## Sukkah Daf 32b

###### Sukkah 32b:1
[Sukkah 32b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:1)

וְאִיכָּא דְּרָמֵי לַיהּ מִירְמֵא: תְּנַן צִינֵּי הַר הַבַּרְזֶל — כָּשֵׁר, וְהָתַנְיָא: פְּסוּלָה! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, לָא קַשְׁיָא: כָּאן — שֶׁרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל זֶה מַגִּיעַ לְצַד עִיקָּרוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, כָּאן — שֶׁאֵין רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל זֶה מַגִּיעַ לְצַד עִיקָּרוֹ שֶׁל זֶה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And others raise it as a contradiction. We learned in the mishna:** A *lulav* from the **palms of the Iron Mountain is fit. But isn’t it taught** in a *baraita*: It is **unfit? Abaye said:** This is **not difficult: Here,** in the mishna, where the *lulav* is fit, it is referring to a case **where the top of this** leaf **reaches the base of that** next leaf, whereas, **there,** in the *baraita*, where the *lulav* is unfit, it is referring to a case **where the top of this** leaf **does not reach the base of that** next leaf.


###### Sukkah 32b:2
[Sukkah 32b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:2)

אָמַר רַבִּי מָרִיּוֹן אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ תָּנֵי רַבָּה בַּר מָרִי מִשּׁוּם רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי: שְׁתֵּי תְמָרוֹת יֵשׁ בְּגֵיא בֶּן הִנֹּם, וְעוֹלֶה עָשָׁן מִבֵּינֵיהֶם. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ: צִינֵּי הַר הַבַּרְזֶל כְּשֵׁרוֹת, וְזוֹ הִיא פִּתְחָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara describes the location of these *lulavim*. **Rabbi Maryon said** that **Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, and some say that Rabba bar Mari taught** this *baraita* **in the name of Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai: There are two date palms in the valley of ben Hinnom, and smoke arises from between them. And this is** the place about **which we learned** in the mishna: A *lulav* from the **palms of the Iron Mountain is fit. And that** site **is the entrance of Gehenna.**


###### Sukkah 32b:3
[Sukkah 32b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:3)

לוּלָב שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: שִׁיעוּר הֲדַס וַעֲרָבָה — שְׁלֹשָׁה, וְלוּלָב — אַרְבָּעָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא לוּלָב יוֹצֵא מִן הַהֲדַס טֶפַח.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna continues: **A *lulav* that has three handbreadths** in length, sufficient to enable one to wave with it, is fit for use in fulfilling the mitzva. **Rav Yehuda said** that **Shmuel said: The** minimum **measure of a myrtle branch and a willow branch is three** handbreadths. **And** the minimum measure of **a *lulav* is four** handbreadths. The difference between the measures is **so that the *lulav* will extend** at least one **handbreadth from the myrtle branch.**


###### Sukkah 32b:4
[Sukkah 32b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:4)

וְרַבִּי פַּרְנָךְ אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שִׁדְרוֹ שֶׁל לוּלָב צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֵּצֵא מִן הַהֲדַס טֶפַח.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Parnakh** said that **Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The spine of the *lulav*,** and not merely its leaves, **must** be at least four handbreadths long, so that it will **extend from the myrtle branch** at least one **handbreadth.**


###### Sukkah 32b:5
[Sukkah 32b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:5)

תְּנַן: לוּלָב שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים כְּדֵי לְנַעְנֵעַ בּוֹ כָּשֵׁר. אֵימָא: וּכְדֵי לְנַעְנֵעַ בּוֹ, כָּשֵׁר. מָר כִּדְאִית לֵיהּ, וּמַר כִּדְאִית לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: Didn’t **we learn** in the mishna: **A *lulav* that has three handbreadths** in length, **sufficient** to enable one **to wave with it,** is **fit** for use in fulfilling the mitzva? That indicates that a *lulav* three handbreadths long is fit. The Gemara answers: Emend the language of the mishna and **say:** A *lulav* that has three handbreadths **and** an additional handbreadth that is **sufficient** to enable one **to wave with it** is **fit.** This emendation is understood by each *amora* according to his opinion. It is understood by **this Sage,** Shmuel, **as per his** opinion that only one additional handbreadth is required including the leaves; **and** it is understood by **this Sage,** Rabbi Yoḥanan, **as per his** opinion that the additional handbreadth must be in the length of the spine of the *lulav*, and the leaves are not taken into consideration.


###### Sukkah 32b:6
[Sukkah 32b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:6)

תָּא שְׁמַע: שִׁיעוּר הֲדַס וַעֲרָבָה — שְׁלֹשָׁה, וְלוּלָב — אַרְבָּעָה. מַאי לָאו בַּהֲדֵי עָלִין! לָא, לְבַד מֵעָלִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara cites proof from a *baraita*. **Come** and **hear: The** minimum **measure of a myrtle branch and of a willow branch is three** handbreadths, **and** that of **a *lulav* is four** handbreadths. **What, is it not** that this measure is calculated **with the leaves,** in accordance with the opinion of Shmuel? The Gemara rejects this proof: **No,** it can be understood that the measure is calculated **without the leaves.**


###### Sukkah 32b:7
[Sukkah 32b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:7)

גּוּפָא: שִׁיעוּר הֲדַס וַעֲרָבָה — שְׁלֹשָׁה, וְלוּלָב — אַרְבָּעָה. רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן אוֹמֵר: בְּאַמָּה בַּת חֲמִשָּׁה טְפָחִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Apropos the *baraita* cited above, the Gemara discusses **the matter itself. The** minimum **measure of a myrtle branch and of a willow branch is three** handbreadths, **and** that of **a *lulav* is four** handbreadths. **Rabbi Tarfon says: With a cubit of five handbreadths.** The preliminary understanding of Rabbi Tarfon’s opinion is that the minimum measure of a myrtle branch is five handbreadths, not three.


###### Sukkah 32b:8
[Sukkah 32b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:8)

אָמַר רָבָא: שְׁרָא לֵיהּ מָרֵיהּ לְרַבִּי טַרְפוֹן. הַשְׁתָּא עָבוֹת שְׁלֹשָׁה לָא מַשְׁכְּחִינַן, בַּת חֲמִשָּׁה מִבַּעְיָא!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rava said: May his Master,** the Holy One, Blessed be He, **forgive Rabbi Tarfon** for this extreme stringency. **Now, we do not find** even **a dense-leaved** myrtle branch **three** handbreadths long; is it **necessary** to say that finding one **five** handbreadths long is nearly impossible?


###### Sukkah 32b:9
[Sukkah 32b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:9)

כִּי אֲתָא רַב דִּימִי, אָמַר: אַמָּה בַּת שִׁשָּׁה טְפָחִים עֲשֵׂה אוֹתָהּ בַּת חֲמִשָּׁה, צֵא מֵהֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה לַהֲדַס, וְהַשְּׁאָר לַלּוּלָב. כַּמָּה הָווּ לְהוּ — תְּלָתָא וּתְלָתָא חוּמְשֵׁי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**When Rav Dimi came** from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, **he said** that this is the correct understanding of the statement of Rabbi Tarfon: Take **a cubit of six handbreadths,** and **render it** a cubit of **five** handbreadths. Rabbi Tarfon is saying that for the purpose of measuring the myrtle branch, willow branch, and *lulav*, the standard six-handbreadth cubit is divided into five handbreadths, each slightly larger than the standard handbreadth. **Take three of** these large handbreadths **for the myrtle branch, and** three of these handbreadths plus **the extra** handbreadth **for the *lulav*.** The Gemara calculates: **How many** standard handbreadths **are there** in the minimum measure of a myrtle branch or willow branch? There are **three and three-fifths** standard handbreadths.


###### Sukkah 32b:10
[Sukkah 32b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:10)

קַשְׁיָא דִּשְׁמוּאֵל אַדִּשְׁמוּאֵל: הָכָא אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: שִׁיעוּר הֲדַס וַעֲרָבָה — שְׁלֹשָׁה, וְהָתָם אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי טַרְפוֹן! לָא דַּק. אֵימַר דְּאָמְרִינַן לָא דַּק לְחוּמְרָא, לְקוּלָּא מִי אָמְרִינַן לָא דַּק?!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
However, on that basis, there is **a difficulty,** as one statement **of Shmuel** contradicts another statement **of Shmuel. Here, Rabbi Yehuda said** that **Shmuel said:** The minimum **measure of** the **myrtle branch and** of **the willow branch is three** handbreadths, **and there, Rav Huna said** that **Shmuel said: The *halakha* is in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Tarfon,** who requires a larger handbreadth. There is a discrepancy of three-fifths of a handbreadth between the measures. The Gemara answers: When Shmuel said that the measure is three handbreadths, he **was not precise** and merely approximated the measure. The Gemara asks: **Say that we say: He was not precise when** the approximation leads **to stringency,** but when it leads **to leniency, do we say: He was not precise?** That would result in using an unfit myrtle branch in performing a mitzva.


###### Sukkah 32b:11
[Sukkah 32b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:11)

כִּי אֲתָא רָבִין, אָמַר: אַמָּה בַּת חֲמִשָּׁה טְפָחִים עֲשֵׂה אוֹתָהּ שִׁשָּׁה. צֵא מֵהֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה לַהֲדַס, וְהַשְּׁאָר לַלּוּלָב. כַּמָּה הָוֵי לְהוּ — תְּרֵי וּפַלְגָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**When Rabin came** from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, **he said** that this is the correct understanding of the statement of Rabbi Tarfon: Take **a cubit of five handbreadths,** and **render it** a cubit of **six** handbreadths. Rabbi Tarfon said that for the purpose of measuring the myrtle branch, willow branch, and *lulav*, a five-handbreadth cubit is divided into six handbreadths, each slightly smaller than the standard handbreadth. **Take three of** these smaller handbreadths **for the myrtle branch, and** three of these handbreadths plus **the extra** handbreadth **for the *lulav*.** The Gemara calculates: **How many** standard handbreadths **are there** in the minimum measure of a myrtle branch or willow branch? There are **two and a half** standard handbreadths.


###### Sukkah 32b:12
[Sukkah 32b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:12)

סוֹף סוֹף קַשְׁיָא דִּשְׁמוּאֵל אַדִּשְׁמוּאֵל! לָא דַּק, וְהַיְינוּ לְחוּמְרָא לָא דַּק. דְּאָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי טַרְפוֹן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Ultimately,** there remains **a difficulty,** as one statement **of Shmuel** contradicts another statement **of Shmuel.** In one statement he said the minimum measure of a myrtle branch is two and a half handbreadths, and in another he said that the measure is three handbreadths. The Gemara answers: When Shmuel said that the measure is three handbreadths, he **was not precise** and merely approximated the measure. **And this** is a case of: **He was not precise,** where the approximation leads **to a stringency, as Rav Huna said** that **Shmuel said: The *halakha* is in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Tarfon.** Shmuel holds that the actual measure required is two and a half handbreadths, and he rounded it off to three, which is a more stringent measure.


###### Sukkah 32b:13
[Sukkah 32b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:13)

**מַתְנִי׳** הֲדַס הַגָּזוּל וְהַיָּבֵשׁ — פָּסוּל. שֶׁל אֲשֵׁרָה וְשֶׁל עִיר הַנִּדַּחַת — פָּסוּל. נִקְטַם רֹאשׁוֹ, נִפְרְצוּ עָלָיו, אוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ עֲנָבָיו מְרוּבּוֹת מֵעָלָיו — פָּסוּל. וְאִם מִיעֲטָן — כָּשֵׁר, וְאֵין מְמַעֲטִין בְּיוֹם טוֹב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** **A myrtle branch that was stolen or that is** completely **dry is unfit. A myrtle branch of a tree worshipped as idolatry [*asheira*] or** a myrtle branch **from a city** whose residents were **incited** to idolatry **is unfit.** If **the top** of the myrtle branch **was severed,** if **the leaves were severed** completely, or if **its berries were more numerous than its leaves, it is unfit. If one diminished their** number by plucking berries so that they no longer outnumbered the leaves, the myrtle branch is **fit. But one may not diminish** the number **on the Festival** itself.


###### Sukkah 32b:14
[Sukkah 32b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:14)

**גְּמָ׳** תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״עֲנַף עֵץ עָבוֹת״ — שֶׁעֲנָפָיו חוֹפִין אֶת עֵצוֹ. וְאֵי זֶה הוּא? הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר זֶה הֲדַס. וְאֵימָא זֵיתָא! בָּעֵינַן ״עָבוֹת״, וְלֵיכָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **The Sages taught:** It is written: **“Boughs of a dense-leaved tree”** (Leviticus 23:40); this is referring to **a tree whose leaves obscure its tree. And which tree is that? You must say it is the myrtle tree.** The Gemara suggests: **And say** it is **the olive** tree, whose leaves obscure the tree. The Gemara answers: **We require a “dense-leaved”** tree, whose leaves are in a chain-like configuration, **and** that **is not** the case with an olive tree.


###### Sukkah 32b:15
[Sukkah 32b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:15)

וְאֵימָא דּוּלְבָּא! בָּעֵינַן עֲנָפָיו חוֹפִין אֶת עֵצוֹ, וְלֵיכָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara suggests: **And say it is the Oriental plane tree,** whose leaves are in a braid-like configuration. The Gemara answers: **We require** a tree whose **leaves obscure its tree, and** that **is not** the case with **an Oriental plane tree.**


###### Sukkah 32b:16
[Sukkah 32b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:16)

וְאֵימָא הִירְדּוּף! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: ״דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נוֹעַם״, וְלֵיכָּא. רָבָא אָמַר, מֵהָכָא: ״הָאֱמֶת וְהַשָּׁלוֹם אֱהָבוּ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara suggests: **And say** the verse is referring to **oleander,** which has both characteristics. **Abaye said:** It is written with regard to the Torah: **“Its ways are ways of pleasantness”** (Proverbs 3:17), **and** that **is not** the case with the oleander tree, because it is a poisonous plant and its sharp, thorn-like leaves pierce the hand of one holding it. **Rava said:** The unfitness of the oleander is derived **from here: “Love truth and peace”** (Zechariah 8:19), and poisonous plants that pierce are antithetical to peace.


###### Sukkah 32b:17
[Sukkah 32b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:17)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: קָלוּעַ כְּמִין קְלִיעָה וְדוֹמֶה לְשַׁלְשֶׁלֶת, זֶהוּ הֲדַס. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: ״עֲנַף עֵץ עָבוֹת״ — עֵץ שֶׁטַּעַם עֵצוֹ וּפִרְיוֹ שָׁוֶה, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר זֶה הֲדַס.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught: Plaited like a braid and chain-like; that is** characteristic of the **myrtle branch** used in the fulfillment of the mitzva. **Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says** another characteristic. It is written: **“Boughs of a dense-leaved tree,”** indicating **a tree that the taste of its branches and** the taste of **its fruit are alike. You must say this is the myrtle branch.**


###### Sukkah 32b:18
[Sukkah 32b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:18)

תָּנָא: עֵץ עָבוֹת — כָּשֵׁר, וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ עָבוֹת — פָּסוּל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**A Sage taught** in the *Tosefta*: **A dense-leaved branch is fit, and one that is not dense-leaved is unfit,** even though it is a myrtle branch.


###### Sukkah 32b:19
[Sukkah 32b:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:19)

הֵיכִי דָּמֵי עָבוֹת? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: וְהוּא דְּקָיְימִי תְּלָתָא תְּלָתָא טַרְפֵי בְּקִינָּא. רַב כָּהֲנָא אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ תְּרֵי וְחַד. רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא מְהַדַּר אַתְּרֵי וְחַד, הוֹאִיל וּנְפַיק מִפּוּמֵּיהּ דְּרַב כָּהֲנָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ מָר בַּר אַמֵּימָר לְרַב אָשֵׁי: אַבָּא לְהָהוּא — הֲדַס שׁוֹטֶה קָרֵי לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **What are the circumstances** of **“dense-leaved tree”? Rav Yehuda said: And** it **is** a configuration where **three leaves** emerge from **each base. Rav Kahana said: Even two** leaves emerging from one base **and one** leaf that covers the other two emerging from a lower base is called thick. **Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, would** purposely **seek** a myrtle branch configured with **two** leaves emerging from one base **and one** emerging from a lower base, **since** this statement **emerged from the mouth of Rav Kahana. Mar bar Ameimar said to Rav Ashi:** My **father called** a myrtle branch with that configuration **a wild myrtle branch.**


###### Sukkah 32b:20
[Sukkah 32b:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:20)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: נָשְׁרוּ רוֹב עָלָיו וְנִשְׁתַּיְּירוּ בּוֹ מִיעוּט — כָּשֵׁר, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁתְּהֵא עֲבוֹתוֹ קַיֶּימֶת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught:** If **most of its leaves fell and only a minority** of the leaves **remained,** the myrtle branch is **fit, provided that its dense-leaved** nature remains **intact.**


###### Sukkah 32b:21
[Sukkah 32b:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:21)

הָא גוּפָא קַשְׁיָא: אָמְרַתְּ נָשְׁרוּ רוֹב עָלָיו כָּשֵׁר, וַהֲדַר תָּנֵי וּבִלְבַד שֶׁתְּהֵא עֲבוֹתוֹ קַיֶּימֶת. כֵּיוָן דְּנָתְרִי לְהוּ תְּרֵי, עָבוֹת הֵיכִי מַשְׁכַּחַתְּ לַהּ?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara wonders: **This matter itself is difficult,** as there is an internal contradiction in this *baraita*. On the one hand, **you said:** If **most of its leaves fell it is fit, and then** the *baraita* **taught: Provided that its dense-leaved** nature remains **intact. Once two** of every three leaves **fell, how can you find** a branch whose **dense-leaved** nature is intact?


###### Sukkah 32b:22
[Sukkah 32b:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sukkah/r/32b:22)

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: מַשְׁכַּחַתְּ לַהּ

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Abaye said: You can find it**