Sukkah, Daf Yod Bet, Page 6

 

Introduction

Today’s section continues to deal with various plant products that can or cannot be used as skhakh.

 

אמר רב יהודה: הני שושי ושווצרי מסככין בהו. אביי אמר: בשושי – מסככין, בשווצרי – לא מסככין, מאי טעמא כיון דסרי ריחייהו שביק להו ונפיק.

 

Rav Judah ruled: One may use fern or wormwood as skhakh.

Abaye ruled: One may use fern as skhakh, but not wormwood.

What is the reason? Since they give an unpleasant odor, one might leave [the Sukkah] and depart.

 

Rav Judah says that there is no problem using either fern or wormwood as skhakh. Since these are not plants eaten by people, they are not receptive to impurity.

Abaye says that wormwood cannot be used because it smells. We wouldn’t want to put anything up as skhakh that would cause people to want to leave the sukkah.