Succah 14b

סוכה י״ד ע״ב

Sukkah 14b

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

Open Succah 14b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Roofing a סוכה with boards: the רב–שמואל מחלוקת, boards turned on their sides, and related ברייתות

Overview

This amud is about roofing a סוכה with wooden boards (נסרים). It opens with the end of a ברייתא: two boards do not combine, but רבי מאיר says boards are like sheets and do combine. רב and שמואל disagree about which boards רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה argue over. שמואל says narrow boards, and רב says boards four טפחים wide. The גמרא explains how each of them reads the word 'combine.' A key idea is that boards can add up to four אמות next to a wall, the limit of the rule of דופן עקומה. The גמרא gives this explanation in two versions. Then it brings one ברייתא supporting רב, which includes רבי יהודה's story from a time of danger, and another supporting שמואל. Next, אמוראים argue about wide boards turned on their sides. רב נחמן rules they are פסול, like metal skewers, which leads to a short exchange between רב הונא and his students about asking for reasons. Finally, the גמרא tries to prove רב הונא's view from a ברייתא about a board with only three טפחים inside the סוכה, and rejects the proof.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. StatementBoards do not combine, but רבי מאיר says they do
2. StatementThe ברייתא fits שמואל's view easily
3. ChallengeHow can רב explain combining boards?
4. ResolutionThe boards combine toward four אמות next to the wall
5. StatementAnother version: שמואל's view works smoothly
6. ChallengeFor רב, רבי יהודה's 'do not combine' seems pointless
7. Resolutionרבי יהודה just echoed רבי מאיר's wording
8. StatementThere are ברייתות supporting each side
9. ProofA ברייתא supports רב: the argument is about wide boards
10. Proofרבי יהודה's story from a time of danger
11. RejectionThe חכמים reject the story as proof
12. ProofA ברייתא that supports שמואל
13. StatementWhat each תנא agrees to
14. StatementArgument about wide boards turned on their sides
15. QuestionThe question is brought to רב נחמן
16. Responseרב נחמן rules: פסול, like metal skewers
17. Statementרב הונא Says: Didn't I Tell You to Rule Like Me?
18. ResponseThe Students Explain: רב נחמן Gave Us a Reason
19. Responseרב הונא Replies: You Never Asked Me for a Reason
20. ProofA ברייתא That Might Support רב הונא
21. ProofExplaining the Proof: The Board Was Turned on Its Side
22. RejectionRejection: The Board Sticks Out Past the Doorway