1)

Why does the Torah insert the word "ha'Ezrach"?

1.

Rashi (according to the Ramban): "Ezrach" refers to the men; "ha'Ezrach" precludes women. 1 If not, we would have included them due to a Gezeirah-Shavah "Chamishah Asar-Chamishah Asar" from Matzah.

2.

Oznayim la'Torah #1: Not only the Ger, who does not own a house, but so a native, whos does, should move into the Sukah'.

3.

Oznayim la'Torah #2: To instruct the native, whose granaries are full and who feels totally secure, to move into the Sukah, to remind him that he is only a Ger in this world and that he should subdue his pride. .


1

Moshav Zekenim (on Pasuk 24): Even though they are exempt, since they are accustomed to fulfill, they may bless. The same applies to Shofar, Kri'as ha'Torah, Aliyah l'Regel; some virtuous women bless on Talis and Tefilin..

2)

What are the implications of "Sukos"?

1.

Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: Sukos has connotations of shade (which is the basic purpose of a hut). 1


1

Targum Yonasan:Consequently, it must be contain more shade than sun and must be specifically built for the sake of the shade ? besides having to be built specifically for the sake of Sukos ? See Na'ar Yonasan.

3)

Why does the Torah add the word "Kol ha'Ezrach"?

1.

Rashi (according to the Ramban): In order to preclude women from the Chiyuv Sukah. 1

2.

Ramban #1 (citing the Sifra): "Ezrach" - 'This refers to the Ezrach'; "ha'Ezrach" - 'to preclude women'; 2 "Kol ha'Ezrach" - 'to include Geirim and Avadiin Meshuchrarim (Avadim who have been set free'.

3.

Ramban #2: To preclude from the notion that only one member of each household is obligated to dwell in the Sukah, and all the others may remain in the house.

4.

Ramban #3 and Moshav Zekenim: We can Darshen 'Kol asher ke'Ezrach', - those who are Ra'anan (robust) in their houses, to exclude people at sea and travelers.

5.

Rashbam: To obligate even people who own houses (great mansions - B'chor Shor) to live in a Sukah on Sukos.


1

Rashi (Ibid): Whom we might otherwise have included via a Gezeirah Shavah "Chamishah-Asar" "Chamishah-Asar" from Matzah.

2

See Torah Temimah, note 172 & 169.

4)

Why does the Torah add the word "be'Yisrael"?

1.

Rashi: To incorporate Geirim in the Din of Sukah.

2.

Sukah, 27b: To teach us 1 that all Yisrael are able to sit in one Sukah - in other words, although a borrowed Lulav is Pasul, a borrowed Sukah is Kasher.


1

Torah Temimah: Since the Pasuk begins in the singular ("Kol ha'Ezrach ? ") and ends in the plural ("Yeshvu ba'Sukos").

5)

What material must the walls of a Sukah be made out of?

1.

Sukah, 36a: There are no specifications with regard to the walls of a Sukah - They can be made of anything, even olive-wood, as the Pasuk tates in Ezra. 1


1

See Torah Temimah, citing Sukah (Ibid.) and note 166.

6)

Why does the Torah write "ba'Sukos" three times (in the form of a command) - twice here and once in Re'ei Devarim, 16:13?

1.

Moshav Zekenim (citing R. Shimon in Sanhedin, 4a): Based on the principle 'Yesh Eim le'Mikra' (We follow the way the words are read), the three times "ba'Sukos" hints at six walls. We do not count one of them however, since it is needed to teach us the Halachah itself. Consequently a Sukah must comprise a minimum of four walls, one of which need not measure more than one Tefach in width. 1

2.

Sukah, 4b and Targum Yonasan: Seeing as Sukos Chaser 'Vav', and based on the principle 'Yesh Eim li'Mesores' (We follow the way the words are written), the three times "ba'Sukos" hints at four walls - We do not count one of them however, since it is needed to teach us the Halachah itself.. Consequently a Sukah must comprise a minimum of three walls, one of which need not measure more than one Tefach in width - Halachah le'Moshe mi'Sinai.

3.

Sukah, 9b: The Torah writes "ba'Sukos" that is Chaser 'Vav' one more time in the following Pasuk (not in the form of a command) - a total of three Mi'utim, to preclude a Sukah that is built underneath another Sukah, one that is built underneath a tree and one that is built underneath a house.


1

Targum Yonasan: The other two must measure at least seven Tefachim, whereas the minimu height of the Succah is ten Tefachim.

7)

What are the implications of "Teishvu ba'Sukos"?

1.

Moshav Zekenim (Sukah 28b): It implies "Teishvu" 'ke'Ein Taduru' - that one dwells in the Sukah like in the house - day and night, 1 and with one's wife, even though women themselves are exempt from Sukah. 2

2.

Sukah, 27a: It implies "Teishvu" 'ke'Ein Taduru' - that just as in the house there is no obligation to eat, so too, one is not obligated to eat a meal 3 in the Sukah. 4

3.

Sukah, 28b: It implies "Teishvu" 'ke'Ein Taduru' - that throughout the seven days of Sukos, one makes one's Sukah a fixture, and one's house, casual. Nice Keilim and spreads should be taken into the Sukah. One eats, drinks, walks and sleeps in the Sukah.


1

See Torah Temimah, citing Sukah, 43b, who learns the Chiyuv to dwell in a Sukah at nighttime via a Gezeirah Shavah "Teishvu" "Teishvu" from the end of Tzav in connection with the Milu'im- See note 170. .

2

See Torah Temimah, note 169.

3

Though it is forbidden to fast. See Torah Temimah, note 167

4

Except for on the first night. See Torah Temimah, note 167. who elaborates.

8)

How do we infer (Sukah 28b) from "Teishvu" that one dwells in the Sukah like in the house?

1.

Moshav Zekenim: It relies on the coming Pasuk. "Doroseichem" is written Chaser (without a 'Vav'), so it can be read 'Diraschem'.

9)

Why does the Torah write both "Teishvu" and "Yeishvu"?

1.

Moshav Zekenim #1: If one did not have a Sukah on the first day, he makes one during Chol ha'Mo'ed. All 1 agree that if it fell, he rebuilds it.

2.

Moshav Zekenim #2: People who travel during the day must dwell in a Sukah at night, and people who travel during the night must dwell in a Sukah during the day.

3.

Sukah, 27b:"Yeishvu ba'Sukos" teaches us that - in spite of the fact that a borrowed Lulav is Pasul (on the first day) a borrowed Sukah is not, and all of Yisrael may theoretically sit in one Sukah. 2


1

Even R. Eliezer, who holds that a Sukah must be for seven days, and if one did not have a Sukah on the first day, he does not build one during Chol ha'Mo'ed. (PF).

2

See also Torah Temimah, note 171, who elaborates.

10)

Why do we sit in Sukos in Tishri, at the beginning of the rain season, and not in Nisan, when, bearing in mind that Yetzi'as Mitzrayim took place in Nisan, it would have been more appropriate to do so then?

1.

Moshav Zekenim: In Nisan, it would convey the impression that we go into Sukos due to the sun. Rather, we go at the beginning of winter, when others go from huts to their houses due to rain. It is clear that we do the opposite due to the Mitzvah.

2.

Ramban and Moshav Zekenim (both on Pasuk 43): According to the opinion that Sukos commemorates the huts that B'nei Yisrael made in the Midbar, they made them at the beginning of winter, when it begins to get cold.

3.

Kol Eliyahu and Divrei Eliyahu: Sukos commemorates the Clouds of Glory, which departed after the Chet ha'Egel, and returned when they began to make the Mishkan. Moshe descended [from Har Sinai] on Yom Kipur, and commanded the building of the Mishkan the next day. People brought donations "ba'Boker ba'Boker" (the next two days), On the fourteenth of Tishrei, Chachamim took the required amount of gold from Moshe, and on the fifteenth they began building the Mishkan 1 , and the Clouds returned.


1

We fast and say extra Tachanunim on Monday and Thursday, since they are Yemei Ratzon (Rema OC 134:1). The Vilna Gaon himself cites Tosfos (Bava Kama 82a DH Kedei, based on Tanchuma (Bereishis 19:24) and Bereishis Rabah 76), that it is because Moshe ascended to receive the second Luchos on Thursday, and he descended on Yom Kipur on Monday. If so, the 15th was Shabbos! Perhaps they began Meleches ha'Mishkan in ways for which one is exempt on Shabbos and Chachamim did not yet forbid, for example, (Sh'mos 35:26) they spun attached goat hair (Shabbos 74b), or two did a Melachah together, and each could have done it himself (Shabbos 10:5). (PF)

11)

What is the primary Mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukah?

1.

Moshav Zekenim: It is sleeping. One may eat Arai (a casual snack) outside the Sukah, but one may not sleep Arai outside a Sukah - as the Gemara states in Sukah, 26a. 1


1

Moshav Zekenim: And the reason that one does not recite a B'rachah over sleeping in the Sukah, is in case one is unable to sleep, and his Brachah will be a B'rachah le'Vatalah.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

12)

Rashi writes that "be'Yisrael" includes Geirim. We should know this already from the Pasuk in Beha'aloscha Bamidbar, 9:14 "Torah Achas? Yih'yeh lachem ve'la'Ger"!

1.

Ramban and Moshav Zekenim: This obligates everyone, big and small, so that one should not think that it will suffice for one member of the household to live in the Sukah, and the rest may live in the house.

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