- How many times one makes a לישב בסוכה
On Daf 45b a machlokes was brought regarding the berachos recited for the mitzvos of lulav and succah, and Rebbe Yochanan ruled that a berachah is recited on the succah on all seven days. The Gemara challenges this, based on a Baraisa that taught that when one enters the succah during the chag to sit in it, he makes the berachah of לישב בסוכה, וכיון שבירך יום ראשון שוב אינו מברך – and once he has recited this berachah on the first day of the chag, he does not recite the berachah on the subsequent days. The Gemara answers that the question of whether a berachah on the succah is recited all seven days, is dependent on a machlokes Tannaim regarding tefillin. For it was taught in a Baraisa, תפילין כל זמן שמניחין מברך עליהן דברי רבי – Rebbe said that tefillin, every time one dons them, one recites a berachah over them. And the Chochomim say, אינו מברך אלא שחרית בלבד – one recites a berachah in the morning only, no more than once a day. We see that according to Rebbe, one recites multiple berachos in a single day. Similarly, Rebbe Yochanan holds, that although all seven days of Succos are regarded as one long “day”, since the succah obligation is day and night, one recites berachos all seven days.
- היו לפניו מצות הרבה
It was taught in a Baraisa, היו לפניו מצות הרבה אומר "ברוך אתה ה'...וצונו על המצות" – If there are many mitzvos before a person to be performed, which Rashi explains could mean one who is ready to take a lulav, dwell in a succah, don tefillin and wrap himself in a tallis, he recites a berachah “and has commanded us regarding His mitzvos". Rebbe Yehudah says that he recites a berachah over each and every mitzvah individually. Rebbe Zeira said, and some say that it was Rebbe Chanina bar Pappa who said, that Rebbe Yehudah’s reason is based on the passuk, "ברוך ה' יום יום" – Blessed is Hashem day by day. Now can it mean that we bless Hashem only by day and not by night? Surely not. Rather, the passuk is coming to say that בכל יום ויום תן לו מעין ברכותיו – on every single day, give Him the berachah appropriate for that day. Rashi explains that on Shabbos we recite a berachah appropriate to Shabbos, and on Yom Tov we recite a berachah that is appropriate for it. Here too, with regard to various mitzvos, בכל דבר ודבר תן לו מעין ברכותיו – for each and every mitzvah, give Him the appropriate berachah for that matter, and do not group the berachos together.
- When do the esrog and succah become permitted for mundane use?
The Gemara brings a machlokes regarding when the esrog and succah are permitted for mundane use. Rebbe Yochanan said: אתרוג בשביעי אסור בשמיני מותר סוכה אפילו בשמיני אסורה – An esrog is forbidden for use as food on the seventh day after one has fulfilled his chiyuv with it, whereas on Shemini Atzeres, it is permitted. A succah, however, is forbidden for use as firewood even on the eighth day. Reish Lakish said: אתרוג אפילו בשביעי נמי מותר – An esrog, even on the seventh day is permitted. The Gemara explains what the point of contention is between them. Reish Lakish holds למצותה אתקצאי – the esrog was set aside only for the performance of the mitzvah. As soon as one concludes the mitzvah, the esrog may be eaten. Rebbe Yochanan holds: לכולי יומא אתקצאי – the esrog was set aside for the entire day. Since the esrog was prohibited when the day began, it remains prohibited the entire day. Rebbe Yochanan understands the Mishnah permitting the adults to eat the children’s esrogim on the seventh day as only applying to the children’s esrogim, which were not designated for a full-fledged mitzvah, but only for chinuch.
