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Succah 50a

סוכה נ׳ ע״א

Sukkah 50a

Learn Succah 50a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The water for ניסוך המים (the unconsecrated barrel, and why exposed water cannot be strained), the end of פרק לולב וערבה, and the opening משנה of פרק החליל

Overview

This amud finishes פרק לולב וערבה and opens פרק החליל. First the גמרא explains why the water for ניסוך המים is kept overnight in a barrel that is not consecrated. One reason is that a consecrated barrel would make the water holy, and then staying overnight (לינה) would disqualify it. חזקיה says a כלי שרת consecrates only with intent, so the rule is a rabbinic decree (גזירה) to stop people from thinking holy water can stay overnight. רבי ינאי, quoting רבי זירא, adds that the decree is needed even if the libation water has a fixed measure, because people might think the barrel was filled for קידוש ידים ורגלים. Next the גמרא asks why water left uncovered (גילוי) cannot simply be strained. It first suggests the משנה disagrees with רבי נחמיה, who holds that a strainer catches snake venom. It then answers that רבי נחמיה allowed this only for ordinary drinking, not for the מזבח, citing the פסוק in מלאכי, 'present it to your governor.' After the הדרן, the new משנה teaches that the flute of the בית השואבה was played five or six days, because it does not override שבת or יום טוב.

Opening lines

וְאִי מַיְיתֵי בִּמְקוּדֶּשֶׁת,

And if he brings it in a consecrated barrel,

אִיפְּסִילוּ לְהוּ בְּלִינָה.

they would become disqualified by remaining overnight.

חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר:

Chizkiya said:

כְּלֵי שָׁרֵת אֵין מְקַדְּשִׁין אֶלָּא מִדַּעַת,

Temple vessels consecrate only with intent,

The steps (9)

  1. ResolutionA consecrated barrel would ruin the water overnight
  2. Resolutionחזקיה: vessels consecrate only with intent, so it is a rabbinic decree
  3. Resolutionרבי זירא: even granting a measure for the water, a decree is needed
  4. ChallengeWhy not strain the exposed water?
  5. ChallengePerhaps the משנה disagrees with רבי נחמיה
  6. Rejectionרבי נחמיה allowed straining only for ordinary use
  7. ProofSupport from מלאכי: offer ה׳ only what is fit for a governor
  8. Conclusionהדרן — Closing פרק לולב וערבה
  9. StatementThe flute of the water-drawing celebration is played five or six days