ShalomNewYork.com

If you sit in the succah under any covering or canopy that is ten tefachim high you are under the canopy and you are not considered to be in a succah.  What about if it is very sunny or raining and you open an umbrella?  Are you in the succah?  The Piskei Teshuvos (627:2) brings from poskim that an umbrella is different.  Since it is held by you and not anchored to the ground it is not considered an “Ohel” and therefore is batel to the succah.  Because of these opinions he says it is better to remain in the succah under the umbrella rather than go out. Nevertheless because this is questionable, you should not say the bracha of Laishaiv Ba’Succah. The Brisker Rov was noheg like this in the rain.  This is also the opinion of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.On Shabbos or Yom Tov you may not open an umbrella so the point is moot. Revach.net