Sifrei on Deuteronomy Sifrei Devarim 140

English · Shraga Silverstein

(Devarim 16:13) "The festival of Succoth shall you make for yourself, seven days": Why is this stated? Because it is written (Vayikra 23:34) "the festival of Succoth, seven days, for the Most High," I might think (that it is being made for the L-rd); it is, therefore, written "shall you make for yourself."

2

English · Shraga Silverstein

If so, what is the intent of "for the Most High"? When you make a succah for yourself, I will reckon it to you as if you made it for the Most High.

3

English · Shraga Silverstein

"shall you make": and not from what is already made — whence it was ruled: If one inclined over the succah, grape-vine, gourd, or thorn (while they were still rooted in the ground) to serve as its roof-covering (sechach), the succah is invalid, (for though he later severed the growth from its root, at the time of the inclining the roof was already "made.")

4

English · Shraga Silverstein

R. Eliezer says: Just as one does not fulfill his obligation on the first day of the festival with his neighbor's lulav, so, he does not fulfill it with his neighbor's succah, it being written "shall you make for yourself." And the sages say: He does not fulfill his obligation with his neighbor's lulav, it being written (Vayikra 23:40) "And you shall take for yourselves the fruit of the hadar tree (the ethrog), branches of date-palms (the lulav), a bough of the tree avoth (hadas), and willows of the brook (aravoth)" — one (set) for each individual; but he does fulfill his obligation with his neighbor's succah, it being written (Ibid. 42) "Every native in Israel shall dwell in Succoth" — all of Israel may dwell in one succah.

5

English · Shraga Silverstein

R. Shimon says: Pesach and Succoth, which are not seasons of work (in the field) were made, respectively, seven and eight days; Shavuoth, which is a working season, was made for only one day, the Torah being solicitous of Israel's welfare.

6

English · Shraga Silverstein

"when you gather in from your threshing-floor and your wine-press": Just as (the fruits of) threshing-floor and wine-press are distinct in that they grow by the water of the preceding year, and their tithes are given according to the tithing order of the preceding year, so, all things that grow by the water of the preceding year are tithed according to the tithing order of the preceding year — to exclude greens, which, not growing by the water of the preceding year, are tithed according to the tithing order of the year to come. These are the words of R. Yossi Haglili.

7

English · Shraga Silverstein

R. Akiva says: Just as (the fruits of) threshing-floor and wine-press, which are distinct in that they grow by most water (i.e., rain, but not drawn water) are tithed according to the tithing order of the preceding year, (so, all such fruits, etc.) — to exclude greens, which, not growing by most water (but by drawn water), are tithed according to the tithing order of the year to come.

Sifrei Devarim 140

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