-1

אחרים אומרים סוכה העשויה כשובך פסולה לפי שאין לה זויות
Aḥerim (R'Meir?) say: A Succah built in a circular shape like a dovecote is unfit, because it does not have corners. [and a permanent residence is one with corners]. (Succah 7b)

The Metivtah does not have an explanation, but I remember the Mishnah in Negayim 12 and Gemmorah in B"B 164b that says a round house IS a house:

תנו רבנן בית עגול דיגון טריגון פנטיגון אינו מטמא בנגעים טטריגון מטמא בנגעים

(Tosefta, Nega’im 6:3): A round house, or one that is shaped like a digon, i.e., it has two walls, one straight and one curved, or one that is shaped like a terigon, i.e., a triangle, or one that is shaped like a pentagon, does not become susceptible to the ritual impurity of leprous spots. If it is shaped like a tetrigon, i.e., a quadrilateral, it becomes susceptible to the ritual impurity of leprous spots.

Why, to Aherim, should a permanent residence, and therefore a Succah, have corners?

Improve this question
  • 7
    That mishna in negaim say it is not a real house. Only a real house is susceptible to negaim uncleanliness. – Double AA♦ Dec 2 '19 at 15:32
  • @DoubleAA Where do you see from the quotes that this is not a "real" house? The gemmorah provides different forms of houses and nothing implies those are not "real" houses. – Al Berko Dec 2 '19 at 17:28
  • It is listing "houses" which are of insufficient standing to qualify as susceptible to tzaraat. That's the whole point of the quote. – Double AA♦ Dec 2 '19 at 17:30
0

Rabbeinu Chananel explains Acheirim is only invalidating a circular dovecot which is too small to fit 4x4 amos square (dovecots seem to be generally smaller circular structures than even the minimum-sized house):

וקיי"ל דליתא הא דאחרי' דאמרו סוכה העשויה כשובך ולא כר' יוחנן דאמר סוכה העשויה ככבשן ושמעתייהו כרבי סלקא דבעי סוכה שיש בה ד' אמות על ד' אמות ולית הלכת' כוותי'.

We don't hold like Acheirim and Rabbi Yochanan regarding a round Sukkah like a dovecot/furnace who both hold like Rebbi that one needs to be able to fit a square of 4x4 Amos inside the dovecot/furnace

So Negaim are not applicable even to a round, permanent dwelling incorporating a 4x4 amos square, because there needs to be 4 walls (which are lacking) Bava Bathra 164b:

(בבא בתרא דף קסד:) למעלה הוא אומר קיר קירות שתים ולמטה הוא אומר קיר קירות שתים הרי כאן ארבע

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .