Julian Ungar-Sargon

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  • Deep Dive Ditty
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  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

“The Deller Family Sukkah Fischach”, southern Germany, mid-19th century. Oil on wood.

Sukkah 3: Smallest Dimension

jyungar July 10, 2021

For the source text click/tap here: Sukkah 3

To download, click/tap here: PDF

Aside from the discussion in the Mishnah with regard to the height of a sukkah, there is also a need to define the minimum size of a sukkah. The Gemara on our daf presents a discussion between Bet Hillel and Bet Shammai, in which they agree that it must be large enough to fit a person’s head and the majority of his body (rosho ve-rubo), but they disagree on whether there is cause for concern that he will lean out of the sukkah if the table is placed outside. According to Bet Hillel this is not something that we fear will happen; so as long as rosho ve-rubo fit, the sukkah is fine. Bet Shamai rules that this is a concern, so we must make the sukkah large enough to contain the table, as well.

We explore the joys of Succot in LA and Jerusalem through the lens of unlikely writers including the story of the Deller Succah and its miraculous voyage out of Nazi Germany...the Deller sukkah was considered unique already at the beginning of the 20th century, and today, stands out as one of very few known sukkahs to have survived the Holocaust with its paintings intact.

We end with an imaginary spoof on Dr Who!

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​