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Seasons in Halacha
A Collection of Halachic Discussions Around the YearRabbi Pinchos Yehoshua Ellis
Seasons in Halacha
This invaluable book gives clarity to the Jewish practices throughout the year, with a clear inside look at the make-up and reason behind the minhagim and halachos that we observe year round.
Book Excerpt from Seasons in Halacha
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Seasons in Halacha:
Jewish laws, Jewish traditions & Jewish customs from around-the-year elucidated. Discover their meaning in this invaluable collection of Halachic discussions!
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Chapter Three
Succos
The Beracha of Leishev B'Succah
When Does One Recite the Beracha of Leishev B'Succah ?
There is a dispute amongst the halachic authorities when the beracha of leishev b'sukkah is recited. There are those who say that whenever a person enters a succah, to eat, or even if it is only to sit, stand or sleep, the beracha is recited. This is because sitting, standing and sleeping in the succah are all mitzvos as well. Others disagree, stating that only when eating an established meal in the succah is one required to recite the beracha, and even if one sat in the succah for an extended period of time, one will not recite the beracha until one eats an established meal.
Walking, sitting and sleeping in the succah, albeit a mitzvah, are considered secondary to eating in the succah, because eating establishes a permanent presence in one's succah. Therefore, by reciting the beracha of leishev b'succah when eating, one's subsequent actions of sleeping, sitting and standing are included by that beracha.1 The halacha is according to the second view. The beracha is recited only at the time of eating.2
The halachic authorities maintain that if one plans to merely sit in the succah, then it is proper to try to fulfill his mitzvah obligation according to all the opinions. This would be done by eating a piece of cake the size of a little more than an egg, before which one would recite the beracha. After doing so, he would remain in the succah. By doing this, one will not be sitting in the succah without a beracha.3 (See Chapter Four for a detailed discussion on when a beracha of leishev b'succah is recited on cake.)
When Does the beracha of Leishev B'succah Terminate?
If one bentched following a meal, but remained in the succah to chat or drink, and then decided to eat another meal, it is questionable4 whether or not he should recite another beracha at the second meal. On one hand, since he never left the succah, the beracha on the first meal still applies.
However, one could reason that since he bentched, the first beracha has been terminated, and he will require a new beracha for the second meal. The final halacha is that one does not recite a new beracha over the second meal, but preferably, if one could, he should leave the succah, get involved in something else, e.g. daven or have a conversation. This creates a hefsek. Then, when he returns for the second meal, he may recite a second beracha.5
However, if one left the succah in the middle of his meal, even if he went to daven or some other need, when he returns, a new beracha is not recited.
Therefore, it follows that when one recites the beracha of leishev b'succah in the succah over an established meal, one does not recite a new beracha over any other meals one may eat in the succah as long as one remains in the succah. His original beracha includes all his meals and activities in the succah. Even if one does leave the succah to bring something he needs (e.g. food or sefarim), or one has to go inside the house to use the facilities, when he returns to the succah, another beracha is not recited, since his intentions were to return to the succah right away.6
Likewise, if in the middle of one's meal it became necessary for him to leave the succah to daven in shul or to run an errand, since he is going to return immediately, one does not recite the beracha of leishev b'succah again.7
However, if one finished his meal and then leaves to daven in shul or to run an errand, even if his intention was to come back to sit in the succah after davening or running the errand, nevertheless, before eating his next meal, he recites the beracha of leishev b'succah.8
Reciting the Beracha of Leishev B'succah Even Though One is Not Eating in the Succah
There are halachic authorities who explain that the reason a beracha of leishev b'succah is recited only when eating is because all activities done in the succah are considered secondary to the act of eating.
Therefore, when one recites the beracha of leishev b'succah before eating, this beracha now includes all activities done in the succah. But if one is not eating in the succah, one would need to recite the beracha of leishev b'succah on other activities as well.
It follows, that if during one day of Chol Hamoed Succos, one is fasting or not eating bread or cake the entire day and evening (in the amount that would require him to recite the beracha), then a beracha of leishev b'succah would be recited by just entering and spending time in the succah.
Also, when one leaves the succah with no immediate intention to return, the next time one re-enters the succah, even though one is not eating, one would be required to recite the beracha of leishev b'succah again, providing one is not intending to eat a meal during this stay in the succah. Even if this would occur several times during the day, he would recite a beracha each time he re-enters the succah.9 But if one intended to return immediately, one would not recite a new beracha.
Therefore it follows that if one finishes his meal and leaves the succah with no intention to return immediately, when he returns to the succah to learn or sleep, he should recite a beracha only if he knows that before his next meal on that day or evening he will be leaving the succah to go to shul or run an errand.10 However, if he will remain in the succah until the next meal, he does not recite the beracha of leishev b'succah now, but rather before his next meal. The beracha recited then will include all his activities before and after the meal.11
Going to a Friend's Succah
According to this first opinion, if someone enters his friend's succah to spend time there, he recites the beracha of leishev b'succah even though he is not eating anything. But if he is going to the other succah simply to collect a loan or give him a message then no beracha is recited.12
Opposing Opinions
However, there are opinions who disagree with the above halachos and say that one never recites the beracha of leishev b'succah in the succah unless he is eating an established meal.13 For a final ruling on this matter consult your rav. It would be advisable not to bring oneself to such questions and to eat the amount of bread or mezonos which would require reciting the beracha of leishev b'succah on the eating.14
Eating in Two Different Locations
If one recited the beracha of leishev b'succah in his own succah with the intent to finish his meal in his friend's succah, there is a dispute amongst the halachic authorities whether or not one recites a second leishev b'succah in his friend's succah.15 The final halacha is that one does not recite a second beracha.16 However, preferably, one should not leave his succah in the middle of the meal to eat in a friend's succah, to avoid this question altogether.17
One could have in mind when he recites the beracha in his own succah that this beracha should only apply to his meal in his own succah. It is then proper to bentch before leaving one's succah. When he leaves his succah, he should create a hefsek (a small interruption), e.g. a conversation. He would then be able to recite the beracha of leishev b'succah in his friend's succah.18
If One Forgot to Recite Leishev B'succah
If one forgot to recite the beracha of leishev b'succah before one started his meal, one should recite it in the middle of the meal. If he already finished his meal but did not yet wash mayim acharonim and bentch, he should recite the beracha, eat a little bit more,19 and then bentch. If one had already washed mayim acharonim or bentched, he should recite the beracha of leishev b'succah (after bentching) and remain in the succah for a little while longer.20
If someone is in doubt whether or not he had already recited the beracha of leishev b'succah, then one does not recite the beracha.21
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