Succah 56b

סוכה נ״ו ע״ב

Sukkah 56b

Learn Succah 56b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The Shabbat changeover of the משמרות: why the incoming משמר gets two extra loaves of לחם הפנים, the refutation of רב יהודה's claim that the מוספין are also divided, and why each group divides its bread in the north or the south.

Overview

On the שבת when the weekly priestly shifts (משמרות) change, the two groups divide the לחם הפנים. According to רבי יהודה in the משנה, the incoming group takes seven loaves and the outgoing group five. רבי יצחק explains that the two extra loaves are payment for locking the Temple doors. אביי explains why the groups don't simply cancel the extra: a sure gain now is better than a possible gain later. רב יהודה then adds that the מוספין are also divided, but he is refuted by a ברייתא of דבי שמואל, which discusses dividing portions and mentions only the bread. The גמרא next explains that the incoming group divides in the north and the outgoing group in the south, so everyone can see who is coming and who is going. The משמר of בילגה always divides in the south as a penalty. It was punished either because מרים בת בילגה insulted the מזבח or because the משמר came late. אביי explains the group penalty with the rule 'woe to the wicked, woe to his neighbor,' and מסכת סוכה ends on the hopeful note 'good for the righteous, good for his neighbor.'

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. QuestionWhat are the two extra loaves for?
2. ResponsePayment for locking the doors
3. ChallengeWhy not just cancel it out?
4. ResolutionA sure gain now is better
5. Statementרב יהודה: the מוספין are also divided
6. ChallengeA ברייתא that leaves out dividing the מוספין
7. ResolutionThat ברייתא isn't discussing division
8. Challengeרבא: the School of שמואל discusses division and still omits it
9. Conclusionרב יהודה is refuted
10. StatementQuoting the משנה: the incoming divide in the north
11. StatementWhy north for incoming and south for outgoing
12. Statementבילגה always divides in the south
13. StatementThe story of מרים בת בילגה
14. StatementAnother reason: בילגה's משמר came late
15. Statementבילגה's neighbors gained
16. ChallengeWhy punish the father for his daughter?
17. ResolutionA child repeats what is heard at home
18. ChallengeWhy punish the whole shift for the parents?
19. ResolutionWoe to the wicked, woe to his neighbor
20. ConclusionGood for the righteous, good for his neighbor
21. ConclusionHadran — Closing פרק החליל and מסכת סוכה