Babylonian Talmud

Rodkinson 1918 — source 7, scan section 31

it is then easier to take off the skin. The rabbis taught : Wild beasts are called those which depart 78 THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD. about the time of Passover, and feed in the marshes in the sum- mer, and return in the fall ; and domestic are called those which go out every day beyond the legal limit, but return every night. Rabbi, however, said : Both kinds mentioned are called domestic ; but which are called wild beasts ? Those that never come to in- habited places. Does, then. Rabbi hold the theory of Muktzah (prohibiting to slaughter even a wild beast) ? Did not his son, R. Simeon, ask him : Dates which become not ripe on the tree, but are put in boxes of palm-branches and remain there till they ripen, what is the law about eating them on Sabbath according to R. Simeon ? And he answered : The theory of Muktzah, according to R. Simeon, does not exist at all ? (And as we know that Rabbi's opinion was according to R. Simeon, consequently he does not hold the theory of Muktzah at all ?) Rabbi said to the sages as follows : According to my opinion, no theory of Muktzah exists. But even in your opinion, would you not own to me that the animals which return in the fall must be called domestic ? And the sages answered : No ; in our opinion they are still called wild beasts. END OF TRACT BETZAH (YOM TOB). TRACT SUCCAH (BOOTHS). CONTENTS, PAGE Synopsis of Subjects of Volume VII. — Tract Succah, . v CHAPTER I. Regulations concerning the Building of a Legal Booth FOR the Feast of Tabernacles, its Walls, and Roofing, i CHAPTER II. Regulations concerning the Situations in which a Booth MAY be Placed, What must be Done in it, etc., . . 26 CHAPTER III. Regulations concerning Palm Branches, Myrtles, Wil- lows, AND Citrons used on the First Day of the Feast of Tabernacles, 42 CHAPTER IV. Regulations concerning the Four Kinds tied with the LuLAB, concerning Hallel, Pouring the Water on the Altar, 62 CHAPTER V. Regulations concerning the Enjoyments and the Songs IN the Temple during the Time of the Sacrifices, AND their Order, 7^ To THE President of "Temple Israel," New York, DANIEL P. HAYS, Esq. In consideration that through his influence, this Congregation is the first and unique among the reformed to establish a Succah in connection with their Temple, the Editor takes much pleasure in dedicating the tract which treats about the Succah, to him, to the Rabbi, and all the associates who took part in introducing same. Very respectfully, MICHAEL L. RODKINSON. New York, Tuesday ^JK^ riDB, April 25th, 1899. SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECTS or VOLUME VII —TRACT SUCCAH." CHAPTER I. MiSHNA I. About the legal height and width of the booth which is to be used during the seven days of Tabernacles. What was to be done when it was higher or lower than the prescribed size ? If one has placed four poles and roofed them, how is the law ? The different opinions of R. Jacob and the sages on this point. Whence is deduced from biblical passages the size prescribed by the sages ? Did the Shekhina descend from heaven to earth ; and also Moses and Elijah, did they ascend to heaven, or not ? And in the latter case, how are to be explained the passages which state that they did ? The ells which are mentioned in the Scriptures, how many spans did they contain ? When there is a difference in the biblical passages between the Massorah {i.e., how they are written) and the reading of it, what must be considered for practice ? How shall the Succah be consid- ered— as a temporary or permanent dwelling ? The booths of potters or watchmen, can they be used for a legal Succah ? . . . . i-io MiSHNAS II. to VIII. How about an old Succah 1 What is called an old Succah ? How about a Succah under a tree, or if a cloth was spread over the roof of the Succah ? If one Succah was over another ? What kind of material must be used for the roof of the Succah ? How to beautify the religious duties for the sake of the Lord, and from what passage of the Scriptures this is deduced. If bundles of straw, wood, or twigs may be used for the roof of the Succah. The two things which R. Jacob heard from R. Johanan and the three things which Rabha bar bar Hana has heard in the name of the same, and they could not imagine the real meaning of them, and how the latter Amoraim tried to find it out. What Hana bar Abba, and R. Hisda in the name of Rabina bar Shila, and Meremar said and lectured about the roofing of the Succah. How it is when one wants to cover the * See Introduction to Synopsis in Tract Sabbath, Vol. I., p. xxix. , also note at end of Synopsis in Vol. V. vi SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECTS. Succah with boards, the size of same, and how they are to be laid. What is to be done if small rafters, over which is no ceiling, are to be used for a booth. The difference of opinion between the schools of Shammai and Hillel, and R. Jehudah and R. Meir, 10-19 MiSHNAS IX. to XIII. If one likes to roof his booth with iron spits. If one likes to suspend textile walls from the roof downwards. If the roof was three spans distant from the walls. How is the case with a court sur- rounded by balconies ? The law of a crooked wall. If one likes to make a Succah in the form of a cone. About a reed mat made for sleeping on, whether a Succah can be covered with it ; the size of it. A mat made of bark or papyrus, if large, may be used for a cover, . . . 19-25 CHAPTER II. MiSHNAS I. to VII. How is it when one sleeps under a bed in the booth ? About Tabbi, the slave of Rabban Gamaliel, who was a scholar. If one likes to support the Succah with a bedstead. If a Succah is covered thinly, what must be more — the sunshine or the shadow ? If one constructs a Succah on top of a wagon, or on board of a vessel. What happened to Rabban Gamaliel and R. Aqiba when they were on board of a vessel, and the latter made there a Succah. Whether a Succah can be made on the back of a camel. Can a living animal be used as a wall to the Succah ? How is it with an elephant — a living or dead one ? How is the law about a partition not made by human hands, if it can be considered legally as a wall to the Succah ? If one makes a Succah between trees which form side-walls. How is it about the delegates for religious purposes — are they obliged to or exempted from the duty of the Succah ? How is it with a mourner, with a bridegroom and his attendants, concerning the duty of the Succah ? How is it with those who are on the road in the day-time, and those who are on the road in the night-time only. How is it with the watchman of a tower, or the gardens ? How is it with the sick ? How is it about those who are