Succah 3a

סוכה ג׳ ע״א

Sukkah 3a

Learn Succah 3a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The tall סוכה of הילני המלכה, the minimum size of a סוכה (head, most of the body, and table), and a house smaller than four by four אמות

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining the story of הילני המלכה and her סוכה taller than twenty אמות. For the opinion that the dispute is about a small סוכה, it asks whether a queen would really sit in one. רב אשי answers that her סוכה was large but had small side-rooms. The רבנן say only she sat in those rooms, while רבי יהודה says her sons sat with her. Next, רב שמואל בר יצחק rules that a סוכה must hold a person's head, most of his body, and his table, and he admits that this follows בית שמאי. רב נחמן בר יצחק suggests that בית שמאי and בית הלל really argue about a large סוכה whose owner's table is in the house. Two ברייתות and the wording of the משנה show they also argue about a small סוכה's size, so the גמרא concludes they argue about both cases. Finally, the גמרא asks which תנא holds that a house smaller than four by four אמות does not count as a house, and it begins listing the laws that do not apply to such a house.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ResolutionA queen sits in an airy סוכה
2. ChallengeWould a queen sit in a small סוכה?
3. ResolutionA סוכה divided into small rooms
4. ChallengeWould a queen sit where it is only small rooms?
5. ResolutionA large סוכה with small side-rooms
6. ResolutionHow each side reads the story
7. StatementA סוכה must hold head, most of the body, and table
8. ChallengeDoes this follow בית שמאי?
9. ResponseWhom else would I follow?
10. ResponseA second version of the exchange: it is בית שמאי, but do not budge from it
11. ChallengeMaybe the dispute is about a large סוכה with the table in the house
12. ProofThe wording of the משנה supports the large-סוכה reading
13. ChallengeBut a ברייתא shows a real dispute about the size of a small סוכה
14. ProofA second ברייתא leaves out the table, so the two ברייתות must follow different opinions
15. ProofThe wording of the משנה also shows the dispute is about the סוכה's size
16. ChallengeBut the משנה also says 'one who was'
17. ResolutionThey argue about two cases, and the משנה is missing words
18. QuestionWho taught that a house under four by four אמות is not a real house?
19. StatementMore laws that do not apply to a tiny house: war and עירוב