What If It Rains On The First Night of Sukkos?

 

Eating in the Sukkah on the First Night of Sukkot

The Torah (Vayikra 23:42) states "basukkos teishvu shivas yamim," one must dwell in a sukkah for the seven days of Sukkot.  This mitzvah includes eating, drinking and sleeping in the sukkah.  Additionally, the Gemara (Sukkah 27a) derives from a gezeirah shava (a method of biblical interpretation) that the first night of Sukkot is equated to the first night of Pesach.  Just as there is an obligation to eat (matzah) on the first night of Pesach, so too there is a specific obligation to eat bread in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot.

 

The Question of the Rishonim

 

Many Rishonim ask the following question regarding the obligation of eating in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot: At every Yom Tov meal there is an obligation to eat bread.  Accordingly, there is an obligation to eat bread on the first night of Sukkot.  The mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah requires that one eat that Yom Tov meal in the sukkah.  If so, why is there a need for a separate obligation to eat the in the sukkah on the FIRST night of Sukkot if  every Yom Tov meal on Sukkot must be eaten in the sukkah?

 

Tosafos, (Berachos 49b s.v. Ee Ba'i) explain that this special obligation is necessary for a situation where it rains for part of the first night of Sukkos.  If it is raining when one is ready to start one's Yom Tov meal, there is no obligation to eat the Yom Tov meal in the sukkah.  If however, it stops raining, the obligation to eat in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot would require one to eat bread in the sukkah after the rain stops.

 

It is clear from the comments of Tosafos that there is no obligation to eat in the rain even on the first night of Sukkos.  According to Tosafos, if it rains the entire first night of Sukkos, one is exempt from this obligation.  However, the Rosh , (Berachos 7:23), is of the opinion that the obligation to eat in the sukkah is necessary for a situation where it rains the entire night.  Although one would normally not be obligated to eat the Yom Tov meal in the rain, on the first night of Sukkot one must eat a k'zayit (the size of an olive) of bread in the sukkah, even if it must be done in the rain.

 

The Ran (Sukkah 12b, s.v. Matnitin), offers a different explanation to this problem.  The Mishna (Sukkah 26b) states that one is permitted to eat less than a k'beitza (the size of an egg) outside of the sukkah.  A k'beitza is much larger than the k'zayis that is normally required for the Yom Tov meal. The  Ran suggests that in theory, one is not obligated to eat the Yom Tov meal in the sukkah provided that he only eats a k'zayis of bread.  Therefore, there is a necessity for a special obligation to eat bread in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot.  Furthermore, the Ran suggests that one is required to eat a k'beitza in the sukkah on the first night.  However, he does admit that one can argue that eating a k'zayis in the sukkah is sufficient in order to fulfill this special obligation.

An Analysis of the Opinions

 

Ostensibly, the question of whether one must eat in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot while it is raining is contingent on the nature of the obligation of the mitzvah of the first night.  Tosafos and Ran are of the opinion that the mitzvah of the first night is reflective of the obligation to eat in the sukkah throughout Sukkot.  Therefore, when it is raining, the exemption from eating in the sukkah that exists throughout Sukkot will exempt one on the first night as well.  Rabbeinu Asher - who holds that one should eat in the sukkah on the first night even if it is raining - is of the opinion that the mitzvah of the first night is independent of the obligation to eat in the sukkah throughout Sukkot.

 

Nevertheless, the Vilna Gaon, Biur HaGra, Orach Chaim 639:5, offers a different explanation for the opinion of Tosafos.  He explains that Tosafos are of the opinion that while it is raining, the sukkah is considered an invalid sukkah and there can be no fulfillment of the mitzvah while it is raining.  The implication is that the Tosafos are of the opinion that one is obligated to eat in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot regardless of whether the situation would exempt one from eating in the sukkah throughout Sukkot.  The only reason why one does not eat in the rain on the first night of Sukkot is a technical one; a sukkah in the rain is an invalid sukkah and it is impossible to fulfill the mitzvah in such a situation.

 

Perhaps what motivated the Vilna Gaon to provide a novel explanation of the opinion of Tosafos is a ruling of the Tosefta.  The Tosefta, (Sukkah 2:5), states that if one starts a meal indoors due to the rain and then the rain stops, one is not required to conclude the meal in the sukkah.  This ruling is codified in Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 639:6).  The reason why one is not required to conclude the meal in the sukkah is based on the principle of taishvu k'ein taduru, the principle mentioned by the Gemara (see for example Sukkah 27a) that the obligation to dwell in the sukkah is reflective of the normal way to live in a home.  Just as one who starts a meal outside of his home (due to the inability to eat in his home) will not return to his home mid-meal (when it becomes available), so too one who cannot eat in the sukkah is not required to return to the sukkah mid-meal when it becomes available.  If one assumes that according to Tosafos, the principle of taishvu k'ein taduru applies on the first night, one would not be obligated to eat in the sukkah on the first night even after the rain stops.  However, Tosafos state explicitly that a special mitzvah of eating in the sukkah on the first night of Sukkot is only necessitated in a case where it rains for part of the night.  Clearly Tosafos are of the opinion that one is obligated to move mid-meal from the house to the sukkah.  How can there be such an obligation if throughout Sukkot one is actually exempt from eating in the sukkah in such a situation?  This question may be what compels the Vilna Gaon to understand that the opinion of Tosafos is not based on taishvu k'ein taduru.  Rather, Tosafos are of the opinion that while it is raining, the sukkah is considered an invalid sukkah and there can be no fulfillment of the mitzvah.

 

Nevertheless, the Ran - who holds that one must eat a k'beitza in the sukkah on the first night - is clearly of the opinion that the mitzvah of the first night is based on the obligation to eat in the sukkah throughout Sukkos.  According to the Ran, the mitzvah of the first night requires that one put himself in a situation where he would be obligated to eat in the sukkah throughout Sukkos.  If it raining there is no way to obligate oneself to eat in the sukkah and therefore, one is exempt even on the first night.

The Ruling of Rama

The Rema, (Orach Chaim 639:5), rules in accordance with the opinion of Rabbeinu Asher that if it is raining on the first night of Sukkot, one should eat a k'zayis of bread in the sukkah.  The Mishna Berurah (639:35), notes that although Rema does seem to rule conclusively on the matter, one should be concerned for the many Rishonim who maintain that one cannot fulfill the mitzvah of the first night while it is raining.  Therefore, one should not recite the beracha of leishev basukkah if it is raining because according to these Rishonim there is absolutely no fulfillment of any mitzvah.  Furthermore, it is preferable to wait until midnight (and if that is not possible, at least one or two hours) for the rain to stop in order to fulfill the mitzvah according to all opinions.  [Mishna Berurah, Sha'ar HaTziyun 639:67, rules that if there are those who are too hungry or tired to wait, one is not required to wait.]  Mishna Berurah also notes that if one follows the ruling of Rema by eating a k'zayis of bread in the rain and then it stops raining, one should return to the sukkah and eat a k'beitza of bread in the sukkah in order to satisfy the opinions of Tosafot and the Ran.  Upon returning to the sukkah one may recite the beracha of leishev basukkah.

So bottom line:

Here are the basic guidelines regarding what to do if it rains on the first night of Sukkos:
1) If it is raining steadily and there is a reliable weather forecast for the rain to continue all night (Psak of Rav E.M. Teitz Shlita based on Psak of Rav Pinchas Teitz ztl.), one should put on his/her rain-coat, make Kiddush (with the Shehecheyanu blessing), and eat an olive's volume of bread in the Sukkah. No blessing of Le'sheiv Ba-Sukkah is recited. The rest of the meal should be eaten indoors.

2) If there is a possibility that the rain will stop (e.g., it is drizzling or raining on and off), it is proper to wait an hour or two for the rain to subside before doing anything. However, if this delay will disturb the dignity and pleasure of one's Yom Tov, or if one's family/guests are hungry and/or tired, there is no obligation to wait, and one should follow the instructions above in  note 1).

3) If the rain stops while the meal is being eaten in the house or even after the meal is finished, one is obligated to go to back out to the Sukkah, recite the Leishev Ba-Sukkah blessing, and eat an egg's volume of bread there. Even if the rain stops after midnight, that amount of bread should be eaten in the Sukkah. However, if one has already gone to bed by the time the rain stops, there is no obligation to get out of bed in order to go outside and eat in the Sukkah.