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The Chachomim hold that a sukkah needs two proper walls and the third may be a tefach. Rabbi Shimon holds it needs three walls and the fourth may be a tefach. The gemara gave 3 explanations for their debate, the first was: The Chachomim hold yesh eim l’masores: The plural of sukkah, “Basukkos” is written three times in the Torah, but twice it is spelled in the singular form. This hints at the four walls of a sukkah, two singular and two from the plural. However the Torah had to use the word at least once to tell us to sit in the sukkah. We thus have a hint in the Torah for three walls. Halacha lemoshe misinai reduces the last wall to a mere tefach.

Summary

Answer 4: Everyone agrees that yesh eim l’masores. The Chachomim hold that since the Torah had to use the word at least once, that word is no longer available for derush. Rabbi Shimon holds that the first word can be used for derush.

Rav Masnah: The possuk states “A sukkah is shade in the daytime from heat and a protection from torrent and downpour”. Rabbi Shimon holds that less than three walls offers no protection.

Question: Where is the last wall of a single tefach placed?

Rav: At a right angle with one of the other walls.

Rav Kahana and Rav Asi to Rav: Why not place it diagonally? Rav did not respond.

Shmuel from Levi: At a right angle with one of the other walls. This is also how the law is taught in Beis Medrash: At a right angle with one of the other walls.

Rabbi Simon or Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: A board is made that is a bit wider than a tefach, and it is placed somewhat within three tefachim of the wall [at a right angle]. Following the principle of lavud , this then creates a 4 tefach wall which is the majority of the 7 tefachim necessary.