Sukkah 2a (2)

12 Kislev 5780. December 10, 2019

1- We explored the reason as to why a Sukkah cannot be higher than 20 Amos. 

A- Rabah: Learns from the posuk

למען ידעו דרתיכם כי בסכות הושבתי את בני ישראל

The mitzvah of Sukkah is unique in the sense that not only does one need  awareness that he is doing a מצות עשה, one also needs awareness, feeling and understanding of the meaning of the Mitzvah. Thus, one needs to be aware that he is sitting in a Sukkah. Therefore if the Sukkah is over 20 Amos this cognizance is lacking. 

See here the Alter Rebbe’s preface to Hilchos Suka. This topic is something the Rebbe emphasized many times. 

B- Rav Zeira – Learns from this Posuk in ישעיהו

 וסכה תהיה לצל יומם מחרב

The definition of a Sukkah is Schach. And Schach, as per the Pasuk above is one that provides צל or shadow. A Sukkah that is taller than 20 Amos the shade will be from the walls rather from the Schach. 

We had a tough time understanding this as it would seem to us that at 12 PM the sun would cast a shadow because of the Schach and not the walls.

One suggestion is that in countries away from the Equator the sun is not directly overhead. Another explanation is that even if the sun at midday is directly overhead most of the day it is not.  

C – Rava – The Pasuk בסכת תשבו שבעת ימים seems to say that the Suka needs to be a temporary structure. A seven day structure.  But surely it cannot mean that a Suka should be a structure that will last only 7 days, for how would one be able to build a Suka that will crumble exactly on the 8th day.  So what is the Pasuk telling us? 

Says Rava, it’s advising us that the structure needs to be one that is constructed in such a way that it can be built as something temporary or permanent. 

Now for a 20-Amos Sukkah one would need to build foundations for it to last. Meaning that such a structure can only be something permanent. That is what Torah does not want. 

[YG asked why a Sukkah made of huge stone blocks (not on a foundation) is Kosher. ] 

2– We discussed the Tosfos and the different opinions if rain needs to be able to penetrate the Schach. More on this in upcoming Shiurim BL”N. 

3-  We discussed the various reasons given for the Torah choosing the 15th day of Tishrei for the beginning of Yom Tov Suka. Mentioned the explanation given by the Ramban, Rashbam and the Ran. 

We mentioned the reason offered by Ibn Suib. In short, from Nisan until Yom Kippur they were busy with the preparation for and then Matan Torah itself and afterwards they were occupied with Teshuva for the golden calf incident. 

The day following Yom Kippur,  when all was forgiven, Moshe Rabeinu tells them to build the Mishkan. That was the 11th of Tishrei. 

That Charidy campaign took two days as it says “we are live“. That took place on the 12th and 13th day of Tishrei. (2 times ‘boker’)

וַיִּקְחוּ מִלִּפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל-הַתְּרוּמָה אֲשֶׁר הֵבִיאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִמְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָהּ וְהֵם הֵבִיאוּ אֵלָיו עוֹד נְדָבָה בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר.

 

So the first available day to tell Klal Yisroel about Sukkah was on the 14th. So the Sukkos were indeed built on the 14th and Yom Tov began the night of the 15th!