Succah 14a

סוכה י״ד ע״א

Sukkah 14a

Learn Succah 14a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Removing the טומאה status of food handles by action, and whether boards may be used as סכך (the dispute of רב and שמואל)

Overview

The עמוד finishes a challenge from the previous עמוד. Thought can make an item able to receive טומאה, but only an action can remove that status. So how can the רבנן allow grain stalks harvested for food as סכך? The גמרא answers that the stalks were actually trampled (בססן), which is a real action. אחרים forbid them because they follow רבי יוסי, who says trampled handles stay טמא. They stay טמא because they are still useful: on the threshing floor for a pitchfork, and on a סוכה for holding the grain when taking the roof down. רבי אלעזר then compares the prayer of צדיקים to a pitchfork (עתר) that turns ה׳ from harshness to mercy. A new משנה follows: רבי יהודה allows boards as סכך and רבי מאיר forbids them. רב and שמואל disagree about which board widths that dispute covers. The עמוד ends as the גמרא begins a new proof from two sheets that combine, which continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ChallengeThought brings into impurity, but only action takes out
2. ResolutionSuggested distinction: handles are weaker than real vessels
3. RejectionA משנה shows handles of food needed an action
4. ChallengeIf בססן means trampling, how do the רבנן work?
5. ResolutionThe רבנן's case also involved real trampling
6. ChallengeThen why do אחרים still forbid it?
7. Resolutionאחרים follow רבי יוסי
8. ChallengeHow can the סוכה case be compared to the threshing floor?
9. ResolutionThe stalks are useful when taking down the סוכה roof
10. StatementReturning to the משנה about handles on the threshing floor
11. QuestionWhat does the word בססן mean?
12. ResponseTwo views: real trampling or untying the bundle
13. ChallengeAccording to רבי יוחנן, why does רבי יוסי say impure?
14. ResolutionThe stalks still help turn the grain with a pitchfork
15. StatementThe prayers of the righteous are like a pitchfork
16. StatementNew משנה: may a סוכה be roofed with boards?
17. Statementרב: the argument is about wide boards
18. Statementשמואל: the argument is about narrow boards
19. ChallengeChallenge to שמואל: very narrow boards are just like reeds
20. Resolutionרב פפא explains that שמואל means boards three to four wide
21. ChallengeChallenge to רב from the rule against sleeping under the board
22. ResolutionThe sleeping rule follows רבי מאיר only
23. ProofA new source opens: two sheets combine