What does a person’s head, most of his body, a small table add up to? TB Sukkah 16

Up to now we have describe the minimum size of a sukkah is one that is large enough for person’s head, most of his body, and a small table. At the very end of today’s daf TB Sukkah 16 we shall learn the actual dimensions. For those minimalists amongst my readers, we first learn how to construct a kosher sukkah with the minimum amount of material thanks to the principal of lavud.

“§ Rav Ḥisda said that Avimi said: A mat that is four handbreadths and a bit wide can permit the use of a sukka as a wall. The Gemara explains: How does one accomplish this? He suspends it in the middle of a space ten handbreadths high, with less than three handbreadths below it and less than three handbreadths above it. And the principle states: The legal status of any objects that have a gap of less than three handbreadths between them is as if they were joined [lavud]. Therefore, a mat four handbreadths and a bit wide can constitute a fit partition of ten handbreadths.

“The Gemara asks: This is obvious. The principle of joining with regard to a gap of less than three handbreadths is well known. There is no need to teach this halakha. The Gemara answers: Lest you say that we state the principle of lavud once with regard to a particular surface but we do not state the principle of lavud twice to consider it joined in different directions, Avimi teaches us that one may implement the principle twice.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Now we shall learn the minimum dimensions of a sukkah. “Apropos forming a sukka wall based on the principle of lavud, the Gemara cites that Rabbi Ami said: A board that measures four handbreadths and a bit can permit the use of a sukka, serving as a wall, and it is effective if one establishes it less than three handbreadths from the adjacent wall. And the principle states: The legal status of any objects with a gap of less than three handbreadths between them is as if they were joined.

“The Gemara asks: What is he teaching us? The principle of lavud is well known. The Gemara answers: He comes to teach us that the minimum measure of the horizontal extension of the wall of a small sukka is seven handbreadths. Therefore, it is possible to establish a wall for the sukka using a board that measures four handbreadths and a bit.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Thanks to the principle of lavud, we know that the minimum size of a sukkah which can hold a person’s head, most of his body, and a small table has to be seven tefakhim, handbreadths, by seven tefakhim. We learned previously the minimum height has to be ten tefakhim.