Have you put up a sukkah this year?

[Alessan]

The bamboo mats are popular, too. It’s a lot like the real vs. artificial Christmas tree debate - palm fronds are more authentic, but mats are more practical. It’s funny how stuff like that crosses cultures.

[commasense]

I misspoke earlier: the conduits making up my sukkah are eight feet, not ten (but cut down from 10-foot pieces). All the pieces are marked identically so they are interchangeable: any piece can be placed in any position.

For the “roof,” I used two rolls of this stuff:

Vigoro 6 ft. H x 16 ft. W Natural Reed Fencing 4477412 - The Home Depot

[Chronos]

@commasense

Technically speaking, no, a tent is not acceptable. There are several requirements to a sukkah, one of which is that the roof (called the s’chach) must be made of material that was once living, and cannot be solid: one must be able to see the stars through it. Some people use tree branches or wooden lattice. Also, one side should be open to the outside.

OK, now I’m wondering: Just what constitutes “material that was once living”? Would seashells count? If them, then limestone? Marble? Or how about petrochemical materials, or polylactate?

And it’s not too hard to build a lattice that’ll stop rain falling straight down, but still lets you see stars at an angle. Is that allowed? And what should one do if it rains, just accept getting wet?

[Babale]

@Chronos

And what should one do if it rains, just accept getting wet?

Be sad because all of the paper chains you made to decorate are ruined.

Also, the first rain of the year seemed to come during Sukkot every single year when I was growing up.

[Darren_Garrison]

@Chronos

Just what constitutes “material that was once living”?

When I saw that phrase I first thought of pelts or leather, before realizing that obviously it included plants, too.

[Darren_Garrison]

@puzzlegal

palm friends

“Are you two getting serious?”

“Nah, we’re just palm friends.”

[puzzlegal]

@Darren_Garrison

@Chronos

Just what constitutes “material that was once living”?

When I saw that phrase I first thought of pelts or leather, before realizing that obviously it included plants, too.

I actually think it needs to be material cut from plants. I don’t think leather is kosher.

If it rains, you are allowed to eat indoors, instead.

[commasense]

@Chronos

OK, now I’m wondering: Just what constitutes “material that was once living”? Would seashells count? If them, then limestone? Marble? Or how about petrochemical materials, or polylactate?

And it’s not too hard to build a lattice that’ll stop rain falling straight down, but still lets you see stars at an angle. Is that allowed? And what should one do if it rains, just accept getting wet?

I have no doubt that someone, somewhere, has asked their rabbi all of those questions. There’s nothing we like more than following the letter of the law while violating the spirit. Cf eruv.

I will note, however, that making a “temporary” structure out of marble would present some practical difficulties, depending, of course, on how you define “temporary.”

[puzzlegal]

Rules in general, but I’ve copied over the ones for the roof:

What Are the Rules for Building a Kosher Sukkah? | The Sukkah Project®

• Natural Materials Only: S’chach must be made from organic materials that have grown from the ground but are now detached. Common options include bamboo, palm fronds, evergreen branches, corn stalks, or similar plant materials.

I don’t think leather or marble has “grown from the ground”. Also, there are limits on how much it can be processed.

[commasense]

Thanks, @puzzlegal. I had never actually looked them up, only had them passed down verbally from my wife, who knows a lot more about these things than I do.