Daf Yomi - Sukkah 10 - Highlights

1. We learned previously that a Sukkah that is built on top of another Sukkah, the lower Sukkah is invalid. The Gemara cites three differing opinions regarding the amount of space that is necessary between the layers of s’chach to deem the Sukkahs as two separate Sukkahs. Rav Huna maintains that if there is at least a tefach between the two Sukkahs, the lower Sukkah will be deemed invalid. This would be parallel to the laws regarding an object acting as a barrier against corpse tumah. Rav Chisda and Rabbah bar Rav Huna maintain that if there is a space of four tefachim between the layers of s’chach, the lower Sukkah will be deemed invalid. The reason for this is that we do not find a significant place that is less than four tefachim. Shmuel maintains that if it there is ten tefachim between the layers of s’chach, then the lower Sukkah will be deemed invalid. Shmuel reasons that just like the validity of a Sukkah is determined by its being ten tefachim high, so too the lower Sukkah will be invalidated if the upper Sukkah is ten tefachim high. (10a1-10a2)
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2. The Mishna stated previously that if one builds one Sukkah on top of another Sukkah, the upper one is valid and there is a debate regarding the lower Sukkah in a case where the upper Sukkah is not inhabitable. Rav Dimi explains that this debate refers to a case where the lower Sukkah can only support the pillows and cushions in the upper Sukkah with difficulty. The Chachamim would maintain that in such a situation the lower Sukkah is invalid as it is not fit to be used and Rabbi Yehudah maintains that the lower Sukkah is valid because the upper Sukkah is not deemed to be inhabitable. (10a2)
3. The Mishna rules that if one spread a sheet on top of the s’chach to protect him from the sun or if he placed a sheet under the s’chach in order to prevent the leaves from falling on his table, the Sukkah is invalid. The reason for this ruling is that the sheet is a material which is unfit for s’chach. If one placed a sheet on top of four bedposts, the Sukkah is invalid because he is not sitting under the s’chach. Rather, he is deemed to be sitting under a tent. If one spreads a sheet over a bed that has two posts, the Sukkah is valid as long as the roof of the tent is not a tefach wide. (10a3)
4. Rav Chisda qualifies the ruling of the Mishna that a sheet that is spread under the s’chach invalidates the Sukkah. If one placed the sheet under the s’chach for decorative purposes, the Sukkah would be deemed valid because the sheet is not deemed to be s’chach at all. (10a3)
5. There is a debate in the Gemara regarding a sheet that was hung for decorative purposes at a distance of more than four tefachim away from the s’chach. Rav Nachman rules that the Sukkah is valid because the sheet is subordinate to the s’chach. Rav Chisda and Rabbah bar Rav Huna maintain that the Sukkah is invalid because the decorations are considered independent of the s’chach above it. (10b1)
6. The Gemara rules that one is permitted to sleep in a Sukkah under a kilah, which is similar to the roof of the four-posted bed mentioned in the Mishnah. This is allowed provided that the sheet is less than ten tefachim high from the surface of the bed. A kilah is a bed where the bedposts are not strongly secured to the bed, whereas kinofos are securely attached to the bed, and one who spread a sheet over kinofos, the area below the sheet is invalid even if the posts are not ten tefachim tall. (10b2)