Sukkah — Daf 12b

דאין מסככין משום גזרת אוצר הא דאורייתא שפיר דמי התם דקתני אינה סוכה אפילו דיעבד מדאורייתא נמי אינה סוכה

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב סככה בחיצין זכרים כשרה בנקבות פסולה

זכרים כשרה פשיטא מהו דתימא ניגזור זכרים אטו נקבות קמ"ל

(אמר מר) בנקבות פסולה פשיטא מהו דתימא בית קבול העשוי למלאות לא שמיה קיבול קמשמע לן

אמר רבה בר בר חנה א"ר יוחנן סככה באניצי פשתן פסולה בהוצני פשתן כשרה והושני פשתן איני יודע מהו

והושני עצמן איני יודע מה נפשך אי דייק ולא נפיץ הושני קרי ליה אבל תרי ולא דייק הוצני קרי ליה או דלמא תרי ולא דייק נמי הושני קרי ליה

אמר רב יהודה הני שושי ושווצרי מסככין בהו אביי אמר בשושי מסככין בשווצרי לא מסככין מ"ט כיון

it is invalid, because of the possible use of a store-house;1 according to the Biblical law, however, it is valid; while in the other case where it is stated categorically that it is no Sukkah, implying even when he has made it, it is no Sukkah even Pentateuchally. Rab Judah said in the name of Rab, If one covered a Sukkah with plain2 arrow-shafts, it is valid; with bored3 shafts, it is invalid. ‘With plain arrow-shafts it is valid’; but is not this obvious? I might have said that these should be forbidden on account of bored ones,therefore he informs us [that they are not forbidden]. ‘With4 bored shafts, it is invalid’, is not this obvious? — I might have thought that a receptacle which is made to be [permanently] filled up is not regarded as a receptacle, therefore he informs us [that it is]. Rabbah b. Bar Hana said in the name of R. Johanan, ‘If one covered a Sukkah with flax-stalks that had been soaked and baked, it is invalid;5 with flax stalks in their natural state it is valid; with flax-stalks in an intermediate stage of preparation, I do not know [whether it is valid or not]’. But as to what constitutes an intermediate stage,6 I7 do not know whether if it has been pounded and not corded it is regarded as in an intermediate stage,8 but if it has been soaked and not pounded it is regarded as being in its natural state,9 or perhaps, even if it has been soaked but not pounded, it is also regarded as being in an intermediate stage.10 Rab Judah ruled, One may use licorice-wood or wormwood as a Sukkah-covering. Abaye ruled, Licorice-wood may be employed, but not wormwood. What is the reason?- Since which is unsusceptible to ritual uncleanliness regarded as a valid receptacle which is susceptible to ritual uncleanliness.