Gemara Clarity

Succah 7a

סוכה ז׳ ע״א

Sukkah 7a

Learn Succah 7a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Succah 7a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The third wall of a סוכה (corner and מבוי shapes, צורת הפתח) and whether a סוכה wall counts for שבת (מגו)

Overview

The גמרא continues discussing a סוכה with two full walls and a third wall of only one טפח. רב's ruling that the טפח is placed 'כנגד היוצא' is supported by שמואל in the name of לוי and by the ruling of the בית מדרש. רבי סימון (or רבי יהושע בן לוי) offers another method: a slightly wide טפח placed less than three טפחים from a wall, so that through לבוד it counts as a bigger wall. For a סוכה shaped like an alleyway (two parallel walls), רב יהודה allows a single טפח on any side, but רבי סימון requires a board of four טפחים and a bit. The גמרא explains the difference: walls that meet at a corner are a real structure, while parallel walls are not. רבא is quoted in three versions about using a צורת הפתח, and רב כהנא follows the version that requires both the טפח and the צורת הפתח. רבא then rules by מגו that a valid סוכה wall also counts as a wall for שבת during סוכות. אביי challenges this from a ברייתא, and רבא defends it by rereading the ברייתא and by a כל שכן argument. The amud ends by starting a fresh look at רבא's ruling about סכך over a מבוי, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְיַעֲמִידֶנּוּ כְּנֶגֶד רֹאשׁ תּוֹר?!

But let him place it opposite the end of the furrow line (diagonally)!

שְׁתֵיק רַב.

Rav was silent.

אִיתְּמַר נָמֵי,

It was also stated:

אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּלֵוִי:

Shmuel said in the name of Levi:

The steps (22)

  1. ChallengeStudents suggest a diagonal placement and רב stays silent
  2. Proofשמואל quoting לוי agrees with רב
  3. ConclusionThe study hall rules the same way
  4. StatementA wider handbreadth placed near the wall, joined by לבוד
  5. StatementA sukkah shaped like an alleyway is kosher
  6. StatementA parallel-walled סוכה needs a board of four טפחים and a bit
  7. QuestionWhy does one case need a small טפח and the other a four-טפח board?
  8. ResponseJoined walls need less help than walls that are not joined
  9. Statementרבא: the corner-shaped סוכה also needs a doorway-frame
  10. StatementSecond version of רבא: a doorway-frame also works
  11. StatementA version of רבא that requires both the טפח and the doorway-frame
  12. Challengeרב אשי questions why רב כהנא makes both
  13. Resolutionרב כהנא follows the stricter version of רבא
  14. Statementרבא: a valid סוכה wall also counts as a wall for שבת
  15. Challengeאביי challenges the מגו from a ברייתא
  16. ProofThe ברייתא's ending: שבת walls are stricter than סוכה walls
  17. Challengeאביי: so we do not say the 'since' reasoning
  18. Resolutionרבא: the ברייתא compares an ordinary שבת to שבת of סוכות
  19. ChallengeIf so, the ברייתא should also teach where a סוכה on שבת is easier
  20. Proofאביי Backs Up His Challenge With רבא's Own Ruling
  21. Resolutionרבא: The Reverse Case Is Too Obvious to Teach
  22. StatementReturning to רבא's Ruling Itself