Sukkah

In the name of R. Shila they said, The bridegroom1 is free from, but the shoshbins and the wedding guests are subject to the obligation.2 It has been taught: R. Hanania b. Akabya said, Scribes of books of the Law, tefillin and mezuzoth, their agents and their agents’ agents, and all who are engaged in holy work3 including sellers of blue4 are free from the obligation of prayer and tefillin and all the commandments mentioned in the Torah. This confirms the words of R. Jose the Galilean who laid down: He who is occupied with the performance of a religious duty is [at that time] free from the fulfilment of other religious duties. Our Rabbis taught, Day travellers are free from the obligation of Sukkah by day5 but are bound to it at night. Night travellers are free from the obligation of Sukkah at night,6 but are bound to it by day. Travellers by day and night are free from the obligation both day and night.6 Those who are on a religious errand7 are free both by day and by night,8 as in the case of R.Hisda and Rabbah son of R. Huna who, when visiting on the Sabbath of the Festival the house of the Exilarch,9 slept on the river bank of Sura,10 saying, ‘We are engaged on a religious errand11 and are [therefore] free [from the obligation of Sukkah]’. Our Rabbis taught, The day watchmen of a town are free from the obligation of Sukkah by day12 and bound to it at night; the night watchmen are free by night12 and bound by day, the day and night watchmen are free both by day and at night.12 Keepers of gardens and orchards13 are free both by day and by night — But why should they not make a Sukkah there and sit in it? — Abaye said, ‘Ye shall dwell’14 [implies] just as you normally dwell.15 Raba said, ‘The breach invites the thief’.16 What practical difference is there between them?17 — The practical difference [emerges] where one is guarding a pile of fruit.18 INVALIDS AND THEIR ATTENDANTS. Our Rabbis taught, The invalid spoken of here is not [only] an invalid who is in danger, but also one who is not in danger, even one who suffers from eyeache or headache. R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said, On one occasion I was suffering with my eyes in Caesarea and R. Jose Berebi19 permitted me and my attendants to sleep outside the Sukkah. Rab permitted R. Aha Bardela to sleep in a tester-bed20 In a Sukkah in order [to shut out] the gnats. Raba permitted R. Aha b. Adda to sleep outside the Sukkah on account of the odour of the day.21 Raba is here consistent, since Raba said, He who is in discomfort22 is free from the obligation of Sukkah. But have we not learnt: INVALIDS AND THEIR ATTENDANTS ARE FREE FROM THE OBLIGATION OF SUKKAH, [from which it follows,] only an invalid23 but not one who is merely in discomfort? — I will explain: An invalid is free together with his attendants, whereas he who is in discomfort is himself free, but not his attendants. CASUAL EATING AND DRINKING ARE PERMITTED OUTSIDE THE SUKKAH. What constitutes a casual meal? — R. Joseph said, [The volume of] two or three eggs. Abaye said to him: But sometimes this suffices for [a whole meal for] a man, why then should this not constitute a set meal? Rather, said Abaye, [a small quantity] only as much as a student tastes before proceeding to the college assembly.24 Our Rabbis taught, Casual eating is permitted outside the Sukkah, but not casual sleeping.25 What is the reason? — R. Ashi26 said, We fear lest the person fall into a deep slumber. Abaye said to him, With reference, however, to that which has been taught, ‘A man may indulge in casual sleep while wearing his tefillin, but not in regular sleep’, why do we not27 fear lest he fall into a deep slumber? — R. Joseph the son of R. Ila'i said, [The latter refers to where] the person entrusts others [with the task of waking him from his] sleep. R. Mesharsheya demurred: Does not ‘Your guarantor need a guarantor ?28 — Rather, said Rabbah b. Bar Hana in the name of R. Johanan, This refers to where the person puts his head between his knees.29 Raba30 said, [In the case of Sukkah the question of] regularity in sleep does not arise.31 One [Baraitha] teaches, A man may indulge in a casual sleep in his tefillin but not in regular sleep, and another [Baraitha] taught, Whether a casual sleep or regular sleep [is permitted] while a third Baraitha taught, Neither a casual sleep nor a regular sleep [is allowed]!32 — There is no difficulty: The last refers to where he holds them in his hand,33 the first one to where they rest on his head,34 while the second refers to where he spreads a cloth over them.35 What constitutes a casual sleep? — Rami b. Ezekiel taught, [Sleeping during the time] it takes to walk one hundred cubits. It has also been taught so: He who sleeps in tefillin and [on waking] observes an issue of semen,36 should seize hold of the strap37 exempt from all other duties. not use his Sukkah. Exilarch had his seat at Nehardea, a special celebration in honour of the Exilarch was held annually on the Sabbath of Sukkoth,tkdrs ,ca which was attended by scholars of all districts. v. Obermeyer p. 292 who strangely enough does not give the reading of MS.M.] The caravan which R. Hisda and Rabbah b. R. Huna joined for their journey from Sura, which was their home, to Nehardea (a distance of one hundred and ten km.), set out as was usual very early in the morning, even before the break of dawn, so that they in common with other travellers, in order to be ready for the departure, had to spend the preceding night outside the town, near the river bank of Sura]. are away from one's home, in the manner a house is normally furnished, the watchmen of such places were granted exemption from Sukkah. prohibition outside the Sukkah of even a doze. With tefillin, however, the reason why sleep is forbidden is lest one eructate, and there is no fear of this in a doze.