Study Sukkah folio 45B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
״אסרו חג בעבותים עד קרנות המזבח״. אמר רבי ירמיה משום רבי שמעון בן יוחי, ורבי יוחנן משום רבי שמעון המחוזי משום רבי יוחנן המכותי: כל העושה איסור לחג באכילה ושתיה, מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו בנה מזבח והקריב עליו קרבן, שנאמר: ״אסרו חג בעבותים עד קרנות המזבח״.
“Bind [isru] with dense-leaved branches [ba’avotim] on the Festival until the horns of the altar” (Psalms 118:27), which alludes both to the binding of the lulav and to the myrtle branch, referred to in the Torah as the branch of a dense-leaved tree [anaf etz avot]. R' Yirmeya said in the name of R' Shimon ben Yoḥai, and R' Yoḥanan said in the name of R' Shimon HaMeḥozi, who said in the name of R' Yoḥanan HaMakkoti: With regard to anyone who establishes an addition [issur] to the Festival on the day after the Festival by eating and drinking, the verse ascribes him credit as though he built an altar and sacrificed an offering upon it, as it is stated: “Add [isru] to the Festival with fattened animals [ba’avotim] until the horns of the altar.”
אמר חזקיה אמר רבי ירמיה משום רבי שמעון בן יוחי: כל המצות כולן אין אדם יוצא בהן אלא דרך גדילתן, שנאמר: ״עצי שטים עומדים״.
§ Apropos the halakha cited by R' Yirmeya in the name of R' Shimon ben Yoḥai, the Talmud cites additional halakhot. Ḥizkiya said that R' Yirmeya said in the name of R' Shimon ben Yoḥai: With regard to all objects used in performance of each and every one of the mitzvot, a person fulfills his obligation only when the objects are positioned in the manner of their growth. One must take the lulav with the bottom of the branch facing down, as it is stated with regard to the beams of the Tabernacle: “Acacia wood, standing” (Exodus 26:15), indicating that the beams stood in the manner of their growth.
תניא נמי הכי: ״עצי שטים עומדים״ — שעומדים דרך גדילתן. דבר אחר: ״עומדים״ — שמעמידין את ציפוין. דבר אחר: ״עומדים״ — שמא תאמר אבד סיברם ובטל סיכויין, תלמוד לומר: ״עצי שטים עומדים״ — שעומדים לעולם ולעולמי עולמים.
That was also taught in a baraita: “Acacia wood, standing,” indicating that they stand in the Tabernacle in the manner of their growth in nature. Alternatively, standing means that the beams support their gold plating that is affixed to the beams with nails. Alternatively, standing teaches: Lest you say that after the destruction of the Tabernacle their hope is lost and their prospect is abolished, and they will never serve a sacred purpose again, therefore the verse states: “Acacia wood, standing,” meaning that they stand forever and for all time and will yet be revealed and utilized again.