Sukkah Bet (2), part 5

 

Today’s section compares the three amoraic opinions we learned yesterday, each of which limited the mishnah’s scope in a slightly different way.

 

בשלמא דרבי יאשיה פליגא אדרב הונא ורב חנן בר רבה, דאינהו קא יהבי שעורא במשכא, ואיהו לא קא יהיב שעורא במשכא.

 

It is understandable that R. Yoshayah disagrees with R. Huna and with R. Hanan b. Rabbah, since they provide a [minimum] measurement for the extent [of the Sukkah] while he does not provide a minimum measurement as to the extent [of the sukkah].

 

We can understand why R. Yoshayah disagreed with R. Huna and R. Hanan bar Rabbah for he limited the mishnah by saying that as long as the walls reached the skhakh the sukkah was valid even if it is more than 20 cubits high. They, on the other hand, limited the mishnah by saying it applied only to sukkot that were narrow.

 

אלא רב הונא ורב חנן בר רבה, נימא בהכשר סוכה קמיפלגי; דמר סבר: הכשר סוכה בארבע אמות, ומר סבר: הכשר סוכה במחזקת ראשו ורובו ושולחנו?

 

But [as regards] R. Huna and R. Hanan b. Rabbah, can we say that they differ on [as to what constitutes] the minimum validity of a sukkah, the former holding a sukkah must be at least four cubits [square] while the latter holds that a sukkah must at least be able to contain his head, the greater part of his body, and his table?

 

The gemara now suggests that what R. Huna and R. Hanan b. Rabbah are really arguing about is the minimum size of a sukkah. R. Hunah holds it needs to be at least 4 cubits square and R. Hanan b. Rabbah says that it is valid as long as it can hold his head, most of his body and the table.

 

לא, דכולי עלמא הכשר סוכה ראשו ורובו ושולחנו. והכא בהא קמיפלגי; דמר סבר: במחזקת ראשו ורובו ושולחנו פליגי, אבל יותר מראשו ורובו ושולחנו – דברי הכל כשרה. ומר סבר: מראשו ורובו ושולחנו עד ארבע אמות פליגי, אבל יותר מארבע אמות – דברי הכל כשרה.

 

 

No! Both agree that a sukkah is valid if it can contain his head, the greater part of his body, and his table, but here they differ on the following principle: One master holds the opinion that they [the tannaim in the Mishnah] disagree where the sukkah [can] contain [only] his head, the greater part of his body, and his table, but if it is larger than this both agree that it is valid, while the other master holds that they [the tannaim] differ [about a sukkah whose size is] between [one capable of] containing his head, the greater part of his body and his table, and one four cubits square, but if it is more than four cubits square, both agree that it is valid.

 

The gemara rejects the previous explanation of the disagreement between R. Huna and R. Hanan b. Rabbah and offers a new one.

According to R. Huna the sages and Rabbi Judah disagree if the sukkah is exactly large enough to fit his head, most of his body and table. At this exactly minimum size the first opinion in the mishnah will disqualify a 20 cubit high sukkah and Rabbi Judah will validate it. But if it is any bigger than the minimal breadth, the sukkah is valid according to all opinions in the Mishnah.

R. Hanan b. Rabbah says that there is a dispute concerning any sukkah that is smaller than four by four cubits. In such cases the rabbis of the Mishnah disqualify a 20 cubit high sukkah and R. Judah validates. But if the sukkah is more than four by four cubits in breadth, even the rabbis agree that it is valid.