Glass Walls, Paper Roofs, and Tiki Huts: Your Sukkah Questions, Answered!

Sukkot is a holiday that comes with its own unique architectural challenges. For seven (or eight, if you're outside Israel) joyous days, we step out of our homes and into temporary dwellings called sukkot. But building a kosher Sukkah isn’t as simple as tossing up some walls and slapping on a roof – oh no. Jewish law has a lot to say about what works, what doesn’t, and what might leave your rabbi scratching his head.

So without further ado, let’s dive into some of the more creative Sukkah-related questions. 

The Big Question: Is a Glass-Walled Sukkah Kosher?

Would a Sukkah made entirely of transparent glass walls be kosher?

Short answer? Yes! But also, maybe not. Welcome to halacha.

The first Mishnah in Tractate Sukkah lists the requirements that could invalidate a Sukkah, and transparency isn’t one of them. You can even make your walls out of four horizontal strings, as long as each is within three tefachim (handbreadths) of the next.

But there’s a catch – if the walls are so clear that people can’t tell they’re actually inside a Sukkah, that might be a problem. There’s a concept in Jewish law that the walls should be nikkar (recognizable). Some authorities cite Tractate Sukkah 4b, where Rava argues that walls need to be visibly distinct, or else they don’t count. So, if your glass walls make your Sukkah look more like an invisible force field, you might want to add some decals or a few well-placed sticky notes for good measure.

Also, let’s be real – would you actually want to sit in an all-glass Sukkah? If you’re comfortable living in a fishbowl, go for it. But for the rest of us, maybe some curtains wouldn’t hurt.

Schach Attack: Can You Use Paper as a Sukkah Roof?

Schach – the leafy, organic, sun-dappled covering that makes or breaks your Sukkah. It has to be made from something that grew from the ground and is no longer attached to it. But what about paper? It started as a tree, after all!

Logical as that sounds, paper is a no-go. The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) 629:4-5 rules that anything heavily processed loses its kosher-for-Schach status. Since paper is pulped, mashed, and pressed into something completely different from its original state, it doesn’t make the cut.

The Star-K, a kosher certification authority, also notes that once a material is altered significantly, it’s no longer considered in its original form. So while paper might be perfect for writing your Sukkot shopping list, it won’t work as a roof over your head (which is why it’s often just simpler to rely on Kosher-Certified Schach). 

And even if it were kosher, there’s a practical issue: One gust of wind and your Schach would be flying down the block faster than you can say “chag sameach.” 

Can I Build a Sukkah on a Pier or Dock?

Let’s say you live near the water and you want to get that perfect ocean breeze with your etrog in hand. Can you set up your Sukkah on a dock?

Good news – yes! Sort of.

The Mishnah (Sukkah 2:3) says that a Sukkah can be built on a wagon or a ship, and it’s still kosher. But there's a debate. Rabbi Akiva says that as long as the Sukkah can withstand normal land winds, it’s good to go. Rabban Gamliel, on the other hand, argues that it must be sturdy enough to handle sea winds, which are much stronger.

So, if your dock is relatively stable, go for it. If it's rocking more than a Hasidic wedding band, you might want to reconsider. Or at least bring some motion sickness tablets.

What About a Tiki Hut?

A palapa (a thatched-roof tiki hut) might seem like a perfect Sukkah solution – natural materials, open-air design, tropical vibes. But does it meet halachic standards?

The big question is: Does the Schach provide the right amount of shade? If it’s too sparse and lets in too much sun, it’s not kosher. If it's too dense and blocks out the stars, also not ideal. If you can modify your tiki hut so that the Schach is just right, you're golden. And maybe add a pineapple or two for aesthetics.

Does a Covered Sukkah Wall Still Count?

Imagine this: You have a perfectly good Sukkah, but part of one wall is under an overhang from your house. Does that make the wall invalid?

Enter Dofen Akuma – literally, the “bent wall” rule. This halachic principle states that if a part of the Schach is invalid due to being under a roof, we can conceptually “bend” the wall so that it reaches the kosher Schach. This means that as long as the covered section isn’t too large (generally up to four amot, or about six feet), the Sukkah is still good to go.

Final Thoughts: The Sukkah of the Future?

Every year, people push the boundaries of halachic Sukkah construction – whether it’s with transparent walls, creative Schach, or unconventional locations. And while some ideas (like a fully glass Sukkah) might require a bit of extra halachic gymnastics, the core idea remains the same: creating a temporary dwelling to celebrate the festival of Sukkot.

So whether you’re building a Sukkah in your backyard, on a pier, or testing out glass walls for the ultimate modern look, just remember – what really matters is the joy, the guests, and, of course, the endless bowls of cholent.