1,186. How to Dwell in the Succah

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 6:4

Messengers on a mitzvah-related mission are exempt from the mitzvah of succah both by day and by night. People on a journey by day are exempt during the day and obligated at night. People on a journey by night are exempt at night and are obligated during the day. A city's day watchmen are exempt from the mitzvah of succah by day and obligated by night. The night watchmen are exempt at night and obligated during the day. Watchmen of gardens and orchards are exempt both by day and by night because if they were to build a succah, thieves would realize that the watchman has a fixed location, so they’ll simply go steal from another spot.

Hilchos Shofar, Succah v’Lulav 6:5

The mitzvah to dwell in a succah is fulfilled as follows: one must eat, drink and live in the succah for all seven days of the holiday, both by day and by night, the same way that one dwells in his home the rest of the year. For all these seven days, one must treat his house as a temporary dwelling and the succah as his permanent home, as per Leviticus 23:42, “You shall dwell in succahs for seven days.” Accordingly, one’s nicest utensils and best bedding should be used in the succah, as should his drinking vessels like cups and pitchers. Utensils used for preparing food, like pots and pans and plates, should remain outside the succah. A candelabra should be brought into the succah but if the succah is small it may be left outside.