Study Sukkah folio 33A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
in an Egyptian myrtle branch, which has 7 leaves emerging from each and every base, as even when 4 leaves, the majority, fall, 3 remain, and its dense-leaved nature remains intact. Abaye said: Learn from it that the rabbis hold that this Egyptian myrtle branch is fit for use as a hoshana in the mit
The Talmud asks: This is obvious. It is a myrtle branch. Why would it be unfit? The Talmud answers: Lest you say that since its name is accompanied by a modifier, i.e., it is not called simply a myrtle branch but an Egyptian myrtle branch, it is unfit. Therefore, Abaye teaches us that it is fit f
A baraita states: If most of its leaves dried and 3 branches of moist leaves remained on it, it is fit. Rav Ḥisda said: And that is the ruling only if the moist leaves are at the top of each and every one of the branches. However, if the moist leaves are elsewhere on the branch, it is unfit.
§ The Mishnah continues: If the top of the myrtle branch was severed, it is unfit. Ulla bar Ḥinnana taught: If the top of the myrtle branch was severed, but a gallnut-like berry grew in that place, it is fit, as the berry fills the void and the top of the branch no longer appears severed.
R' Yirmeya raised a dilemma: If the top was severed on the Festival eve, and the berry grew in that place on the Festival, what is the halakha? This dilemma is tied to a more fundamental, wide-ranging dilemma: Is there disqualification with regard to mitzvot or not? Because this myrtle branch was