Amidst the security tensions along the northern and southern borders of Eretz Yisroel, many questions have been directed to Rav Yitzchak Yosef regarding the observance of the mitzvah of sukkah during these times.
In a comprehensive teshuvah to residents of Akko, the Chief Rabbi gave clear guidelines to the Torah-observant public living in areas threatened by missile fire from the north and south.
“Everyone should build a sukkah near their home, as they do every year, despite the distress and pressure caused by the war,” he ruled. The rov explained that the fear of sirens does not qualify as mitzta’er (distress), which would exempt one from the sukkah, since the same fear exists even when leaving the sukkah.
However, the Chief Rabbi addressed certain situations where leniency may be applied. Regarding sleeping in the sukkah, he ruled that in places where the warning time (to seek shelter) is short, and there is concern that one might not have enough time to reach a protected area, they are exempt from sleeping in the sukkah.
“There is certainly an exemption in such a case, as one might not always hear the alert, and even if they do, by the time they rise and reach the shelter, they could be in danger. In the home, they are more protected,” the rov explained.
Concerning eating in the sukkah, he ruled that as a general principle, one should try to eat in the sukkah as usual. However, in the towns near the Gaza border and the northern border where there is no warning time at all, “they should build a sukkah and at least try to quickly eat a kezayis on the first night.”
The Chief Rabbi also addressed a situation where a man’s wife is anxious and cannot calm down if her husband sleeps in the sukkah. In such a case, the rov ruled that his status is like one who is tending to a sick person, and he is exempt from sleeping in the sukkah.
At the conclusion of his remarks, the Chief Rabbi emphasized that one should follow the guidelines of the Home Front Command at all times, while bentching all of Klal Yisroel “that we may merit Your sukkah of peace spread over us, and the complete redemption speedily in our days, Amen.”
The Chief Rabbi’s letter, which includes these guidelines for the public, was published after consultation with security authorities and community rabbonim living in areas exposed to rocket and missile fire.
{Matzav.com Israel}