7. “If anyone's head, and the greater part of his body, be in the booth, and his table in the house?” The school of Shammai “disallow it”; but the school of Hillel “allow it.” The school of Hillel said to the school of Shammai, “did it not happen that the elders of the school of Shammai, and those of the school of Hillel, went to visit R. Jochanan, son of Hachorni, and they found him sitting with his head and the greater part of his body in the booth while his table was in the house, and they said nothing to him?” The school of Shammai said to them, “Is that a proof? Even the elders did say to him, ‘if such has been thy custom, thou hast never in thy life fulfilled the commandment of the booth.’ ”
8. Women, slaves, and children, are exempted from the booth. A boy who no longer needs his mother is bound to the booth. It happened that the daughter-in-law of Shammai, the elder,[249] gave birth to a son, and Shammai removed the ceiling and covered over her bed on account of the little one.
9. During the whole seven days a man is to make the booth his regular dwelling, and (to use) his house only occasionally. “If rain fall, when is it permitted to remove from it?” “When the porridge is spoiled.” The elders illustrate this by an example: “To what is the matter like?” “It is as if a servant pour out a cup for his master, who in return dashes a bowlful in his face.”
Chapter III
1. A palm branch stolen or withered is disallowed. One from an idolatrous grove, or from a city withdrawn to idolatry,[250] is disallowed. If the point be broken off, or the leaves torn off, it is disallowed. If they be only parted, it is allowed. R. Judah says, “it must be tied together at the top.” Short-leaved palms from the Iron Mount[251] are allowed. A palm branch measuring three hands, sufficient to shake it by, is allowed.
2. A myrtle bough stolen, or withered, is disallowed. One from an idolatrous grove, or from a city withdrawn to idolatry, is disallowed. If the point be broken off, or the leaves torn off, or if it have more berries than leaves, it is disallowed. But if the berries be lessened it is allowed; but they must not diminish them on the festival.
3. A willow of the brook stolen, or withered, is disallowed. One from an idolatrous grove, or from a town withdrawn to idolatry, is disallowed. If the point be broken off, or the leaves torn off, or if it be a mountain willow, it is disallowed. One faded, or from which some leaves have dropped off, or which has grown on dry ground, is allowed.
4. R. Ishmael says, “three myrtle boughs, two willows, one palm branch, and one citron, even if two out of the three myrtle boughs have their points broken off.” R. Tarphon says, “even if three have their points broken off.” R. Akivah says, “even as there is one citron and one palm branch, so there is one myrtle bough and one willow.”
5. A citron stolen or withered is disallowed. One from an idolatrous grove, or from a city withdrawn to idolatry, is disallowed. One off an uncircumcised tree[252] is disallowed. One from an unclean heave-offering[253] is disallowed. From the clean heave-offering one is not to take a citron, but if it be taken, it is allowed. “One from what is doubtful as to payment of tithe?” The school of Shammai “disallow it,” but the school of Hillel “allow it.” One is not to take a citron from the second tithe in Jerusalem, but if it be taken it is allowed.