Sukkah

but R. Meir admits that if there is the space of one plank between every two planks that one may place laths between them and it is valid.1 It is well according to him who says that whether in the middle or at the sides it needs four cubits [of invalid covering to invalidate a Sukkah], for this reason it is here valid;2 but according to him who says that in the middle four [handbreadths of invalid covering invalidate] why is it valid?3 — R. Huna the son of R. Joshua answered, We are dealing here with a Sukkah which measures no more than a bare eight [cubits], and he places [alternately] plank and lath, plank and lath, plank and lath on one side and [similarly] plank and lath, plank and lath, plank and lath on the other side, so that there are two laths in the middle, and thus a valid Sukkah is formed in the middle.4 Abaye ruled, An air space of three handbreadths in a large Sukkah which is diminished with either sticks or spits5 is a [valid] diminution;6 in a small Sukkah,7 with sticks it is a [valid] diminution,8 with spits an invalid one.9 This10 applies only to the side,11 but as regards the middle, R. Aha and Rabina differ. One says, The rule of labud12 applies in the middle,11 while the other says, The rule of labud does not apply in the middle. What is the reason of him who says that the rule of labud applies in the middle? — Because it has been taught, If a beam protrudes from one wall but does not touch the opposite wall, and similarly in the case of two beams, one protruding from one wall and one from the other and not touching each other, if [the space between13 is] less than three [handbreadths] it is unnecessary to provide another beam;14 if it is three [handbreadths] it is necessary to provide another beam.15 And [what does] the other16 [answer to this]? — Beams17 are different [from a Sukkah]18 since [their erection is merely] a Rabbinical measure.19 What is the reason of him who says that the rule of labud is not applied in the middle? — Because we learned: If a skylight in [the roof of] a house was of one handbreadth square, and there was an object of uncleanliness in the house, all the house is unclean, but what is directly below the skylight is clean.20 If the unclean object is directly below the skylight, the whole house is clean. If the skylight was less than a handbreadth square, and there was an unclean object in the house, what is directly below the skylight is clean; if the unclean object is directly below the skylight, the whole house is clean.21 And [what does] the other22 [say]?23 — The laws of uncleanliness differ [from those of Sukkah] since there is a tradition to that effect.24 R. Judah b. Ila'i expounded, If [the roof of] a house is breached, and he placed a Sukkah-covering over it, it25 is valid.26 R. Ishmael son of R. Jose said to him, Master, explain [thy words]. Thus my father27 explained it: If there are four cubits28 it25 is invalid,26 if less than four cubits, it is valid. R. Judah b. Ila'i expounded, Abruma29 is permitted. R. Ishmael son of R. Jose said to him, Master, explain [thy words]. Thus said my father, Those from such and such a place are forbidden,30 and from such and such a place are permitted.31 This is analogous to that which Abaye said; the zahantha32 of Bab Nahara33 are permitted. What is the reason? If you will say that it is because there is a swift current there, and an unclean fish, since it has no spinal cord, cannot exist therein, [it could be retorted that] we see that they do exist [in rivers with rapid currents]. Will you then say that it is because it has salt water, and ‘an unclean fish, since it has no scales, cannot exist [in salt water, it could be retorted that] we see that they do exist? — The reason in fact is that the muddy nature of this river does not allow unclean fish to breed in it. Rabina said, But at the present time that the River Ethan34 and the River Gamda flow therein, they35 are forbidden.36 It was stated, If a man placed a Sukkah-covering over an exedra37 which has door-frames,38 it is valid;39 if it has no door-frames, Abaye declares it40 valid and Raba declares it invalid. Abaye declares it valid [since] handbreadths) and the latter which also total six times four is twenty-four handbreadths, but the alternation of planks and laths is as follows (P is plank, L is lath) PLPLPLLPLPLP. The eight handbreadths in the middle represented by LL constitute a valid Sukkah, the next being regarded as continuations of the walls, since on any side they are less than four cubits in extent. cause invalidity. part of the roof and the Sukkah (being of the minimum size) is thus reduced to less than the prescribed minimum. middle of a Sukkah. everything within the room unclean. and turn them into a suitable breeding ground for the unclean insects. V. A.Z., Sonc. ed., p. 191 notes. cubits. handbreadths distant from the other. regarded as one solid wall. In the absence of the colonnade the Sukkah, sc. the centre portion with the valid covering, has no walls since the courtyard walls which are separated from it by more than four cubits cannot serve as its walls to the Sukkah.