Sukkah, Daf Yod Gimmel, Part 4

 

Introduction

Today’s section continues to discuss what counts as "bundles" such that they could not be used as skhakh.

 

דרש מרימר: הני איסורייתא דסורא מסככין בהו, אף על גב דאגדן – למנינא בעלמא הוא דאגדן.

 

Meremar expounded: The bundles of [twigs] made in Sura are valid as skhakh. Although [the seller] binds them together he does so merely to facilitate their counting.

 

Meremar (a late Babylonian amora) says that the bundles of twigs sold in the marketplace in Sura, an important Jewish center in Babylonia, can be used for skhakh because the bundle is meant just for counting. The bundles are not made for storing them in this manner or for transporting them. Thus we learn that if someone bundles something together just to count it, the bundle could be used as skkakh.

 

אמר רבי אבא: הני צריפי דאורבני, כיון שהותרה ראשי מעדנים שלהן – כשרין. –

 

R. Abba said: These cone-shaped bundles of willows, as soon as the top-knots are untied they are valid [as skhakh].

 

R. Abba cites another case of a bundle that can be used as skhakh, as long as the top knot is untied.

והא אגידי מתתאי!

אמר רב פפא: דשרי להו.

 

But are they not still tied at the bottom?

R. Papa answered, [This is a case] where he loosens them.

 

R. Papa modifies R. Abba’s statement slightly. If the bottom knot is still fully tied, then the bundle cannot be used. But if the top knot was fully undone and the bottom knot was merely loosened, they may be used even though they are still tied together.

 

(ואמר) רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע: אפילו תימא דלא שרי להו, כל אגד שאינו עשוי לטלטלו – לא שמיה אגד.

 

R. Huna the son of R. Joshua said: one can even say that [it is valid even if] he does not loosen them, since a binding which is not made to be carried is not considered a binding.

 

R. Huna son of R. Joshua says he doesn t even need to loosen the bottom knot of the willow bundle. Since such a bundle would fall apart if carried, it doesn’t count as a bundle.