Sukkah 24

it is invalid, because of the possible use of a storehouse, but according to Toraitic law it is valid; While in the other case where it is stated "it is not a sukkah," it implies that even when he has made it, it is not a sukkah, even from the Torah.

Rav Judah said in the name of Rav: If one covered a Sukkah with male arrow-shafts, it is valid; with female arrow shafts, it is invalid.

‘With male arrow-shafts it is valid’; but is not this obvious? I might have said that these should be forbidden on account of female ones, therefore he teaches us [that they are not forbidden].

‘With female shafts, it is invalid’, is not this obvious? — I might have said that a receptacle which is made to be [permanently] filled up is not regarded as a receptacle, therefore he informs us [that it is].

Rabbah b. Bar Hana said in the name of R. Yohanan: ‘If one covered a Sukkah with flax-stalks that had been soaked and baked, it is invalid; with flax stalks in their natural state it is valid; with flax-stalks in an intermediate stage of preparation, I do not know [whether it is valid or not]’.

But as to what constitutes an intermediate stage, I do not know whether if it has been pounded and not combed it is regarded as in an intermediate stage, but if it has been soaked and not pounded it is regarded as being in its natural state, or perhaps, even if it has been soaked but not pounded, it is also regarded as being in an intermediate stage.

Rav Judah ruled: One may use fern or wormwood as skhakh. Abaye ruled: One may use fern as skhakh, but not wormwood. What is the reason?