BS”D
Suka 13b (2)
15 Kislev, 5781. December 1, 2020
1- Our Gemara discusses topics of Meseches עוקצין, the last Mesechta in Shas.
ידות and שומר
Briefly, a fruit or grain, after it is picked and comes into contact with water, can be מקבל טומאה.
However, it’s not only the fruit that is מקבל טומאה. The ‘handles’ and ‘protectors’ of the fruits, such as the (ידות) stems, the פיטום, and the peels (שומר) that are close to the fruit are also מקבל טומאה.
2- The reason for this is because these ‘handles’ and ‘protectors’ of the fruit are needed to eat, protect and/or to handle these produce. Thus, they are considered part of the fruit.
This works in two directions: If something that is טמא touches the fruit, the טומאה is transferred to the stem or peels. If something that is טמא touches the stem or peels the טומאה is transferred to the fruit.
3- The Gemore now takes the above ideas of ידות, being considered as the fruits themselves, to the הלכות of Suka.
We used the example of using a banana tree for סכך. If one places the trunk, branches, leaves and bananas to cover a Sukkah. There is no issue with the trunk, branches and leaves as they are Kosher סכך since they are not מקבל טומאה. The cluster of banana fruits pose a problem since they can be מקבל טומאה.
At first glance, as long as the trunk, branches and leaves will cover over 51% of the Sukkah it would not be a problem. The 49% of the bananas are בטל to the trunk and leaves.
However, since the branches that are attached to the actual bananas are considered ידות, they are considered ‘fruit’ (just like the bananas), we would therefore need the just trunk and leaves (without the bananas and the branches) to equal 51%.
4- We mentioned the query of Reb Elchanan Wasserman in Kovetz Shiurim 2. Chulin 118,a.
Attached is the preface his children wrote for his famous book “Kovetz Shiurim”. On the last page is the fascinating story of his heroic and holy stance before he was killed by the Germans YM”S.
He suggests that one can explain the טומאה of ידות in two ways:
A- ידות – Stem or peels actually become טמא.
B- The ידות are not מקבל טומאה but they are conduits for טומאה based on a גזירת הכתוב.
One of the proofs he brings to support position A is from our Gemore.
How? The fact that the stems- ידות , are considered סכך פסול show that the תורה views them as actual fruit, not just as conduits.