Sukkot - Sukkah Coverage

QUESTION: In my sukkah, the table is partially under the schach and partially under an overhang. Is this acceptable?

ANSWER: Shulchan Aruch (634:4) rules that if one eats inside a sukkah, but their table is outside the sukkah, it is as if they ate outside the sukkah. Chazal forbade eating in this manner, because they were concerned that one might lean forward over their table and eat outside the sukkah. This is true even if the sukkah is large. So long as the table is outside of the sukkah, it is forbidden. However, the Mishnah Berurah (634:6) writes that if part of the table is inside the sukkah and part of it extends outside of the sukkah, that is acceptable. How much of the table must be in the sukkah? The Mishnah Berurah (Shar Hatziyun 634:6) writes that this is a matter of dispute. According to the Chayei Adam, even if a tefach (approximately 4 inches) of the table is inside the sukkah, that is sufficient, even though most of the table is outside the sukkah. However, the Birkei Yosef writes that most of the table (51%) must be inside the sukkah.

With respect to our original question, the area under the overhang is not kosher for the mitzvah of sukkah and one should be sure the table is properly configured in the sukkah (preferably, at least 51%). However, since women are not obligated to eat in a sukkah, this concern does not apply, and Chazal did not establish a prohibition. Rav Nissin Karelitz zt”l (Chut Shani – sukkos 11:15) adds that a woman may even recite the beracha of leisheiv b’sukkah when eating inside a sukkah, but at a table that is outside of the sukkah, since they are not violating a Rabbinic injunction.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.