Before entering the sukkah, one should bear in mind that Hashem commanded us to sit in the sukkah to remind us that He surrounded our ancestors with the Clouds of Glory when they left Mitzrayim and journeyed through the desert.
Throughout Sukkot, one should view the sukkah as his home. One should eat, drink, sleep, and even relax in the sukkah, fulfilling a mitzvah each time any of these activities is performed there.
Which foods need to be eaten in the sukkah?
Only bread or mezonot made from one of the five grains - wheat, oats, barley, spelt, and rye - must be eaten in the sukkah. While other foods may be eaten outside of the sukkah, it is praiseworthy that all food and drink, even water, be consumed in the sukkah.
Although the blessing on rice and rice products is ‘mezonot’, they do not need to be eaten in the sukkah.
If I am only eating a small amount, do I need to go into the sukkah?
Even when eating bread or mezonot, if one is eating a very small amount (less than a "k'betsah” - the volume equivalent to an egg), it does not need to be eaten in the sukkah.
If one is in the midst of a bread meal (of at least a k'betsah), he may not eat or drink even the slightest amount outside of the sukkah for the duration of the meal. One should also swallow the food in his mouth before exiting the sukkah.
How much do I have to eat in order to recite the beracha of leshev ba'sukkah?
The beracha is only recited when eating at least 54g of bread, or when eating 216g of ‘mezonot’ (excluding rice). Hacham Ovadia was of the opinion that the beracha should be recited even when eating only 162g of ‘mezonot’.
Since the misvah of sukkah is a time-bound commandment, women are exempt. Although they do get a misvah if they sit in the sukkah, they do not recite the beracha.
When should I recite the beracha of Leshev Ba'sukkah?
Many have the custom of reciting the beracha before hamotzi. Others recite hamotzi first and then the beracha of Leshev Ba'sukkah.
On Shabbat and Yom Tov, the beracha is incorporated into the kiddush. Since the kiddush is the beginning of the bread meal (as it must be recited at the location of the meal), the beracha is said then.
The beracha of Leshev Ba'sukkah should be said while standing.
What if I forgot to recite the beracha before beginning the meal?
As long as one is still in the middle of the meal, even if he is eating dessert or drinking, he may still recite the beracha. However, if he is no longer eating or drinking, the beracha may not be said, even if he did not recite Birkat Hamazon yet.
Can I pray and eat early on the first two nights of Sukkot?
On the first two nights of Sukkot, there is a requirement to eat bread in the sukkah. This is derived from Pesah; just like on Pesah night there is a mitsvah to eat matsah, so too on Sukkot, there is a mitsvah to eat bread in the sukkah. Since this mitsvah is a Biblical one, it cannot be fulfilled until after nightfall (‘tset hakochavim’).
Additionally, similar to Erev Pesach, to build an appetite, one should not eat any bread or mezonot foods from the beginning of the 10th hour of the day (a little after 3:47 p.m. in the NY/NJ area). One may eat a small amount of fruits, vegetables, or other non-satiating foods.
How much bread do I need to eat on the first two nights of Sukkot?
One should eat at least a k'zayit - approximately 1 oz. of bread - within a time frame of four to five minutes, similar to how one eats a k'zayit of matzah within that time frame. According to some opinions, a little bit more than a k'betsah of bread should be eaten, with each k'zayit being eaten within the said time-frame.
Throughout the seven days of Sukkot, a k'zayit is not required to be eaten in the sukkah, nor is the beracha recited when only eating a k'zayit. On the first two nights, however, even a k'zayit must be consumed in the sukkah, and the beracha is recited.
What should I do if it's raining on the first night of Sukkot?
Preferably, one should wait a little bit to see if the rain stops. If not, he may eat inside. However, if the rain stops before he goes to sleep, he is required to eat at least a k'zayit, and preferably a k'betsah, in the sukkah.
If one did not eat in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot, Sheheyanu is not recited before eating in the sukkah in the morning, even though he is eating in the sukkah for the first time.
What if I feel a light drizzle?
One should assess the amount of rain falling in his sukkah. If that amount of rain were falling in his house, would he relocate elsewhere? If he would, then at that point he is exempt from the sukkah. Regardless, the beracha of Leshev Ba'sukkah is not recited.
Even a small amount of rain absolves one of the requirement to sleep in the sukkah.
What if it's currently not raining, but water is still dripping into the sukkah?
If the amount of water dripping in would be enough to move elsewhere, one is not required to sit in the sukkah. Conversely, if one has thick schach and the rain is not entering his sukkah, he would still be obligated to eat in the sukkah.
What if I already moved inside and then it stopped raining?
If one already sat down to eat inside because of rain, he is not obligated to return to the sukkah. If he wishes to return to the sukkah anyway, a new beracha of Leshev Ba'sukkah should be recited. Similarly, if one went to sleep indoors due to the rain, he is not required to move back into the sukkah in the middle of the night.
Do I have to remove the awning when the rain stops?
One who covered their sukkah with an awning when it started raining must get up and remove the awning when the rain stops, even though he is in the middle of eating. In the case where one continued to eat in the sukkah under an awning, a new beracha is not recited after it stops raining.
What if my sukkah is full of mosquitos?
One is exempt if he is experiencing discomfort in the Sukkah, such as if there is an excessive amount of flies or mosquitos. If it is cold outside, one should wear warm clothes and eat in the Sukkah. One can even recite Leshev Ba'sukkah if bundled up properly. One should also sleep in the Sukkah with warm blankets, but if he is afraid of getting sick, he may sleep in the house.
Are children required to sit in the sukkah?
Boys from the age of five or six, depending on maturity, are required to sit in the sukkah. The misvah of hinuch is incumbent upon the father, so if he sees his son eating out of the sukkah, he should gently remind him to eat in the sukkah.
Although the mother does not have this obligation of hinuch (unless there is no father present), it is still not permitted for her, or anyone else, to instruct or set up the child to eat hamotzi or mezonot foods out of the sukkah.
Can I travel to a place where I will not have a sukkah?
One who must travel to a different city for business on Sukkot, and has no sukkah available to him where he is staying, is exempt from the mitzvah of sukkah. However, one who is traveling for vacation or pleasure is still obligated to eat and sleep in the sukkah.
I forgot Yaaleh V'yavo in Birkat Hamazon, do I have to repeat it?
On the first and second nights of Sukkot, if one forgets Yaaleh V'yavo, Birkat Hamazon must be repeated, since there is an obligation to eat bread according to all opinions. During the rest of the holiday, Birkat Hamazon is not repeated, in deference to the minority opinion which does not require one to eat bread. However, if it was raining on the first or second night and one ate inside, Birkat Hamazon is not repeated. Being that women are not obligated to sit in the sukkah, there is no difference between the first two nights and the rest of Yom Tov, and Birkat Hamazon would not be repeated.
On Shabbat, according to all opinions, one should eat bread for the first two meals, therefore if one forgets to say Retseh, they should repeat Birkat Hamazon. By Seudah Shlishit, where again there is a minority opinion that does not require bread, Birkat Hamazon is not repeated.
