Sukkah

, the Writ [thereby]1 makes man and woman equal as regards all punishable acts in the Torah?2 Abaye answered, Indeed Sukkah is a traditional law, and still3 it is necessary. For I would have said, since ‘Ye shall dwell’ implies, in the same manner as you ordinarily live; as one's permanent abode is for husband and wife, so the Sukkah must be for husband and wife, therefore he informs us4 that it is not so. Raba said, It5 is necessary,6 since I might have said, Deduce the fifteenth7 from the fifteenth8 of the Festival of Unleavened Bread: just as in the latter case women are bound by the obligation9 so in the former also women are bound, hence we were informed4 [that it is not so]. And now that you say that Sukkah is a traditional law, why is the Scriptural verse10 necessary? — To include converts. I would have said ‘the homeborn in Israel’, said the Divine Law, but not converts, therefore it informs us11 that it is not so. [That women must fast on] the Day of Atonement is deduced, is it not, from [the statement of] Rab Judah in the name of Rab?12 — [The verse] is necessary [to include] the additional affliction.13 As I might have said that, since the Divine Law excluded the additional affliction from punishment and warning,14 women are entirely exempt therefrom, therefore he informs us that they are subject to the obligation. The Master said, [The word] ‘every’ comes to include minors. But have we not learnt: WOMEN, SLAVES AND MINORS ARE FREE FROM THE OBLIGATION OF THE SUKKAH? — There is no difficulty. The former refers to a minor who has reached the age of being trained,15 the latter where he has not yet reached the age of being trained. But is not the obligation of a minor who has reached the age of being trained a Rabbinical injunction?16 — It is indeed a Rabbinical injunction, but the Scriptural verse is merely a support to it. A MINOR WHO IS NOT DEPENDENT ON HIS MOTHER etc. What is meant by a minor who is not dependent on his mother? — The school of R. Jannai said, Whomever, when he relieves himself, his mother need not clean. R. Simeon b. Lakish17 said, He who awakes from his sleep and does not call his mother. ‘His mother’! But do not grown-ups also call their mother? Say, rather, he who awakes from his sleep and does not call ‘Mother! Mother!’18 IT ONCE HAPPENED THAT THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW OF . . . GAVE BIRTH TO A CHILD etc. The incident19 contradicts [the Mishnah],20 does it not? — There is a lacuna, and thus it should be taught: But Shammai takes a strict view, and [indeed] IT ONCE HAPPENED THAT THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW OF SHAMMAI THE ELDER GAVE BIRTH TO A CHILD AND HE BROKE AWAY THE PLASTER OF THE ROOF, AND PUT SUKKAH-COVERING OVER THE BED FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILD. MISHNAH. ALL THE SEVEN DAYS [OF THE FESTIVAL]21 A MAN MUST MAKE THE SUKKAH HIS PERMANENT ABODE AND HIS HOUSE HIS TEMPORARY ABODE. IF RAIN FELL, WHEN MAY ONE BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE IT?22 WHEN THE PORRIDGE WOULD BECOME SPOILT. THEY PROPOUNDED A PARABLE. TO WHAT CAN THIS BE COMPARED? TO A SLAVE WHO COMES TO FILL THE CUP FOR HIS MASTER, AND HE23 POURED A PITCHER OVER HIS FACE.24 GEMARA. Our Rabbis have taught, All the seven days,21 one should make the Sukkah, his permanent abode and his house his temporary abode. In what manner? If he had beautiful vessels, he should bring them up into the Sukkah, beautiful divans, he should bring them up into the Sukkah; he should eat and drink and pass his leisure in the Sukkah. Whence do we know this?25 — From what our Rabbis have taught: Ye shall dwell26 implies, in the same manner as you ordinarily live. Hence they said, All the seven days27 one should make his Sukkah his permanent abode, and his house his temporary abode. In what manner? If he has beautiful vessels, he should bring them up into the Sukkah, beautiful divans, he should bring them up into the Sukkah,’ he should eat and drink and pass his leisure in the Sukkah; he should also engage in profound study28 in the Sukkah. But it is not so? For did not Raba say, Scripture and Mishnah [should be studied] in the Sukkah, but Gemara29 outside the Sukkah? — There is no difficulty, The former [statement refers to] revising,30 the latter to profound study. or twelve years of age, but here, in view of our Mishnah, it means when he is independent of his mother. performing of his duties.