Sukkot is one of those Jewish holidays that gets hands-on. We’re out there building, decorating, and schlepping those kosher bamboo Schach mats like pros. But if you’ve ever found yourself wondering exactly when to build a Sukkah – or if it’s kosher to build one on Chol Hamoed  –  you’re not alone. Turns out, the halachic sources offer both flexibility and some fun traditions. And while we’re at it, we’ll even dive into one of the quirkiest Sukkah hacks out there: the car-door Sukkah.

Let’s roll.

Can I Start Building My Sukkah Before Yom Kippur?

Ah, the classic debate. You’re feeling organized, you’ve got a free Sunday before Yom Kippur, and you’re eyeing those Sukkah panels in the garage. Is it okay to build a Sukkah early?

Short answer: Yes!

According to the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 636:1), you can build your Sukkah walls anytime – even leave them up all year if you want. The Schach (that plant-based roof covering) can be placed up to 30 days before Sukkot with no issue. If the Schach was left from the previous year or put up too early without Sukkot in mind, you just need to add or adjust a bit of Schach (minimum a tefach by tefach  –  roughly 4”x4” or a strip along one wall) to freshen it up (Orach Chaim 636:1, Mishnah Berurah ad loc).

So what about the idea that you shouldn’t build before Yom Kippur? This comes from a minhag (custom), not strict halacha. The Rema (Orach Chaim 624:5 and 625:1) quotes the custom of starting Sukkah building right after Yom Kippur, to go “from mitzvah to mitzvah” (mi-mitzvah le-mitzvah) – finishing the fast and launching straight into your next act of holiness (Darkei Moshe 624, based on Maharil).

Some even cite Psalms 84:8: “They go from strength to strength.” It’s about maintaining spiritual momentum, not a legal restriction.

Bottom line: Build your Sukkah before Yom Kippur if it works for you. And if you do wait until afterward, it’s a beautiful custom to start building Motzei Yom Kippur and finish by the next day (Pri Megadim, Mishbetzot Zahav 624:3).

But Isn’t It Better to Wait?

Some have heard reasons to delay building a Sukkah  –  like the idea that sitting in the Sukkah symbolizes exile, and building it before Yom Kippur might “preempt” a divine decree of exile (Elya Rabbah, cited in Minhag Yisrael Torah 602:3).

Others, like the Levush, argue the opposite: build your Sukkah early for more merit (zechuyot) going into Yom Kippur. In the end, later halachic authorities like Shaarei Teshuvah clarify that the real symbolism of exile comes from dwelling in the Sukkah, not building it. So again: personal choice.

What About Building a Sukkah on Sukkot Itself?

Good question! Suppose you’re running late or your Sukkah collapses mid-Chol Hamoed – can you rebuild?

The Talmud (Sukkah 27b) debates this. Rabbi Eliezer says ideally, you should build your Sukkah before Sukkot begins. But the majority view (which we follow) is that you can build or start building a Sukkah during Chol Hamoed if needed (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 637). Even Rabbi Eliezer agrees that if your Sukkah falls down during the festival, you can absolutely rebuild it.

In fact, many people traveling over Chol Hamoed pack pop-up Sukkahs or build temporary ones on site. Pro tip: If you build it during the holiday, just remember that while you can assemble and use the Sukkah, taking it down before Simchat Torah can be tricky, since the Sukkah becomes muktzah (set aside from weekday use) during the festival (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 638:1).

How About Turning My Car Into a Sukkah?

And now… the car-door Sukkah! If you’ve ever heard of this in yeshiva – or on a wild Chol Hamoed road trip – you know it’s a legit halachic curiosity.

Here’s how it works: Open the front and back doors of your car on one side, leaving the other side closed. Lay a kosher bamboo Schach mat across the top of the open doors. Voilà! Your doors become two walls, the car side becomes the third wall, and the halachic principle of dofen akumah (“bent wall”) does the rest (Sukkah 4a, Shulchan Aruch 630).

Of course, it’s not quite that simple. You need to check:

  • Are the doors low enough (less than three tefachim, about 9–11”) off the ground to count as walls?

  • Is the Schach placed close enough (within four amot, about 6–7.5 feet) to the side of the car to engage dofen akumah?

  • Is your “Sukkah” big enough  –  at least 7x7 tefachim (~2x2 feet) and 10 tefachim (~32”) tall?

Sedans generally work better than minivans, because sliding doors tend to be too high and gappy. SUVs might work  –  measure first!

Some also do a sunroof Sukkah version: If your sunroof is 7x7 tefachim, you can technically set up Schach right over it. Just be sure the interior space has the minimum 10 tefachim height, and that your windshield qualifies as a kosher wall under dofen akumah.

Practical Verdict: Fun But Not Ideal

While it’s halachically possible in a pinch, the car-door Sukkah is best viewed as an emergency option. Even great poskim like Rav Moshe Feinstein cautioned against using loopholes just to “get out” of a mitzvah. So if you’re on the road and truly can’t find a proper Sukkah, this halachic hack might save your sandwich. 

But your best bet? Plan ahead, pack a pop-up Sukkah, and aim for the full Sukkot experience. But your best bet? Plan ahead. These days, there are fantastic pop-up Sukkah options that make traveling easy, packing away into a single carry bag, meets all minimum halachic size requirements, and sets up in minutes. So, whether you’re heading to the park, on a road trip, or visiting family, having a dedicated portable Sukkah means you can enjoy the full Sukkot experience without wondering if your windshield counts as a wall.

Final Thoughts: Build When You Can, and Build with Joy

In the end, halacha gives us flexibility: build before or after Yom Kippur, build during Chol Hamoed if needed, and yes, even MacGyver a Sukkah from your car in a pinch. What matters most is not stressing the timing, but embracing the mitzvah with joy.

As the Talmud says, zerizin makdimin le-mitzvot  –  those who are eager rush to perform mitzvot. Whether you’re first out with the power drill on Motzei Yom Kippur or setting up a pop-up Sukkah at a roadside rest stop, you’re building not just walls and roofs, but a mitzvah, memories, and a holiday full of joy.

Chag Sameach  –  and happy building!