Succah 33b
סוכה ל״ג ע״ב
Sukkah 33b
Learn Succah 33b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
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Topic
Black, red, and green berries on the הדס; דחוי מעיקרא and נראה ונדחה; fixing the הדס and the לולב binding on יום טוב; and the laws of the ערבה
Overview
This amud finishes רבא's objection to an early version of רב חסדא's teaching, and then gives the corrected version. In it, רב, quoted by רב חסדא, says that berries outnumbering the leaves disqualify a הדס only when they are black, since green berries blend in. רב פפא adds that red berries count like black, citing רבי חנינא on blood colors. The גמרא then studies the משנה's rulings that reducing the berries makes the הדס fit, and that one may not reduce them on יום טוב. From the timing of when the berries turned black, it proves that דחוי מעיקרא לא הוי דחוי. It does not prove that נראה ונדחה can become fit again. A ברייתא records רבי אליעזר ברבי שמעון permitting the berries to be picked on יום טוב, and the גמרא defends him using דבר שאין מתכוין and פסיק רישיה. Next comes a ברייתא about rewrapping a loosened לולב binding on יום טוב like a vegetable bundle, explained according to רבי יהודה's view that a bow is a real knot. Finally, a new משנה lists which ערבות are פסולה and which are כשרה, and ברייתות explain 'ערבי נחל' and teach that willows from any place are valid.
Opening lines
שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת
Two or three places
הָוֵי מְנוּמָּר, וּפְסוּל.
is speckled, and it is unfit.
אֶלָּא, אִי אִתְּמַר הָכִי אִתְּמַר:
Rather, if it was said, this is how it was said:
אוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ עֲנָבָיו מְרוּבִּין מֵעָלָיו — פָּסוּל.
'Or if its berries were more numerous than its leaves, it is unfit.'
The steps (33)
- ChallengeBerries in several spots make the branch look speckled
- ResolutionCorrecting what was actually said: back to the משנה's case
- StatementOnly black berries disqualify; green berries are fine
- StatementRed berries count like black berries
- ProofProof from רבי חנינא: black blood is really red
- StatementNew topic in the משנה: reducing the berries makes it fit
- QuestionWhen were the berries reduced?
- RejectionBefore tying the לולב? Too obvious to need saying
- ResponseAfter tying the לולב? Then it was unfit from the start
- ProofSo something rejected from the start is not permanently rejected
- RejectionTying the bundle is only a designation, so the proof falls away
- StatementThe משנה: do not reduce the berries on the festival
- QuestionWhat if he went ahead and picked them?
- ResponseIt is fit
- QuestionWhen did the berries turn black?
- ProofIf they were black from yesterday, this proves early rejection is not permanent
- ProofIf they turned black on the festival, it proves a rejected item can become fit again
- RejectionNo: they were black from before, so only the first point is proven
- StatementA ברייתא: may one remove the extra berries on יום טוב?
- ChallengeBut removing the berries fixes a usable item on יום טוב
- Resolutionרב אשי: he picked them to eat, and his father permits an unintended result
- ChallengeBut רבי שמעון agrees when the result is certain
- ResolutionThe case is where he has another kosher הדס
- StatementA loosened לולב binding may be re-wrapped like a vegetable bundle
- ChallengeWhy not just tie a bow?
- ResolutionThe ברייתא follows רבי יהודה, who treats a bow as a real knot
- ChallengeBut רבי יהודה requires a proper binding
- ResolutionThis תנא agrees with רבי יהודה on one point only
- StatementThe משנה lists which ערבות are פסולה and which are כשרה
- Statement'ערבי נחל' means willows that grow by a brook
- StatementSecond reading: a willow whose leaf is long like a brook
- QuestionAre willows not growing by a brook also valid?
- ResponseWillows from any place are valid