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Succah 20a

סוכה כ׳ ע״א

Sukkah 20a

Learn Succah 20a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Succah 20a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When a mat (מחצלת) may be used as סכך: the dispute over a plain mat, a ברייתא on mat types, and the טומאה of חוצלות.

Overview

The amud asks when a reed mat (מחצלת) may be used as סכך. A mat made for lying on can become טמא, so it is invalid, while a mat made for roofing is valid. The question is a plain mat (סתם) made with no stated purpose. רבא first reads the משנה so that רבי אליעזר is lenient about a plain small mat. אביי rejects this from רבי אליעזר's word order and from a ברייתא. רב פפא then explains that everyone agrees a plain small mat is for lying, and the dispute is only about a plain large mat: the תנא קמא says it is for roofing, and רבי אליעזר says it is also for lying. Next, a ברייתא sorts mats by material and weave, and רבי ישמעאל ברבי יוסי and רבי דוסא allow them all. The גמרא then brings a משנה where רבי דוסא and the חכמים argue about the טומאה of חוצלות, rereads the חכמים as saying 'even מדרס', and asks what חוצלות are. ריש לקיש says they are actual mats, which fits a tradition of רבי חייא and his sons about the mats of אושא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְהָכִי קָאָמַר:

And this is what it is saying:

מַחְצֶלֶת הַקָּנִים גְּדוֹלָה,

A large mat of reeds,

עֲשָׂאָהּ לִשְׁכִיבָה —

if he made it for lying on —

מְקַבֶּלֶת טוּמְאָה, וְאֵין מְסַכְּכִין בָּהּ.

it can become impure, and one may not roof with it.

The steps (21)

  1. Resolutionרבא's reading: a plain large mat counts as made for roofing
  2. Resolutionרבא's reading: a plain small mat counts as made for lying
  3. Resolutionרבא's reading of רבי אליעזר: any plain mat is valid
  4. Challengeאביי's challenge from the word order
  5. Challengeאביי's second challenge: a ברייתא shows רבי אליעזר is stricter
  6. Resolutionרב פפא: everyone agrees a plain small mat is for lying
  7. Conclusionרב פפא: the real dispute is about a plain large mat
  8. ChallengeWhy did רבי אליעזר say 'made it for lying'?
  9. ResolutionA plain mat counts as made for lying unless made for roofing
  10. StatementA ברייתא sorts mats by material and size
  11. Statementרבי ישמעאל son of רבי יוסי allows all these mats
  12. StatementA משנה on the טומאה of mats
  13. ChallengeCan something get מדרס impurity but not corpse impurity?
  14. ResolutionRead the חכמים as saying 'even מדרס'
  15. QuestionWhat does the word חוצלות mean?
  16. Responseרב אבדימי בר המדורי: they are מרזובלי
  17. QuestionWhat does מרזובלי mean?
  18. Responseרבי אבא: they are מזבלי, shepherds' sacks
  19. Responseריש לקיש: חוצלות are real mats
  20. Statementריש לקיש is consistent: his praise of רבי חייא and his sons
  21. Statementרבי חייא's tradition: no dispute about the mats of אושא