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Summary

Rabbi Abba quoting Shmuel: Wide leaves from the vegetables that can be used for Marror convey tumah (8.2) but do not stop tumah.* These leaves are considered empty space when used for schach. (A sukkah is disqualified if it has possul schach covering an area of 4 tefachim. Empty space disqualifies a sukkah even if only 3 tefachim are uncovered. If 3 tefachim are covered with these leaves, the sukkah is disqualified).

Question: Why is it considered empty space?

Answer: Since over seven days it will become brittle and fall, it’s as if it’s not there.

The following gemara will be repeated tomorrow with more explanation.

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]. (Since the grapes were only picked for pressing, the twig is not necessary as a ‘handle’ and does not become tamei).

Click here for the recording with Tosfos http://chilp.it/2a75e3d ________

• Rashi: Actually, since it’s not mekabel tumah [it is an animal food, not a human food], it would be a full ohel and stop tumah just as it conveys tumah, but there is a gezeirah d’rabbanan that one might rely on the leaf as an ohel even after it turns brittle. Tosfos: If these leaves wouldn’t be human food they wouldn’t be kosher to use for Marror?! Those words were added in to Rashi by a talmid. The real reason these leaves are not mekabel tumah is because they were never wetted [and thus not ‘huchshar’ – capable of receiving tumah]. Rashash: We thus learn a chiddush that mid’orayso a food can be used for schach if it wasn’t huchshar , but it’s possul d’rabbanan.