Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

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

Sukkah 8: The Round Succah

jyungar July 15, 2021

For the source text click/tap here: Sukkah 8

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The sages set minimal dimensions for a sukkah to be considered serviceable.

Thus, for example, according to Rabbi Judah the Nasi the length and width of a square sukkah must be no less than two meters by two meters: “A sukkah which is less than four amot by four amot is invalid.” One of the scholars, R’ Yochanan, said that if the sukkah were round, the minimal size must be in keeping with the minimal size of a square sukkah, so its size was set as such that 24 people could sit within its circumference.

The scholars asked: Why does a round sukkah have to be so big?

The space a person needs to sit is set at a half meter, so the circumference would have to be 12 meters, but for the circumference to match the area of the square, one would have to multiply the length of the square by three, which is the ratio between the diameter and circumference of a circle.

Although we have discussed the maths of the circle in the square in Daf Ditty Eruvin 76 we revisit the issue in regards to the round Succah….

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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.​