Would a Sukkah that has walls that are completely transparent be kosher for use?
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4Why should they not?– ertert3terteOct 11, 2011 at 16:22
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2@shmuel would you live in a transparent house?– yydlOct 11, 2011 at 16:54
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2Assuming I don't do anything private there, why not?– ertert3terteOct 11, 2011 at 17:02
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1@ShmuelBrill It's a question. I doubt it would be so obvious to most people...– yydlOct 11, 2011 at 17:04
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2If the transparent walls are silica based, stones would become muktza throughout the entire sukkos ;)– YDKOct 11, 2011 at 17:16
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4 Answers
Yes. The first mishna of Maseches Sukkah lists the different factors that would invalidate a sukkah, but transparency isn't an issue. You can also make the walls with 4 horizontal strings, each within 3 tefachim from the other one. Though if it was completely transparent, i.e. invisible, perhaps there would be an issue that no one could tell they're in a sukkah.
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In Maseches Sukkah 4b (copied below), Rava rejects Abaye's proposal for a platform without walls because there is a requirement that they be "ניכר". Therefore there may be a basis for transparent walls being invalid.
היתה גבוהה מעשרים אמה ובנה בה עמוד שהוא גבוה עשרה טפחים ויש בו הכשר סוכה סבר אביי למימר גוד אסיק מחיצתא א"ל רבא בעינן מחיצות הניכרות וליכא
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2Ely, welcome to Mi Yodeya, and thanks very much for finding this interesting source! You could make your answer even more valuable by adding a translation of the gemara passage you quote. Please consider registering your account, which will give you access to more of the site's features.– Isaac Moses ♦Jun 25, 2013 at 14:25
Rabbi Yoshia (Sukkah 7b) claims that walls must also provide shade and therefore may not be constructed from transparent material.
But I think you can decorate the walls enough to guarantee enough shade for comfort or lay plastic sheets like tarp. Since I am a female, I am not a posek, but just suggesting my idea to help solve the problem of a sukkah with transparent walls.
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1Hello Harsimrat Kaur and welcome to Mi.Yodeya! Thank you for your sourced answer. Are you sure the shade referred to couldn't be the kind that glass provides?– WAFApr 25, 2014 at 2:21
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3I don't understand the purpose of the phrase "Since I am a female, I am not a posek" in this answer.– ShmuelApr 25, 2014 at 8:57
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1Yes, this site explicitly does not provide psak. Being or not being a posek has no relevance. If you need a psak, consult your local Orthodox rabbi. If you are the local Orthodox rabbi and want to pasken, please post it somewhere else. Sep 18, 2018 at 14:00
The Pri Megadim is מסופק about this case.
answered Oct 11, 2011 at 17:37
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