Succah 6b

סוכה ו׳ ע״ב

Sukkah 6b

Learn Succah 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Sukkah 6b: חציצה and גזירה לגזירה; what the הלכה למשה מסיני of מחיצין teaches; how many walls a סוכה needs and where the one-טפח wall stands

Overview

The amud opens in the middle of the גמרא's list of laws that are a הלכה למשה מסיני. It first defines a חציצה in טבילה: by Torah law, a blockage counts only if it covers most of the body and the person minds it. The Sages added two decrees, but not a third, because we do not make a גזירה לגזירה. Next, the גמרא asks what the הלכה למשה מסיני of מחיצין teaches according to רבי מאיר, who already learns the ten-טפחים height from פסוקים. The answer is that it teaches גוד, לבוד, and דופן עקומה. Then the גמרא turns to the משנה's rule that a סוכה needs walls. In a ברייתא, the רבנן require two full walls plus a טפח, and רבי שמעון requires three full walls plus a טפח. The גמרא gives four ways to explain this מחלוקת, and רב מתנה gives a separate source for רבי שמעון from a פסוק in ישעיה. Finally, רב rules where the one-טפח wall is placed, and רב כהנא and רב אסי begin to respond to him, a discussion that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. StatementThe Torah-level rule of a blocking substance
2. StatementThe two rabbinic decrees on blocking substances
3. ChallengeWhy not also decree on a small blockage he does not mind?
4. ResolutionNo decree to protect another decree
5. StatementPartitions: as already explained
6. ChallengeWhat does the partition tradition teach according to רבי מאיר?
7. ResolutionThe tradition teaches other partition rules
8. StatementNext case in the משנה: a סוכה without three walls
9. StatementHow many full walls a סוכה needs
10. QuestionWhat is the root of their argument?
11. ResponseSpelling versus reading of the verse
12. ResponseThe math of the רבנן: four mentions become three walls
13. ResponseThe math of רבי שמעון: six mentions become four walls
14. ResponseA second explanation: does the roofing need its own verse?
15. ResponseBoth follow the spelling; they disagree whether the הלכה takes away or adds
16. ResponseThey disagree whether the first mention of the word is counted
17. Statementרב מתנה brings a different source for רבי שמעון from ישעיה
18. QuestionWhere is the one-טפח wall placed?
19. Responseרב: the טפח stands opposite the wall that sticks out
20. Challengeרב כהנא and רב אסי Turn to Question רב