Sukkah, Daf Kaf Tet, Part Three

 

Introduction

Today’s section interprets the parable found in the mishnah: "They made a parable. To what can this be compared? To a slave who comes to fill the cup for his master, and he poured a pitcher over his face."

 

משל למה הדבר דומה. איבעיא להו: מי שפך למי?

תא שמע, דתניא: שפך לו רבו קיתון על פניו, ואמר לו: אי אפשי בשמושך.

 

They made a parable:

It was asked of them: who spilled on whom?

Come and hear: For it has been taught: The master poured the pitcher over his face and said, "I don’t want your service."

 

The first section begins with a question about the parable in the mishnah who spills on whom? Does God spill the rain on the people dwelling in the sukkah? This seems to be the obvious meaning of the parallel, and indeed this seems to be the interpretation that the Talmud will provide. The alternative meaning is that the servant, Israel, spills on God by acting in an improper manner. The advantage to this meaning is that there is now a quid pro quo. Israel behaves improperly, and as a response, God causes it to rain in the sukkah. In the next passage we will see that there is this sense throughout the Talmud. On the one hand, rain is a good sign, absolutely essential for the land and for welfare. But there is also the problem of raining in the sukkah which could be interpreted as God saying to Israel I don’t want your service.

 

תנו רבנן: בזמן שהחמה לוקה – סימן רע לכל העולם כולו. משל למה הדבר דומה – למלך בשר ודם שעשה סעודה לעבדיו, והניח פנס לפניהם, כעס עליהם ואמר לעבדו: טול פנס מפניהם והושיבם בחושך.

 

Our Rabbis taught: When the sun is in eclipse it is a bad omen for the whole world. To what can this be compared? To a flesh and blood king who made a banquet for his servants and put a lamp in front of them. When he got angry with them he said to his servant, "Take the lamp away from them, and let them sit in the dark."

 

This second baraita strengthens the same idea found in the first baraita, but applies it to another heavenly sign. The eclipse of the sun must have been exceedingly frightening in the ancient world. The baraita understands it as God saying to the world, "I provided you with this light. If I get angry, I can take it away whenever I want." The message would seem to be act well, for if you don’t, it won’t always be here.