Prepared by Rabbi Steven Cohen

TOOLS

hammer
screw driver
electric drill and bits

For a bigger succah, add more panels. The succah must have a minimum' of three. walls and it does not need to have a door in the opening. It may, be connected to an existing brick wall. The succah must not be-built under a tree, balcony, or the eaves of. the houset it,must be under the open sky.

When the greenery is place on the roof, it should not completely obscure the sky when seenn from the inside. There should % be more shade than sunlight.

ASSEMBLY

  1. Build a frame around each of the 4'x 8' panels using 8' lengths of 1" x 2" for the long sides and 4' lengths of 1" x 2" for the short'sides. Attach the frames to
    the panels using the 2" nails.
  2. 2. Arrange the panels so that the frames are on the outside of the succah. Line up the two panels on each side and drill three sets of holes, top, centre and bottom, through the frames.
  3. Use the 3" nuts and bolts to connect the panels to each other.
  4. Use one length of 8' 1" x 2" to nail across the top o the. door too connect. it to the perpendicular side of the succah. This will strengthen it by connecting-the fourth wall to the. first wall where there is no panel.
  5. Decorate your succah with laminated posters and colourful plastic' fruit and ornaments. Make your succah as festive as you can.
  6. Use your best tableware in the succah during Yomtov and celebrate Succot in styles.

If you are the do-it-yourself type and wish to build a succah in time for Succot.this year, here; is, an,easy-to follow guide for this project.

If you are less ambitious, but still wish to have a succah, you might investigate the possibilities of a "prefab" succah. These are available commercially around the city at Jewish book stores, or through private individuals who specialize in succahs. Call 731-2695 or 781-6421.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

To build a succah with floor space of 8 feet x feet, you will need. the following:

WALLS

Seven 4'x 8' panels of chip-board or some other durable panelling wood. (It might be wise to paint them with a weatherproof stain)

Fourteen 8' lengths of 1 " x 2" pine
Fourteen 4' lengths of 1" 2" pine
Eighteen 3" nuts and bolts 2" nails

ROOF

Approximately thirty - 9' lengths o Vx2" pine or bamboo Cedar boughs, bull rushes or other green branches

NOTE: For a, "kosher" succah, it is not permissable to nail down the roof pieces. They musty lay- across, the top without being affixed.