## Sukkah Daf 23a

###### Sukkah 23a:1
[Sukkah 23a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:1)

זֶה הַכְּלָל: כׇּל שֶׁיִּנָּטֵל הָאִילָן וִיכוֹלָה לַעֲמוֹד בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ — כְּשֵׁרָה וְעוֹלִין לָהּ בְּיוֹם טוֹב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna summarizes that **this is the principle: Any** case **where,** were **the tree removed, the** *sukka* would **be able to remain standing in and of itself,** it **is fit, and one may ascend** and enter **it on** the **Festival,** since the tree is not its primary support.


###### Sukkah 23a:2
[Sukkah 23a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:2)

**גְּמָ׳** מַנִּי מַתְנִיתִין — רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא הִיא. דְּתַנְיָא: הָעוֹשֶׂה סוּכָּתוֹ בְּרֹאשׁ הַסְּפִינָה — רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל פּוֹסֵל, וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מַכְשִׁיר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The Gemara comments: In accordance with **whose** opinion is **the mishna?** It **is** in accordance with the opinion of **Rabbi Akiva, as it is taught** in a *baraita*: In the case of **one who establishes his *sukka* at the top of the ship, Rabban Gamliel deems** it **unfit and Rabbi Akiva deems** it **fit.**


###### Sukkah 23a:3
[Sukkah 23a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:3)

מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא שֶׁהָיוּ בָּאִין בִּסְפִינָה, עָמַד רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא וְעָשָׂה סוּכָּה בְּרֹאשׁ הַסְּפִינָה. לְמָחָר נָשְׁבָה רוּחַ וַעֲקָרַתָּה. אָמַר לוֹ רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: עֲקִיבָא! הֵיכָן סוּכָּתְךָ?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
There was **an incident involving Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Akiva, who were coming on a ship. Rabbi Akiva arose and established a *sukka* at the top of the ship. The next day the wind blew and uprooted it. Rabban Gamliel said to him: Akiva, where is your *sukka*?** It was unfit from the start.


###### Sukkah 23a:4
[Sukkah 23a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:4)

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא, הֵיכָא דְּאֵינָהּ יְכוֹלָה לַעֲמוֹד בְּרוּחַ מְצוּיָה דְּיַבָּשָׁה — לֹא כְּלוּם הִיא. יְכוֹלָה לַעֲמוֹד בְּשֶׁאֵינָהּ מְצוּיָה דְּיַבָּשָׁה, כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דִּכְשֵׁרָה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּדִיכוֹלָה לַעֲמוֹד בְּרוּחַ מְצוּיָה דְּיַבָּשָׁה וְאֵינָהּ יְכוֹלָה לַעֲמוֹד (בְּרוּחַ שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְצוּיָה דְּיַבָּשָׁה). רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל סָבַר: סוּכָּה דִּירַת קֶבַע בָּעֵינַן, וְכֵיוָן דְּאֵינָהּ יְכוֹלָה לַעֲמוֹד בְּרוּחַ מְצוּיָה דְּיָם — לֹא כְּלוּם הִיא. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא סָבַר: סוּכָּה דִּירַת עֲרַאי בָּעֵינַן, וְכֵיוָן דִּיכוֹלָה לַעֲמוֹד בְּרוּחַ מְצוּיָה דְּיַבָּשָׁה — כְּשֵׁרָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Abaye said: Everyone agrees that** in a case **where** the *sukka* **is unable to withstand a typical land wind,** the *sukka* **is of no consequence** and it is not even a temporary residence. If **it is able to withstand** even **an atypical land wind, everyone agrees that** the *sukka* **is fit. Where they disagree** is **in** a case **where** the *sukka* **is able to withstand a typical land wind but is unable to withstand an atypical land wind,** which is the equivalent of a typical sea wind. **Rabban Gamliel holds:** In order to fulfill the mitzva of ***sukka*, we require a permanent residence, and since it is not able to withstand** an atypical land wind, which is like **a typical sea wind, it is of no consequence** and is not a *sukka* at all. **Rabbi Akiva holds:** In order to fulfill the mitzva of ***sukka*, we require a temporary residence, and since it is able to withstand a typical land wind,** it **is fit,** although it is unable to withstand a typical sea wind.


###### Sukkah 23a:5
[Sukkah 23a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:5)

אוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי גָּמָל כּוּ׳. מַתְנִיתִין מַנִּי — רַבִּי מֵאִיר הִיא. דְּתַנְיָא: הָעוֹשֶׂה סוּכָּתוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי בְּהֵמָה — רַבִּי מֵאִיר מַכְשִׁיר, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה פּוֹסֵל. מַאי טַעְמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה? אָמַר קְרָא: ״חַג הַסּוּכּוֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה לְךָ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים״. סוּכָּה הָרְאוּיָה לְשִׁבְעָה — שְׁמָהּ סוּכָּה. סוּכָּה שֶׁאֵינָהּ רְאוּיָה לְשִׁבְעָה — לֹא שְׁמָהּ סוּכָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna continues: **Or** if one establishes his *sukka* **atop a camel,** the *sukka* is fit. The Gemara asks: **Who is** the *tanna* of **the mishna? It is** in accordance with the opinion of **Rabbi Meir, as it is taught** in a *baraita*: In the case of **one who establishes his *sukka* atop an animal, Rabbi Meir deems** it **fit and Rabbi Yehuda deems** it **unfit.** The Gemara asks: **What is the rationale** for the opinion **of Rabbi Yehuda?** The Gemara answers that it is as **the verse states: “You shall prepare for yourself the festival of *Sukkot* for seven days”** (Deuteronomy 16:13), from which Rabbi Yehuda derives: **A *sukka* that is suitable for seven** days **is called a *sukka*,** while **a *sukka* that is not suitable for seven** days **is not called a *sukka*.** It is prohibited to climb upon an animal on the first day of the festival of *Sukkot*, and therefore a *sukka* atop an animal is unfit, as it cannot be used all seven days.


###### Sukkah 23a:6
[Sukkah 23a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:6)

וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר, הָא נָמֵי — מִדְּאוֹרָיְיתָא מִחְזֵא חַזְיָא, וְרַבָּנַן הוּא דִּגְזַרוּ בַּהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Meir,** who holds that the *sukka* is fit, would say: **By Torah law, this** *sukka* **is also suitable** for use on a Festival and on Shabbat, as there is no Torah prohibition against using an animal on those days, **and it is the Sages who issued a decree** prohibiting **it.** The fact that it is prohibited by rabbinic decree does not render the *sukka* unfit.


###### Sukkah 23a:7
[Sukkah 23a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:7)

עֲשָׂאָהּ לִבְהֵמָה דּוֹפֶן לְסוּכָּה — רַבִּי מֵאִיר פּוֹסֵל וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה מַכְשִׁיר. שֶׁהָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כׇּל דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ רוּחַ חַיִּים, אֵין עוֹשִׂין אוֹתוֹ לֹא דּוֹפֶן לְסוּכָּה, וְלֹא לֶחִי לְמָבוֹי, וְלֹא פַּסִּין לְבֵירָאוֹת, וְלֹא גּוֹלֵל לְקֶבֶר. מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אָמְרוּ: אַף אֵין כּוֹתְבִין עָלָיו גִּיטֵּי נָשִׁים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
However, if **one utilized** his **animal** as **a wall for a *sukka*** and did not establish the entire *sukka* atop the animal, **Rabbi Meir deems** it **unfit and Rabbi Yehuda deems** it **fit, as Rabbi Meir would say:** With regard to **any animate object, one** may **neither establish it as a wall for** the ***sukka*, nor** as **a side post** placed at the entrance to **an alleyway** to render it permitted to carry in the alleyway on Shabbat, **nor** as one of the upright **boards** placed around **wells** to render the area a private domain and permit one to draw water from the well on Shabbat, **nor** as the **covering for a grave. In the name of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili** the Sages **said: Nor** may **one write bills of divorce on it.**


###### Sukkah 23a:8
[Sukkah 23a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:8)

מַאי טַעְמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר? אַבָּיֵי אָמַר: שֶׁמָּא תָּמוּת. רַבִּי זֵירָא אָמַר: שֶׁמָּא תִּבְרַח. בְּפִיל קָשׁוּר כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי, דְּאִי נָמֵי מָיֵית — יֵשׁ בְּנִבְלָתוֹ עֲשָׂרָה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּפִיל שֶׁאֵינוֹ קָשׁוּר. לְמַאן דְּאָמַר שֶׁמָּא תָּמוּת — לָא חָיְישִׁינַן. לְמַאן דְּאָמַר גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא תִּבְרַח — חָיְישִׁינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What is the rationale** for the opinion **of Rabbi Meir,** who rules that an animal is unfit for use as a partition in areas of *halakha* where a partition is required? **Abaye said:** It is due to the concern **lest** the animal **die,** leaving the *sukka* without a wall. **Rabbi Zeira said:** It is due to the concern **lest it flee.** The Gemara explains the practical halakhic differences between the two opinions. **In** the case where one established a wall with **a tied elephant, everyone agrees** that the *sukka* is fit, **as even if it dies** and falls, **its carcass** still **has** a height of **ten** handbreadths and is fit for the wall of a *sukka*. **Where they disagree** is **in** the case of **an elephant that is not tied. According to the one who said:** It is due to the concern **lest** the animal **die, we are not concerned** in this case, as the carcass would remain a fit wall. **According to the one who said:** It is due to **a decree lest it flee, we** remain **concerned.**


###### Sukkah 23a:9
[Sukkah 23a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:9)

לְמַאן דְּאָמַר גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא תָּמוּת, נֵיחוּשׁ שֶׁמָּא תִּבְרַח! אֶלָּא: בְּפִיל שֶׁאֵינוֹ קָשׁוּר, כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְלִיגִי. כִּי פְלִיגִי בִּבְהֵמָה קְשׁוּרָה. לְמַאן דְּאָמַר גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא תָּמוּת — חָיְישִׁינַן. וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא תִּבְרַח — לָא חָיְישִׁינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **According to the one who said:** It is due to **a decree lest it die, let us** also **be concerned lest it flee,** as that too is a reasonable concern. **Rather,** this is the explanation: **In** the case where one established a wall with **an elephant that is not tied, everyone agrees** that the *sukka* is unfit lest it flee. **Where they disagree** is **in** the case of **a tied animal. According to the one who said:** It is due to **a decree lest** the animal **die, we are concerned,** as although it cannot flee, it might die, and the carcass of a typical animal is not ten handbreadths high. **And according to the one who said:** It is due to **a decree lest it flee, we are not concerned.**


###### Sukkah 23a:10
[Sukkah 23a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:10)

וּמַאן דְּאָמַר גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא תִּבְרַח, נֵיחוּשׁ שֶׁמָּא תָּמוּת? מִיתָה לָא שְׁכִיחָא. וְהָאִיכָּא רַוְוחָא דְּבֵינֵי בֵּינֵי? דְּעָבֵיד לֵיהּ בְּהוּצָא וְדַפְנָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And** according to **the one who said:** It is due to **a decree lest it flee, let us** also **be concerned lest it die.** The Gemara answers: That is not a concern because **death is not common.** The Sages do not issue decrees with regard to uncommon circumstances. The Gemara asks: **But** according to all opinions, **isn’t there the space between** its legs, which is like a breach in a wall? How can one establish a partition whose breached segment exceeds its standing segment? The Gemara answers: **He establishes** a partition **for it** by filling the gaps **with hard palm leaves and laurel leaves,** sealing the breach.


###### Sukkah 23a:11
[Sukkah 23a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/23a:11)

וְדִלְמָא רָבְעָה? דִּמְתִיחָה בְּאַשְׁלֵי מִלְּעֵיל. וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא תָּמוּת נָמֵי, הָא מְתִיחָה בְּאַשְׁלֵי מִלְּעֵיל! זִמְנִין דְּמוֹקֵים בְּפָחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה סָמוּךְ לַסְּכָךְ,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks further: **And** even though there is no concern lest the animal die, **perhaps it will crouch,** leaving a wall that is less than ten handbreadths? The Gemara answers: It is referring to a case **where** the animal **is tied with ropes from above** so that it cannot crouch. Based on that explanation, the Gemara asks: **And according to the one who said:** It is due to **a decree lest it die,** there is **also** no concern since **it is tied with ropes from above.** Even if the animal died, it would remain in place as a fit partition. The Gemara answers: **Sometimes** the ten-handbreadth wall consists of the animal that is a bit higher than seven handbreadths **established adjacent to the roofing, less than three** handbreadths away.