1,177. A Succah Under a Tree

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 5:11

Small bundles that were tied to be sold by number may be used as schach. If one cuts the top off of a date palm and its branches, it may be used as schach because things that are naturally attached are not considered bundles. Even if one ties the tops of the branches on one side so that they appear to be a bundle with one end naturally attached and the other tied by man, it still may be used as schach. A tree that is tied is not considered a bundle; it is considered a single piece of wood because the branches are attached together naturally. Any knot that is not strong enough to hold when carrying the bundle is not considered a knot (i.e., they are as if untied and may therefore be used as schach).

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 5:12

Building a succah under a tree is the same as building it in the house (i.e., invalid). If one draped leaves and branches from a tree over a succah and then put valid schach over them, after which he detached them, then if the schach that was valid at the outset exceeds the branches and leaves, it is valid. If the schach that was valid at the outset does not exceed the branches and leaves, he must move them after they have been detached. In this way, they will have been placed for the purposes of a succah.