Succah 50b

סוכה נ׳ ע״ב

Sukkah 50b

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

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Topic

The name of the שמחת בית השואבה, whether the חליל overrides שבת, and the dispute over wooden כלי שרת

Overview

The גמרא first records a dispute over the celebration's name: is it שואבה ('drawing') or חשובה ('significant')? מר זוטרא says both versions are correct, and each one reflects a true feature of the celebration. Next comes a ברייתא: רבי יוסי בר יהודה says the חליל overrides שבת, and חכמים say it does not even override יום טוב. רב יוסף explains that they argue about the שיר של קרבן, and the root question is whether the main part of Temple song is the instrument or the voice. Everyone agrees that the music of the שמחת בית השואבה is only rejoicing and does not override שבת. רב יוסף tries to prove his explanation from a dispute about wooden כלי שרת, which he links to משה's wooden flute. The גמרא rejects the proof in two ways. First, the vessel dispute may be about whether we learn a normal case from a case with no choice (דנין אפשר משאי אפשר). Second, it may be about how to read the verse about the מנורה, using כלל ופרט וכלל or ריבוי ומיעוט. The עמוד ends as רב פפא begins a statement that continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (12)

1. StatementTwo versions of the celebration's name
2. ConclusionBoth names are correct
3. StatementDoes the flute override Shabbat?
4. StatementThe dispute is about the offering's song
5. StatementThe water-drawing song never overrides Shabbat
6. Proofרב יוסף brings a source about wooden vessels
7. ProofConnecting wooden vessels to משה's flute
8. RejectionThe vessel dispute may be about something else
9. RejectionAnother way to reject the proof: the argument is about how to read the verse
10. Statementרבי's reading: the vessels must be made of metal
11. Statementרבי יוסי בר יהודה's reading: everything is included except earthenware
12. Statementרב פפא begins a new statement