Today’s learning sponsored by

Sponsor a day's learning (thousands of minutes!) for only $72 click here https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/ODUwOTU

Summary

Since food is mekabel tumah it cannot be used for schach.

Rabbi Abba quoting Rav Huna: If one plucks clusters of grapes to put them in the winepress, the twig is not considered a ‘yad’ [handle]. (Generally, the ‘handle’ of food becomes tamei just like the food it serves. Here, since the grapes were only picked for pressing, the twig is not necessary as a ‘handle’ and does not become tamei).

Rav Menashya bar Gada quoting Rav Huna: If one cut wheat stalks to use asl schach, the stalks are not considered a ‘yad’. (The bits of grain at the edges of the stalks are battel b’rov (7.4) and do not disqualify the schach).

Rav Menashya surely agrees with the law of Rabbi Abba; since the twigs would absorb the wine he wants to make, they are less desirable than the wheat kernels. Rabbi Abba would not necessarily agree with the law of Rav Menashya. The wheat kernels are beneficial since their presence weighs down the stalks and keeps it in place atop the sukkah.