Sukkah

GEMARA. It was stated, Rab Judah and R. Ina differ, one of them taught Sho'ebah1 and the other taught Hashubah.2 Mar Zutra observed, He who teaches, Sho'ebah is not in error, and he who teaches Hashubah is not in error. He who teaches Sho'ebah1 is not in error, since it is written, And ye shall draw water in joy,3 and he who teaches Hashubah is not in error, since R. Nahman stated, It is an important precept, dating from the very Creation.4 Our Rabbis taught, The flute-playing overrides the Sabbath; so R. Jose b. Judah; but the Sages ruled, It does not override even the Festival. R. Joseph explained, The dispute5 concerns only the song that accompanied the sacrifices,6 since R. Jose is of the opinion that the essential feature of the [Temple] music is the instrument, in consequence of which it is a Temple service which overrides the Sabbath, whereas the Rabbis are of the opinion that the essential feature of the [Temple] music is the vocal singing, in consequence of which the [playing of the instruments] is not a Temple service and does not, therefore, override the Sabbath; but with regard to the singing at the Festival of Water-Drawing, all agree that it is a mere expression of rejoicing and does not, therefore, override the Sabbath. Whence, said R. Joseph, do I derive that the dispute concerns only that?7 From what has been taught, If vessels of ministry were made of wood, Rabbi declares them invalid and R. Jose b. Judah holds them to be valid.8 Now do they not differ on this principle, that he who declares them valid is of the opinion that the essential feature of the [Temple] music is the instrument9 and [its validity may, therefore,] be deduced from that of the reed-flute of Moses,10 while he who holds them to be invalid is of the opinion that the essential feature of the Temple music is the vocal singing11 and its validity, therefore, cannot be deduced from that of the reed-flute of Moses? — No; both of them may agree that the essential feature of the [Temple] music is the instrument, but in this case they differ on the question whether we may deduce what it is possible [to manufacture from another material] from that which it is impossible [to manufacture from another material].12 He who declares them valid is of the opinion that we do deduce that which it is possible [to manufacture from another material], from that which it is impossible [to manufacture from another material],13 whereas he who holds them to be invalid is of the opinion that we do not deduce the possible from the impossible.14 And if you wish you may say that all are in agreement that the essential feature of the [Temple] music is the vocal singing,15 and that16 we do not deduce the possible from the impossible,15 but in this case they differ on the question whether, in making the deduction concerning the candlestick,17 we apply the principle of ‘the general and the particular’ or the rule of ‘extension and limitation’.18 Rabbi applies the principle of ‘the general and the particular’ while R. Jose b. Judah applies the principle of ‘extension and limitation’. Rabbi applies the principle of the ‘general and particular’ [thus:] And thou shalt make a candlestick19 is a general statement, of pure gold19 is a particular, of beaten work shall the candlestick be made19 is again a general statement; [the instruction thus consists of] two general [statements] with a particular [statement between], in which case it includes only such things as are similar to the particular [statement],20 so that as the particular is specified to be of metal, so must all [vessels] be of metal. R. Jose b. Judah applies the principle of ‘extension and limitation’ [thus:] And thou shalt make a candlestick19 is an extension, of pure gold19 is a limitation, of beaten work shall the candlestick be made19 is again an extension. The text thus gives two extensions with a limitation between in which case it includes everything [and excludes but one thing]. What does it include? All materials, and what does it exclude? [Only] 21 earthenware. R. Papa stated, variant hashe'ubah vcutav (v. n. 1) with which it could easily be confused]. so may all musical instruments of the Temple be made of wood. however, can be made from metal. of wood, but not any other vessels which can well be made of metal. p. 301, n. I.