1,170. Reducing the Height of a Too-Tall Succah

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 4:13

If a succah’s interior height exceeds 20 cubits (about 30’), one must reduce it. If he did so with pillows and cushions, it is not considered reduced even if one considered them a permanent part of his succah. If he reduced the height with straw and he considered it a permanent part of his succah, it is considered reduced; this is all the more so if one used earth and considered it a permanent part of his succah. If one brought earth but did not have the necessary intention, then the height is not considered reduced. If the succah was 20 cubits tall but the schach dipped to within 20 cubits, then the following rule applies: If the succah’s shady area would exceed the sunny area based on this schach alone, it is considered to have thick schach and is therefore valid.

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 4:14

Let’s say that a succah is more than 20 cubits tall. If someone builds a bench across the entire length of the middle wall and the width of the bench is equal to the minimum width of a succah (i.e., seven handbreadths, about 21”), the succah is rendered fit. If someone builds a bench along one of the side walls, then if there are four cubits or more between the bench and the opposite wall, it is invalid; if there are fewer than four cubits, it is valid. If the bench is built in the middle, then if there are more than four cubits from the bench to any of the sides, it is invalid; if there are fewer than four cubits, it is valid. We consider the walls as if they touch the bench, and the distance from the bench to the schach is less than 20 cubits. If one erects a pillar in the succah, even if it is the minimum size of a succah (seven handbreadths by seven handbreadths), it is not fit for use because the walls of the pillar are not recognizable as such. It is as if there is valid schach over the pillar without any walls.