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Succah 27a

סוכה כ״ז ע״א

Sukkah 27a

Learn Succah 27a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Succah 27a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

סוכה כז. — The רבי צדוק proof, the משנה on required meals and make-up in the סוכה, and רבי אליעזר's answers to the steward of אגריפס.

Overview

The גמרא finishes the story of רבי צדוק, who ate less than a כביצה outside the סוכה. It tries to use this story against רב יוסף and אביי, who allow a כביצה outside the סוכה. The proof is pushed off, because 'less than a כביצה' may be the measure for hand-washing and ברכה. Then a new משנה brings two disputes. רבי אליעזר requires fourteen meals in the סוכה, while the חכמים require only the first night. רבי אליעזר also lets a missed first-night meal be made up on the last night, while the חכמים say it is lost. The גמרא explains both sides through the idea that the סוכה is like a home. It learns the first-night obligation from a גזירה שוה ״חמשה עשר״ to מצה on פסח. It then answers that רבי אליעזר retracted the fourteen-meal view, and that the make-up is done with extra delicacies. Finally, the steward of אגריפס המלך asks רבי אליעזר two questions, and a new ברייתא of רבי אליעזר begins that continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

וְאָמְרוּ: הַעֲלוּם לַסּוּכָּה.

and they said: Take them up to the sukka.

וּכְשֶׁנָּתְנוּ לוֹ לְרַבִּי צָדוֹק

And when they gave Rabbi Tzadok

אוֹכֶל פָּחוֹת מִכְּבֵיצָה,

food less than an egg-bulk,

נְטָלוֹ בְּמַפָּה

he took it in a cloth

The steps (26)

  1. ProofFinishing the cited source: the story of רבי צדוק
  2. ChallengeInference: a כביצה needs a סוכה, which refutes רב יוסף and אביי
  3. RejectionPushing off the proof: 'less than a כביצה' is about washing and ברכה
  4. Statementרבי אליעזר: fourteen required meals in the סוכה
  5. Statementחכמים: no fixed number, except the first night
  6. Statementרבי אליעזר: make up the missed first-night meal on the last night
  7. Statementחכמים: no make-up, with a supporting פסוק
  8. QuestionWhat is רבי אליעזר's reason?
  9. ResponseLive in the סוכה the way you live at home
  10. QuestionHow do the רבנן explain it?
  11. ResponseAt home, eating is your choice
  12. ChallengeThen the first night should be optional too
  13. ResolutionA word-link to פסח makes the first night required
  14. QuestionWhere do we learn that מצה is required on פסח night?
  15. ResponseThe verse 'In the evening you shall eat מצות'
  16. Challengeרבי אליעזר's make-up rule clashes with his 14-meal rule
  17. Resolutionרבי אליעזר changed his mind
  18. QuestionWhat does he make up the meal with?
  19. RejectionBread cannot be the make-up
  20. ResponseHe makes it up with extra delicacies
  21. ProofA ברייתא supports the delicacies answer
  22. QuestionThe steward asks whether one meal a day is enough
  23. ResponseAdd a little extra in honor of your Creator
  24. QuestionThe steward asks about switching between two סוכות
  25. Responseרבי אליעזר forbids switching סוכות
  26. StatementIntroducing a new ברייתא from רבי אליעזר