daf bit: Sukkah (a seasonal side-trip)

[cellio]

Today's daf is Bava Metzia 17, which is in the middle of a long discussion about returning (or not returning) found legal documents like bills of sale and loan documents. Because we've just finished Yom Kippur and are heading into Sukkot, and for another reason I'll explain at the end, I'm taking a side trip to Sukkah today.

The first several mishnayot in tractate Sukkah describe the basic building requirements of a sukkah. It must be no more than 20 cubits high, be at least 10 handbreadths high, and have three walls (one can be partial), and its roof must provide more shade than sun (but not be completely enclosed or solid). We then get to this: if he trained a vine or gourd or ivy over the sukkah and then covered it (with the roof cover), it is not valid. However, if the covering provides more cover than the vine (etc) does, or if he cuts the vine from the ground, it is valid. While a sukkah covering must be made from something that grows from the soil, it can't still be attached to the soil. (11a)

This part in particular caught my attention because of the haftarah we read yesterday afternoon, the book of Yonah. After Nineveh repents, which upsets Yonah greatly, he builds a sukkah to watch what will happen and a gourd grows on it to provide him shade. He's not observing the festival of Sukkot so that's fine (and besides, God sent the gourd and He can do whatever he likes), but seeing a discussion of a gourd-enhanced sukkah mere hours after hearing Yonah caught my attention.

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Is it appropriative that I love Sukkot? It's so cheerful and constructive. :)

[cellio]

Sure! It's even called the season of our rejoicing! :-)