Study Sukkah folio 5A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
ותניא, רבי יוסי אומר: מעולם לא ירדה שכינה למטה, ולא עלו משה ואליהו למרום, שנאמר: ״השמים שמים לה׳ והארץ נתן לבני אדם״.
and it is taught in a baraita that R' Yosei says: The Shekhina never actually descended below, and Moses and Elijah never actually ascended to heaven on high, as it is stated: “The heavens are the heavens of YHWH, and the earth He gave to the children of man” (Psalms 115:16), indicating that these are two distinct domains. Apparently, from 10 handbreadths upward is considered a separate domain. Consequently, any sukka that is not at least 10 handbreadths high is not considered an independent domain and is unfit.
ולא ירדה שכינה למטה? והכתיב: ״וירד ה׳ על הר סיני״! למעלה מעשרה טפחים. והכתיב: ״ועמדו רגליו ביום ההוא על הר הזיתים״! למעלה מעשרה טפחים.
The Talmud asks: And did the Shekhina never descend below 10 handbreadths? But isn’t it written: “And God descended onto Mount Sinai” (Exodus 19:20)? The Talmud answers: Although God descended below, He always remained 10 handbreadths above the ground. Since from 10 handbreadths and above it is a separate domain, in fact, the Shekhina never descended to the domain of this world. The Talmud asks: But isn’t it written: “And on that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives” (Zechariah 14:4)? The Talmud answers: Here, too, He will remain 10 handbreadths above the ground.
ולא עלו משה ואליהו למרום? והכתיב: ״ומשה עלה אל האלהים״! למטה מעשרה. והכתיב: ״ויעל אליהו בסערה השמים״! למטה מעשרה. והכתיב: ״מאחז פני כסא פרשז עליו עננו״, ואמר רבי תנחום: מלמד שפירש שדי מזיו שכינתו ועננו עליו! למטה מעשרה.
The Talmud asks: And did Moses and Elijah never ascend to the heavens on high? But isn’t it written: “And Moses went up to God” (Exodus 19:3)? The Talmud answers: Nevertheless, he remained below 10 handbreadths adjacent to the ground. The Talmud asks: But isn’t it written: “And Elijah went up by a whirlwind heavenward” (II Kings 2:11)? The Talmud answers: Here, too, it was below 10 handbreadths. The Talmud asks: But isn’t it written: “He grasps the face of the throne, and spreads His cloud upon him” (Job 26:9)? And R' Tanḥum said: This teaches that God spread of the radiance of His Shekhina and of His cloud upon him. Apparently, Moses was in the cloud with God. The Talmud answers: Here, too, it was below 10 handbreadths.