[Avodah] www.crcweb.org/SchachMatFencing2013.pdf

[Rich, Joel]

>From the Gush VBM:


The Poskim, however, raise two issues concerning the use of mats for sekhakh:
 
1-    Mats comprised of bamboo reeds or wood strips held together must not be woven together with a material which is mekabel tum'a or materials that are not gidulo min ha-aretz, as these materials may not be used as sekhakh. One should preferably tie the reeds together with wooden fibers, flask, or other natural materials that were not processed. Some (R. Ovadya Yosef, Yechavveh Da'at 1:64; see Piskei Teshuvot 629:6).even permit using processed fibers produced from gidulei karka, as they are only invalid for sekhakh mi-derabbanan (Rambam, Hilkhot Sukka 5:6). See R. Yehuda Paris, "Keshirat Sekhakh La-Netzach al yedei Chutei Barzel," Techumin 15, who argues for the permissibility of tying down sekhakh with copper wire. 
2-    R. Binyanim Zilber (1917-2008), in his Responsa Az Nidberu (2:66) cites the view of R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (b.1910), who prohibits using these mats. He believes that since the mats of reeds or strips are so closely and strongly fastened together, using these mats violates the Rabbinic prohibition of using boards over four tefachim wide, known as gezeirat tikra, as described above. He finds precedent for this in the view of the Rashba cited above (and by the Beit Yosef 629), who reports that some prohibit using narrow boards which are nailed together and are wider than four tefachim. R. Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg (1916-2006) concurs in his Tzitz Eliezer (10:29). 
 
Most Poskim (R. Binyamin Zilber (ibid.); R. Ovadya Yosef, Chazon Ovadya p. 28); R. Shmuel Wosner (b.1913), Shevet Ha-Levi 6:74; R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Halikhot Shlomo p. 128) disagree, and permit using mats produced and sold specifically to be used as sekhakh. Some argue that these mats are thin and flexible, and therefore do not resemble the planks mentioned by the Rashba. Others note that these mats are generally made from bamboo reeds and not wooden planks, and therefore should not be included in the enactment of gezeirat tikra. 
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I still don't get how the home depot mats don't fail the " produced and sold specifically to be used as sekhakh" test.

GT
Joel Rich
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