Sukkah, Daf Lamed Bet, Part 3

 

Introduction

In the mishnah, R. Judah said he should tie the leaves of the lulav together at the top. Our sugya discusses the source for this ruling.

 

רבי יהודה אומר. תניא, רבי יהודה אומר משום רבי טרפון: +ויקרא כג+ כפות תמרים – כפות, אם היה פרוד – יכפתנו.

 

R. Judah says

It has been taught: R. Judah said in the name of R. Tarfon, "Branches (kapot) of palm-trees," kapot [means that if palm-branches must be] were separated, he must tie them up (yikhtefenu).

 

The Torah calls what we identify as the lulav "kapot temarim," usually translated as branches of palm-trees. The word "kapot" can mean to bind. So from this word R. Judah learns that if the leaves had separated, as they tend to do, one should bind them together, as he said in the Mishnah.

אמר ליה רבינא לרב אשי: ממאי דהאי כפות תמרים דלולבא הוא? אימא חרותא!

בעינא כפות, וליכא.

ואימא אופתא! – כפות מכלל דאיכא פרוד, והאי כפות ועומד לעולם.

ואימא כופרא! – אמר אביי: +משלי ג+ דרכיה דרכי נעם וכל נתיבותיה שלום כתיב.

אמר ליה רבא תוספאה לרבינא: ואימא תרתי כפי דתמרי!

כפת כתיב.

ואימא חדא! – לההוא כף קרי ליה.

 

Ravina said to R. Ashi: How do we know that "branches of palm-trees" refers to the lulav? Perhaps it means [branches of] the hardened palm?

It must be [a branch the leaves of which can be] bound up, and this one cannot.

But perhaps it means the stalk [itself]?

[Since the word] "bound" is used, it must refer to something which can be separated, and this is permanently bound.

But perhaps it means the spiky part of the palms?

Abaye answered, It is written, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."

Raba Tosfa’ah said to Ravina: But perhaps it means two bunches of dates?

The word is written kappat (in the singular).

Then perhaps it means one?

That would be called kaf.

 

Ravina and other amoraim now asks how we know that the Torah mandates taking the part of the palm tree that we call the "lulav"? The Hebrew words are not at all clear, so how can we be so sure that what we use is the correct part.

I should note that by Ravina’s time there was a centuries’ old tradition to use this branch as part of the four species. This is probably a tradition whose origins are lost we don’t really know why they originally used this part of the palm. Our sugya asks how we know that this is the right part but no matter how we answer this question, the tradition to use this part of the palm on Sukkot will certainly remain.

The first suggestion is to use the hardened part of the palm closer to the trunk. The problem with using this part is that the spread apart leaves are already so hardened that they can’t be bound up. Since the Torah uses the word "kapot," which we have interpreted as "bound up" the leaves must be such that they can be bound.

The second suggestion is to use the large central branch or stalk of the palm tree. The problem with using this part is that its leaves can never become separate. The lulav needs to have leaves that can be separated such that it can be bound.

The third suggestion is to use the spiky part of the palm (I have a palm tree in my front entrance and I’ve encountered this part too many times). Abaye rejects the use of this part because it would be exceedingly unpleasant to use it. The Torah is supposed to be pleasant and carrying a spiky lulav is not.

Finally, Rabbah Tosfa’ah asks why we can’t use the bunches of dates themselves. I should note that this might indeed be the simple meaning of the verse. The first answer is that the Torah writes the word "kapot" without a vav, meaning that it is singular. Rabbah Tosfa’ah responds that if so, we could just use one bunch of dates. To this Ravina responds that one bunch of dates is called "kaf" and not "kapot." Thus by paying attention to Hebrew grammar and spelling Ravina rejects using bunches of dates. As I noted above, it seems quite clear that this was not how the decision to use the lulav branch was made. Rather this is what we call a "supporting midrash." The ancient halakhah is clearly a tradition, one whose origins have been lost.