Sleeping in the sukkah is a mitzvah during the festival of Sukkot, as part of the broader commandment to dwell in the sukkah. The Torah instructs in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:42-43, “You shall dwell in booths for seven days... so that your generations may know that I made the Children of Israel dwell in booths when I took them out of the land of Egypt.”
This mitzvah includes not just eating but also sleeping in the sukkah, as the sukkah is meant to represent our temporary dwelling place during the holiday. According to halacha, activities typically done in one’s home, such as eating, sleeping, and studying, should ideally be done in the sukkah.
However, there are various opinions and customs regarding the actual practice of sleeping in the sukkah. For example:
The mitzvah depends on weather conditions and other practical considerations, and there are exemptions for those who may be uncomfortable or ill while sleeping in the sukkah.