Sukkah

If the space was less than four [handbreadths]1 it is unnecessary to bring another beam, if not, it is necessary to bring another beam.2 And so in the case of two parallel beams neither of which can support a half-brick,3 if they can support a half-brick on their joint width of a handbreadth,4 it is not necessary to bring another beam; if not, it is necessary to bring another beam. R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said, If they can support a half-brick in its length of three handbreadths,5 it is not necessary to bring another beam; if not,6 it is necessary to bring another beam. If one was above and the other below,7 R. Jose son of R. Judah said, We regard the upper one as though it were lower down8 or the lower one as though it were higher,9 provided that the upper one is not more than twenty [cubits from the ground]10 nor the lower one less than ten [cubits from the ground].11 From which it follows that if both of them were within twenty [cubits]12 we do apply the law of ‘beat and throw down’ even although none of them is a handbreadth [wide]?13 — The other replied, Explain thus: Provided that the upper one is not more than twenty [cubits from the ground], but within the twenty [cubits], and the lower one is near it within less than three [handbreadths], or else: Provided that the lower one is not less than ten [cubits from the ground] but more than ten, and the upper one is near it within less than three [handbreadths], but if they were three [handbreadths apart] since [the upper beam] is not a handbreadth [wide], we do not apply the law of ‘beat and throw down’. WHOSE SHADE IS MORE THAN ITS SUN IS VALID. But if they are equal it is invalid? But have we not learnt in the other chapter,14 ‘or whose sun is more than its shade, is invalid’, from which it follows that if they are equal it is valid? — There is no difficulty, since the former15 refers to above and the latter to below.16 R. Papa observed, This bears on what people say, ‘The size of a zuz17 above becomes the size of an issar17 below’. IF CLOSE TOGETHER LIKE A HOUSE. Our Rabbis have taught, If it is close together like a house, even though the stars cannot be seen through it, it is valid. If the rays of the sun18 cannot be seen through it, Beth Shammai invalidate it, and Beth Hillel declare it valid. MISHNAH. IF ONE ERECTS HIS SUKKAH ON THE TOP OF A WAGGON,19 OR ON THE DECK OF A SHIP,20 IT IS VALID21 AND THEY MAY GO UP INTO IT ON THE FESTIVAL. IF HE MADE IT ON THE TOP OF A TREE, OR ON THE BACK OF A CAMEL, IT IS VALID,22 BUT THEY MAY NOT GO UP INTO IT ON THE FESTIVAL.23 IF THE TREE [FORMED] TWO [WALLS] AND ONE WAS MADE BY THE HANDS OF MAN,24 OR IF TWO WERE MADE BY THE HANDS OF MAN AND ONE WAS FORMED BY THE TREE, IT IS VALID, BUT THEY MAY NOT GO UP INTO IT ON THE FESTIVAL.25 IF THREE WALLS WERE MADE BY THE HANDS OF MAN AND ONE WAS FORMED BY THE TREE, IT IS VALID AND THEY MAY GO UP INTO IT ON THE FESTIVAL. half-brick that is one and a half handbreadths wide (v. ‘Er. 13b) One smaller than this width is not valid. be placed in its breadth upon both. half-brick. in broader patches than the shade; if on the floor (‘below’) there is as much sunshine as shade, it is evident that there is more of the roof covered than open. The idea is that the beams of the sun widen from the roof to the floor. larger.