S'chach facts for kids

Arabs selling s'chach to Hasidic Jews in Jerusalem, 1930s

S'chach (pronounced "s'khakh") is a special Hebrew word. It means the material used to make the roof of a sukkah. A sukkah is a temporary hut built for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

What is S'chach?

S'chach is the roof covering for a sukkah. It must come from things that grow naturally from the ground. Think of plants like palm leaves, bamboo sticks, or pine tree branches.

Rules for S'chach Material

• Natural Growth: The material must be something that grew from the ground.
• Disconnected: It must be cut off from the ground. You cannot use branches still attached to a tree.
• Not for Other Uses: The material should not have been processed for a different purpose. For example, wood planks used to build a house are usually not allowed.
• Shade and Stars: The s'chach needs to be thick enough to provide more shade than sunlight during the day. But it should also be thin enough so you can see the stars through it at night.
• Rain Can Enter: It must allow rain to pass through into the sukkah. This reminds people of being outdoors.

Keeping a Sukkah Year-Round

Some people keep their sukkah up all year. If they do, the s'chach roof needs to be refreshed before Sukkot begins. This means lifting each piece of s'chach up and putting it back down. This shows it is being used specifically for the holiday. This should be done no more than 30 days before the holiday starts.