BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — A nor’easter is threatening to bring rain and strong winds to North Jersey during the first days of Sukkos, potentially complicating one of the central mitzvos of Yom Tov as families prepare to eat their meals in the sukkah.
Many Bergen County shuls have already distributed practical halachic guidance, while others will likely do so shortly.
A few Bergen County rabbis have shared guidance addressing what to do when rain interferes with eating in the sukkah. The guidance is generally consistent on the major principles, while there are some differences in the practical details, including how long to wait for the rain to stop and what to do if the weather changes during the meal.
This is a summary and explainer, not halachic guidance. BC News Now is not a halachic authority. The information below is intended to help explain the general framework of the guidance being shared in the community. It should not be relied upon as a psak or as a determination of what an individual should do.
For practical halachic guidance, readers should follow the instructions of their own rabbi or the specific guidance issued by their shul. Individual circumstances, including the needs of children and guests, the nature of the rain and whether it is expected to continue, can affect the appropriate course of action.
The first night
The first night of Sukkos is treated differently from the rest of Sukkos when it comes to rain.
Generally, if rain is falling into the sukkah heavily enough that it would spoil one's meal or cause a person to leave a similar situation in their home, a person can be considered a mitzta'er and eat indoors. On the first night, however, there is a special requirement to eat at least a k'zayis of bread in the sukkah even when it is raining.
When rain is intermittent or there is a reasonable possibility that it will stop, there is an emphasis on waiting before beginning the meal. Depending on the circumstances, that can mean waiting approximately an hour or somewhat longer to see whether the rain clears. The wait should not, however, come at the expense of simchas Yom Tov, and circumstances such as young children or guests can affect whether waiting is practical.
If the rain is expected to continue throughout the night, there are circumstances in which there is no need for an extended wait.
When the meal begins while it is raining, the general procedure is to make Kiddush in the sukkah, including Shehecheyanu, and eat at least a k'zayis of bread there. Leishev BaSukkah is not recited while eating in the sukkah because of the rain. The remainder of the meal can then be continued indoors.
If the rain stops later in the evening, the guidance generally calls for returning to the sukkah and eating additional bread there, with Leishev BaSukkah recited. The amount discussed is a k'beitzah, approximately twice the size of a k'zayis. The precise procedure can depend on when the rain stops and what has already taken place during the meal.
The second night
The second night is different from the first.
If it is raining, there is generally much less reason to delay the beginning of the meal while waiting for the weather to improve. The meal can begin indoors, with the person going to the sukkah toward the end of the meal to eat at least a k'zayis of bread if the rain is still falling.
In that circumstance, Leishev BaSukkah is not recited.
If the rain stops later in the evening, the person may need to return to the sukkah and eat additional bread there. The precise procedure depends on the circumstances and should follow the person's own rabbinic guidance.
The rest of Sukkos
During the remainder of Sukkos, the general principle is that when rain is significant enough to make someone a mitzta'er, the person is generally exempt from eating in the sukkah and may eat indoors.
One practical description of the threshold is rain falling strongly enough that it would spoil the food or cause a person to leave a comparable situation in their home.
If someone has already begun a meal indoors because of the rain and the weather subsequently improves, whether the person should interrupt the meal and return to the sukkah can depend on the circumstances.
Securing the sukkah
The approaching storm also creates an important safety concern.
Schach and other sukkah components should be properly secured so that strong winds do not cause them to become a danger to people or property. Guidance shared in the community has discussed options including twine, natural-material rope, plastic zip ties and placing 2-by-4 boards across the top of the schach to help keep it in place.
The appropriate method depends on the construction of each sukkah, and questions about how to properly secure schach should be directed to one's rabbi.
There is also guidance addressing what happens if severe weather damages a sukkah and renders it unfit for the mitzvah. In certain circumstances, when another usable sukkah is not reasonably available, repairs by a non-Jew may be permitted even on Shabbos or Yom Tov. This too is a matter for one's rabbi to determine based on the circumstances.
The bottom line
The broad distinction is straightforward: the first night of Sukkos carries a special requirement to eat in the sukkah even when it is raining, while during the remainder of Sukkos, significant rain can generally exempt a person from eating in the sukkah.
Exactly when to wait, when to begin the meal indoors, how much bread to eat in the sukkah and what to do if the rain stops can depend on the circumstances and the halachic guidance being followed.
With a nor’easter threatening the first days of Sukkos, families should check the guidance from their shul, speak with their personal rabbi about any questions and make sure their sukkah is safely secured before the weather arrives.
The above is a general educational summary only. It is not a psak or practical halachic instruction. For practical halachic guidance, consult your own rabbi.
