10. “If a house be unroofed and covered over?” “If there be a space of four cubits between the wall and the covering, it is disallowed: also a court, in which there is an enclosed passage.” “If the large booth be enclosed with covering, which must not be used, and if there be below it a space of four cubits?” “It is disallowed.”
11. “If one make his booth like a pyramid; or lean it against a wall?” R. Eleazar “disallows it, because it has no roof”; but the Sages “allow it.” “A large reed mat, which has been made for sleeping purposes?” “It contracts uncleanness, and they must not cover with it.” “If made for covering purposes?” “They may use it; and it contracts no uncleanness.” R. Eleazar says, “whether large or small, if made for sleeping, it contracts uncleanness, and must not be used for covering; [pg 126] but if made for covering, they may cover with it, and it contracts no uncleanness.”
Chapter II
1. “If one sleep under a bed in the booth?” “He has not discharged his duty.” R. Judah said, “we used to sleep under a bed before the elders, and they said nothing to us.” R. Simon said, “it happened that Tabbi, the slave of R. Gamaliel, used to sleep under a bed, and R. Gamaliel said to the elders, ‘you have seen my slave Tabbi, he is a disciple of the Sages, and knows that slaves are exempted from the booth, therefore he sleeps under a bedstead.’ From this we in our way infer that he who sleeps under a bed has not discharged his duty.”
2. “If a man support his booth with the posts of his bed?” “It is allowed.” R. Judah says, “a booth which cannot stand by itself, is disallowed.” A booth, which is unequally covered, and its shade greater than its sunlight, is allowed. If the covering be thick like a house roof, even though the stars are not seen through it, it is allowed.
3. “If one make his booth on the top of a wagon, or on a boat?” “It is allowed; and he may go up to it on the festival.” “If one make it on the top of a tree, or on the back of a camel?” “It is allowed, but he must not go up to it on the festival.”[246] “If two sides (be formed) by a tree, and one by the hands of man, or two by the hands of man and one by a tree?” “The booth is allowed, but he must not go up to it on the festival.” “If three (sides be formed) by hands of man and the fourth by a tree?” “The booth is allowed, and he may go up to it on the festival.” This is the rule—when, on the removal of the tree, it can stand by itself, the booth is allowed, and one may go up to it on the festival.
4. “If one make his booth between trees, and the trees form side walls?” “The booth is allowed.” Messengers on a pious errand are exempted from the booth. The sick and their attendants are exempted from the booth. Persons may occasionally eat or drink outside the booth.
5. It happened that they brought to R. Jochanan, son of [pg 127] Zachai, a dish to taste, and to Rabban Gamaliel two dates and a jar of water, and they said, “bring them to the booth.” But when they brought to R. Zadok food smaller than an egg, he took it in the napkin[247] and ate it outside the booth, but he did not say a blessing after it.
6. R. Eleazar says, “a man is bound to eat fourteen meals in the booth, one by day and one by night”; but the Sages say the matter is not determined, except on the first night of the festival. Moreover R. Eleazar said, “he who has not taken his meal on the first night of the festival, may complete it on the last night of the festival; but the Sages say that he must not complete it, and for this it is said, ‘(That which is) crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting, cannot be numbered.’ ”[248]