Daf Yomi - Sukkah 14/15 - Highlights

There is a debate in the Mishna regarding the usage of beams for s'chach. Rav maintains that the argument is by beams that are more than four tefachim, however beams that are less than four tefachim are valid according to everyone. Shmuel holds that beams larger than four tefachim are invalid according to everyone and the argument is only when the beams are between three and four tefachim.

Rabbi Yehuda attempts to bring a proof to his opinion that beams are valid for s'chach from an episode that transpired in a time when the observance of certain mitzvos were banned and they brought beams that were four tefachim and covered a porch with them disguising the sukkah. The proof is refuted for it is different when it is a time of danger.

Rabbi Meir (who maintains that beams are ineligible for s'chach) admits in a case where you place valid s'chach in the space between each beam that the sukkah is valid, providing that the space is equal to that of the beam.

There is a debate in the Gemora regarding boards that are more than four tefachim wide and their sides are narrower than three and the boards were turned onto their sides and placed on the sukkah. Rav Huna maintains that these boards are ineligible to be used for s'chach for they are considered to be spits of metal (which is invalid for s'chach).

If one has a roof consisting of beams that have not been covered with plaster yet and he wants to convert it into s'chach, there are several opinions in the Mishna as to how he might do this. Bais Shamai maintains that one must slacken the beams and removes one board from between each two and Bais Hillel holds that it is sufficient to do one of those options. The Gemora explains Bais Shamai to mean that even though he loosened the beams that is not sufficient and he is required to remove every other one for it cannot resemble a roof.

The Mishna rules regarding one who covers his sukkah with spits or bedposts (which are ineligible for s'chach), if there are spaces between them identical in size to the invalid s'chach and he fills these spaces with qualified s'chach, the sukkah is valid.

The Gemora cites an argument between Rav Huna and Rav Papa regarding a wall with a breach in it equivalent to the walled portion. Rav Huna holds that this is not considered a wall for a majority of solid wall is required. According to Rav Huna, we are compeled to explain our Mishna (which rules that fifty percent s'chach is valid) to be referring to a case where there is slightly more empty space (which is now filled with eligible s'chach) than the invalid s'chach or the s'chach is placed perpendicular to the spits thereby creating a majority of eligible s'chach which would nullify the invalid s'chach.