Sukkah

two boards do not combine. R. Meir says, Boards also are like sheets.1 It is well according to Samuel who says that the dispute is where there are not four [handbreadths], but where there are four handbreadths all agree that it is invalid, [since it may be explained;] What does ‘combine’ mean? That they combine to make four [handbreadths]. But according to Rab, who says that their dispute is where there are four [handbreadths], but where there are not four handbreadths all agree that it is valid, how is it2 to be explained? If there are four [handbreadths]3 why need they combine; if there are not, why [is it invalid]? Are they not mere sticks? — Indeed [it is a case] where there are four handbreadths, and what [is meant by] combine is that they combine to form four cubits4 at the side.5 Another version: It is well according to Samuel, who says that the dispute is where there are not four [handbreadths], but where there are four, all agree that it is invalid, [since it may be explained:] What is meant by ‘combine’? That they combine to form four cubits at the side. But according to Rab, it is well according to R. Meir, since what is meant by ‘combine’ may be that they combine to form four cubits at the side, but according to R. Judah, who says that even if there are four [handbreadths] the Sukkah is valid, what could be the meaning of ‘they do not combine’? Are they not like mere sticks?6 — Since R. Meir said ‘they combine’, R. Judah said ‘they do not combine’. It has been taught in agreement with Rab, and it has been taught in agreement with Samuel. ‘It has been taught in agreement with Rab’, If he covered the Sukkah with planks of cedar which are not four [handbreadths wide], it is valid according to all. If they have four [handbreadths], R. Meir declares it7 invalid and R. Judah valid. R. Judah said, It happened in a time of peril8 that we brought planks which were four [handbreadths wide]9 and we laid them over a balcony and sat under them. They10 said to him, Is this a proof? A time of peril is no proof. ‘It has been taught in agreement with Samuel’, If one covered the Sukkah with planks of cedar which are four [handbreadths wide] it7 is invalid according to all; if they have not four [handbreadths] R. Meir declares it7 invalid and R. Judah valid. But R. Meir admits that if there is a space of one plank between every two planks,11 a man may place laths12 between them and the Sukkah is valid,13 and R. Judah agrees that if he placed on it a plank four handbreadths wide, [although] the Sukkah is valid, a man may not sleep under it,14 and if he sleeps beneath it he has not fulfilled his obligation.15 It was stated: If he placed the planks16 on their sides,17 R. Huna declared it7 invalid,18 and R. Hisda and Rabbah son of R. Huna declared it valid.19 R. Nahman once came to Sura and R. Hisda and Rabbah son of R. Huna came in to him and asked, If he placed them on their sides, what is the law?20 He said to them, It is invalid, since they are regarded as metal spits.21 R. Huna said to them, Did I not tell you, Say as I do? They answered him, Did then the Master give us a reason when he did not accept his ruling? He said to them, Did you ask me for a reason and I would not give you? Can we say that the following provides support for his view:22 If [the Sukkah] cannot contain his head, the major part of his body and his table, or if a breach has been made in it23 large enough for a kid to jump in headlong,24 or if he placed on it a plank four handbreadths wide, even if only three handbreadths of it enter within, it25 is invalid. How is this [last sentence]26 meant? Surely that he placed them27 on their sides?28 — No! Here we are dealing with a case where he placed it29 above the entrance of the booth,30 with three [of the four handbreadths] within and one protruding outside, in which case it is considered as a lath protruding from the Sukkah, and every lath protruding from a Sukkah is regarded as [part of the] Sukkah.31 Sukkah. of flat-lying planks. invalid. invalid covering.