8.3 - Sukkah Daf 10 A (9 lines Up)

Today’s learning sponsored by Yisroel Knopfler in honor of Rabbi Moshe Horowitz Sponsor a day's learning (thousands of minutes!) for only $72 click here https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/ODUwOTU A double decker sukkah is possul. There are three opinions as to how much space there must be between the upper and lower levels to qualify as a double decker sukkah. Rav Huna, 1 tefach. Rav Chisda and Rabbah bar Rav Huna, 4 tefachim. Shmuel, 10 tefachim. Shmuel was challenged from our mishna where Rabbi Yehuda’s opinion is quoted: “If the upper sukkah has no inhabitants [we understand that to mean it is less than 10 tefachim and is uninhabitable], the lower sukkah is kosher”, this seems to indicate that the Chachomim hold the lower sukkah to be possul even when there’s less than 10 tefachim. Summary When Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisroel, they explained the mishna differently there: “The upper sukkah has no inhabitants” means the floor is not sturdy enough to hold inhabitants. Challenge: Why would the Chachomim consider the upper level a kosher sukkah if the floor is so flimsy? Resolution: The floor is somewhat sturdy. Mishna: If a sheet is spread over the schach to provide shade, or under the schach to catch falling pieces, or if it is spread over his bed like a ceiling, it is possul.* One may spread a sheet over his bed posts if it’s pointed like a wigwam unlike a flat ceiling. Gemara: Rav Chisda: A sheet under schach is only possul if it was placed there to catch falling pieces. If it was placed there to beautify the sukkah it is kosher (since it’s an accessory to the schach it is considered part of the schach and not a separate covering). Challenge: Isn’t that obvious? The mishna says “to catch falling pieces” so we understand that for another reason it is permissible. Resolution: We might have thought “to catch falling pieces” is merely an example. A possible proof: Beraisa: If the schach was made properly and decorated with drapes and tapestries, or nuts, almonds, persimmons, pomegranates, clusters of grapes, tassles of grain, bottle of wine oil and flour. One is forbidden to use these decorations until after Yom Tov unless he made a condition. So we see that things hung for decoration do not disqualify the schach. Response: It is no proof because it is possible that these decorations were hung around the sukkah not directly under the schach. Click here for the recording with Tosfos: http://chilp.it/958b4e1 * Tosfos explains that it is only possul if the schach wouldn’t provide enough shade without the sheet. Rabeinu Tam explains that the sheet protects the schach from becoming shriveled in the sun [which would then render the sukkah a mostly shadeless]. 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