Succah 3b

סוכה ג׳ ע״ב

Sukkah 3b

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

Open Succah 3b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why a house smaller than four by four אמות is not treated as a real house, and lowering a too-tall סוכה

Overview

This amud explains a ברייתא that lists the הלכות that do not apply to a house smaller than four by four אמות. The גמרא first asks whether the ברייתא follows only רבי, who requires four by four for a סוכה. It answers that even the רבנן agree: a סוכה is a temporary home and can be small, but a permanent house must be four by four or no one would live in it. Torah laws such as מזוזה and מעקה do not apply to it, because they say בית and this is not a בית. Rabbinic עירוב rules leave it out because it is not fit to live in, though the food of a שיתוף may still be placed there, since it is no worse than a courtyard. A tiny house also cannot join two cities, because unlike a watchman's hut it does not serve its purpose. It gets no share when a courtyard is divided, because it is expected to be torn down. Finally, the גמרא returns to the משנה and rules that cushions and blankets on the floor do not lower a סוכה that is taller than twenty אמות.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementThe last two rules of the ברייתא about a tiny house
2. QuestionDoes this ברייתא only follow רבי?
3. RejectionEven the רבנן agree a real house needs four by four
4. StatementQuoting the Torah-based rules from the ברייתא
5. ResponseReason: the Torah uses the word בית
6. StatementQuoting the rabbinic עירוב rules from the ברייתא
7. ResponseReason: it is not fit to live in
8. ConclusionOnly עירובי חצירות is ruled out; a שיתוף may be placed there
9. QuestionWhy can a שיתוף be placed in a tiny house?
10. ResponseA tiny house is no worse than a courtyard in the alley
11. ProofSource: each עירוב goes in its own area
12. ChallengeAn עירוב חצירות in a courtyard? Another source says no
13. ResolutionCorrected reading: a house in the courtyard, a courtyard in the alley
14. ConclusionSo a tiny house can hold the שיתוף
15. StatementA tiny house does not extend a city's boundary
16. ResponseNot even counted like a watchman's hut
17. QuestionWhy is it worse than a hut?
18. ResponseHuts fit their purpose; the tiny house does not
19. StatementBrothers and partners do not divide a tiny house
20. ChallengeA משנה requires 4 אמות for each partner
21. ResolutionReading the ברייתא as being about the courtyard
22. StatementHow a courtyard is divided: by its doorways
23. ConclusionA house meant to be torn down gets no courtyard share
24. StatementCushions and blankets do not lower a too-tall סוכה