Daf Yomi - Sukkah 2 - Highlights

1. There is a debate in the Mishnah regarding a Sukkah that is higher than twenty amos (cubits) high. The Chachamim maintain that it is invalid and Rabbi Yehudah maintains that it is valid. A Sukkah that is smaller than ten tefachim (handbreadths) or that does not have at least three walls or if there is more sun than shade, it is invalid.

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2. The Gemara quotes a Mishnah in Eruvin that records a debate regarding a mavoi (alleyway) whose korah, crossbeam, is higher than twenty amos. The Chachamim maintain that it is not valid and one must lower the korah to a height of less than twenty amos and Rabbi Yehudah maintains that one is not required to lower the korah. The Gemara offers two reasons why our Mishnah states that the Sukkah is invalid whereas the Mishnah in Eruvin states a remedy for the korah that is higher than twenty amos.
3. The Gemara offers various reasons as to why a Sukkah that is higher than twenty amos is invalid. One reason offered is that when one sits in a Sukkah whose s’chach, covering, is higher than twenty amos, he is not aware that he is dwelling in a Sukkah, as he does not notice the s’chach. A second reason why a Sukkah that is higher than twenty amos is invalid is because when the s’chach is higher than twenty amos, one is not sitting in the shade of a Sukkah but in the shade of the walls. A third reason why a Sukkah that is higher than twenty amos is invalid is because it is meant to be a temporary dwelling and a Sukkah whose s’chach is higher than twenty amos is a fixed dwelling and is thus invalid.
4. Rabbi Yoshiyah said in the name of Rav that if the walls of the Sukkah reach the s’chach, even the Chachamim agree that the Sukkah is valid. The reason it is valid is because we apply the reasoning that ones eyes will travel up the wall and will notice the s’chach.
5. Rav Huna said in the name of Rav that if the Sukkah is wider than four square amos, even the Chachamim would agree that the Sukkah is valid. The reason it is valid is because we apply the reasoning that the Sukkah is spacious so the shade is coming from the s’chach.
6. Rav Chanan said in the name of Rav that if the Sukkah is large enough that it will accommodate more than a person’s head, most of his body and his table, even the Chachamim agree that the Sukkah will be valid.
7. Rabbi Yehudah offers a proof to his opinion that a Sukkah higher than twenty amos is valid from an incident concerning Queen Helena. The Queen was sitting in a Sukkah that was higher than twenty amos and the elders came to visit her and they did not inform her that her Sukkah was invalid. The Chachamim countered that this incident is not a proof because Helena was a woman and a woman is exempt from the mitzvah of Sukkah. Rabbi Yehudah responded that Helena had seven sons and certainly one of them had reached the age where he would be required to dwell in a Sukkah, and furthermore, Queen Helena was scrupulous in that she performed all her deeds according to the words of the Chachamim. From this it is evident that her Sukkah was valid.