Stone Pergola in the Sukkah
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Question
I have a stone pergola on my balcony, with each beam being 32 cm wide. According to the Chazon Ish (1 tefach = 9.6 cm), can the beams be joined to the schach? Additionally, if I scrape off a layer of a few millimeters so that the beams are slightly less than 32 cm, can the beams be joined to the schach according to Rabbi Chaim Naeh? Also, when the beams are joined to the schach, is it permissible to sit under them, or must one sit specifically under the schach itself?
Answer
Hello,
Even according to the Chazon Ish, one cannot be lenient.
Scraping off a few millimeters along the entire length of the beams will render the sukkah fit.
According to the law, when the beams are less than four tefachim wide, it is permissible to sit under the beams, as stated in the Shulchan Aruch. However, the Mishnah Berurah wrote to be stringent initially, that even if less than four tefachim, one should not sit under them.
Source
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, Siman 632, Seif 1. Mishnah Berurah, Siman 3.