Succah 31b

סוכה ל״א ע״ב

Sukkah 31b

Learn Succah 31b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether רבי יהודה requires הדר for an אתרוג, the לולב of an אשרה, and a לולב with a cut or split top

Overview

This עמוד opens with the end of רבי יהודה's proof that dry species are כשר, and the חכמים answer that what people do under pressure (שעת הדחק) proves nothing. The גמרא then explains why a ברייתא needed to say 'do not add to the four species' and 'do not substitute another fruit for a missing אתרוג.' Next it brings a ברייתא where רבי יהודה allows an old אתרוג, which refutes רבא's claim that רבי יהודה requires הדר for an אתרוג. The גמרא defends this conclusion against three sources: a green אתרוג and a very small one are unripe, and a very large one might fall when switching hands. For רבי יהודה, the word הדר in the פסוק means a fruit that stays on its tree from year to year, not a beautiful one. The גמרא then explains why a לולב of an אשרה is פסול even though רבא allows a לולב of עבודה זרה after the fact: this אשרה must be burned, so it counts as already burned and too small. Finally, רב הונא rules that only a לולב whose top is cut off is פסול, not one whose top is split. A challenge to him from a ברייתא begins at the end of the עמוד and continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. Proofרבי יהודה's proof from city dwellers who passed down old לולבים
2. RejectionThe חכמים reject the proof: emergency practice is no proof
3. ProofAttempt to prove רבי יהודה allows a dry אתרוג
4. RejectionNo: רבי יהודה was speaking about the לולב
5. StatementQuoting the ברייתא: do not add to the four species
6. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
7. ResolutionWe might have thought an unbound extra species doesn't matter
8. StatementQuoting the ברייתא: no substitute for a missing אתרוג
9. ChallengeIsn't that obvious too?
10. ResolutionA substitute might make people forget the real אתרוג
11. ChallengeAn old אתרוג: רבי יהודה allows it
12. Conclusionרבא is refuted
13. ChallengeA green אתרוג: רבי יהודה disqualifies it
14. ResolutionGreen means unripe, not unbeautiful
15. ChallengeA small אתרוג: רבי יהודה requires the size of an egg
16. ResolutionToo small means unripe
17. ChallengeA large אתרוג: רבי יהודה sets a maximum size
18. ResolutionA huge אתרוג might fall when switching hands
19. ChallengeDoesn't the Torah say the fruit must be beautiful?
20. Resolutionהדר means a fruit that stays on its tree
21. StatementQuoting the next line of the משנה
22. ChallengeIs a לולב of an אשרה really unfit?
23. ResolutionThe משנה means an אשרה that must be burned
24. ProofThe wording of the משנה supports the answer
25. Statementרב הונא: only a fully cut-off top is invalid, a split top is valid
26. ChallengeChallenge to רב הונא from a ברייתא about a bent לולב