Study Sukkah folio 34A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Abba Shaul says: “Willows” in the plural teaches that there are two mitzvot that involve use of the willow branch. One is the willow branch for the lulav, and one is the willow branch taken for the Temple, with which the people would circle the altar on Sukkot.
And the Rabbis, who do not interpret the verse that way, from where do they derive the mitzva of the willow branch for the Temple? It is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai that they learned through tradition and not from a verse, as R' Asi said that R' Yoḥanan said: There are 3 halakhot fo
A baraita states an additional baraita: “Willows of the brook” is referring to those that grow by the river, which comes to exclude a tzaftzafa, which grows among the mountains and not near a brook. R' Zeira said: What is the verse from which the fact that the tzaftzafa is unfit is derived? It is d
Abaye said to R' Zeira: And perhaps the second part of the verse is merely explaining the first part, and it means: He placed it by great waters, and what is it that He placed there? It is a tzaftzafa. R' Zeira answered: If so, and that is the meaning of the verse, what is the meaning of the term
Some taught this verse as the conclusion of the baraita and R' Zeira raised the objection, and the response to his objection is unattributed: He placed it by great waters, and set it as a tzaftzafa. R' Zeira strongly objects: And perhaps the second part of the verse is merely explaining the first pa