Reading Levinas/Reading Talmud: An Introduction

Constructing the Gateway to Heaven

CONSTRUCTING THE GATEWAY TO HEAVEN Sukkah 44b-4Sa TEXT Mishnah How did they carry out the precept of the willow branch? There was a place below Jerusalem called Motza. They went down there and gathered young willow branches and then came and fixed them at the sides of the altar so that their tops bent over the altar; they then sounded a teld'ah [long blast1, a teru'ah [tremulous blast], and again a teld'ah. Every day they went round the altar once, saying , "We beseech You, 0 Lord, please save, we beseech You, 0 Lord, let us please prosper." Rabbi Judah said, [they were saying), "Ani vaho, save now." But on that day they went around the altar seven times. When they departed, what did they say? "Yours, 0 altar, is the beauty! Yours, 0 altar, is the beauty!" Rabbi Eliezer said, [They were saying,1"To the Lord and to You, 0 altar, to the Lord and to You, 0 altar." As was its performance on a weekday, so was its performance on the Sabbath, save that they gathered them on the eve [of the 117 118 THE PRACTICE OF TALMVD-THE READINGS Sabbath1 and placed them in golden basins that they might not become mildewed. Rabbi Yo1].anan ben Beroka said, they used to bring palm twigs and beat them on the ground at the sides of the altar, and that day was called I/[the day of] the beating of the palm twigs." They used to take their lulavim [branches of palms, willows , and myrtles bound together] from the hands of the children and eat their etrogim [citrons1. Gemara It was taught, it was the place called Kolonia. Then why does our Tanna call it Matza [exempt]? Since it was exempt from the king's tax, he calls it Motza. 1/And then came and fixed them at the sides ofr" and so on. A Tanna taught, They were large and long and eleven cubits high, so that they might bend over the altar one cubit. Meremar, citing Mar Zutra, observed, Deduce from this that they were laid upon the base [of the altar], for if you were to assume that they were placed on the ground, consider this: It rose up one cubit and drew in one cubit, and this formed the base. It then rose up five cubits and drew in one cubit, and this formed the circuit; it [then1 rose up three cubits, and this was the place of the horns. Now how could they bend over the altar? Consequently, it may be deduced from this that they were laid on the base. This is conclusive. Rabbi Abbahu said, "What is its Scriptural proo{?" Since it is said, "Bind the festival offering to the horns of the altar with cords"(Pss. 118:27). Rabbi Abbahu, citing Rabbi Eleazar, stated: Whoever takes the lulav with its bindings and the willow branch with its wreathing is regarded by Scripture as though he had built an altar and offered on it a sacrifice, for it is said, "Bind the festival offering to the horns of the altar with cords"(Pss. 118:27). Rabbi Yirmeyah, citing Rabbi Simeon bar Yo1].ai, and Rabbi Yo1].anan, citing Rabbi Simeon of Mahoz, who had it from Rabbi Yo1].anan of Makkut, stated: Whoever makes an addition to the festival by eating and drinking is regarded by Scripture as though he had built an altar and offered on it a sacrifice, for it is said, "Bind the festival offering to the horns of the altar with cords"(Pss. 118:27}. Hezekiah, citing Rabbi Yirmeyah, who had it from Rabbi Simeon bar Yo1].ai, stated: In the case of all commandments, one does not fulfill one's obligation unless [the objects involvedI are in the same condition as when they grow, for it is said: 1/Acacia CONSTRUCTING THE GATEWAY TO HEAVEN 119 wood upright" (Exod. 26:15). So it was also taught, "Acacia wood upright" implies that they should stand in the manner of their growth." Another interpretation: "upright" implies that they held their [gold] overlaying. Another interpretation of "upright": Lest you may say, IITheir hope is lost, their expectation is frustrated," Scripture expressly states, "Acacia wood upright," implying that they will stand forever and to all eternity. Hezeldah further stated in the name of Rabbi Yllmeyah, who said it in the name of Rabbi Simeon bar...