The Mishna on yesterday’s daf TB Sukkah 14 presents a disagreement between Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Meir. “One may roof the sukka with boards like those used in the ceiling of a house; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Meir prohibits their use.” (Sefaria.org translation) Rav and Shmuel disagree about the framework of the disagreement in the Mishna.
According to Rav, Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Meir disagree whether the sages issued the enactment of the roof (גְּזֵרַת תִּקְרָה-gezeirat tikrah) on the board four tefakhim wide (approximately 16 inches-gg). The Hebrew word for roof is tikrah. Rabbi Meir prohibits using a board four tefakhim wide because there is no discernible difference between a person’s permanent home and his temporary sukkah. Rabbi Yehuda doesn’t believe that the gezeirat tikrah exists.
According to Shmuel, everybody agrees that a board less than three tefakhim wide is kosher sakhakh. Everybody agrees that a board four tefakhim wide is invalid as kosher sakhakh because of gezeirat tikrah. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Meir disagree about a board that is between 3-4 tefakhim wide.
The Mishnah on today’s daf TB Sukkah is explained through the lens of Rav and Shmuel. “In the case of a roof made of boards that are four handbreadths wide upon which there is no coat of plaster, Rabbi Yehuda says that Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagree with regard to the manner in which to render it fit. Beit Shammai say: One moves each board, and then it is considered as though he placed the board there for the sake of the mitzva of sukka, and one then removes one board from among the boards and replaces it with fit roofing. Beit Hillel say: One need not perform both actions; rather, one must either move the boards or remove one from among them. Rabbi Meir says: One only removes one from among them and does not move the others.” Sefaria.org translation)
According to Rav, the conversation between Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Meir continues. “Rather, the latter clause is the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, who is saying to Rabbi Meir: Why do you prohibit roofing with boards? Is it due to the decree of the roof? That is the reason according to Beit Shammai, who are of the opinion that the Sages issued the decree. But, contrary to your opinion, Beit Hillel do not issue the decree. And Rabbi Meir said to Rabbi Yehuda: Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel did not disagree with regard to this matter at all. These are not two separate disputes; rather, it is one extended dispute.” (Sefaria.org translation)
Shmuel, who holds that everybody agrees one may not use a board four tefakhim wide, offers a great novel, but difficult interpretation. “One may not use boards of this sort for roofing his sukka. Even according to Rabbi Yehuda, a sukka roofed in that manner is unfit, due to the decree of the roof. However, here, in the latter clause, it is with regard to negating an existing roof that consists of boards of this sort, in order to render the sukka fit that they disagree. One Sage, Rabbi Yehuda, holds: The ceiling is thereby negated, by moving the boards, and one Sage, Rabbi Meir, holds that the ceiling is not thereby negated unless he also removes one beam from among them.” (Sefaria.org translation) In other words Rabbi Yehuda holds that moving the boards is sufficient to demonstrate that this is a sukkah and not your permanent home. Rabbi Meir disagrees.
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