Succah 34b

סוכה ל״ד ע״ב

Sukkah 34b

Learn Succah 34b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How many of each of the ארבעה מינים to take, the ruling on cut-tipped הדסים, and which kinds of אתרוג are פסול or כשר

Overview

The amud opens with the last line of an earlier discussion: knowing that a place's name changed matters for writing a גט correctly. Then a new משנה asks how many of each of the ארבעה מינים to take. רבי ישמעאל says three הדסים, two ערבות, one לולב and one אתרוג, and allows two of the הדסים to be קטומים. רבי טרפון allows all three to be קטומים, and רבי עקיבא says one of each species is enough. A ברייתא gives רבי ישמעאל's source in the פסוק, and רבי אליעזר shows that the אתרוג stands apart from the bundle. The ברייתא then learns from ״ולקחתם״ that all four species are required together. The גמרא challenges רבי ישמעאל's middle position and answers that he retracted it. שמואל rules like רבי טרפון, and he threatened overcharging myrtle sellers with that view rather than רבי עקיבא's, because in practice cut-tipped הדסים are easy to find. A new משנה then lists which kinds of אתרוג are פסול or כשר, based on their origin, physical damage, color and size.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ConclusionWhy the name change matters: bills of divorce
2. Statementרבי ישמעאל: three myrtles, two willows, one לולב, one אתרוג
3. Statementרבי טרפון: even all three myrtles may be cut
4. Statementרבי עקיבא: just one of each species
5. ProofThe verse-based source for רבי ישמעאל's numbers
6. Statementרבי טרפון in the ברייתא
7. Statementרבי עקיבא in the ברייתא
8. Challengeרבי אליעזר: the etrog stands apart from the other species
9. QuestionSource that all four species are required together
10. Response"And you shall take" means a complete taking
11. ChallengeChallenging רבי ישמעאל's middle position
12. Resolutionרבי ישמעאל retracted
13. Statementשמואל rules like רבי טרפון
14. Proofשמואל's warning to the myrtle sellers
15. ChallengeWhy not threaten with רבי עקיבא's easier view?
16. ResolutionIn practice, רבי טרפון's view is easier
17. Statementמשנה: kinds of etrog that are unfit
18. StatementPure תרומה: not ideal, but valid after the fact
19. Statementדמאי: a dispute between בית שמאי and בית הלל
20. StatementSecond tithe in Jerusalem: valid after the fact
21. StatementPhysical damage that makes an אתרוג invalid
22. StatementSimilar damage that still leaves the אתרוג valid
23. StatementColor: a black אתרוג and a leek-green אתרוג
24. StatementThe smallest size allowed for an אתרוג
25. StatementThe largest size allowed for an אתרוג