From wobbly pre-fab sukkah walls to the ring on your finger during the lulav shake.
Q. What laws should I know about Sukkot?
We’ll mention several common, yet less-known points. Firstly, it’s mentioned explicitly in the Torah (Lev. 23, 43) to remember why we sit in the sukkah: commemorating the exodus from Egypt and the divine protection we enjoyed for 40 years afterwards in the desert. It’s always good to know why we do any mitzvah, but here, it’s inherently essential to remember each time. In addition, the sukkah walls must be stationary. This is a common problem with many “pre-fab” soft-sided sukkot which wave in the wind. The Chazon Ish allows for it to move 24 cm. in each direction, which does leave some leniency. The solution is to attach 4 taut horizontal elastic bands or wire (either inside or outside the sukkah)), with less than 23 cm. between them (and between the ground and the bottom band), which altogether, must reach a height of at least 80 cm.
Regarding taking the lulav and etrog, many forget to remove their rings from their fingers, which disconnect your hand from the species. If this happens, then Ashkenazim must retake the 4 species and shake them again, just without making the bracha, while Sefaradim needn’t do so, if they forgot. Also, on the first day, there is a special requirement that the species belong to you. If you wish to borrow, you must ask the owner to give them as a gift, even though he knows that you will return them afterwards. This solution is only valid if the owner is over Bar/Bat-mitzvah.
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