Overreaching, tefasta merubeh TB Sukkah 5

We spent the first three dappim of our massekhet discussing the maximum height of the sukkah which is 20 amot, cubits or 40 feet. Today’s daf TB Sukkah 5 discusses the minimum height of the sukkah which is 10 tefakhim, handbreadths or 3’4”. The Gemara wants to know how we know that this is the minimum height of a sukkah. Rav, and Rabbi Ḥanina, and Rav Ḥaviva deduce it from the dimensions of the ark. Rav Huna deduces it from the average size of a human face which was the dimension of the ark cover. Each deduction has his own difficulties so finally the Gemara teaches “Rather, according to Rabbi Yehuda, the Sages learned the minimum height of a sukka as a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai.” (Sefaria.org translation) It’s just an old tradition.

In discussing possible dimensions the Gemara teaches us a very important and fundamental rule, תָּפַשְׂתָּ מְרוּבֶּה  לֹא תָּפַשְׂתָּ, תָּפַשְׂתָּ מוּעָט  תָּפַשְׂתָּ.- If you grasped many, you did not grasp anything; if you grasped few, you grasped something. If there are two possible sources from which to derive the dimension of the Ark cover, then without conclusive proof one may not presume that the Torah intended to teach the larger dimension. Rather, the presumption is that the Torah is teaching the smaller dimension, which is included in the larger measure.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Rashi explains this rule thusly. When there’s an ambiguity in measurements, choose the smaller measurement. You can always add more to it if necessary. However, if you chose the larger measurement, it might be more than you need and you would be wrong. By choosing the larger and incorrect measurement you appear to others as a liar.

Tosefot (ד"ה תָּפַשְׂתָּ מְרוּבֶּה) provides two other explanations. When given a choice of numbers, by definition you have an infinite number of choices because there are an infinite amount of numbers. When you choose any number larger than two, you have no idea whether you chose the right measurement. If you choose the number two then you have the smallest possible number and at least this number will be correct in and of itself or because you can always add to it if necessary. Tosefot recognizes that this explanation doesn’t apply to the discussion in the Gemara because of the finite number of comparable vessels in the Temple. Consequently, they provide a second explanation which is similar to Rashi’s. If you choose the smaller of the two numbers, at least this measurement will be included in the larger measurement. If you choose the larger measurement, you just don’t know whether you’re right or not.

I think this principle of tefasta merubeh applies to life in general. If you try to do too many things at one time, you won’t succeed. Efficiency and correctness decrease the more one multitasks studies have shown. On the other hand, if you try to do less, you are more likely to succeed in achieving your goal.