6.5 - Sukkah Daf 08 A (6 lines Dn)

6.5 - Sukkah Daf 08 A (6 lines Dn) This week’s learning sponsored Anonymously In honor of the Ten Minute Kevius and what it has accomplished for me and so many others Sponsor a day's learning (thousands of minutes!) for only $72 click here: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/ODUwOTU Rabbi Yochanan: A round sukkah is kosher if there is space for 24 people to sit around in the circle. This follows the opinion that a sukkah’s area must be 4x4 amos. Since a person’s seat is an amah, Rabbi Yochanan requires a circumference of 24 amos. The diameter of a circle is a third of its circumference, so this round sukkah - which requires a diameter of 4 amos - should have a circumference of 12. But the circumference of a square is 25% more than that of a circle. Since our circle has a circumference of 12, the square needs a circumference of 16 amos. The reason we require a circumference of 24 amos is because we need a circle that contains a square with a 16 amah circumference. Apparently, such a circle needs a circumference of 24 amos. Summary Challenge: The diagonal of a square is 1 and ⅖ of its side. Thus the diagonal of our 4 amah square would be 5 and ⅗ — that would also be the diameter of our circle. If we multiply the diameter by 3 to get our circumference, it is 16 and ⅘ amos, not 24?! Resolution: Rabbi Yochanan’s measurement [24] was not precise; it was an estimate. Challenge: Why would his estimate be so off? Mar Keshisha son of Rav Chisda to Rav Ashi: A person’s seat is not an amah. Three people can sit in two amos. “Space to seat 24 people” means 16 amos. Although according to our calculations, the circle’s circumference requires a bit more space [⅘ of an amah], Rabbi Yochanan’s measurement was not precise. Challenge: You can’t be imprecise and round off to a lower number! The sukkah is not kosher if it’s circumference is less than 16 and ⅘ amos! Rav Asi to Rav Ashi: Actually it is correct to say that a man’s seat is an amah. When Rabbi Yochanan said the sukkah needs to seat 24, he meant 24 seated people should surround it. Instead of a 24 amah circle with a diameter of 8 (⅓), we’re now looking at a circle with a diameter of 6 [sans one amah (the seat of a person) from each side]. This would then give us a circumference of 18, which is closer to the actual circumference of 16 and ⅘. Now the numbers are close enough so we can say that Rabbi Yochanan merely gave an imprecise estimate. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate