Sukkah, Daf Lamed Vav, Part 5

 

Introduction

Today’s section deals with the minimum and maximum size of an etrog.

 

אתרוג קטן וכו’. אמר רפרם בר פפא: כמחלוקת כאן כך מחלוקת באבנים מקורזלות. דתניא: בשבת שלש אבנים מקורזלות מותר להכניס לבית הכסא, וכמה שיעורן? רבי מאיר אומר: כאגוז, רבי יהודה אומר: כביצה.

 

The minimum size of an etrog:

Rafram b. Papa said: As is the dispute here, so is the dispute with regard to rounded pebbles. For it has been taught, It is permitted on Shabbat to carry three rounded smooth pebbles into [a field] lavatory.

And what must be their size? R. Meir ruled, The size of a nut, R. Judah ruled, That of an egg.

 

In the Mishnah R. Meir said that the minimum size of an etrog is the size of a nut, whereas R. Judah said it must be the size of an egg.

Rafram b. Papa, an amora, noted that the same sizes are attributed to the same tannaim in connection with an entirely different dispute. On Shabbat it is forbidden to carry more than four cubits in the public domain. Within four cubits it is also forbidden to carry, but the prohibition is lighter only derabanan. However, for the sake of cleanliness, a person can carry three stones with which to wipe himself if he needs to go to the bathroom on Shabbat (aren’t you thankful for toilet paper). Again, this is only within four cubits. It is always prohibited to carry more than four cubits.

R. Meir says that the stones can only be the size of a nut. R. Judah says that they can be up to the size of an egg. I’m sure we could all make some humorous remarks right now. But I’ll hold them in.

 

ובגדול כדי שיאחז כו’. תניא, אמר רבי יוסי: מעשה ברבי עקיבא שבא לבית הכנסת ואתרוגו על כתפו. אמר לו רבי יהודה: משם ראיה? אף הם אמרו לו: אין זה הדר.

 

The maximum size etc. It was taught: R. Yose said: It happened with R. Akiva that he came to synagogue with his etrog on his shoulder.

R. Judah said to him: Is this a proof? They in fact said to him, That etrog is not goodly.

 

In the Mishnah R. Yose allowed an etrog so large that one needed two hands to hold it. R. Judah said that one had to be able to hold two in one hand.

R. Yose tries to bring proof from the fact that R. Akiva came to shul one day with an etrog so large that he had to carry it on his shoulder. But R. Judah, as we might have expected him to do, does not accept that as proof. According to R. Judah, the other sages told R. Akiva that the etrog he was schlepping on his shoulder didn’t look so good.