Q. Do I have to be careful each year to place the same wooden planks in my suka, in the same original position, so that the plank that was in the mizrach last year will remain there, as it was done in the mishkan?
A. Kaf Hachaim (630: 5) writes that the Maharil's rebbi, the Maharash, would mark the boards of his suka and place them each year on the same position. This being similar to the boards of the Mishkan that had lettering inscribed on them for that purpose (Yerushalmi Shabbos.) He rules that this is not essential and is regarded as “chasidus bealma” or an act of simple piety. Mishna Berura (8: 9) mentions that it is a custom to place a decorating strip or a'atoro on head-part of a ta'alis for the same reason, however the Arizal was not particular to follow this tradition.
Chashukei Chemed (Suka 2a) avers that one should place them on the onset with the condition that they could be placed anywhere, although they have no kedusha as the boards of the Mishkan.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar to the Kaf Hachaim, and therefore a condition or t'nay is unnecesary. He pointed out that so is also the Aruch Hashulchan's(O.H. 630: 29) opinion in principle, (although he then adds that on the onset one should mark the panels, and that is the common minhag)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a.
Important Numbers
