Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

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

Sukkah 44: Chavata

jyungar August 20, 2021

For the source text click/tap here: Sukkah 44

To download, click/tap here: PDF

In our daf we the amoraim dispute the status of the aravah ritual.

According to both of these amoraim, the aravah ritual is attributed to the prophets. However, they dispute the exact nature of how it originated. According to one amora it seems to have been a formal institution enacted by the prophets, whereas according to the other amora, it was a custom, not a formal institution.

Rashi explains that the ramification for this dispute is whether one says a blessing over the aravah ritual.

On the last day of Sukkot, Hoshana Rabba, we beat a bundle of willow branches (actually one is enough) on the floor (SA OC 664:4).

We explore the (midrashic) meaning of this chavata and even the mythic theory of Dr Rabbi Zev Farber.

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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.​