Sukkah

that urban dwellers1 used to bequeath their lulabs to their grandchildren. They2 said to him, Is that a proof? A case of emergency does not constitute a proof.3 At all events it is taught that R. Judah says that even withered ones are valid, and this refers, does it not, to the ethrog?4 — No! It refers to the palm-branch. The Master has said, ‘Just as one may not diminish from them, so one may not add to them’. But is not this obvious? — I would have said that since R. Judah said that the lulab5 must be bound, if one bring another species,6 each is regarded as separate,7 therefore he informs us [that it is not so].8 The Master has said, ‘If he cannot find an ethrog, he may bring neither a pomegranate nor a quince, nor any other thing’. But is not this obvious? — I would have said that he may bring it in order that the law of ethrog might not be forgotten, therefore he informs us [that it is forbidden lest] at times the result be disastrous, since one might confound [the one fruit with the other]. 9 Come and hear: An old ethrog is invalid, but R. Judah declares it valid. [Is not this a] refutation of Raba? — It is a refutation. But does not [R. Judah] demand that it10 be goodly? Have we not in fact learnt: If it10 is green as a leek, R. Meir declares it valid and R. Judah invalid?11 Is it12 not because it10 must be goodly? No! Because the fruit is not yet ripe. Come and hear: The minimum size of an ethrog is, R. Meir says, the size of a nut; R. Judah says that of an egg.11 Is it12 not because it10 must be goodly? — No! Because the fruit is not ripe. Come and hear: Its10 maximum size is such that one should be able to hold two in one hand; so R. Judah. R. Jose says, Even if one can hold one ethrog in both hands.11 Now what is the reason?13 Is it not because he requires it to be goodly? — No! Because Rabbah14 said, The lulab [must be held] in the right hand and the ethrog in the left,15 and since sometimes he might put them in the wrong hands, when he changes over [the ethrog might fall] and become invalid.16 But, according to R. Judah is it not written in Scripture ‘goodly’?17 — This means ‘that which remains upon the tree from year to year’.18 ONE THAT CAME FROM AN ASHERAH OR FROM A CONDEMNED CITY. Is then [the palm-branch that came from] an asherah invalid? Did not Raba in fact say, One should not take a palm-branch of idolatry, but if he did nevertheless take it, it is valid?19 — Here we are dealing with an asherah [dating from the time of] Moses, whose [minimum] size20 [is regarded as] crushed.21 A deduction from the wording also proves this, since it22 is compared with a condemned city.23 This is conclusive. IF ITS TOP WAS BROKEN OFF. R. Huna said, ‘BROKEN OFF’ only was taught, but if it is only split, it is valid. Is it then valid if it is split? Has it not been taught, A palm-branch which is bent Hence the ruling that ‘one should be able to hold two in one hand’, one of these two representing the space the lulab would occupy during the change. as non-existent.