Sukkah

since one statement1 refers to the Sanctuary and the other2 to the Provinces. R. Ammi ruled, The willow-branch is required to have a minimum size,3 it must be taken separately only,4 and no man can fulfil his obligation with the willow-branch in the lulab. But since the Master said, ‘It must be taken separately only’ is it not self-evident that ‘no man can fulfil his obligation with the willow-branch in the lulab’? — I might have said that that applies only where one does not lift [the lulab] a second time, but not where one does lift it a second time,5 therefore he informs us that it is not so. R. Hisda citing R. Isaac, however, ruled, A man may fulfil his obligation with the willow-branch in the lulab.6 What is its prescribed minimum?7 — R. Nahman said, Three fresh twigs with leaves. R. Shesheth, however, said, Even one leaf and one twig. ‘One leaf and one twig’! Can such a rule be imagined?8 — Say rather, Even one leaf on one twig.9 Aibu10 related, I was once standing in the presence of R. Eleazar b. Zadok when a man brought a willow-branch before him, and he took it and shook11 it over and over again without reciting any benediction, for he was of the opinion that it12 was merely a usage of the prophets.13 Aibu10 and Hezekiah, the maternal grandsons of Rab, brought a willow-branch before Rab, and he shook it over and over again without reciting a benediction, for he was of the opinion that it12 was merely a usage of the prophets.13 Aibu stated, I was standing in the presence of R. Eleazar b. Zadok when a certain man came before him and said to him, ‘I possess cities, vineyards and olive trees, and the inhabitants of the cities come14 and hoe the vineyards and eat the olives.15 Is this16 proper or improper?’ — ‘This’, the other replied, ‘is improper’. As the man was about to leave him and depart, [R. Eleazar] observed, ‘It is now forty years that I have dwelt in this land, and I have never seen a man walking in the paths of righteousness as this man’. The man thereupon returned and said to him, ‘What should be done?’ he answered him, ‘Abandon the olives to the poor and pay yourself for hoeing the vineyards’. But is hoeing permitted [during the Sabbatical year]? Has it not in fact been taught: But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still17 means, ‘Let it rest’ from hoeing and ‘lie still’ as regards the removal of stones? — R. Ukba b. Hama replied, There are two kinds of hoeing; one consists in closing up the fissures and the other in aerating the soil.18 Aerating the soil is forbidden19 but closing up the fissures20 is permitted. Aibu citing R. Eleazar b. Zadok ruled, One should not walk more than three parasangs on the Sabbath eve.21 R. Kahana observed, They made this statement only [in reference to a man who was going to] his home,22 but if he was going to his inn23 he relies upon [the food] which he has with him. Others say that R. Kahana observed, The statement24 was necessary even in the case of a man [who was going] to his home.25 R. Kahana stated, It actually happened with me, that26 I did not find even a fishpie.27 HOW WAS [THE CEREMONIAL OF] THE LULAB CARRIED OUT? A tanna recited before R. Nahman, ‘Arranged them upon the roof28 of the portico’. The other said to him before whom he stood, the grandson of R. Eleazar b. Zadok I, lived in the second century. sufficient time in which to prepare his Sabbath meals. him his Sabbath meals. As he might have expected his people to be ready for him there might be a clash. there any food at all for the Sabbath. the roof of the portico’.