In determining the nature of the mitzva to dwell in the sukka, we must first distinguish between the first night and the rest of the Festival. The gemara (Sukka 27a) cites a debate between R. Eliezer and the Sages regarding how often one must eat in the sukka.
What is the optimal thickness of sekhakh – should one be able to see the stars through it? May it protect the sukka from rain and falling leaves? What if it allows in more sunlight than shade, and what if is under another sukka or under a tree? Finally, what are the laws of the sukka decorations and when do they interfere with the sekhakh?
Must a sukka be built with “intention” (kavana) to be a sukka, or at least to provide shade? Who may build a sukka? What is the sanctity of the sukka and what are its practical ramifications?
The Tannaim offer two explanations of the Torah's reason for the mitzva of dwelling in sukkot - that God protected us with the clouds of glory in the desert or that we dwelt in actual booths in the desert. What is the significance of this dispute, and what is emphasized by each view?
