1. Overview and Context of Customs
The following customs are based on the Chabad minhagim as published in the Hebrew edition of Hiskashrus—the Chabad newsletter. The discussion references last year’s calendar, when yom tov—festival—fell on Thursday and Friday, followed by Shabbos, which introduced certain halachic considerations such as eiruv tavshilin. This year, with yom tov beginning on Monday and Tuesday (Sukkos), some details differ and require adjustment. The notes here reflect the Chabad approach as outlined in that publication, with attention to changes relevant to this year’s schedule.
2. Eiruv Chatzeiros and Carrying on Shabbos
In some situations, particularly when multiple households share a courtyard or common area, an eiruv chatzeiros—ritual merging of domains—is required to permit carrying between private homes and shared spaces on Shabbos. This is distinct from the city-wide eiruv, which allows carrying in public areas. For example, during Sukkos when Shabbos falls during chol hamoed, one must ensure an eiruv chatzeiros is established if needed. Additionally, a tzuras hapesach—doorframe structure—may be necessary to create a halachic enclosure for carrying. The concept behind a city-wide eiruv, such as those found in places like Sharon, is to create a series of symbolic doorways using posts and lintels, thus enclosing the area halachically. In years when Shabbos immediately follows yom tov, arrangements for these eiruvin must be made before the onset of the first day of yom tov, since they cannot be created during the festival itself.
3. Practical Challenges with Sukkah Access and Carrying
Those living in apartment buildings often had no access to a sukkah, or could not carry food to the sukkah on Shabbos for lack of an eiruv. In Brooklyn, for instance, many residents could not carry food to their sukkahs on Shabbos because there was no local eiruv. Some would leave their food with neighbors before Shabbos or be invited as guests. Growing up in such environments often meant logistical difficulties—such as needing to walk around buildings or dealing with safety concerns at night—but these experiences also made Sukkos memorable.
4. Giving Tzedakah Before Yom Tov and Shabbos
On erev Sukkos, it is customary to increase giving of charity (tzedakah) to cover both the upcoming festival days and any subsequent Shabbos when handling money is prohibited. In years when three consecutive days (Thursday–Shabbos) are observed as festival/Shabbos in the diaspora (chutz la’aretz), one should give enough charity beforehand for all three days. The Rebbe established a fund called Keren Hashanah—annual fund—where people contribute according to the number of days in that Hebrew year, ensuring daily giving even when direct contributions are not possible due to festival restrictions.
5. Supporting Others: Sukkah Needs and Dalet Minim Distribution
Similar to pre-Pesach campaigns for providing necessities (ma’os chitim) for those in need, it is important before Sukkos to collect and distribute funds so everyone can obtain what they need for Yom Tov. This includes ensuring people have access to their own set of four species (dalet minim: lulav, esrog, hadasim, aravos) and encouraging individuals to build their own sukkahs. While communal invitations are common, having one’s own sukkah increases participation—especially on the first night of Sukkos when eating in the sukkah is obligatory.
6. Customs Regarding Building and Beautifying the Sukkah
The Rebbe related that the Rebbeim did not personally build their sukkahs but would participate minimally—such as by placing branches on top—to fulfill some aspect of the mitzvah. It is permissible to construct a sukkah by removing part of one’s house roof and placing s’chach—sukkah covering—overhead; it need not be outdoors. The Chabad custom is that a sukkah should have four full walls (even though two walls plus a partial third suffice halachically), but any material may be used for walls—even non-kosher materials—since only the covering requires specific qualifications.
Chabad tradition also favors using abundant s’chach, even if it makes seeing stars difficult; one may check star visibility through a small hole if needed. If one wishes to cover the sukkah with an awning or tarp during rain (on Yom Tov or Shabbos), there must already be at least one handbreadth (tefach) of covering spread out before Yom Tov begins—extending an existing cover is permitted but creating a new covering is not.
If there is no space (less than a tefach) between the awning and the s’chach, then it does not constitute an ohel (halachic tent), so rolling out such a cover would not present an issue even on Yom Tov.
7. Floors, Grass Surfaces, and Decorations in Chabad Tradition
While some build floors in their sukkahs for comfort or practicality (especially if constructed over grass), there is no halachic requirement for flooring per se—though care must be taken not to water grass inadvertently on Yom Tov by spilling liquids. The Alter Rebbe was stringent about this concern due to its likelihood.
In Chabad custom, decorative items are generally not used inside or outside the sukkah—including children’s drawings or wall hangings—though effort should still be made that both walls and s’chach appear beautiful and dignified.
8. Dalet Minim: Ownership, Selection Criteria, and Use During Sukkos
Chabad practice does not insist that payment for the four species be completed before Yom Tov begins; possession suffices for fulfilling ownership requirements of the mitzvah.
It is traditional from the Alter Rebbe onward to seek an esrog from Calabria (Italy), considered especially desirable—even though plantings from Calabria now grow elsewhere (such as Israel). Preference remains for esrogim actually grown in Calabria itself.
The ideal color for an esrog is yellow rather than green; however, if faced with choosing between a completely yellow but spotted esrog versus a clean but partially green one, preference goes toward cleanliness even if some green remains.
For lulav selection: avoid those with bent tops (kneplach). The spine should run exactly down the center rather than off-center; lulavim should be straight rather than thin or twisted, with leaves tightly bound along the spine. These details reflect both halachic requirements and Chabad stringencies.
During Sukkos it is forbidden to smell either myrtle (hadasim) included in one’s lulav bundle or one’s esrog designated for mitzvah use—since these items are set aside exclusively for ritual purposes during this period. If one does smell them nonetheless, no blessing should be recited.
Further discussion regarding tying procedures for lulav will continue next session.