How to Build a Sukkah

To meet the traditional mitzvah — or commandment — requirements for Sukkot, you should rebuild your Sukkah every year.

To have a kosher sukkah, there are a few key requirements you’ll need to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to choose a location that gets plenty of sunlight and shade - look for a spot in your yard that’s open but still provides some protection from the elements. Your sukkah should have at least two and a half walls, with the walls being stable and securely attached. Being able to last for the whole 7 days of Sukkot is a requirement as well for the sukkah to be kosher. If a sukkah is too flimsy and cannot stay up for all 7 days it is not deemed kosher.

Your sukkah needs to be at least 27 inches high, with a minimum width of 24 inches. The recommended size for most families is at least 8x10 feet, which provides enough room for a table, chairs, and decorations. However, sukkahs can be built much larger if needed. You can construct walls of any material sturdy enough to hold up in a regular wind, including wood, fiberglass, metal, canvas, siding, sheets and so on. You’ll want a sturdy structure for the walls, especially if you are building a longer and wider Sukkah to accommodate your family.

If you are following traditional requirements, you must erect the walls first and then put the s’chach covering in place, as the placing of the s’chach makes your Sukkah a shelter.

If there’s a gap between the bottom of the walls and the ground, it cannot be larger than 9.6 inches. Also, the walls may contain gaps, as long as the gaps are no wider than 9.6 inches.

The most important part of your sukkah is the schach, or sukkah roof. The schach must be made of natural materials that grow from the ground, like bamboo, corn stalks, palm leaves, or wood boards.The schach should not be too dense, or else it won't meet the requirement of allowing a view of the stars. As a general rule of thumb, if sunlight or moonlight can pass through the schach, it should allow enough visibility of the sky at night. The schach must also provide more shade than sun during the day. Test your schach before Sukkot to ensure it meets these standards.Whatever material you choose, make sure the individual pieces are spaced close enough together that rain won't get through so easily.

You must also spread the s’chach evenly across the entire Sukkah, leaving no gap larger than 9.6 inches. Traditionally, anything you use to support or fasten the s’chach must be composed only of materials suitable for being used as roofing material themselves.

For example, you may use strips of unfinished wood to support the s’chach resting on your Sukkah walls, but you cannot tie or fasten the material with wire or metal. However, not all Judaism sects follow this rule about the material being kosher. Some rabbis will argue that the bamboo must be free and clear of any treatment, as it must be 100% natural. Others are not as strict. 

As long as the walls are at least 32 inches in height, the roof can be higher — as long as it does not exceed 30 feet and the walls are beneath it.

Make your sukkah an inviting space by bringing in furniture like tables, chairs, cushions and blankets. Add lighting like string lights or lanterns so you can use the sukkah at night. You may want amenities like a mini fridge, snack bar or chargers for electronics. The more comfortable you make your sukkah, the more you’ll want to spend time in it.

Many people like to decorate their sukkah with natural, seasonal items. You can hang fruit like apples, pomegranates or grapes. Add bundles of wheat, barley or greenery like eucalyptus branches. These natural decorations make your sukkah smell wonderful and connect you to the fall harvest season.

If you have children, get them involved in decorating the sukkah. Have them make drawings, paper chains, origami, painted leaves or other crafts to hang up. Their homemade decorations will make the sukkah extra special and help them feel connected to this important mitzvah.

An important part of dwelling in the sukkah is sharing the experience with others. Invite friends and family over for a meal in your sukkah. Explain the meaning and traditions behind Sukkot to help enrich their experience. Sharing your sukkah, and the joy of this festival, with loved ones is what the mitzvah is all about.

Make your sukkah a place you want to be and enjoy this special time of connecting with community and dwelling under the stars.

Happy Sukkot