Succah 23a

סוכה כ״ג ע״א

Sukkah 23a

Learn Succah 23a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Unstable סוכות: on a tree, on a ship, on an animal, and using an animal as a wall

Overview

The משנה ends its discussion of a סוכה on a tree with a rule: if the סוכה could stand without the tree, it is כשרה. The גמרא says this follows רבי עקיבא, who allows a סוכה on a ship against רבן גמליאל. אביי explains that they argue only about a סוכה that survives a normal land wind but not a stronger one. רבן גמליאל requires a דירת קבע, while רבי עקיבא requires only a דירת עראי. The גמרא then says the משנה's סוכה on a camel follows רבי מאיר. רבי יהודה disqualifies it because a סוכה must be usable all seven days, and רבי מאיר answers that the ban on using an animal on יום טוב is only rabbinic. When an animal is used as a wall, the views flip: רבי מאיר forbids any living thing as a wall. אביי says this is because it might die, and רבי זירא says it is because it might run away. After some back-and-forth, they agree to forbid an untied elephant and disagree only about a tied animal. The amud ends partway through the answer to why אביי still worries about death when the animal is held up by ropes; that answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. StatementThe משנה's general rule for a סוכה on a tree
2. ResponseWhose opinion is the משנה? רבי עקיבא
3. Proofברייתא: רבן גמליאל and רבי עקיבא argue about a סוכה on a ship
4. StatementThe story of the סוכה on the ship
5. Statementאביי: the cases where everyone agrees
6. Statementאביי: the exact case of the disagreement
7. Statementרבן גמליאל's reason: a סוכה must be a permanent home
8. Conclusionרבי עקיבא's reason: a temporary home is enough
9. QuestionWhose opinion is the camel case in the משנה?
10. ResponseIt is רבי מאיר, as shown by a ברייתא
11. QuestionWhy does רבי יהודה invalidate a סוכה on an animal?
12. ResponseA סוכה must be usable for all seven days
13. Resolutionרבי מאיר: by Torah law it is usable
14. StatementUsing an animal as a wall: the opinions flip
15. Statementרבי מאיר's rule: no living thing as a halachic wall or object
16. Statementרבי יוסי הגלילי adds: no גיטין written on an animal
17. QuestionWhy does רבי מאיר reject a living wall?
18. Responseאביי: it might die; רבי זירא: it might run away
19. StatementA tied elephant: everyone agrees it is fine
20. StatementAn untied elephant: here they disagree
21. ChallengeWhy would אביי not also worry that the animal flees?
22. ResolutionThe dispute is really about a tied animal
23. ChallengeWhy would רבי זירא not worry about death?
24. ResolutionDeath is not common
25. ChallengeWhat about the gap between the legs?
26. ResolutionFilling the gaps with palm and laurel leaves
27. ChallengeWhat if the animal crouches?
28. ResolutionThe animal is held up by ropes from above
29. ChallengeThen אביי should not worry about death either
30. ResolutionSometimes the animal is placed just below the סכך