apply,

  • There is a Machlokus Rishonim if you have to eat in the Sukkah the first night even if it is raining.
  • To be Yotze all the Shitos and to be able to say L’shav B’sukkah the Mishna Brurah (639:35) says that you should wait to eat for the rain to stop (till Chatzos).
  • However the Shar Zion (67) says that if you are hungry or have guests you do not have to wait.
  • Halocho L’maaseh you are not obligated to wait-Rabbi Miller Shlita
  • If it is raining you should make Kiddush in the Sukkah and not make the Brocho L’shav B’Sukkah and eat a Kzayis of Challah in the Sukkah.
  • The rest of the meal you should eat inside.
  • If after you finished eating the rain stopped you should go back into the Sukkah and wash, say L’shav B’Sukkah and eat at least a K’Beitzah of Challah.
  • Bread, cookies and anything you make Mezonus/H’motzie on, you have to eat it in the Sukkah if you eat more than a K’betzah.(Shulchan Oruch 639:2)
  • Fruit, vegetables, soda etc. you may eat/drink out of the Sukkah even if you eat more than a K’betzah.
  • Wine is a Machlokas (R’mo 639:2 Biur Halocha) if you may drink it out of the Sukkah if you drink it B’kvius. Therefore it is best not to drink it out of the Sukkah. (Whiskey etc. has the same Halocho as wine, coffee/tea is a Shailo). (Mishna Brurah).
  • If you eat a full course meal without bread it is questionable if one may eat it out of the Sukkah. (Mishna Brurah 13,15)
  • Even though you may drink soda, eat fruit etc. outside the Sukkah, the Mechaber says one who is Makpid not to drink even water outside the Sukkah is praiseworthy.
  • It is important to note that in the middle of the meal, you may not drink even water out of the Sukkah (Sh’ar Zion).
  • You should make Havdolah in the Sukkah. 

  • Seeing it is a Shailoh whether you can say L’shaiv B’Sukkah on Havdolah you should wash or eat Mezunus right after Havdolah. 

  • You should say L’shaiv by Havdolah (Rabbi Miller Shlita).

  • The Minhag is to stay up the night of Hoshana Rabba (Mishna Brurah 664:1).
  • On Sukkos we are judged on water (Parnosah) and the final Chasimah is on Hoshana Rabba.
  • Therefore you should be Mispallel for Parnosah on Sukkos and especially on Hoshana Rabba.
  • You should remove the top ring of the Lulav on Hoshana Rabba (Shulchan Oruch 664:1).
  • There are different Minhogim when you should remove the ring, the Chazon Ish removed it after making the Brocha in the morning (some remove it after Hallel). The Chasam Sofer Zt”l removed it the night of Hoshana Rabba
  • On Hoshana Rabba the Minhag is to have a Yom Tov meal.
  • The Minhag is to have Kreplach. 
  • Hoshana Rabba is a special day and women should make an effort to daven more then you usually do. 
  • When lighting the candles on Sheminei Azeres and Simchas Torah you make two Brochos, L’hadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov and Shechayonu. 
  • On Shemini Azeres we say Yizkor. 
  • Some light a Yourzeit candle when we say Yizkor.  
  • You should preferably light it before Yom Tov.