Chief Rabbi Issues Sukkot Travel and Dining Guidelines
As families plan holiday trips during Sukkot, a key question arises regarding the obligation to dwell in the Sukkah. According to Jewish law, travelers are generally exempt from the Sukkah requirement while on the road. However, there is a debate among rabbinic authorities whether this exemption applies to those traveling for leisure, like tourists. Some argue the exemption is primarily for those traveling for essential purposes, such as business, and thus one should not plan a trip where a Sukkah is unavailable if it means forfeiting the mitzvah. Others believe that tourists are also included in the exemption, though even by this view, it is advisable to avoid places where eating in a Sukkah is impossible. The practical guidance is to plan trips so that meals can be eaten in a Sukkah during the day.
The Chief Rabbi also addressed the mitzvah of eating in the Sukkah on the first night of the holiday. This night carries a Torah obligation to eat in the Sukkah, requiring at least a "kezayit" (olive-sized portion) of bread, and ideally more. This portion must be eaten within the prescribed halachic timeframe, and it is recommended to avoid speaking between Kiddush and eating the bread. If it rains, one should wait briefly for the rain to stop, but not for an extended period or past midnight. If the rain continues, one should recite Kiddush and the "Shehecheyanu" blessing in the Sukkah, eat a "kezayit" of bread without the "Yishiv Basukkah" blessing, and then continue the meal indoors. If the rain ceases later, one should return to the Sukkah, eat more than a "kezayit" of bread, and recite the "Yishiv Basukkah" blessing.
Regarding the eve of the holiday, it is recommended to prepare for the evening meal by avoiding significant amounts of bread and baked goods made from the five types of grain from approximately 3:30 PM. Lighter foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and eggs are permissible in moderation. The article also touches upon the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. While there is no longer a Torah obligation for a pilgrimage, the custom of visiting Jerusalem and the Western Wall during the holidays is maintained. Some authorities suggest an additional mitzvah of taking the Four Species (arba'at haminim) in the Old City of Jerusalem, particularly for those visiting the Western Wall during Sukkot's intermediate days.
